Abstract: A field trial was conducted during the winter season of 1998/99 in Etawah, Uttar Pradesh, India to determine the optimum concentration of naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), gibberellic acid (GA) and chlormequat (CCC) for application on French marigold. Spraying of NAA (50, 100 and 200 ppm), GA (100, 200 and 400 ppm) and CCC (200, 400 and 600 ppm) was done in February. Data were recorded for plant height, diameter of main stem, number of branches per plant, number of leaves per plant, days to first flowering, diameter of flowers, fresh weight of flowers, number of flowers per plant, and flower yield per plant. CCC and GA application gave quite beneficial effects on these parameters. GA at 400 ppm and CCC at 600 ppm recorded the highest flower yield per plant (127.71 g) and number of flowers per plant (78.83), respectively. These chemicals had no adverse effect on the growth and flowering of French marigold.
S. Engindeniz, F. Cukur and D. Yucel
Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, The University of Ege, 35100 Bornova, Izmir, Turkey.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2003.v05i02.29
Key words: costs, crop production, crop yield, fruit growing, peaches, production economics, profitability, returns
Abstract: Some technical and economic characteristics of peach growing in Kemalpasa, Izmir, Turkey, were examined. Data were obtained from a sample of 63 peach growers. Average yield per hectare and per tree was determined to be 16 848 kg and 37.7 kg, respectively. The average orchard size was 1.09 ha. Growers preferred square planting with 4.5 m x 4.5 m spacing rather than triangle planting. Redhaven, Cresthaven, Triogem and Dixired were the major cultivars grown. Net return per hectare and per tree was determined to be $839 and $1.88, respectively.
Ang BoonHaw and Chan LaiKeng
School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2003.v05i02.16
Key words: benzyladenine, culture media, IBA, in vitro culture, in vitro regeneration, micropropagation, plant growth regulators, shoots, tissue culture
Abstract: S. acmella [Blainvillea acmella] was successfully micropropagated using axillary buds as explants. The aseptic axillary buds formed multiple shoots within 5 weeks when cultured on MS medium supplemented with 2.0, 4.0, 6.0 and 8.0 mg benzyladenine (BA)/l. The addition of IBA as low as 2 mg/l into the MS medium containing BA had no significant effect on the multiple shoot formation. MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg BA/l was sufficient for the proliferation of rooted multiple shoots. First subculturing of the in vitro individual shoots in the same proliferation medium could double the formation of multiple shoots.
T. Yeshitela, P.J. Robbertse and P.J.C. Stassen
Department of Plant Sciences, Alemaya University, P.O. Box 165 Dire Dawa, Ethiopia.
Abstract: In a study conducted at Bavaria Estate, Hoedspruit, the northern province of South Africa, the mango cultivars Keitt and Tommy Atkins were subjected to the following treatments over 2 seasons: (1) inflorescence removal at the point of apical bud attachment during full bloom; (2) inflorescence removal together with apical whorl of leaves subtending the inflorescence (about 5 cm from the tip) during full bloom; (3) removal of 50% of the total inflorescences (every alternate shoot of the tagged branches) together with apical whorl of leaves subtending the inflorescence during full bloom; (4) renewal pruning where 20-30% of termination shoots with weak, misshaped and small fruits were cut back to a suitable node in October; (5) postharvest pruning where termination shoots that had been bearing fruits the previous season were cut back to a suitable node; (6) removal of terminal buds just before bud break; and (7) no pruning treatments (control). Pruning at the point of apical bud attachment induced re-flowering, m
P.S.S. Kumar, S.A. Geetha, P. Savithri, P.P. Mahendran and K.P. Ragunath
Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore - 641 003, India.
Abstract: The Compositional Nutrient Diagnosis (CND) and Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS) nutrient index ranges were derived from a Muscat grape database to relate nutrient concentration and indexes with berry yield. A Muscat grape database of 188 observations on commercial yields and N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, S, B, Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn were taken. The proportion of low-yield specimens in the survey population was computed at inflection point of variance ratio function and was associated with a Cate and Nelson statistical value (r2) of 4.7 that was confirmed in the validation subpopulation. Critical CND nutrient indexes were found to be symmetrical about zero as follows: -0.45 to +0.45 for CND/N, -0.39 to +0.39 for CND/P, -0.45 to +0.45 for CND/K, -0.93 to +0.93 for CND/Na, -0.45 to +0.45 for CND/Ca, -0.33 to +0.33 for CND/Mg, -0.60 to +0.60 for CND/S, -1.02 to +1.02 for CND/B, -0.58 to +0.58 for CND/Zn, -0.78 to +0.78 for CND/Cu, -0.55 to +0.55 for CND/Fe, -0.16 to +0.16 for CND/Mn and -0.49 to +0.49 for
T. Saravanan, M. Muthusamy and T. Marimuthu
Agricultural Research Station, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Kovilpatti - 628 501, India.
