Caroni Research Station, Waterloo Road, Carapichaima, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, 138 Bregon Park, D ’ Abadie, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Faculty of Science and Agriculture, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2004.v06i02.25
Key words: Citrus, Valencia, Ortanique, mandarin, virus and virus-like diseases, tristeza, exocortis, psorosis, yield
Free Full-text PDF |
Abstract: Low yield is a serious problem of citrus in Trinidad but it is not known to what extent virus/viroid diseases contribute to yield reduction. This study is an attempt to quantify both the extent of infection of major virus/viroid diseases known to exist in citrus locally and the relationship of infection level with yield. The virus and vims-like diseases assessed in surveys were citrus tristeza virus (CTV), citrus exocortis viroid (CEV) and psorosis. The study began in 1996 and was conducted on Valencia orange, Ortanique tangor and Portugal mandarin established on sour orange rootstock. Techniques used in the survey included visual assessment of symptoms and both biological and serological indexing. In 1997, Ortanique had the highest level of CTV infection of 48.8 % of trees, while in the other cultivars < 10 % tested positive. There were significantly fewer high yielding Ortanique CTV positive trees compared to CTV negative trees (P = 0.042). Fruit count of CTV positive trees was significantly lower than CTV negative trees in Valencia 2000 (P = 0.004) and Ortanique for a cumulative period of 1998 - 2000 (P = 0.001). All Ortanique trees and few trees of the other cultivars appeared infected with CEV. The yield pattern of infected trees over time did not suggest a reduction in yield associated with CEV infection. Valencia field 12069 had the most (51 %) trees with psorosis-like bark symptoms. Presence of bark-scaling symptoms showed no relationship with yield. Of the three diseases studied, only CTV was responsible for yield reduction.
Central Potato Research Institute, Modipuram, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2004.v06i02.26
Key words: Potato, water-logging resistibility, cultivars, tubers, damage.
Abstract: Present study disclosed 24 hours water-logging as physio-damage free water logging and more than 24 hours as physio-damage for the tubers of 4 potato cultivars, namely Kufri Bahar, K. Sutlej, K. Anand and K. Ashoka. A higher percentage (72.51 %) of K. Bahar tubers displaying freedom from water damage showed the tubers of this variety as most water damage resistance among tubers of all cultivars studied. Tubers of K. Sutlej with 64.16 % freedom from water damage were next in order. At various durations of water logging viz., 0, 24, 72, 160 hours, 80.01 % freedom of tubers of K. Bahar from water damages showed this cultivar as most water resistant ones among tubers of remaining cultivars and tubers of K. Sutlej with 56.66% water damage freedom were next in overall 72 hours water logging. But tubers of all cultivars lost their water damage resistibility under 160 hours water logging. Tubers of K. Anand and K. Sutlej were found to be most water damage susceptible under water logging for more than 24 hours. The present investigation suggests that the potato growers should first take care of K. Anand and K. Ashoka tubers during water logging for more than 24 hours.
Gaziosmanpasa University, Agricultural Faculty, Agricultural Economics Department, 60240- Tokat, Turkey
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2004.v06i02.27
Key words: Vegetable family farms, economic analysis, profitability, cost analysis, sensitivity analysis
Abstract: The main material of this study consists of primary data obtained through surveying 92 family farms in a chosen area. In the study area, it was found out that the cultivated land is 3.70 ha with average population of 7.49 people/ha, literacy rate is 84.78% and that 57.84 % of family labour is unemployed. Each enterprise has an active capital of 82141.05$ on average and the rate of foreign debts in the passive capital is less than 1%. Average agricultural income per person (1254.87 $) is 1/3 times less than the gross national income (3377 $) in the country. The net profit of studied crops in the planted areas was 375.75, 367.94, 143.90, 98.42 and -12.08$ for eggplant, squash, tomatoes, beans and watermelon, respectively. This result indicates that profitability does not had a significant effect on the pattern. Sensitivity analyses on enterprise net profit for eggplant, squash, tomato, bean and watermelon revealed that for eggplant and squash, net profits were more sensitive to yield and price changes than for tomatoes, beans and watermelons.
