Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2018) 7(9): 3026-3031 3026 Original Research Article https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2018.709.377 Seed Yield and Yield Contributing Traits of Okra As Influenced By Fruit Positions and Fruit Retention Loads Sagar Kumar Sharma * , C.P. Sachan, C.L. Maurya, Udai Singh Chaudhary and Parikshit Singh Department of Seed Science and Technology, CSA University of Agriculture & Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India *Corresponding author ABSTRACT Introduction In India, okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) is one of the most important fresh vegetable crop grown in about 528.4 thousand ha area producing 6146.0 thousand tonnes green fruit under temperate to tropical regions (Horticultural statistics at a glance, 2017, DAC, GOI). In intensive commercial farming systems, seed is the most critical input that grossly determines expected returns from all other agricultural inputs. Hence, there has been growing demand for production and distribution of quality vegetable seeds. Naik and Srinivas (1984) reviewed the importance of appropriate agronomic practices, climatic conditions & season, adequate pollination and seed set, effect of fruit position, maturity and seed extraction methods on quality of developing seeds. Okra is one of the most important vegetable crops grown for its green fruits for vegetable purpose. There is a greater International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 7 Number 09 (2018) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com In order to evaluate the influence of fruit positions and fruit retention loads on seed yield and yield contributing traits of okra, an experiment was conducted in 2016 at Vegetable Research farm, Kalyanpur by using Factorial Randomized Block Design with three replications. The okra variety, Arka Anamika was tested with 12 treatment combinations (consisted of two fruit retention loads as factor – I and six fruit positions as factor – II). Observations were recorded on seed yield and yield contributing traits. Results revealed the significant variation between factors and their levels. Significantly highest values for number of fruits/ plant, fruit length(cm), number of seeds/ fruit and green fruit yield were recorded in R 1 (Retention of fruits borne on different nodes for seed purpose and harvesting remaining fruits for vegetable purpose) fruit retention load over R 2 ((Retaining all fruits). Among the fruit positions, P 1 (From fruits borne on 1-3 nodes) position recorded significantly maximum values for most of the yield and yield contributing traits. Thus, it is concluded from the research work that for harvesting highest fruit length, number of fruits per plant, number of seeds per fruit and green fruit yield, the treatment combination R 1 P 1 (Retention of fruits borne on 1-3 nodes for seed purpose and harvesting remaining fruits for vegetable purpose) and for getting highest seed yield, the treatment combination R 1 P 6 (Retention of all fruits for seed purpose) may be adopted. Keywords Okra, Seed yield, Fruit positions and fruit retention loads Accepted: 20 August 2018 Available Online: 10 September 2018 Article Info