Enhancement Production and Quality of Okra (Abelmoschus esculantus L. Moench) seeds by application of Phosphorus and GA3

Abstract

Okra is one of the vegetable commodities that remains unpopular in Indonesia, but in another case, it has demand opportunity to continues and increases. Production of okra is still fluctuated and does not fulfill the national request of okra pods. The less of okra pods because of limited okra seeds. An effort to increase the production and quality of okra seed can be done through the application of phosphorus fertilizer and GA3. Phosphorus fertilizer supports the metabolic process of plant growth and as a source of energy for cell division and cell division in flower, fruit, and seeds formation. GA3 application able to increase the metabolic system and produced photosynthate accumulation therefore increase the percentage of seed growing. The experimental used was Randomized Block Design (RBD) with 2 factors, the first factor was the dose of phosphorus fertilize consisted of 4 levels: P1 (75kg/ha SP-36), P2 (100kg/ha SP-36), P3 (125kg/ha SP-36) and P4 (150kg/ha SP-36). The second factor was concentration of GA3 consists of 4 levels: G0 (without application GA3), G1 (50 mg/l), G2 (100mg/l), dan G3 (150mg/l). The analysis used Duncan’s multiple continue test (α,5%) and Least Significant Different (LSD)( (α,5%). The result application GA3 50mg/l can increase seed weight per pod, seed weight per plant, and seed production per hectare. Application 100 mg/l of GA3 increases seed quality in the percentage of 96% pithy seeds. Combination of Phosphorus fertilization 75kg/ha SP-36 and GA3 concentration of 50mg/l results in increasing in seed germination and seed carbohydrate content.