Tamas Mester, Gergely Csakberenyi-Nagy, Gabor Turk, Istvan Lazar and Tamas Toth
Department of Landscape Protection and Environmental Geography, University of Debrecen. Egyetem ter 1. H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary. Renewable Energy Park, Kishegyesi ut 187. H-4031 Debrecen, Hungary. Department of Meteorology, University of Debrecen.
Abstract: One of the concerns regarding aquaponic systems operating without conventional soil is the limited selection of plants available for cultivation. For a wider use of aquaponic systems increasing yields are inevitable. The aim of our research, started in 2017, was to eliminate the drawbacks of aquaponic systems using alternative solutions in order to remain in the framework of sustainable agriculture. In order to meet the above challenges, a hybrid, automated aquaponic system was installed in which the soil was not removed completely from the systems that are not completely closed as fish receive fresh water as well keeping in this way hormones impeding growth at a low level. Crucians and African catfish were placed into two tanks of 7 m3. Further novelty of the system is the application of quail dung in a quantity determined specially for increasing the natural efficiency of the system. Three methods of cultivation were used and plant macro- and microelements were measured. Results indicate that the system is suitable for growing different chilli types while quail dung input contributes to increase yield significantly therefore it can be integrated into aquaponic systems excellently.
A. Pradhan, L. Sharma, S. G. Bhutia and N. D. Sherpa
Department of Horticulture, Sikkim University, 6th Mile, Tadong, Sikkim, India.
Abstract: The fruit peel of citrus is known to be rich in essential oil. Essential oil content and its characteristics vary amongst the species and climatic factors play a major role. Essential oil, to be suitable for the specific commercial purpose should have basic characteristics. In the present study, extracted oil of selected three citrus species Citrus reticulata, C. maxima and C. jambhiri grown at different altitude of Sikkim Himalaya were characterized. The oil yield was up to 2.4 % in mature fruits and 2.5 % in immature fruits at an altitude of > 1600 m in mandarin orange with significant variations concerning species and altitude. The various analysed oil parameters and their highest values in the study are refractive index (1.49), specific gravity (0.87), free fatty acid (7.83 %), acid value (8.37 %), saponification (163.37 mg KOH / g of oil), iodine value (116 g I2/100 g), peroxide value (36.33 meq O2/kg), thiocyanogen (77.29 %), ester value (57.63 mg KOH/g), phenol (81.92 mg/g). These parameters also showed variations with altitude and the species. The C. reticulata grown at higher altitude (> 1600 m from MSL) found to have better essential oils than C. maxima and C. jambhiri with some exceptions. The characteristics highly endorsed the use of these essential oils for food and cosmetic industries. The waste management with simultaneous production of valuable compound is the major perspective sought in the study.
Sanjay Kumar and M.K. Singh
Division of Floriculture and Crop Improvement, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh. Division of Floriculture and Landscaping, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa, New Delhi- 110012.
Abstract: Availability of planting material is a limiting factor in the cultivation of Asiatic hybrid lily and small farmers are facing the constrains by frequently importing the Lilium bulbs for planting. An experiment was carried out to study the effect of light condition and height of flower harvesting on bulb and bulblet production in Asiatic hybrid lily at CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh. The treatments consisted of four shade conditions i.e., 30 % green shade net (G1), 50 % green shade net (G2), 75 % green shade net (G3) and open field condition (control) (G4) in main plot, four height of flower harvesting i.e., 15 cm above ground (H1), 30 cm above ground (H2), 45 cm above ground (H3) and no flower harvesting (H4) in sub plot and three cultivar i.e., Gran Paradiso (V1), Novecento (V2) and Adelina (V3) in sub-sub plot. Experiemnt was laid out in split-split plot design with three replications. Comparison was made for the treatment effect on characters related to number of bulb and bulblet production, circumference (cm) and weight characters. Results revealed that green shade net significantly improved the bulb and bulblet production and higher number of bulb and bulblet per plant were produced under 50 % green shade net whereas least number of bulb were found in open field condition. More number of bulb and bulblet production were observed where no flowers were harvested. Among varieties, Gran Paradiso produced more number of bulb and bulblet per plant while minimum number of bulb per plant was observed by Novecento. Higher bulb circumference (cm) of bulb and bulblet was found with 50 % green shade net condition. The maximum bulb circumference was found in no flower harvesting treatment and minimum in 15 cm above ground of harvesting. The cultivar Gran Paradiso noted maximum bulb and bulblet circumference (cm). Results indicated that 50 % green shade net gave maximum weight of bulb and bulblet per plant. No flower harvesting treatment produced maximum weight of bulb and bulblet per plant. Among cultivars, Gran Paradiso produced highest weight of bulb per plant while cultivar Novecento produced minimum bulb weight per plant.