Department of Vegetable Crops, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana - 141 004, India
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2004.v06i02.28
Key words: Tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum Mill., topping, transplanting time, hot-set, yield, varieties, fruit borer, sun-scald, pruning
Abstract: The present investigation was carried out to study the effect of integrated management practices on yield and harvesting span of tomato. The experiment consisted of five cultural treatments and four varieties, planted in a split plot design. Number of primary branches, fruit trusses, fruits, fruit weight, marketable yield and Incidence of fruit borer were the highest in November transplanted crop, allowed to grow as such, and were lowest in March transplanting. Topping in both November and February transplanting reduced fruit yield, characters contributing to yield and incidence of fruit borer. Hybrid TH2312 out performed other varieties for most of the characters. Harvesting span of November transplanted-topped crop was the longest and that of March transplanting the shortest. The effect of topping in delaying the harvesting span was more conspicuous in November transplanted crop compared with February transplanting. This effect also varied with the varieties/dates of transplanting, being well marked in TH2312 and CR-2-P8-5-1 in November transplanting and only in Nagcarlan in February transplanting. The incidence of blotchy ripening and sunscalding was highest in March transplanting and the lowest in November transplanting, whereas the reverse was true in case of incidence of fruit borer. Topping increased incidence of blotchy ripening, sun-scalding and decreased the incidence of fruit borer infestation in both November and February transplanting.
Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Tohoku University, Tsutsumidori- amamiyamachi 1-1, Aoba-ku, Sendai 981-8555, Japan. Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Kagawa University, Mild, Kagawa 761-0795, Japan
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2004.v06i02.15
Key words: ACC synthase, Dianthus caryophyllus, flower senescence, ethylene production, transgenic carnation
Abstract: Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L. cv. Nora) plants, transformed with carnation ACC synthase (DC-ACS1) cDNA in sense or antisense orientation (the transgenes are sACS transgene and aACS transgene, respectively) by Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer were produced. Cut flowers of all the transgenic lines obtained, 2 lines transformed with sACS transgene and 3 lines with aACS transgene, showed suppressed ethylene production during natural senescence as compared with flowers of the non-transformed control line. Among 5 transgenic lines, the sACS-1 line harboring sACS transgene had the severest reduction in ethylene production from flowers, and the flowers lost their vase-life with drying and discoloration in the rim of petals, the ethylene-independent deterioration of carnation flowers. DNA gel blot analysis revealed that the loci of sACS transgenes in the sACS-1 line were different from those in the 6-0-66 line, which is another transgenic line of different origin harboring sACS transgene, although both lines have two copies of the transgenes.
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Bayern University, P.M.B. 3011, Kano, Nigeria, Department of Agricultural Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria, Agricultural Engineering and Irrigation Programme, NAERLS, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2004.v06i02.16
Key words: Irrigation levels, fertilizer levels, and watermelon, semi arid region
Abstract: Watermelon is a crop with a high economic value, which is grown and traded for export in many countries. With the expansion of land under irrigation and provision of irrigation facilities in many of the semi-arid regions including Nigeria, local farmers now grow the crop under irrigation, which hitherto, was restricted to rainy season or under residual moisture. A field study was earned out to investigate the effects of varying levels of nitrogen (0, 50, 100 or 50 kg N ha-1 and irrigation regime (7, 14 or 21-day intervals) on the performance of watermelon at Kadawa (11 o 39’ N, 08o 02’ E), Nigeria. The result revealed that nitrogen significantly affected the growth, yield and yield components in the range of 50-150 kg ha-1 . Similarly, frequency of irrigation affected some of the growth parameters; however, the total and marketable yields were not significantly affected when irrigation regime was delayed up to 21-day interval. Thus, the volume of water would be reduced thereby increasing efficient use of water in the region which is the major limiting factor during the dry season farming.
