Abelmoschus Odishae : New Plant Species Of ‘Wild Okra’
A scientist from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) recently discovered a new plant species of ‘wild okra’ named ‘Abelmoschus Odishae’.
- Abelmoschus Odishae is a new plant species of ‘wild okra’.
- It was discovered in a moist deciduous forest in Banspal block in Keonjhar district, Odisha.
- It can be used for hybridisation to create a better variety with high disease resistance.
- It can also play a vital role in widening the genetic base of okra.
- It is a perennial shrub up to 5 metres high with a densely hispid, prickly stem with retrorse hairs.
- It has large, deep yellow flowers.
- It has sub-reniform seeds with short, stout, and non-spiral trichomes.
Okra:
- Okra, also known as gumbo or ladies’ fingers, is a warm-season vegetable.
- It is native to the tropics of the Eastern Hemisphere and is widely cultivated or naturalised in the tropics and subtropics of the Western Hemisphere.
- It comes in green and red varieties.
- It is part of the mallow family of botanicals, which also includes cocoa and cotton.
- It is a good source of minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, and fibre.
- Okra has a mild taste and a unique texture, with a peach-like fuzz on the outside. Inside the pod are small, edible seeds.