O. Montes, R. Castro, C. Villanueva, M. Perez and M. Uribe
Horticultura. Universidad Autónoma Chapingo. Estado de México 56230, México Agroforestería para el Desarrollo Sostenible. Universidad Autónoma Chapingo. Estado de México, 56230, México.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2019.v21i02.16
Key words: Agroforestry, fruit tree, legume tree, wood tree, annual vegetable, silvoarable system
Abstract: Main objective of this paper is selection of tree and vegetable combination for success in new horticulture based alley cropping plantations, fruit, legume and wood tree are integrated in several associations with annual vegetable, Mangifera indica, Psidium guajava, Citrus spp., Leucaena spp., Gliricidia sepium, Cajanus cajan, Populus spp., Eucalyptus, Hevea brasiliensis are the main tree used. Fabaceae, Brassicaceae, Solanaceae familiesand tuber crops are the main associated vegetable crops. This system can be adapted for specific farmers, regions, and countries for vegetable, fruit and wood requirements. The specific credits and subsidies can increase natural, economic, social capital of the world.
B.A. Harsojuwono, S. Mulyani and I.W. Arnata
Department of Agriculture Industrial Technology, Faculty of Agriculture Technology, Udayana University, Bali, Indonesia. Present address: Faculty of Agriculture Technology, Udayana University, Bukit Jimbaran, South Kuta, Badung, Bali (80362), Indonesia.
Abstract: The production of bio-plastics from modified cassava starch and konjac glucomannan had been widely and dependently developed but still demonstrated characteristics that do not meet international quality standards. Therefore the key question for further exploration was to improve the protocol so as to develop a composite bio-plastic using the aforementioned materials. This study aimed to determine the ratio of modified cassava starch and konjac glucomannan and the concentration of acetic acid solution required to produce bio-plastic composites with the best characteristics. This study followed a Factorial Randomized Block Design with two factors. Factor I was the ratio of the modified cassava starch and konjac glucomannan, and consisted of 5 levels namely 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75 and 0: 100. The factor II was the concentration of acetic acid which consisted of 5 levels, viz., 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 %. Each treatment combination was grouped into 4 blocks based on the processing time of making bio-plastic composites, resulting in an altogether 100 experimental units. The data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance followed by Duncan’s multiple comparison tests. The results showed that the ratio of the modified cassava starch and konjac glucomannan, the concentration of acetic acid and its interaction had a very significant effect on the tensile strength, elongation at break, Young’s modulus, swelling and the degradation time of bio-plastic composites. The ratio of the modified cassava starch:konjac glucomannan :: 75:25 with supplemented with 1 % acetic acid produced the best bio-plastic composites with the desired characteristics viz., tensile strength of 1997.40 MPa, elongation at break of 8.90 %, Young’s modulus of 22442.70 MPa, swelling of 10.40 % and the degradation time of 6.33 days. The surface profile of bio-plastic composites in longitudinal appearance displayed presence of regular waveforms along with air cavities or regular pores. Bio-plastic composite profile in transverse appearance revealed arrangement of fibers in the form of regular nets and smooth cross links. These bio-plastic composites contained -OH, -CH, -C-C, -C=C, -NH and -C=O functional groups.
T.G. Ponni and Ashalatha S. Nair
Department of Botany, University of Kerala, Kariavattom, Thiruvananthapuram.
Abstract: Ensete superbum from the family Musaceae is commonly known as Kallu vazha (wild/ rock/cliff banana). The species holds a precise position in the field of medicine for its anti-hyperglycemic, anti-diuretic and spermicidal potential as well as ornamental value in botanical gardens. Due to deforestation, habitat fragmentation, indiscriminate harvesting for commercial gain, absence of suckers, and recalcitrant nature of seeds; this species is facing a drastic reduction in its propagation. The present study developed a protocol for the production of cormlets from explants isolated from inflorescence. The explants were cultured on MS media supplemented with 4mg L-1 BAP and 1.5 mg L-1 KIN and an average of six to ten cormlets were produced/ explants within eight weeks. Shoot induction occurred from the cormlets on MS medium with 3mg L-1 IBA and 1.5 mg L-1 BAP. Cormlets inoculated on MS medium supplemented with 1000 mg L-1 glutamine for a period of four weeks enhanced the size of cormlets which in turn increased the number of shoots. An average of ten multiple shoots were obtained on MS medium supplemented with 5 mg L-1 BAP. Maximum rooting was obtained on half strength MS medium with 3 mg L-1 IBA, 0.1 mg L-1 BAP and 1% activated charcoal. The plantlets were transferred to Knop’s solution for acclimatization. Rooted plants were hardened successfully in cocopeat along with sand in 1:1 combination and transferred to soil with 98% survival rate.