United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Iwate University, Laboratory of Agro-Environmental Sciences, Department of Environmental Sciences, Iwate University, Ueda 3-18-8, Morioka 020-8550, Japan.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2004.v06i02.17
Key words: Eggplant, leaf area ratio, leaf weight ratio, relative growth rate, specific leaf area, tomato, unit leaf rate
Abstract: A quantitative growth analysis was performed using instantaneous leaf growth parameters for eggplant and tomato under soil water deficit conditions. A conventional approach was applied for quantifying the relative growth rate (RGR) calculation and was compared with directly measured RGR. Relative leaf growth rate (RLA) was also measured in relation to leaf area (LA). Total plant dry weight (Ldw) was significantly reduced under stress for both the crops and hence RGR. Total Leaf area (LA) and leaf weight (Ldw) was higher in tomato than that of eggplant and adversely affected by periodic water deficit at reproductive stage. Water deficit lowered the leaf growth in terms of LA and Zdw in eggplant by 34 and 3% and in tomato by 25 and 25 %, respectively. Tomato plants showed higher CET (Cumulative evapotranspiration) by increasing water use at reproductive stages than eggplant but both plants lowered the CET underwater deficit. Among the leaf growth characteristics, leaf area ratio (LAR), specific leaf area (SLA), leaf weight ratio (LWR) and unit leaf rate (ULR) were quantified and used as important parameters for RGR analysis. The index LAR was very sensitive and had great influence on simulated RGR although it fluctuated during all growth stages. Higher SLA at reproductive stage representing lower thickness of leaf was the characteristics of eggplant. But tomato showed lower SLA that was attributed to accumulate photosynthates in leaves during reproductive stage. ULR varied during the experiment but exhibited more efficiency in tomato. In general, higher RGR at vegetative and early reproductive stages was common for both crops followed by lower RGR. The measured and calculated RGR were not constant at all at any growth stage. The calculated RGR based on leaf growth characteristics were, in general, well agreed with measured RGR for both cases indicating leaf growth characteristics credibly provides useful information for crop growth behavior. The present findings also suggest that LAR along with ULR had positive influence on RGR of eggplants and tomato at any growth stage.
Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore -641 003, India.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2004.v06i02.18
Key words: Zn enriched manure, Zn solubilizers, yield, curcumin content, soil nutrients, turmeric
Abstract: A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of Zn enriched organic manures and Zn solubilizers on the yield, curcumin content of turmeric and nutrient status of the soil. The treatment with FYM + zinc solubilizing bacteria showed higher turmeric rhizome yield increase of 21.6 percent than the FYM alone treatment (9.1 per cent) than no manure (control). The dry rhizome yield, reflected the promising effect of Zn and Fe enriched coirpith or FYM, and Zn enriched coirpith or FYM at M1 (no manure) while at M2 (NPK + FYM) and M3 (NPK+FYM+Zn solubilizing bacteria), the foliar spray of Zn + Fe + MOP excelled the remaining treatments. Incorporation of farmyard manure at 12.51 ha-1 along with Zn solubilizing bacteria stood superior by registering highest values for available of N, P and K content in the soil. The Zn solubilizing organism (Bacillus sp.) identified interestingly proved to have favorable effect on the availability of N, P and K. The effect of micronutrient treatments comprising of soil application of per se ZnSO4, FeSO4 and fortified FYM with Zn and Fe and foliar spray of these two nutrients resulted in synergistic effect on the enhanced availability of not only micronutrients but also K. The DTPA - Zn content of the soil though evidenced significant variation for the different treatments of FYM, FYM + ZSB (Zn solubilising bacteria) and micronutrients on an overall basis did not exceed the deficiency level. Addition of Fe with Zn either as such or fortified with FYM / with coirpith showed synergistic effect on Zn availability in the soil. The available B content of the soil showed an upheaval trend for manuring and Zn and Fe applications. During different stages of crop growth and at harvest stage, DTPA - Fe content in none of the treatments exceeded the threshold level. However, enhancement for treatments with organic manures and micronutrients were statistically perceptible. The availability of Cu and Mn in the soil, brought out the positive effect of Zn and Fe added as such or as fortified either alone or along with FYM and FYM + ZSB. Both content as well as uptake of all the major nutrients in the turmeric plant right from the early phase of crop growth to harvest were positively altered by FYM, FYM + ZSB and soil and foliar application of Zn and Fe.
