Germination and Flowering Dynamic Modeling of Okra Cultivars (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) in Niger

Abstract

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is a fruit vegetable of the family Malvaceae and exhibits considerable morphological and phenological diversity in West Africa. In Niger, this diversity may support varied consumer preferences and market requirements. This study aimed to improve understanding of the phenological characteristics of ten okra cultivars in Niger. The experiment was conducted in the botanical garden of the Faculty of Science and Technology, Abdou Moumouni University, Niamey, using a randomised complete block design with three replications. Observations focused on germination and flowering, and the Kaplan-Meier survival-analysis model was used to examine cultivar dynamics over time. Germination occurred between 3 and 10 days after sowing. The median germination time was approximately 5 days, corresponding to the point at which 50% of the seeds had germinated. Cultivar 10 germinated earliest, followed by Cultivars 8, 7, 2, and 1. Flowering occurred between 42 and 73 days after sowing. The median flowering time was approximately 53 days, corresponding to the point at which the estimated probability of remaining unflowered first fell below 50%. Cultivars 8, 6, 10, 9, 1, and 7 flowered earliest. The findings demonstrate temporal variation in germination and flowering among the evaluated cultivars and provide preliminary information for identifying early-performing materials under the local growing conditions of Niamey.