M.H. Aminifard, H. Bayat and M. Khayyat
Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Birjand, Iran.
Abstract: Leaf area information is required in various horticultural and physiological studies. Leaf area measurements require easy, quick and possibly non-destructive methods. The objective of this study was to establish equations to estimate leaf area (LA) using length (L), width (W), fresh weight (FW) and dry weight (DW), length×width (L×W), length + width (L+W), width/length (W/L), length2 (L2) and width2 (W2) of cress (Lepidium sativum L.) leaves as a leafy vegetable and radish (Raphanus sativus L.) as a root vegetable. A soil-cultured experiment was carried out in 2010 under greenhouse conditions to study relationship between leaf dimension and weight with LA of these two vegetable plants. Observed LA was obtained by an automatic measuring device and leaf dimensions were measured by a ruler. Regression analyses of LA versus L, W, FW, DW, L×W, L+W, W/L, L2 and W2 led several models that could be used for estimating the area of individual cress and radish leaves. A linear model employing FW as an independent variables [LA=0.295 (Fresh W.)+ 1.430] resulted in the most accurate estimate (R2 = 0.912, RMSE = 1.52) of cress LA. For radish, a linear model using W as an independent variable [LA=22.50 (W) + 7.46] showed the most accuracy (R2 = 0.874, RMSE = 11.26) estimating LA. Validation of the regression models showed that the correlation between measured and simulated values using these equations were quite acceptable (R2 = 0.922, 0.876).
Krisana Krisanapook, Pattamawan Anusornpornpong, Tee Havananda and Kietsuda Luengwilai
Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture at Kamphaeng Saen, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom 73140, Thailand.
Abstract: Basic information on the inflorescence and flower development of Thai aromatic dwarf coconut was developed. Histology of inflorescences of the Thai dwarf aromatic coconut, �Nam Hom�, was compared to that of a typical tall-type coconut. Both types had the same stages of inflorescence and flower development. �Nam Hom� had the same or higher number of inflorescences than did the tall type at any of the developmental stages. During two years of reproductive development, floral morphogenesis took about one year, while sex determination occurred in 3-4 months before spadix opening. Despite the difference in number of bunches per year observed in the two coconut types, their inflorescence and flower development were not different in the length of time and in the time of occurrence.
A.A. Papadaki. G. Markakis, K. Ladomenou, D. Goumas and N. Magan
Department of Agriculture, School of Agricultural Sciences, Hellenic Mediterranean University, Estavromenos, 71004, Heraklio, Greece. Applied Mycology Group, Cranfield University, Bedford MK43, OAL, U.K.
Abstract: The objective of this study was to examine the effect of different concentrations of nitrogen on downy mildew severity on cucumber plants. Nitrogen (100-600 mg L-1) was applied to plants grown in pots under greenhouse conditions through irrigation water. The cucumber leaves were inoculated with a zoospore suspension of Pseudoperonospora cubensis, the causal agent of powdery mildew. Disease symptoms in plants treated with 300 mg L-1 nitrogen were significantly lower and 24% severity reduction was recorded. A positive effect on the leaf area was also noticed in cucumber plants with the application of 300 mg L-1 nitrogen. The results indicated that a cubic regression curve can be fitted to the disease progress for downy mildew, regardless of N treatments. Furthermore, the N enrichment affected the NH4-N and NO3-N content in leaves and soil as well as P content in the leaves. The application of 100 mg L-1 N significantly reduced Mn content in leaves. Therefore, nitrogen supply in the form of ammonium nitrate fertilizer could beconsidered as an efficient method for the control of downy mildew of cucumber.