Abstract: A study was conducted to develop gamma radiation-induced resistant clones of banana (Musa sp.) cv. Rasthali against F. oxysporum f.sp. cubense race-1. Shoot buds of Rasthali irradiated with 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 Gy by using Co60 in a gamma chamber were used for in vitro culture establishment and to develop resistant clones. Shoot buds irradiated with 40 Gy had the maximum shoots per culture and percentage of culture establishment. Other doses of gamma radiation inhibited the culture establishment when compared to the untreated control. The shoots irradiated with 40 Gy were used to develop resistant clones against toxins of race 1. To standardize the concentration of the culture filtrate of the pathogen for the tolerant clone selection, the multiple bud clumps were cultured on MS medium supplemented with 2-15% crude culture filtrates. The growth of multiple bud clumps was completely inhibited on the medium containing 10% culture filtrate. In the successive selection, the rate of survival of the plantlets incr
Atul Bhargava, Sudhir Shukla and Deepak Ohri
Division of Genetics and Plant Breeding, National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow - 226 001, India.
Abstract: An experiment was conducted during 2002/03 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India to test the suitability of direct and indirect selection for high foliage yield and quality in Chenopodium album over successive cuttings. Thirteen germplasm lines were evaluated for moisture, chlorophyll a and b, carotenoid, fibre, protein and ascorbic acid contents and foliage yield. High heritability and moderate to high genetic advance were observed for all characters, except for moisture content, in all cuttings. Chlorophyll a exhibited the highest correlated response for the first and third cuttings, while fibre content exhibited the highest correlated response for the second cutting. A multiple selection index is suggested to enhance foliage yield. The estimates of correlated response and relative selection efficiencies were in proportion with each other although values for the latter were less than one.
Himanish Das, S. Jayaraman and Mahadeva Naika
Food Contaminants Division, Defence Food Research Laboratory, Siddarthanagar, Mysore - 570 011, India.
Abstract: A study was conducted to evaluate the uptake of carbendazim by 8 fruits and vegetables, i.e. tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum), apple (Malus pumila), carrot (Daucus carota), okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), orange (Citrus sinensis), grape (Vitis vinifera), sapota (Achras zapota [Manilkara zapota]) and banana (Musa paradisiaca), dipped in aqueous carbendazim suspension under laboratory conditions. The effect of carbendazim dips on the storage life of apple and tomato was also investigated. The uptake of carbendazim varied significantly, ranging from 68.97+or-2.89 to 813.64+or- 11.46 micro g (mean 342.13 micro g), among the fruits and vegetables. The lowest uptake was recorded in apple, followed by banana, orange, tomato, okra, grape, sapota and carrot. Dip treatments more effectively extended the storage life of tomato than apple and at ambient (32+or-2 degrees C) than at low temperature (7+or-2 degrees C). Dip treatments also decreased the cumulative physiological loss in weight and spoilage of tomato and apple,
M.K. Suleiman, N.R. Bhat and R.R. Bellen
Aridland Agriculture and Greenery Department, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, P.O. Box 24885, Safat 13109, Kuwait.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2003.v05i02.22
Key words: canopy, drought, growth, irrigation, ornamental plants, plant height, plant water relations, rosemary, water stress
Abstract: To promote efficient use of expensive water resource as well as to maintain soil productivity and health in Kuwait, it is important to ascertain plant performance with regard to different irrigation regimes. A study was conducted to determine the effects of induced water stress on the growth and greenery impact of four ornamental plants, namely Vitex agnus-castus, Caesalpinia mexicana, Myoporum parvifolium and Rosmarinus officinalis, grown under the harsh arid climate of Kuwait. Acclimatized plants of these species were planted in Salmiya in July 2002. Plants were subjected to water stress by irrigating them at the rate of 25, 50 or 100% of the daily evapotranspiration rates during that month (3.75, 7.5 or 15.0 mm/d). The irrigation was adjusted according to average monthly ET rates. Growth and visual greenery impact data were recorded at weekly intervals during the first 87 days after planting and then at monthly intervals. Soil moisture was determined at weekly intervals using field tensiometers and oven-dr
A. Pardo, J.A.de. Juan and J.E. Pardo
Centro de Investigacion, Experimentacion y Servicios del Champinon (CIES), C/ Penicas s/n, Apartado 8, E-16220 Quintanar del Rey, Cuenca, Spain.
