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Journal of Applied Horticulture Selected Contents of Year
1Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University. Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh. 2Department of Agricultural Botany, Faculty of Agriculture, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural. University, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh. 3Department of Agroforestry and Environmental Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Sher-e-Bangla. Agricultural University, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh. 4Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA. Corresponding e-mail: jasimhort@sau.edu.bd
Abstract: Salinity is an important concern for crop production, especially in dry areas and gibberellic acid has shown promise in improving salinity tolerance. The purpose of this research was to examine the ability of gibberellic acid (GA3) to mitigate salinity stress in tomato plants. The experiment used BARI Hybrid Tomato-5 to investigate the effects of two GA3 dosages (0 and 100 ppm) on plant growth, physiology, and yield parameters in normal and stressed conditions (50, 100, and 150 mM NaCl). Salinity revealed a negative effect on tomato plants in terms of plant height, leaf and branch numbers, flowering and fruiting phases, and physiological features such as photosynthetic pigments, relative leaf water content, electrolyte leakage, proline content, and stomatal conductance including Na+ and K+ ions ofplants. The foliar spray of GA3 was useful in enhancing the salt tolerance of tomato plants and stimulated the growth of unstressed plants, resulting in increasing tomato yield.
P.S. Gharate1, R.G.Somkuwar2*, G.M.Waghmare3, A.S.Thutte4, P.B.. Kakade4 and P.K.Ausari5
1Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani (M.S) - 431402, India. 2ICAR-National Research Centre for Grapes, Pune (M.S) - 412307, India. 3Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani (M.S) - 431402, India. 4Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri. (M.S)- 413722, India. 4Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Gwalior (MP)- 474002, India. Corresponding e-mail: rgsgrapes@gmail.com
Abstract: Fifteen colour grape varieties were evaluated for bunch and raisin parameters. Highest bunch weight (226.8 g) was noted in E-5/20 AES x BC, while Muscat Hamburg had the maximum no of berry/bunch (95.7). H-25/11 had a maximum 50 berry weight (174.6 g), and the highest carbohydrate content (395.7 mg/g). Black Champa, had the highest TSS (25.4°B), maximum raisins recovery (25.0 %), highest phenol (4.3 mg/g), tannin (5.4 mg/g) and Omania Black had the maximum amount of anthocyanin (1363.3mg/g) content. Maximum reducing sugar was found in raisins made from E-5/12 AES x BC (142.4 g/mg), while minimum reducing sugar was recorded in raisins from Rizamet (97.6 mg/g). The highest protein content in raisins was recorded in Foster Seedlings (47.3 mg/g). Based on sensory evaluation, accession Foster Seedlings and Red Muscat performed better than others. Among the accessions studied, Black Champa, Foster Seedlings and Red Muscat performed better in sub-tropical climates for raisin making.
Karishma Verma1*, Suchita V. Gupta1, Bhagyashree N. Patil1, S.D. Jadhao2
1Department of Agricultural Process Engineering, Dr. PDKV Akola-444104, Maharashtra, India. 2Department of soil science and Agricultural Chemistry, Dr. PDKV Akola-444104, Maharashtra, India. Corresponding e-mail: vermakarishma1003@gmail.com, suchitavgupta@yahoo.co.in, bhagyashreepatil21@gmail.com
Abstract: This study investigated the textural and mechanical properties of tamarind (Tamarindus indica), including all parts such as shell, pods and pulp. The tamarind underwent various tests, including the compression test, cutting test, and textural profile analysis (TPA). Textural attributes including hardness, adhesiveness, springiness, cohesiveness, gumminess, chewiness, and resilience were analyzed which provides a detailed understanding of the sensory characteristics of tamarind. Standardized testing methods were used to assess the mechanical properties and illustrate significant insights into the structural integrity of tamarind. The findings indicated the variability in texture and mechanical behaviour between different parts of tamarind. This data is valuable because of its application in designing food processing machinery and product development. The highest peak force required to break the shell was 2383.809 N and the force required to cut through the pulp was 14765.195 g indicating significant resistance to deformation. The mechanical properties of the shell of tamarind help in designing suitable packaging that protects the tamarind during transportation and handling, preventing damage and spoilage. The tamarind pod demonstrated a tough texture due to the presence of seed inside the pulp and moderate adhesiveness, good springiness, and cohesiveness, contributing to chewiness and resilience. The pulp exhibited firmness, moderate adhesiveness, elasticity, and chewiness, ensuring solid texture and mouthfeel quality.
