Abstract: Four mango cultivars, Dashehari, Langra, Mallika and Amrapali, were introduced from different sources and grown at the Regional Fruit Research Station, Abohar (Punjab), during 1982-83 to allow evaluation under arid-irrigated conditions. Langra was most vigorous followed by Mallika, Dashehari and Amrapali. Dashehari fruits had the highest total soluble solids content (TSS; 20.04%), reducing sugar content (3.87%), TSS/acid ratio (75.42) and sugar/acid ratio (14.33) with an average fruit yield of 60.22 kg/tree. Fruits of Dashehari and Langra matured during the second week of July whereas those of Mallika and Amrapali matured in the third week of July. On the basis of yield and quality observed under Abohar conditions, cultivation of Dashehari, Langra, Mallika and Amrapali cultivars are recommended for cultivation in the arid-irrigated region of Punjab.
M. Mohammed and L. Wickham
Department of Food Production, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago.
Abstract: S. cuminii [S. cumini] fruits were dipped in Ethrel [ethephon] or ethanol and stored at 10 or 30 degrees C for up to 12 days in either sealed low density (LDPE) or high density polyethylene bags (HDPE) or paper bags (PB). Fruits were evaluated for degrees of deastringency and other quality related changes. Ethanol-treated fruits stored in polyethylene bags at 10 degrees C were completely deastringent after 9 days compared with Ethrel-treated fruits over the same period which remained astringent throughout. Untreated control fruits stored at 10 degrees C in paper bags or polyethylene bags showed no changes in astringency and senesced rapidly after 3 and 6 days, respectively. Fruits stored at 30 degrees C, regardless of the packaging or dip treatments, succumbed to 100% decay after 3 days. Despite having the same astringency ratings, ethanol-treated fruits stored in LDPE bags at 10 degrees C were preferred to those stored in HDPE bags based on the lower incidence of decay in the former compared with the latter.
R.K. Pal, R.J. Thomas, Sangeeta Gupta, B. Lal and N.M. Singh
Division of Fruits and Horticultural Technology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, India.
Abstract: Physiological and physico-chemical changes in mango cv. Baneshan fruits in response to vapour heat treatment (VHT) were compared to those observed after treatment with a hydrogen peroxide based chemical (Virosil-Agro; VS). VHT is the accepted quarantine treatment for export of mangoes. VS is an eco-friendly and biodegradable chemical having little residual toxicity containing H2O2 and Ag2+. VST had antisenescence effects. VHT enhanced ripening during 14 days of storage compared with the control. VHT resulted in better marketability of fruits due to uniform peel colour development.
A.K. Verma and M.D. Singh
Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture, Rehmankhera, P.O. Kakori, Lucknow 227107, India.
Abstract: An experiment on force deformation was conducted on mature fruits of mango cv. Dashehari (collected from India). The first yield point in a sample was observed at 0.30 kN with a rupture point at 0.48 kN. Results indicated elastic behaviour up to 0.30 kN force, plastic beyond 0.48 kN and elastoplastic in between 0.30 and 0.48 kN. Strain energy required for first yield point was calculated using E = F*D/2, where E = strain energy, F = force applied and D = deformation. The energy required for the first yield point was calculated as 0.084 Nm and second rupture point was at 0.25 Nm strain energy.
V.K. Yadav and H.K. Singh
Department of Horticulture, N.D. University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj 224229, U.P., India.
Abstract: The effects of preharvest sprays of 1% calcium nitrate, 0.1% Topsin-M [thiophanate-methyl], 0.1% Bayleton [triadimefon] and their combinations on the storage quality of fruits of E. officinalis [Phyllanthus emblica] cv. NA-6 were investigated. Treatment with 1% calcium nitrate + 0.1% Topsin-M was the best followed by 1% calcium nitrate + 0.1% Bayleton and 1% calcium nitrate. The lowest weight loss (11.09%) and decay loss (14.43%) were observed in fruits given 2 pre-harvest sprays of 1% calcium nitrate + 0.1% Topsin-M; this treatment prolonged shelf-life to up to 20 days compared with 10 days in the control at ambient temperature. Calcium nitrate-treated fruits had higher concentrations of Ca than control fruits. Treatment with Topsin-M and Bayleton controlled Penicillium oxalicum for 10 days and Aspergillus niger for 20 days and extended shelf life.
D.B. Singh and M.A. Suryanaryana
Central Agricultural Research Institute, Port Blair 744101, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.1999.v01i02.15
Key words: bananas, cultural methods, nitrogen fertilizers, crop yield, pseudostems, growth, plant development, fruit crops, fruits, small fruits
Abstract: The effect of N (50, 100, 150, 200 or 250 g/plant), applied all at once or in split doses (2-4 splits), on growth and yield of banana cv. Dwarf Cavendish was investigated during 1994-97 at Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The best growth (height, girth of pseudostem and number of leaves) and bunch yield were observed following application of 200 g N/plant in 4 split doses (2, 4, 6 and 8 months after planting). Increasing N rate from 200 to 250 g/plant delayed flowering/fruiting and was not effective at further increasing bunch size.
Prasanta Das and Binita Hazarika
Department of Horticulture, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat 785013, Assam, India.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.1999.v01i02.16
Key words: chemical composition, mulches, mulching, plant residues, plastic film, quality, pineapples, polyethylene, rice, ascorbic acid, flowering, fruits, reducing sugars, sugars, fruit crops, small fruits
Abstract: Mulching promoted the quality of pineapples cv. Kew, grown in India. Good quality fruits were observed in the black polythene mulch and rice husk (2.5 and 5 cm thick) treatments. The best quality fruits were obtained in the black polythene (50\micro) mulch treatment where plants were mulched throughout the cropping period.
