OKRA VARIETY TRIAL

 Although it is not a major crop, okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is becoming important in the Virgin Islands.
 It is one of the favorite crops of West Indians and is grown in many backyard gardens. During the summer of 1991,
 an okra variety trial was conducted to evaluate the yield performance of four varieties. The varieties tested were
 Blondy, Clemson Spineless, Emerald Green and Perkins Mammoth.
 Seeds were directly sown on May 5, 1991 at a spacing of 1.2 m between rows and 61 cm between plants along
 the row. The crop was fertilized with NPK at a total rate of 160 kg ha-'. Each plot consisted of three rows that were
 7.3 m long. The experiment was arranged In a randomized complete block with four replications.
 All plots were drip-Irrigated to maintain optimum soil moisture. Because of non-uniformity in plant growth, plants
 matured at different periods. This resulted In an extended harvest period. The first harvest was conducted on July
 2 and the last harvest on September 27, 1991.
 The four varieties produced similar yields, as shown in Table 12. Marketable yield ranged from 17.1 t hr' for
 Perkins Mammoth to 20.5 t ha-' for Clemson Spineless. Fruit size varied from 20 to 24 g. The four varieties are
 equally suitable for summer planting.

 Table 12. Total marketable yield of okra varieties grown during
 summer. 1991. at UVI-AES.

 Marketable yield' Fruit size'
 Variety (t ha-) (g)

 Clemson Spineless 20.5 a 21 a
 Blondy 18.5 a 20 a
 Emerald Green 18.2 a 21 a
 Perkins Mammoth 17.1 a 24 a

 'Means withinacolumnfollowed by the same tetterare not significantly
 different by Duncan's Multiple Range Test, (P=0.05).


CANTALOUPE VARIETY TRIAL

 A previous variety trial on cantaloupes (Cucumis melo), particularly muskmelon, indicated that most of the
varieties tested were not suitable for local conditions as evidenced by low production of marketable fruits
(Ramcharan, 1979). Most varieties were affected by downy mildew, a high Incidence of ground rot and infestation
by melon worms. Among the 14 varieties that were evaluated. Planters Jumbo and Resistant Joy were the only two
varieties that gave reasonably good yields of 9 to 10 t ha-'.


Table 11. Total marketable yield of eggplant varieties grown during
summer-fall, 1988, at UVI-AES.

 Marketable yield1 Fruit size
Variety (t har') (g)

Black Bell 30.8 a 350
Midnite 30.7 a 350
Jersey King 29.9 a 275
Black NIte 20.8 b 269
Epic 20.4 b 278
Imperial 16.1 b 189

'Means within a column followed by the same letter are not significantly
different by Duncan's Multiple Range Test. (P=0.05).