Abstract: A study was conducted to evaluate the suitability of composted vine shoots (as alternative to peat) as casing material in the cultivation of mushroom (Agaricus bisporus). The effect of scratching on the suitability of the casing materials based on peat and vine shoots was also examined. The treatments consisted of scratched and non-scratched soil + sphagnum peat (S+SP, 4:1 v/v), soil + black peat (S+BP, 4:1 v/v) and soil + composted vine shoots (S+CV, 4:1 v/v). Based on the main production parameters measured (number of mushrooms produced, unitary weight, yield and earliness), composted vine shoots performed similarly to peat-based casing materials. However, the possibilities of using composted vine shoots are limited due to the appearance of spots caused by Trichoderma spp. on the fruit bodies. Scratching created an open structure in the casing layer to enable uniform and abundant fructification. In general, for the different casing types, scratching had a positive effect on fructification. This practice ind
Vinod Kumar, S.K. Bhattacharjee, Suchitra and K.P. Singh
Division of Floriculture and Landscaping, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi - 110 012, India.
Abstract: The effects of different pulsing treatments, i.e. 10% sucrose + 250 ppm aluminium sulfate (Al2(SO4)3) for 12 h, 10% sucrose + 0.5 mM silver thiosulfate (STS) for 12 h and 8% sucrose + 200 ppm 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate (8-HQC) for 12 h, and durations of cold storage, i.e. 4 and 5 days, on the cut spikes of tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa) cv. Double were studied. Pulsing and cold storage improved the postharvest life and quality of tuberose cut flowers. Pulsing with 10% sucrose + 250 ppm Al2(SO4)3for 12 h and cold storage of cut spikes for 4 days was the best treatment combination for rachis length, delay in wilting of first, third and last opened floret pair, extension of useful life, retention of fragrance, water uptake, opening of florets, increase in diameter and length of first, third and last opened floret pair, and vase life. This treatment also recorded the maximum vase life of 8.90 days.
P.S.S. Kumar, S.A. Geetha and P Savithri
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.2003.v05i01.05
Key words: boron, chemical composition, iron, methodology, mineral content, mineral deficiencies, nutrient content, nutrient deficiencies, plant composition, plant nutrition, rhizomes, turmeric, zinc
Abstract: The optimum levels for nutrients in the rhizomes of turmeric were generated by Critical Value Approach (CVA), Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS)/Modified Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (MDRIS) and Compositional Nutritional Diagnosis (CND). Approximately 500 soil and rhizome samples were obtained from commercial fields in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India, during July-September 2000. Using the new norms of DRIS/MDRIS for rhizomes, the extent of deficiency of none of the micronutrients (Zn, B and Fe) matched with the values assessed with the soil analysis. Approximately 17% of the turmeric growing area was limited by mineral nutrition. Approximately 23% was identified as having possible imbalances. Based on the order of requirement, predominance of Zn deficiency was well indicated by CND than DRIS.
Sanjeev Sharma and N.P. Dohroo
Department of Mycology and Plant Pathology, Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan (H.P.) - 173 230, India.
Abstract: Seven species of VAM fungi were found associated with ginger rhizosphere in Himachal Pradesh, India. They included Glomus mosseae, G. caledonium, G. pulvinatum, Acaulospora laevis, A. scrobiculata, Gigaspora albida and Scutellospora minuta. Among the different VAM fungi species, frequency of Glomus species was maximum. The morphological characters of these VAM fungi are described.
M.R. Dinesh
Division of Fruit Crops, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hessaraghatta, Bangalore - 560 089, India.
Abstract: A study was conducted in Bangalore, Karnataka, India to determine the presence of reciprocal effects and to assess the parents best suited for the transfer of desirable characters in commercial cultivars of mango. The cultivars Alphonso, Banganapalli, Neelum, Kalapadi and Janardhan Pasand were utilized for crossing, including reciprocals. The F1 intervarietal progenies of the combinations Alphonso x Banganapalli, Alphonso x Neelum, Alphonso x Kalapadi and Alphonso x Janardhan Pasand were evaluated for different characters, i.e. fruit weight, fruit volume, total soluble solids (TSS), skin weight, stone weight and pulp percentage. The study showed that non-additive variance controls the characters. Heritability was low and the chances of hybrid vigour manifesting for the characters in the F1 generation were high. Selection of progenies can be made based on fruit size, i.e. medium-sized fruits will have good TSS and big-sized fruits will decrease this character. For the characters studied, the phenotypic coeffic
Vandna Pandey, Z. Ahmed and Narendra Kumar
Defence Agricultural Research Laboratory, Pithoragarh, Uttaranchal, India.
Abstract: Eight inbred lines of cabbage, namely Sel-2, Sel-3, Sel-4, Sel-1, Sel-36 Sector, Sel-6, Sel-5 and Sel-7, were crossed in all possible combinations (excluding reciprocals), and the 28 F1s along with their parents were planted in September 2001 in Pithoragarh, Uttaranchal, India. Sel-1 x Sel-36 Sector was identified as the best among all combinations, having significant hybrid vigour (heterosis) for biological yield, head weight, net weight of head and head size index.