<?php
 
$sql1 = "Select * from table1";
$result1 = mysql_query($sql1);
 
$sql2 = "Select * from table2";
$result2 = mysql_query($sql2);
?>
<select name="options_tab">
<?php
//First show all of the from table 1
while($row1 = mysql_fetch_array($result1))
{
?>
<option value="<?php echo $row1[0]; ?>"><?php echo $row1[1];?></option>
<?php
}
?>
<?php
//Now show all of the from table 2
while($row2 = mysql_fetch_array($result2))
{
?>
<option value="<?php echo $row2[0]; ?>"><?php echo $row2[1];?></option>
<?php
}
?>
</select>

<select name="category">
<option value="25">cat 25 name</option>
<option value="30">cat 30 name</option>
<option value="35">cat 35 name</option>
<option value="40">cat 40 name</option>
<option value="45">cat 45 name</option>
</select>

<?php
 
$sql1 = "Select table2.categoryID,table2.categoryName from table1,table2 where table1.categoryID=table2.categoryID and table1.item_info=2";
//2 is some value of the item coresponding to which the categories are to be chosen..
$result1 = mysql_query($sql1);
?>
 
<select name="options_tab">
<?php
//First show all of the from table 1
while($row1 = mysql_fetch_array($result1))
{
?>
<option value="<?php echo $row1[0]; ?>"><?php echo $row1[1];?></option>
<?php
}
?>
</select>