Département de Biologie et Physiologie Végétales, Unité de Recherche et de Formation en Science de la Vie et de la Terre, Université Joseph KI-ZERBO, 03 BP 7021, Ouagadougou 03, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
From a perspective of selection participatory, this study is designed to identify patterns of peasant seed management of okra cultivated in Burkina Faso and determine their influence on seed germination quality. Exploration-collection of seeds of okra and Ethnobotanical survey were carried out in three climatic zones of Burkina Faso. One hundred and ninety two (192) okra accessions have been collected among which 48 were submitted to the germination laboratory test according to the mode of operation Between Paper (Bio of Aquitaine, 2013). The mode of acquisition of seeds by farmers is mainly the purchase (15%) or inheritance (26%). The majority of the seed, that is 90% are traditional seeds, kept and managed by the farmers themselves. Seventy-four percent (74%) of producers including consisting of mosse and the bwabas establish their collection of seed by selection of the first three and keep them with the whole capsules. Other ethnic groups however ignore the position of the fruits on the plant in the constitution of their seeds and keep them in the form of seeds, not capsule. High variability associated with the seed weight and germination rate was observed among accessions. The variability is less influenced by ethnic group (R2 = 7.4%), administrative region and climate zone: peasant seeds have a high germination rate at 86% on average. A significant correlation (r= 0,334*) exists between the rate of germination and the weight of seeds. The selection of the first three fruits for the constitution of okra seed and the conservation of seeds in capsules are good farming practices promoting the germination rate of the seeds.