Modern Genomics in Okra: Interspecific and mutation breeding program

Summary

Cultivated okra (Abelmoschus spp (L.) Moench) is a member of the Malvaceae family, the most common okra is Abelmoschus esculentus, Abelmoschus caillei and Abelmoschus manihot. Okra is a traditional vegetable crop well known for its robust nature; it has a considerable cultivation area in Africa and Asia in particular. The okra seed protein, unlike the proteins of cereals, is balanced in both lysine and tryptophan amino acids. Okra mucilage is an acidic polysaccharide that is medically proven to be linked with anticancer, antimicrobial, hypoglycaemic, anti-ulcer activities, as well as its ability to bind cholesterol and bile acid carrying toxins by filtering the liver. Intense cultivation is found in several areas of Egypt to meet an ever-growing urban population. However, Egypt produces only 1.04% in 2011 after 1.45% in 2000 of the world production. Its productivity is very limited because of several factors such as lack of adapted genotypes, pest and disease constraints and narrow genetic base of existing cultivars. A temperature range of 18 – 35 ○C and sandy to clay loam soils are considered an optimal environment for okra production. However, such conditions increase the risk of biotic stress on the plant (e.g. insects and diseases). Okra has received low priority in international research programs for its genetic improvement. However, it possess several characteristics that are favorable assets in okra breeding programs, such as: short biological cycle, large and easy-to-manipulate flowers, autogamous mode of production, early and protracted flowering, fruit harvest 3-4 days after flowering and a high added value in the off-season. All the followed breeding programs in okra, more or less aim to develop varieties with high yield, better quality fruits and resistance to powdery mildew and YVM virus. Introductions and local cultivars provide the germplasm base of okra in the crop-cultivation countries. Developing a variety adaptable to different geographic regions may not work using the available genotypes. Therefore, selection of ideotypes from intra and interspecific crossing between several internationally imported germplasm is planned. However, there is a genuine need for representative and widescale genetic information that is the base of modern breeding technologies. It can help greatly in directing the efforts of any breeding approach and reducing overall breeding time to achieve stability for desired traits. By combining both interspecific and mutation breeding approaches in a genetic improvement program for okra sp. between internationally collected germplasm would help to develop and evaluate new suitable okra lines with high productive traits. Modern genomics represents the key to more effective breeding programs. Using up-to-date biotechnology approaches, NGS can be used to efficiently evaluate interspecific hybrids and generate precise genetic maps, combined with CRISPR-Cas geneART technology to apply the mutation breeding approach in order to accelerate the development of new varieties with superior yield-associated traits. Newly developed varieties are of economic value; seed production and distribution are expected to be profitable and can be used for an agro-investment perspective.

Achievements

Breeding programs are the traditional source of new varieties developed to overcome biological and/or environmental problems throughout the history. Modern genomics represents the key to more effective breeding programs. Developing new molecular markers and genetics maps would decrease breeding program duration and increase selection quality. Marker-assisted selection is already helping breeders to improve economic-related traits in several important crops, thus enabling us to improve the yield of develop new crops more effectively. Newly detected molecular marker associated to a certain trait were discovered and used to fabricate PCR based Bio-kits for early selection of okra lines that possess one or more desired traits. Early selection doubles the agronomical value by decreasing crop loss and/or increasing crop yield under harsh conditions. Newly developed varieties are of economic value; seed production and distribution are ongoing and expected to be profitable and can be used as agro-investment prospective.

List of Publications from the Project

Partners

• Murcia University

Project Members

• Samah Mohamed Rizk Soliman

Project Leaders

• Mahmoud Magdy Abdallah Awad