Tropical Plant Research

The present investigation aimed to evaluate the effect of priming of Abelmoschus esculentus (okra) seeds with liquid phosphobaterium (LPB) on water stress. The phosphobacterium is known for its use as inoculants to increase the uptake of soil phosphorus as well as crop yield. The availability of rain fall is getting decreased every year causing severe drought and that may adversely affect the agricultural crops in the state of Kerala. So the aim of the study is to provide a helping hand to the farming community to fight against drought stress. In the present study the seeds of okra cv. Arka anamika were subjected to priming treatment with 5% and 10% liquid phosphobaterium, and the parameters like biomass, relative water content, chlorophyll content, total protein and yield were studied. Priming with liquid phosphobaterium showed considerable variation in both the physiological and biochemical parameters. Among the concentrations of liquid phosphobaterium tested seeds primed with 10% liquid phosphobaterium were found to effective in mitigating the effect of water stress, stimulating early flowering and also increase in yield.