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ABSTRACT
Drought is the greatest threat to global food security. This study was carried out in order to determine the effect of drought stress on the growth and anatomical integrity of stem and root sections of okra, Abelmoschus esculentus (L) Moench. The seeds of two varieties, NHAe 47-4 and NHokra 1, of Abelmoschus esculentus were obtained from National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), Ibadan, Oyo State. The drought regimes consisted of control and treatments regimes (1- day, 2-day and 3-day intervals) in three replicates of both varieties. The growth parameters measured were plant height, stem girth, number of leaves, fresh and dry weights. Soil pH and temperatures were monitored also. Drought treatments were initiated 3 weeks after planting of seeds. Eight weeks old plants were harvested for root and stem cross section preparation. Highest plant height was recorded in 2-day drought treatment of variety 2 plants, and the least was recorded in 3-day drought regime of variety 1 plants. The highest fresh weight was observed in 2- day variety 2 plants and the least in 2- day variety 1 plants. Many of the plants under 3-day drought treatment wilted. Soil pH values obtained, range between 6.0-6.8. It was also observed that soil temperature values 6 WAP were higher than 7 WAP. One of the adaptive features recorded from the cross sections of stem and root was the formation of water storage parenchyma cells of okra plants under drought conditions. From the anatomical analysis, it was observed that drought stress greatly affected the stem more than the root of Abelmoschus esculentus plants.