T. Damodaran, S. Rajan, Ram Gopal, Ashok Yadav, Kavita Yadav, P.K. Shukla, M. Muthukumar, Nidhi Kumari, Israr Ahmad, S.K. Jha and Deepak N
Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Regional Research Station, Lucknow (U.P.) - 226002, India. Central Institute for Sub-tropical Horticulture, Lucknow- 243122, India. Central Institute for Sub-tropical Horticulture, Regional Research Station, Malda, India.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2019.v21i01.06
Key words: Community based adoption, ICAR-FUSICONT, banana, Fusarium wilt, TR-4 management, impact
Abstract: The profitability of commercial G-9 banana cultivation in the banana growing countries is not only significantly reduced due to serious outbreak of wilt disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense Tropical race 4 (Foc TR-4) rather its cultivation is totally stopped at many places. The virulent and polycyclic nature of the pathogen limits the field level success of the control initiatives through chemicals, resistance breeding and biological control. In India, outbreak of Foc TR-4 during 2017 in the districts of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh and Katihar in Bihar attracted intensive research program for the management of the disease to avoid nationwide threat. �ICAR-FUSICONT� a bio-formulation comprising of consortia of effective antagonistic and growth promoting microbes on a patent protected modified CSR-BIO media was developed and validated through participatory community based management in the hotspots of Foc TR-4. The current study aims to assess the efficacy of the bio-formulation in the control of the disease, impact on restoring the yield and increasing the income of the banana growers at hotspot sites. The investigation was carried out by descriptive survey from 2017 to 2018 with both adopters and non-adopters of the technology. Results showed that formation of community based organization and ICAR-FUSICONT bio-formulation application during the critical growth phases of the crop resulted in an overall decrease in disease incidence in both the states of Uttar Pradesh (U.P.) and Bihar with the adopters. Adopters recorded an average of 6.08 % disease incidence while non- adopters had 45.68 % disease incidence at harvest. An average yield of 25.98 kg/plant with a significantly higher net income of Rs.182949.40/acre was obtained by adopters compared to non-adopters income (Rs. 33514/acre). The study also showed that most of the adopters were from the age group of 30 to 40 years with educational status of above secondary level. The results of this study furthermore indicate that the community enabled technology adoption of ICAR-FUSICONT would be a critical component in the control of the banana Fusarium wilt (Foc TR-4) in the areas of disease epidemic.
Prabawati Hyunita Putri, Sri Hendrastuti Hidayat and Diny Dinarti
Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Bogor Agricultural University, Kamper street, Bogor 16680, Indonesia. Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Bogor Agricultural University, Kamper Street, Bogor 16680, Indonesia.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2019.v21i01.07
Key words: Chemotherapy, shoot tip culture, thermotherapy, virus-free plantlets
Abstract: Viral diseases on shallot in Indonesia has been reported and have important role in yield loss. Viral diseases are easily transmitted via infected bulbs in generations and in regions. Cultivation of virus-free bulbs is considered the most effective method of controlling viral diseases, so the production of virus-free bulb are important and necessary. Elimination of viruses on local cultivars was achieved using shoot tip culture combined with thermotherapy. In this research, the method for elimination of Potyvirus and Carlavirus from shallot bulbs was developed using combination of thermotherapy (30 °C, 37 °C, in homogenous and heterogenous condition) with different size of explant shoot tip culture (1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm). The result showed that virus-free plantlets could be derived from 1 mm-explant. Treatment combination of 2 mm-explant with homogenous temperture 37 °C was also able to eliminate virus.
K.G. Chandrashekar, R.M. Vijayakumar, S. Subramanian, M. Kavino and A. John Joel
Department of Fruit Crops, Horticulture College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore 641 003, Tamil Nadu, India. Department of Fruit Crops, Horticulture College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore 641 003, Tamil Nadu, India. Horticultural College & Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore 641 003, Tamil Nadu, India. Department of Fruit Crops, Horticultural College & Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641 003, Tamil Nadu, India. Centre for Plant Breeding and Genetics, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore 641 003, Tamil Nadu, India.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2019.v21i01.08
Key words: Jackfruit, coffee ecosystem, pulney hills, genetic variability
Abstract: An experiment was conducted to evaluation of jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.,) local genotypes under coffee ecosystem of lower pulney hills at Horticultural Research Station, Thadiyankudisai and its adjoining areas, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore during year 2016-2017 with an objective to characterize the promising local genotypes for commercial cultivation and studies of genetic improvement with jackfruit, five fruits of each of thirty five genotypes were evaluated based on IPGRI, 2000 (Bio-versity international) jackfruit descriptor. Fruit characters viz., bearing habit, bearing position, clustering habit, shape, length, diameter, weight, stalk attachment, spine density per 25 cm2, fruit rind weight and flake characters viz., total weight of flakes per fruit, weight of individual flake with seed, weight of individual flake without seed, number of flakes per fruit, flakes: fruit ratio, rind: flakes ratio, flake length, flake width, shape of flake, flake colour. Results were evaluated by descriptive statistics viz., mean, standard deviation, coefficient of variation, standard error of mean. It was concluded that a more variation of fruit character was found under lower pulney hills of Tamil Nadu, it will help to breeder for accounting potential fruit character in future.