Anshul Gupta1, Renu Dhupper1 and Bhupinder Singh2*
1Amity Institute of Environmental Science, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India. 2Division of Environmental Science, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India. Corresponding e-mail: Anshul.Gupta@icar.gov.in; rdhupper@amity.edu; bhupindersinghiari@yahoo.com
Abstract: Sulphur dioxide (SO2), belongs to a group of highly reactive gaseous pollutants “oxides of sulphur,” that are emitted into the air upon fossil fuel burning and other sulphur-containing discharges from the industry. SO2 is known to cause damage to plantations and crops by adversely affecting the productivity and the quality of the economic produce. We hypothesize that there exists an inter and intra-species variation with respect to the SO2 response, which can be exploited. To understand the SO2 tolerance of crop plants, an experiment was, thus, conducted with three varieties of tomato (Solanum lycoperscium), var. H-414, H-445, and H-226, developed by IARI, New Delhi to assess their SO2 response in terms of the growth, yield and biochemical attributes under the ambient (~7 to 25µg SO2 m-3) and enriched SO2 (ambient SO2 + ?10 to 15µg SO2 m-3). An assessment of crop utilization of SO2-S as a nutrient source suggests that the variety H-445 was the most potent, H-414 slightly able to absorb and H-226 was the least efficient. The SO2-mediated damage was observed to increase gradually following the ESO2 exposure duration in the var. H-414 as against the response in var. H-445 which showed a higher initial ESO2 damage at 0 DAE but later showed a greater recovery from 0 to 14 DAE. The SO2 enrichment of the air environment under tomato cultivation was also found to contribute towards the plant’s S-requirement in variety H-445, which promoted its vegetative growth even under the stressful environment. Besides genetic variation in SO2 tolerance in tomatoes, the results also indicate greater adaptability and tolerance in var. H-445 to an elevated SO2 stress when compared to the other experimental tomato cultivars. Identification of air pollutant tolerant cultivars across crops may help protect the productivity and quality of the major dietary crops, which are likely to be threatened by climate change in the near future.
Abstract: Litchi (Litchi chinensis S.), a major fruit crop in India, faces severe threats from the bark-eating caterpillar (Indarbela quadrinotata and Indarbela tetraonis), which can cause significant damage to trees and reduce fruit yield. Traditional control methods, such as manual removal or chemical injection using a syringe, are often labour-intensive and inefficient. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a manual hand-injector tool for effective caterpillar control in litchi orchards. The hand-injector, designed at ICAR-CIAE, Bhopal, features a flexible wire and extended nozzle that enables precise application of insecticides directly into caterpillar boreholes, minimizing operator exposure and improving safety. Field testing in litchi orchards at ICAR- National Research Centre on Litchi, Muzaffarpur, Bihar, demonstrated the tool’s effectiveness in significantly reducing caterpillar infestation across multiple litchi varieties within seven days of application. The tool proved to be highly efficient, safe, and time-saving, offering substantial drudgery reduction for farmers. This innovation represents an important advancement in mechanized pest management for litchi cultivation, providing a practical and sustainable solution to improve orchard productivity and protect crops.
V. Vishnu1, Deepa S. Nair1*, R.V. Manju2, N.S. Sonia3, K.P. Sindura4, A. Rahul1 and L.K. Akilan4
1Department of Plantation, Spices, Medicinal and Aromatic Crops, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala Agricultural University, Thiruvananthapuram, India; 2Department of Plant Physiology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala Agricultural University, Thiruvananthapuram, India; 3Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Padannakkad, Kerala Agricultural University, Kasaragod, India; 4Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala Agricultural University, Thiruvananthapuram, India. Corresponding e-mail: deepanair.s@kau.in.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2025.v27i01.15
Key words: Chitosan, drought, photosynthetic parameters, gas exchange parameters, infrared gas analyser, drought stress
Abstract: The study, conducted at the Department of Plantation, Spices, Medicinal, and Aromatic Crops, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, aimed to assess the impact of foliar application of chitosan on photosynthetic performance in drought-stressed long pepper (Piper longum L.). Two concentrations of chitosan (0.5 and 1 g L-1) were applied to drought stress (irrigated at 60 and 75 % field capacities) and photosynthetic parameters were observed. Chitosan-treated plants, particularly at 1 g L-1 concentration, exhibited significantly higher relative water content, stomatal density, photosynthetic efficiency, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, and water-use efficiency. Chitosan-treated plants also showed improved chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, chlorophyll content, and biomass yield compared to untreated controls. These findings suggest the potential of chitosan as a bio-elicitor against abiotic stresses in long pepper, warranting further research in this area.
