Effect of dithane M-45 on growth and development of Abelmoschus esculentus (Okra)

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of Dithane M-45 on the germination, growth & development of Abelmoshchus esculentus during its whole life cycle selecting the variety Azad bhindi-1. The seeds were treated with 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4% & 0.5% concentration of Dithane M-45 before sowing in the experimental plot and the resulting plants were considered as M generation. The seeds obtained from M generation under different treatment were further treated with the corresponding concentration of Dithane M-45 to obtain M generation. The result showed an increase in the germination percentage of seeds, seedling survival and plant height among 0.3% & 0.4% treatment concentration of Dithane M-45 while there is no inducing effect on emergence of branches however 0.4% & 0.5% concentration may induce one or two branching in few plants. The number of pod formation per plant and weight of 100 seeds on the treatment of various concentration of Dithane M-45 showed a decreasing trends with increasing the treatment concentration in both the generation in comparison to control but the losses incurred were slightly recovered in M generation. The reduction in the number of pods per plant & weight of 100 seeds results into the reduction of crop yield. Therefore, the result obtained permit limited use of Dithane M-45 in very low concentration i.e. 0.2% & 0.3% for the treatment. Above 0.3% treatment concentration of Dithane M-45 have deleterious impact on the development & yield of Abelmoschus esculentus.