Effect Of Biostimulants On The Yield Performance Of Organically-Grown Okra Cultivars In The U.S. Virgin Islands

Okra is one of the widely grown vegetables for the commercial market in the United States Virgin Islands and the rest of the Caribbean. Plant biostimulants or agricultural biostimulants include diverse substances and microorganisms that are derived from commercial marine algae extracts, enhance plant growth of fruits and vegetables. Plants of eight cultivars of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) were treated weekly with Stimplex® (5 mL/L) liquid seaweed extract of Ascophyllum nodosum and Biozest® (100 mL/5L) crop hiostimulant as foliar spray to assess their influence on yields. Half of the plants in a row (5 plants) were sprayed weekly and half of the plants (5plants) were untreated (control). Eight cultivars of okra ca. Clemson Spineless 80, Red Burgundy, Clemson Spineless, Jambalaya, Red Velvet, Annie Oakley II, Perkins Mammoth and Chant were investigated. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with 3 replications and consisted of rows spaced 3' apart and spaced 2' between the plants within a row. They were organically managed. Results showed that Biozest® treated plants of most of the cultivars responded positively. Marketable yields were higher with Biozest® treated plants of Clemson Spineless 80 (0.5%), Annie Oakley II (27.9%), Perkins Mammoth (49%), jambalaya (41.2), Chant (16%) and Red Burgundy (60%) than with the untreated control. Higher marketable yields were obtained with Stimplex® treated plants of Jambalaya (62%), Red Burgundy (58%) and Perkins Mammoth (30%) than with the untreated control. Cultivars produced lower or non-significant yields with Clemson Spineless 80, Clemson Spineless, Red Velvet, Annie Oakley II and Chant. The results show that biostimulants may increase yields in okra. However, further research trials are needed to fully explain the effects of biostimulants in commercial production.