M.A. Mir1,Ikra Manzoor1*, Ume Kulsum2, Manpreet Kaur3,Bisma Gulzar1 andSuhail Manzoor4
1Division of Fruit Science, Faculty of Horticulture, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar-190025, India. 2Division of Agricultural Statistics, Faculty of Horticulture, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar-190025, India. 3Division of Botany, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141027, India. 4Division of Plant Pathology, Faculty of Horticulture, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar-190025, India. Corresponding e-mail: manzoorikra@gmail.com
Abstract: The ‘Colt’ is a triploid hybrid of P. avium and P. pseudocerasus L. grown as a cherry rootstock because of its resistance to cherry stem pitting (a debilitating virus disease), Phytophthora root rot, bacterial canker and gopher damage. The current study was carried out using two types of explants: forced (F1) and unforced (F2) shoots tips. Five types of sterilants were used to sterilize explants: 10% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) for 10 minutes (S1), 0.1% mercuric chloride (HgCl2) for 5 minutes (S2), ethyl alcohol for 10 seconds (S3), (S1) + (S3) and (S2) + (S3). During culture establishment, six growth regulator regimes viz., BA (benzyl adenine) (0.20), (0.40) and (0.60) and BA+IBA (Indole-3-butyric acid) (0.20+0.01), (0.40+0.01), and (0.60+0.01) mg/L, two media i.e., MS (Murashige and Skoog, 1962) and WPM (Woody Plant Medium) were utilized. During shoot proliferation, MS & WPM culture medium with growth regulators viz., BA (0.20), (0.40) and (0.60), BA+IBA (0.20+0.01), (0.40+0.01) and (0.60+0.01) mg/L were used respectively. During rhizogenesis in different media (MS & WPM), various levels of IBA (0.50, 1.00, 1.50 and 2.00 mg/L) were used. The superior rooted plants were hardened in sand & cocopeat, respectively. In this experiment, maximum culture asepsis (%) obtained in unforced shoot tips(F2) with (S5), maximum explant survival (%) in forced shoot tips (F1) with (S4), and highest establishment (%) with MS medium, BA (0.6) mg/L & in forced shoot tips (F1). Significantly higher shoot proliferation is obtained with MS medium with BA (0.6) mg/L, maximum shoot number & length in WPM medium with BA (0.2) mg/L. A significantly higher rooting percentage was obtained in an MS medium with IBA (1.00) mg/L and maximum ex vitro survival (%) in cocopeat.
Shabnam Pangtu1, Puja Sharma1, Sita Ram Dhiman1, Mast Ram Dhiman2, Bharati Kashyap1 and Rohit Chhabra3
1Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, HP, India, 2ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) Regional Station, Katrain, Kullu Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India. 3Department of Botany and Environment Science, DAV University Jalandhar, Punjab. Corresponding e-mail: shabnam.pangtu34@gmail.com
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2025.v27i01.16
Key words: Value addition, genotypes, ornamental, tinting, dye
Abstract: Tinting is a crucial technique for enhancing the visual appeal of flowers and increasing their market value. This study aimed to standardize the use and concentration of food dyes for tinting various ornamental kale genotypes. Conducted at Dr. YS Parmar UHF in Nauni, Solan, H.P., the research focused on assessing how different food dyes and their concentrations influenced coloration. In this experiment, three genotypes (Kt OK-2, Kt DH-19, and Nagoya) were tinted with food dyes at two concentrations viz., 3% and 5% for 24 hours. The results revealed that tinting with Apple Green dye for 24 hours achieved the maximum vase life, the shortest time to visible colour appearance, and the lowest dye solution uptake. Overall, all the dyes proved effective for tinting Ornamental Kale. Among the genotypes, 'Kt OK-2' produced the most visually appealing results. Thus, tinted stems provide a wider spectrum of colours while boosting the product’s market value, offering increased financial benefits to florists through value addition.