College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, The University in Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia. P.O. Box: 482 Burida
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2004.v06i02.19
Key words: Water stress, Conocarpus, growth, osmotic adjustment, osmotic potential, arid conditions
Abstract: Six-month-old buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus L.) seedlings were grown in containers under different soil water potentials (soil), ) to 1) determine the minimum soil water potential at which Conocarpus trees can survive and grow fairly well, 2) to study the soil-plant water relationship at different irrigation regimes, and 3) to examine the capacity of Conocarpus seedlings for osmotic adjustment via solute accumulation. Seedling growth was not affected significantly until soil water potential was lower than -0.1 MPa (between 40 and 30% FC), after which, plant height, leaf area and shoot and root dry weights became disrupted by severe water deficit. Water stress decreased osmotic potential of leaves and roots. Leaves tended to osmoregulate their cell sap through osmotic adjustment process as their content of soluble sugars increased. The positive survival under low soil water potential could be related to increased osmotic adjustment. Soil water potential values seem more useful tool than FC values to estimate water requirements and use over an extended period of time, for plant grown under different soil types and different environmental conditions. The study indicate that Conocarpus seedlings can withstand reasonable water stress and can survive at moderately low water potential but, in contrast to other studies, can not be classified as a high drought tolerant or resistant species.
National Center for Agricultural Research and Technology Transfer, Jordan. University of Jordan, Faculty of Agriculture, Jordan.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2004.v06i02.20
Key words: Rose, cultivars, rootstocks, Rosa indica, Rosa canina, Rosa hybrida, yield, mineral composition
Abstract: Performance of three rose cultivars First Red, Versilia, and Virginia was evaluated when were grown on their own roots and when grafted onto three rootstocks Rosa indica, Major; Rosa canina, Inermis and Rosa hybrida, Natal Briar in a plastic house. Yield, dry weight and mineral composition were investigated for two successive years. Scion rose cultivars especially on the rootstock Natal Briar produced more flowers/plant which was greatly dependent on the rootstock. The Natal Briar rootstock was superior to that of R. indica and R. canina rootstocks. In addition, more yields were obtained from plant combinations than cultivars grown on their own roots. Scion/rootstock combinations were superior to those grown on their roots with respect to dry weight percentage and nutritional status. Higher and efficient macro and microelement contents were found in shoot and root portions of plant combinations than in the cutting plants. There was no relation between the yield and the elemental status of the root tissues except for phosphorus. Furthermore, shoot and root dry weights were highly correlated to the yield/plant. Shoot dry weight was highly correlated to manganese, magnesium and phosphorus, respectively. While root dry weight was mainly correlated to the manganese, zinc, and magnesium. We conclude that rose yields can be improved through more uniform mineral distribution within the plant tissue by selecting efficient rootstocks to grow scion cultivars on them.
Division of Crop Improvement and Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Spices Research, Calicut-673012, Kerala. Centre for Medicinal Plant Research, Kottakkal, Kerala, India.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2004.v06i02.21
Key words: Aerial stem, apical meristem, axillary meristem, direct regeneration, ginger, transformation, Zingiber officinale Rose.
Abstract: An efficient and reproducible protocol for direct multiple shoot induction through in vitro culture of aerial stem (pseudostem) of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rose.) is reported. Murashige and Skoog basal medium supplemented with BAP and NAA in different combinations (1:0.5,1:1,2:1,3:1 mg l-1 ) resulted in high frequency shoot / root organogenesis from the basal and middle segments of the aerial stem explants of in vitro grown ginger as compared to the other hormone combinations. Maximum of 3.1 shoots could be obtained. Genotypes differed in their in vitro response of multiple shoot induction. Anatomical studies revealed the origin of shoot primordial from axillary, apical and primary thickening meristem and of root primordial from primary thickening meristem. The regenerated plantlets were acclimatized and successfully established in the field conditions and harvested after 8 months.