Santanu Malakar, Sudipto Sarkar and Nitin Kumar
Department of Agricultural Engineering, Assam University, Silchar, Assam-788011 (India). Department of Food Engeering, National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, Sonepat, Haryana-131028 (India).
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2019.v21i01.09
Key words: King chilli, postharvest, capsaicin, proximate composition, marketing distribution.
Abstract: King chilli (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) is an indigenous variety of capsicum to the northeast region of India and has been familiar as the hottest chilli in the World. In this article possible nutritional value of king chilli was studied for the health benefit. It has also been great prospective for its pungency and medicinal value utilized by the native people of the northeast India. It is consumed in different form as normal chilli but have especial demand on national and international markets for its extra powerful pungency and aroma. Even though being a valuable crop with high potential value for income sources for the indigenous people, so it is essential to emphasis on studies directed towards the different systematic production (morphological, cultivation practices, postharvest processing and marketing) of king chilli. Due to high demand there need to standardize the production and postharvest technology which may help to improve the yield, quality and shelf life extension for long chain marketing and distribution. The present review is focused on production and processing practices of king chilli.
J. Omidi, S. Abdolmohammadi, A. Hatamzadeh and A. Mahboub khomami
Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Guilan University, Rasht, Iran. Faculty Member of Soil and Water Research Department, Gilan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Rasht, Iran.
Abstract: Peanut shells, leftover as wastes from peanut planting, in combination with considerable amount of compost can be used as an alternative source to replace with peat in cultivation of ornamental plants. In this experiment, five treatments in a completely randomized design with three replications were conducted outdoors at Lahijan ornamental plants research station. The treatments comprised of 2 peat + 1 perlite + 0 Shells Peanut composts (control), 1.5 Peat + 1 perlite + 0.5 Shells peanut compost, 1 peat + 1 perlite + 1 Shells Peanut composts, 0.5 Peat + 1 perlite + 1.5 peanut shells compost, 0 peat + 1 perlite + 2 peanut shells compost. The estimated parameters included number of flowers, plant height, fresh and dry weight of canopy, root length, fresh and dry weight of roots, and physical and chemical properties of substrates on Viola spp. that were cultivated on them. The results showed that replacement with peanut shells compost had a significant effect on number of flowers, plant height, dry weight of canopy and fresh as well as dry weight of roots in comparison to control. Increasing levels of peanut shells compost caused reduction in bulk density and an increase in total porosity, water capacity and air fill porosity.
M.M. Abdelkader, M.Y. Puchkov, M.A. Lysakov, E.G. Loktionova and A.A. Suliman
Faculty of Agriculture, SohagUniversity, Sohag, Egypt. Scientific Research Institute of Vegetable and Melon Crop, Astrakhan, Russia. Astrakhan State University, Astrakhan, Russia. National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt-Kazan Agricultural University, Kazan, Russia.
Abstract: This study aims to enhance growth characteristics and quality parameters for tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum) by applying different doses of Crezacin (synthetic) and Energene (natural) as growth regulators instead of Chemical fertilization. A specific experiment has been carried out to study the effect of two types of plant growth regulators Crezacin: Active substances (475 g/L): Orth-o-cresoxyacetic acid triethanolammonium salt with applied doses (100, 200 and 300 ppm) and Energene: active substances (700 g/kg) humic acid with applied doses (250, 500 and 700 ppm) on growth and physiological characteristics of tomato plants (Kendras F1). Both Crezacin and Energene were applied three times (Soaking tomato seeds for 24 hours before sowing, spraying on plants at 35 DAP, spraying on plants at 70 DAP). Application of humic acid “Ener-700” increased plant height (78.0 cm), number of leaves/plant (57.8), fresh weight (250.2 g), dry weight (75.1 g) of arial parts, flowers number (48.1), fruits number (35.1) and fruit weight (64.0 g). Also using “ Ener-700” improved tomato fruit’s quality by enhancing level of dry matter (7.6 %), sugar contents (5.8 oBrix), Ascorbic acid (26.9 mg 100 g-1), Maturity Index (12.61) and Taste Index (1.09), while level of nitrate rose by increasing humic acid and the maximum level (22.0 mg kg-1) obtained from Ener-700. Applying Ener-500 gave the maximum titratable acidity (0.48%) and carotenoids contents (4.89 mg 100 g-1)