Neizohunuo and Laxuman Sharma*
Department of Horticulture, Sikkim University, 6th Mile, Tadong, Gangtok, Sikkim – 737102, India. Corresponding e-mail: lsharma@cus.ac.in
Abstract: The present study was carried out to investigate the physico-chemical parameters of five cultivars of Kiwifruit (Abbott, Allison, Bruno, Hayward and Monty) grown in different states of India (Sikkim, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh). Physico-chemical analyses such as fruit weight, fruit diameter, fruit length, fruit volume, fruit density, fuzziness, TSS, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid, reducing sugar, non-reducing sugar and total sugar were determined. The physico-chemical properties of the fruits showed significant variations amongst cultivars and the locations of cultivation. Fruit weight was in the range of 42.38g in cv. Abbot grown in Himachal Pradesh to 95.84 g in cv. Bruno grown in Arunachal Pradesh. Fruit diameter was as high as 168 mm in cv. Hayward grown in Sikkim. Fruit length of 112 mm was observed as the highest in Cv. Bruno grown in Arunachal Pradesh. TSS was in the range of 11.16 oB in Cv. Monty collected from Himachal Pradesh to 17.03 oB in cv. Allison collected from Arunachal Pradesh. The variations in ascorbic were in the range of 80 mg (cv. Abott grown in Himachal Pradesh) to 112.26 mg/100g (cv. Bruno grown in Himachal Pradesh). All the cultivars under study had a narrow range of total sugar (11.26%- 12.99 %). Overall, the results revealed an appreciable quality of fruits grown in North East India at par with the commercially known kiwi-growing state of Himachal Pradesh. Almost all the physico-chemical parameters taken during the present studies were found to be at par with reported data of marketable fruits from different parts of the world, which reveals the standard quality of kiwifruits grown in India. More studies can be undertaken to establish the physico-chemical markers to identify the source of fruit.
R.M. Yani Abikresna Junanto, Sri Darmanti* and Yulita Nurchayati
Biology Department, Science and Mathematics Faculty, Diponegoro University, Prof. Soedarto, SH. Street, Tembalang, Semarang, Central Java 50275, Indonesia. Corresponding e-mail: darmantisri@yahoo.co.id
Abstract: The study aimed to determine the effect of a combination of drought stress and nano-silica treatments to increase the content of antioxidant compounds and antioxidant activity of lemongrass [Cymbopogon citratus (DC. ex Nees) Stapf] and determine the optimal combination. The research used a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with two factors with 5 replications. The first factor was the level of drought stress (without drought stress, moderate, and severe). The second factor was the nano-silica dose, (0 mg/L, 125 mg/L, and 250 mg/L) with a volume of 10 mL per plant. The parameters measured were carotenoid content, proline content, total phenolics content, and antioxidant activity. Data were analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT). The results showed that there is a specific combination of drought stress and nano-silica which can increase the content of carotenoids, proline, total phenolics, and antioxidant activity in lemongrass. The treatment of moderate and severe drought stress with 125 and 250 mg/L nano-silica increased the carotenoid and proline content maximally. Higher total phenol content and antioxidant activity were obtained from the combination of 250 mg/L nano-silica without drought stress. The highest chlorophyll content was recorded from the combination of severe drought stress and 250 mg/L nano-silica. Drought stress treatment with 250 mg/L nano-silica could increase the antioxidants of lemongrass plants, but maximum production of antioxidants required different combinations of drought stress and nano-silica treatments. Nano-silica treatment at a dose of 250 mg/L in conditions of sufficient water or lack of water can be an optimal combination treatment in lemongrass cultivation.
