FOLIAR APPLICATION OF TECAMIN MAX® TO ALLEVIATE WATER DEFICIT EFFECTS ON YIELD AND WATER-USE EFFICIENCY (WUE) OF OKRA

This study was designed to observe the effects of different rates of foliar application of Tecamin max (R) on growth, yield and water use efficiency (WUE) of okra under water deficit. The field experiment was conducted from April till July 2016 at the teaching and research farm of University of Diyala, Iraq. Performance of okra genotype 'Samara' and 'Ptira' was assessed by foliar application of Tecamin max (R) at (0, 2.5 and 5.0 mL L-1) and two irrigation levels (50 and 100% based on field capacity). The results showed that chlorophyll content, fruit weight, yield per plant, total yield and WUE were significantly affected by genotype and irrigations levels and application of Tecamin max (R). 'Samara' genotype had the highest chlorophyll content, fruit weight, yield per plant, total yield and water use efficiency. Foliar application of Tecamin max (R) at the rates of 2.5 mL L(-1 )showed the highest fruit weight, yield performance and WUE. It was followed by foliar application of 5.0 mL L-1. No application of Tecamin max (R) showed the worst results in all the studied traits.