Genetic resources and crossability relationship among various species of Abelmoschus Joseph John K2, Nissar V A Muhammed2, Latha M2, Sutar Shrikant5, Patil Pravin1, Malik S K1, Negi K S3, Keisham Merita4, Rao S R4, Yadav S R5, Bhat K V1 National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Pusa Campus, New Delhi, 110 012 1National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Pusa Campus, New Delhi, 110 012 2National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Regional Station, KAU (P.O.), Thrissur, Kerala, 680 656 3National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Regional Station, Bhowali, Uttarakhand, 263 132 4North East Hill University, Shillong, Meghalaya, 793 022 5Botany Department, Shivaji University, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, 416 004 Online published on 21 March, 2016. Abstract The extensive interspecific crossing was done in the genus, Abelmoschus, at the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi, during 2008–2011, to find out crossability relationship among various species of Abelmoschus. The result indicated that development of F1 interspecific hybrids of cultivated okra with wild species was comparatively easy but F1s were sterile. Restoration of fertility through colchicine treatment was successful in the crosses of okra with A. tuberculatus and A. tetraphyllus. Further, pollen-pistil interaction appears to play an important role in the success of interspecific hybridizations between A. esculentus and A. tetraphyllus var. tetraphyllus, A. moschatus and A. tetraphyllu var. pungens. This appeared due to the predominant presence of pre-zygotic barriers operating at all the stages of reproductive pathway during the passage of pollen tube to the ovary, resulting in limited fertilization, followed by low seed setting and embryo formation. In some cases, incompatibility resulted in seed abortion due to post-zygotic barriers. Utility of A. caillei as a potential bridging parent to transfer desirable genes in okra breeding programmes appears to be beneficial. Under field epiphytotic conditions, some accessions of A. angulosus var. grandiflorus, A. crinitus, A. ficulneus, A. tetraphyllus var. pungens and A.enbeepeegeearense did not express any YMV symptom and are hence believed to be resistant. An elaborate programme for screening against YMV encompassing all the taxa along with hybrid derivatives in hot spots is necessary for identifying desirable donors. All the wild species including subspecies and taxonomic varieties of the Indian origin are conserved in the National Gene Bank at NBPGR, New Delhi, and are expected to be useful sources for several economically important traits in breeding programmes. Top Keywords Chromosomes, Crossability, Epiphytotic conditions, Genetic resources, Wild Abelmoschus species. Top |