Pooran Mal Meena*, R.K. Aggarwal, Purnima Mehta and H.C. Sharma
Department of Environmental Science, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, (HP), India. @E-mail: pooranmeena.evs@gmail.com
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2025.v27i01.19
Key words: Mid-hill, agroclimatic indices, heat use efficiency, regression models, yield, broccoli, benefit-cost ratio
Abstract: A field experiment was conducted in the mid-hill zone of Himachal Pradesh representing the sub-humid zone to study the phenological behaviour and heat use efficiency of broccoli crop under abiotic stresses. The broccoli variety, Sakata was evaluated under three thermal environments (T1- 8th October, T2 -28th October and T3-18th November). To expose the crop to different thermal environments, two mulching levels (M1-with black mulch and M2- without mulch) and two irrigation levels (I1- Irrigation at different phenological stages I2- rainfed conditions), during rabi season of 2021-22. The experiment was laid out in a factorial randomized complete block design with three replications. Different agroclimatic indices were computed viz., accumulated growing degree days, helio-thermal units, photothermal units and heat use efficiency. The regression models were developed between the agroclimatic indices, yield and dry matter accumulation of crop. It was found that the broccoli crop sown on 28th October (the normal date of transplanting) took maximum (132) days to reach maturity. The number of days required to attain different phenological stages decreased with delayed sowing. The accumulated growing degree days requirement at the harvesting stage (921.4 ºC day) was observed maximum in timely transplanted (28th October) crop resulting in a higher yield per plot (10.4 kg) and decreased with late transplanted (18th November) crop. The crop utilized heat more efficiently under a timely sown crop. The highest heat use efficiency (HUE) was observed in the crop sown on 28th October and 8th October (27.37 and 25.35 kg/ha/°C/day), respectively. The regression models were developed between curd yield, dry matter accumulation and thermal units of the crop. The model explained 0.50, 0.44 and 0.47 variations in curd yield whereas 0.69, 0.58 and 0.63 variations in dry matter accumulation with different agroclimatic indices under different transplanted dates, mulching and irrigation levels respectively. Broccoli cultivation yielded a profit of ?5.17 lakhs/ha, demonstrating its profitability for farmers. The study highlighted that timely sowing, black mulch, and optimal irrigation significantly improved heat utilization efficiency in mid-hill sub-humid regions. Black mulch improved soil moisture and temperature, creating ideal conditions for broccoli, a thermo-sensitive crop.
J. Shankaraswamy1* and N.C. Okechukwu-Ezike2
1College of Horticulture, Mojerla, Sri Konda Laxman Telangana State Horticultural University, India. 2Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria. Corresponding e-mail: shankara.swamy@gmail.com
Abstract: Freshly harvested cassava varieties (NR 8082, TMS 419, TMS 4(2) and TMS 30572) were each divided into 5 portions, peeled, washed, soaked and fermented for different times (0, 24, 48, 72, 96 hours) in water. The water was regularly changed at 6-hour intervals. Both the fermented and unfermented (fermented for zero hours) tubers were mashed, bagged, de-watered (with a hydraulic press), oven-dried, milled, sieved and packaged. The zero-fermented or unfermented cassava flour represented high-quality cassava flour (HQCF). The flours obtained (HQCF and fermented odourless cassava flours) from the four cassava varieties were used to study the effect of fermentation time on quality characteristics of odourless flours from four cassava varieties comparatively. Most of the measured quality characteristics of cassava flour were affected by varietal differences. The results showed that fermentation, irrespective of cassava variety, influenced progressive increases in foaming capacity (3.76 - 4.19%), water absorption capacity (1.27-1.53g/g), oil absorption capacity (2.99~3.23g/g), emulsion capacity (40.65-46.68%), The longer the period of fermentation, the higher the level of increases for the above-stated quality parameters. However, beyond 48 hours of fermentation, the quality parameters started decreasing with an increase in fermentation time. And there were decreases in bulk density (0.74-0.72g/cm3), swelling index (1.18-1.07%), gelation temperature (71.33-68.67°C), viscosity (0.182-0.176Pa.s), wettability (11.59-7.49s) and photometric colour index (7.71-5.84) as time of fermentation increase from 0-96 hours. Therefore, cassava tubers should be fermented for 48 hours to obtain cassava flours with good functional properties.
Arshad Bhat1* Durgeshwary Kolhe2, Abid Sultan3 H.A. Malik4, Md Sarafraz Equabal5, M. Latief6, Parvaiz Rashid6 and Iqra Qureshi7
1Institute of Liberal Arts, Amity University Mumbai. 2Institute of Behavioural and Allied Sciences, Amity University, Mumbai. 3School of Agricultural Economics and Hort-Business Management, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar. 4KVK, Bandipora. 5Depatrment of Economics, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar. 6Department of Commerce and Management, Gandhi Memorial College, Srinagar.7Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture, Rangreth, Srinagar, India. Corresponding e-mail: bhatarshad09@gmail.com
Abstract: The goal of the current study was to identify the factors influencing apricot production in India’s Ladakh region. Data was collected from 200 respondents in the Ladakh region using a pre-tested interview schedule. The data was analyzed using multiple regression modeling, along with frequency and percentage calculations, to derive the results. A significant portion of apricot growers (27.5%) were obtaining 50–60 kg of yield per tree, while the majority (60.5%) farmed apricots on just one kanal of land. Additionally, 56% of apricot growers applied farmyard manure (FYM), and 45.5% of growers used chemical fertilizers. Furthermore, reports of aphids and scale on the apricot crop accounted for over 77% and 94.5% of the cases, respectively. In addition, apricot growers reported brown rot and scab in over 88% and 94.5% of cases, respectively. In terms of dormant practices, 89% of the respondents were hoeing, while 68.5% applied Horticultural mineral oils (HMO) and 74.5% Bordeaux mixture. The results of the regression analysis showed that brown rot was found to be inversely but significantly related to apricot production, while the application of chemical fertilizers, FYM, HMO, and Bordeaux mixture was found to be positively and significantly related to apricot production. The study suggests paying extra attention to enhancing stone fruit production by establishing more connections with research and agricultural extension centers and organizations. By implementing intercropping, appropriate land division, and allocation for cash crops such as vegetables, stone fruits, and grains, farms can provide access to microcredit at the microlevel.
