The okra plant is susceptible to several diseases that can cause losses to the farmer if not managed. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of temperature and the reaction of okra genotypes to white mold. Plants aged 30 days, inoculated in the collar region, injured or not, including two strains of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, were maintained for two weeks at temperatures of 15, 20, 25, 30 or 35ºC. Fourteen okra genotypes at one and two months after emergence, as well as fruits at commercial harvest time, had their behavior evaluated for the disease. Damping-off or dead plants were evaluated, as well as the injure length in the inoculated fruits. The disease was favored by temperatures between 15 and 20ºC and, in general, no differences were observed between the isolates and the influence of the injury on the disease occurrence. There were no okra genotypes resistant to white mold, since all of them had more than 30% of incidence of dead plants; younger plants were more susceptible and the injure length in fruits was > 6.0 cm. However, differences in the susceptibility between genotypes were observed for plants aged 30 and 60 days, which could constitute useful information for producers in the choice of cultivars under moderate climate and could be explored in breeding programs.
Abelmoschus esculentus; Sclerotinia sclerotiorum; susceptibility