Faculty of Agriculture, University of Mauritius, Reduit, Mauritius.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2004.v06i01.02
Key words: callus, gene expression, genes, genetic engineering, genetic transformation, in vitro culture, in vitro regeneration, leaves, tissue culture, transgenic plants
Abstract: Green-fluorescent protein (GFP) gene expression was observed in tissues of litchi (Litchi chinensis) after transformation using Agrobacterium. In vitro grown leaf tissues were used for transformation. After four weeks in culture, expression of GFP was apparent when the regenerated callus and the leaves were observed under fluorescence microscope fitted with a blue exciter filter, a blue dichroic mirror and a barrier filter. Although no transformed litchi plantlets were regenerated, screening for GFP gene expression may prove useful to improve transformation efficiency and to facilitate detection of transformed litchi plants.
College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, PO Box: 1482 King Saud University, Al-Qassim Branch, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2004.v06i01.03
Key words: antitranspirants, chlorophyll, drought, evapotranspiration, irrigation scheduling, kaolin, leaf conductance, net assimilation rate, photosynthesis, pinolene, plant water relations, stomata, turgor, water stress
Abstract: The effects of pinolene-base Vapor Gard (VG) emulsion type film and Kaolin (Surround WP) particle type film antitranspirants on stomatal behaviour, water status, carbon assimilation and transpiration rate of tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa) cv. Double plants, grown under irrigation regimes of 100, 80 and 60% of total evapotranspiration (ET) values, were studied to select the most suitable antitranspirant for conserving irrigation water, with no detrimental effects on growth and production of tuberose plants grown in arid regions. Severe water stress decreased the stomatal frequency and conductance (gs), leaf water potential ( Psi w), osmotic potential ( Psi pi ) and turgor potential ( Psi p), relative water content (RWC), chlorophyll content (chl), carbon assimilation rate (A) and transpiration rate (E). Both types of antitranspirants effectively enhanced the performance and physiological activities of water-stressed plants particularly, at the 80% ET, but they did not compensate for the negative effects caused
Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore - 641 003, India.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2004.v06i01.04
Key words: boron, calcium, chemical composition, copper, crop yield, foliar diagnosis, grapes, iron, magnesium, manganese, mineral nutrition, nitrogen, nutrient balance, nutrient deficiencies, petioles, phosphorus, plant composition, plant nutrition, potassium, sodi
Abstract: Diagnostic norms were developed from 53.2% top yielding vineyards in Tamil Nadu, India, among 940 observations on yield and petiole analyses of Muscat grapes using bivariate Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS)/Modified Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (MDRIS) and multivariate Compositional Nutritional Diagnosis (CND). About 66 optimum nutrient ratios and concentrations were computed from N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, S, B, Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn analytical results. When several nutrients are limiting yield simultaneously, the diagnosis of nutrient disorder by multivariate CND approach is required for higher diagnostic precision. Based on the classification of NIIs, approximately 17% were severely limited by mineral nutrition and 32% of the vineyards were identified as having possible imbalances. The norm values and identification of yield limiting nutrients were close to each other with DRIS and CND, while there was no consensus with Critical Value Approach norms and diagnosis.
Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory, Plant Biotechnology Division, Regional Plant Resource Centre, Bhubaneswar - 751 015, Orissa, India.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2004.v06i01.05
Key words: auxins, benzyladenine, buds, culture media, cytokinins, IAA, in vitro culture, in vitro regeneration, micropropagation, plant growth regulators, rooting, shoots, sucrose, tissue culture
Abstract: Efficient and rapid micropropagation system was developed for Geoderum purpureum [Geodorum purpureum], an important terrestrial orchid, through axillary meristem culture by manipulating cytokinin and auxin. Multiple shoots were induced from axillary meristems cultured on agar-based MS medium supplemented with 2.0-3.0 mg benzyladenine/litre, 0.5-1.0 mg IAA/litre and 3% (w/v) sucrose. Maximum number of shoot buds were obtained with 3.0 mg benzyladenine and 1.0 mg IAA/litre. The rate of shoot multiplication was maintained in subsequent subculture on similar fresh culture medium. Elongated shoots were separated and rooted on half strength basal MS medium supplemented with IAA or IBA and 2% (w/v) sucrose. Maximum percentage of rooting was obtained on medium having 0.5 mg IAA/litre. Plantlets, thus developed were established in soil with 80% survival.