P. Srinivasu1, M. Kalpana1, V. Aparna2, L. Naram Naidu1 and M. Paratpararao1
1College of Horticulture, Dr. Y.S.R Horticultural University, Venkataramannagudem-534101, West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh, India. 2Scientist, Division of Crop Improvement, ICAR-Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod-671124, Kerala, India. Corresponding e-mail: Psrinivasu344@gmail.com
Abstract: The study was carried out to investigate the effect of desiccation methods on pollen moisture content, pollen yield, percent of pollen viability, pollen germination and pollen tube length of coconut varieties grown in coastal Andhra Pradesh. In this study, four different varieties were subjected to various drying methods (drying at room temperature for 12 and 24 h, oven drying at 30ºC for 12 and 24 h, and oven drying at 40ºC for 12 and 24 h). Results showed a significant difference among treatments, varieties and the interaction between the desiccation methods and varieties. Chowghat Orange Dwarf (COD) staminate flowers dried at 40ºC for 24 h had less moisture content, whereas the maximum was in East Coast Tall (ECT) staminate flowers dried at room temperature for 12 h. Although staminate flowers dried in an oven at 40ºC for 24 h yielded more pollen, pollen viability %, pollen germination %, and pollen tube length were recorded maximum in staminate flowers dried in the oven at 40º for 12 h. Minimum pollen viability %, pollen germination % and pollen tube length were recorded in staminate flowers dried at room temperature for 24 h. This study demonstrates that desiccated staminate flowers contribute to an increase in pollen quantity by reducing moisture content. The resulting pollen can be effectively utilized in breeding programs throughout the year.
Disha Chahal and Krishna Kumar*
Discipline of Geography, School of Sciences, Indira Gandhi National Open University (HQ), New Delhi-110068. Corresponding e-mail: dr.krishnakumar@ignou.ac.in, disha1chahal@gmail.com
Abstract: The study evaluated the current situations and emerging issues of Kinnow farming for sustainable livelihood within the Sirsa district of Haryana, India. The quantitative SWOT-QSPM approach was utilized to analyze the factors influencing Kinnow cultivation and to estimate interrelated strategies. A total of 29 factors encompassing 14 internal (7 strengths(S) and 7 weaknesses(W)) and 15 external (8 opportunities(O) and 7 threats(T)) were recognized by examining data collected through personal interviewing and using questionnaires from 100 farming households located across 10 different villages of district Sirsa with the help of purposive random sampling. Internal Factor Evaluation (IFE) and External Factor Evaluation (EFE) matrices identified that favorable climatic conditions of the region for kinnow farming (S1, 3.8) and Phytophthora infection, pests attack, diseases and lack of knowledge in the specific identification of symptoms in kinnow orchards (W6, 3.6) were the most listed internal strength and weaknesses. At the same time, potential opportunities for the establishment of food processing industries (O5, 3.6), organized cold storage to deal with the perishable nature of the product (O7, 3.4) and unfair pricing/ price crash in times of bumper production (T3, 3.2) encompassed the most concerning external opportunities and subsequent threats in the region. The results further revealed that the revitalization of kinnow export (WT1, 130.85), launching of cold storage chains (WT2, 124.9) and control of diseases (WT3, 101.15) may become the competent action plans to cope with the negative aspects. The establishment of citrus estates with post-harvest facilities (SO3, 96%) and developing food processing industries within the district to enhance local employment and income opportunities (SO1, 94%) may be considered the most appropriate positive (SO) strategies to ensure prosperity and sustainable development of Kinnow farming in the Sirsa region.
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