S. Rajan, G.C. Sinha and B. Lal
Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture, Rehmankhera, P.O. Kakori, Lucknow 227107, India.
Abstract: Various models were developed to account for the effect of weather variables on the success of veneer grafting in mango under Lucknow conditions. The influence of weather parameters was described by the model: GS = 290.946 - 0.239 MA2 - 20.322 MI - 0.305 MI2 - 3.58 RH, where GS = veneer grafting success, MA = maximum temperature, MI = minimum temperature, RH = relative humidity, and RF = rainfall. The use of this model to forecast grafting success based on environmental conditions is discussed.
C.S. Maiti, A. Nath and S.K. Sen
Faculty of Horticulture, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Nadia, West Bengal, India.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.1999.v01i02.18
Key words: medicinal plants, grafting, propagation, shoots, growth, plant development
Abstract: The effect of grafting method (whip, splice or cleft grafting) on survival and growth was investigated for A. marmelos grown under West Bengal conditions, India, during the monsoon. The best method was whip grafting (70% success and the best shoot growth).
R.R. Sharma, A.M. Goswami, S.K. Saxena and Anil Shukla
Division of Fruits and Horticultural Technology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, India.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.1999.v01i02.19
Key words: mandarins, rootstocks, citranges, high density planting, fruit drop, fruits, seasonal variation, rootstock scion relationships, thinning, fruit crops, subtropical fruits, citrus fruits
Abstract: The effect of rootstock (Troyer citrange, Karna Khatta [Citrus karna] and Sohsarkar) on fruit drop was investigated for mandarins grown in high density plantings in India. Plants on all 3 rootstocks showed 2 distinct waves of drop (a very heavy drop in April-May and severe preharvest drop in September-October). Plants on Troyer citrange showed the lowest fruit drop in April-May and the highest pre-harvest fruit drop compared with the other rootstocks. Overall fruit drop was highest in Sohsarkar (86.41%) and lowest in Troyer citrange (69.79%).
Prabhat Srivastava and H.S. Chauhan
Department of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, College of Technology, Pantnagar 263145, U.P., India.
Abstract: The effects of different methods of irrigation (microsprinkler, drip [trickle] (emitter), drip (microtube) and surface irrigation) on growth of cabbages in India were investigated. Plants were grown at a spacing of 0.5 x 0.6 m. The largest plants with the highest number of leaves and greatest crop canopy were produced in the microsprinkler treatment.
Prabhat Srivastava and H.S. Chauhan
Department of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, College of Technology, Pantnagar 263145, U.P., India.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.1999.v01i02.21
Key words: cultural methods, trickle irrigation, surface irrigation, crop yield, cabbages, irrigation, methodology, spacing, use efficiency, water use, water use efficiency, plant water relations, vegetables
Abstract: The water use efficiencies of cabbages (cv. Golden Acre) irrigated via microsprinkler, drip [trickle], microtube or surface irrigation methods were determined in India. Cabbages were planted at a spacing of 0.5 x 0.6 m. The highest yield was obtained in the microsprinkler irrigation treatment (40.23 t/ha), followed by drip irrigation (38.97 t/ha), surface irrigation (33.76 t/ha) and microtube irrigation (32.54 t/ha). Water use efficiency was highest for drip irrigation, followed by microtube irrigation, microsprinkler irrigation and surface irrigation. Compared with surface irrigation, percentage water savings were 61.44, 59.28 and 36.82% for microtube, drip and microsprinkler methods, respectively.
G.R. Matoria and R.C. Khandelwal
Department of Horticulture, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur 313001, India.
Abstract: Combining ability and stability analysis for six traits was performed in 45 bitter gourd hybrids derived from a 10 x 10 diallel analysis. The analysis revealed that both additive as well as non-additive gene action were important for all the characters. However, non-additive gene action was predominant for all the traits, except for girth of fruits and number of seeds/fruits. BG-14 was observed to be the best general combiner for yield/vine and most of the other quantitative traits. Among the crosses, Udaipur Local x BG-14 and NBPGR/TCR-727 x Jaunpuri Long showed the highest SCA effects as well as stability in their performance making them suitable for a heterosis breeding programme.
R. Chandra, Sheo Govind and A.R. Desai
ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Barapani, Meghalaya 793 103, India.
Abstract: Performance of twenty-five genotypes was studied at Barapani for three consecutive years. Among the 19 characters studied, weight of primary finger rhizome recorded the highest level of variability (38.94%) followed by number of primary and secondary finger rhizomes per clump. Plant height, length of leaf, and length, diameter and weight of primary finger rhizome, internodal distance of primary finger rhizome, and rhizome yield per hectare were significantly and positively associated with fresh rhizome yield per clump. A negative correlation between dry rhizome recovery and fresh rhizome yield per clump was observed. PCT 13, PCT 11, GL Puram and PCT 15 showed no significant differences and had higher yields, indicating their suitability for cultivation under mid hill conditions of Meghalaya. Lakadong had poor yields but had the highest curcumin (7.33%) content.
H.P. Mishra
Department of Floriculture & Landscaping, Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar 848125, India.
Abstract: The effect of planting date (February-May) on growth and flowering of P. tuberosa was investigated during 1995-97 in Bihar, India. Early and late planting produced plants with poor flower and spike yields. Planting bulbs on 7 March followed by 22 March produced plants with a high number of long leaves/clump, thick and big spikes, and a high number of florets and spikes/unit area.