Table 3.
Characteristics of wild Abelmoschus species used in wide hybridization program.
| Species | Growth habit | FL (cm) | FW (cm) | NEpS | NR | FPL (cm) | FS | EpCL (cm) | EpCW (cm) | SEpCS | FwD (cm) | Hairiness on fruit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abelmoschus esculentus | Annual herb | 7.0–30.0 | 2.0–3.0 | 6.0–10.0 | 5 | 2.5–3.5 | Long fusiform | 2.1–2.4 | 0.5–0.6 | Linear | 6.0–7.0 | Tomentulose |
| Abelmoschus caillei | Annual or biannual herb | 6.0–18.0 | 2.0–4.0 | 7.0–9.0 | 5 | 2.3–2.6 | Lanceolate to lance-ovate | 1.0–3.5 | 0.4–1.5 | Ovate-deltoid | 6.0–10.0 | Tomentulose |
| A. pungens var. mizoramensis | Perennial shrub | 3.5–5.0 | 2.5–3.0 | 4.0–5.0 | 5 | 2.4–2.6 | Ovoid | 2.3–2.5 | 1.0–1.3 | Lanceolate | 7.0–8.0 | Densely hirsute |
| Abelmoschus tetraphyllus | Annual subshrub | 3.5–4.5 | 1.4–1.5 | 4.0–5.0 | 5 | 2.0–2.9 | Oblong to ovoid | 2.3–2.2.7 | 0.9–1.3 | Ovate-cordate | 5.0–7.0 | Pubescent |
| Abelmoschus angulosus var. grandiflorus | Annual subshrub | 3.0–4.0 | 1.3–1.5 | 4.0 | 5 | 2.3–2.5 | Ovoid to oblong | 2.0–2.5 | 1.3–1.5 | Deltoid | 5.0–7.0 | Densely hispid |
| Abelmoschus enbeepeegearensis | Perennial herb | 3.5–4.1 | 2.5–3.0 | 10.0–11.0 | 5 | 4.3–4.5 | Ovate | 2.0–3.5 | 0.1–0.2 | Linear | 6.0–9.0 | Soft strigulose |
| Abelmoschus palianus | Annual herb | 3.5–4.0 | 2.5–2.7 | 5.0–7.0 | 5 | 2.0–4.0 | Broadly ovate | 1.8–2.0 | 0.3–0.5 | Ovate to narrowly ovate | 7.0–8.0 | Densely hirsute |
| Abelmoschus moschatus subsp. moschatus | Annual undershrub | 5.0–6.0 | 2.0–2.5 | 7.0–8.0 | 5 | 6.0–15.3 | Ovoid or globose | 0.8–0.9 | 0.1 | Linear | 7.0–9.0 | Soft strigulose |
| Abelmoschus sagittifolius | Perennial herb | 4.5–5.0 | 2.5–3.2 | 10.0–11.0 | 5 | 6.5–13.3 | Ovoid or globose | 2.0–2.6 | 0.1–0.2 | Linear | 8.0–10.0 | Soft strigulose |
FL, fruit length; FW, fruit width; NEpS, no. of epicalyx segments; NR, no. of ridges; FPL, fruit peduncle length; FS, fruit shape; EpCL, epicalyx length; EpCW, epicalyx width; SEpCS, shape of epicalyx segment; FwD, flower diameter.