PHOTOSYNTHETIC CARBON FIXATION, TRANSLOCATION, YIELD AND METABOLITE LEVELS IN OKRA (ABELMOSCHUS-ESCULENTUS L) SUBJECTED TO FOLIAR APPLICATION OF ALIPHATIC-ALCOHOLS

Aliphatic alcohols (AA) modified yield and yield components of okra, s timulated net photosynthetic rate (P-N) and enhanced mobilization and efficient partitioning of photosynthates to the seeds. With AA the ave rage number of seeds/fruit increased significantly over the control; s ugar, amino acids and starch contents decreased and concomitantly the contents of proteins and oil increased. The okra stem serves as a stor age organ for photosynthates and subsequent retranslocation to other p arts. The influence of AA in stimulating the transport of assimilates was independent of leaf position.