HortFlora Research Spectrum

289-294

Authors: R.S. Negi; B.S. Baghel; A.K. Gupta; Y.K. Singh

A study was carried out in Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Deendayal Research Institute, Satna for two consecutive years to evaluate the effect of various in-situ moisture conservation measures on establishment and growth of aonla (Emblica officinalis) in sloppy degraded lands. In-situ moisture conservation measures included for the study were preparation of circular ring basin+mulching the basin with black polythene, staggered contour trenching (45 cm width and 3 m length) on upper side of the plant basin, placement of one submerged pitcher in one side of the plant for rainwater harvesting, setting the seedling in a depression of 1 m width and 15 cm deep, surrounded by a ring-shaped ridge with 25 cm width and, 15 cm height and a 30 cm opening on the higher side to harvest rain water+filling the depression with straw+mulching with black polythene and control (no micro-catchment or mulch). The results revealed that all the in-situ moisture conservation methods showed improvements in survival, establishment and growth of aonla plants. However, preparation of micro catchment area of one meter width surrounded by ring shaped ridge of 25 cm width and 15 cm height and having a 30 cm opening at the higher side and mulching in depressed area with straw and cover with black polythene was found to be the most effective moisture conservation method in increasing the survival and growth of aonla seedlings/budlings among all the conservation treatments.

300-305

Authors: Arvind Bhatt; N.K. Mishra; D.S. Mishra; C.P. Singh

Mango, the national fruit of India, has developed its own importance all over the world. Being a useful and delicious fruit, it is the part of culture and religion since long time, and now, it is recognized as one of the best fruits in the world market. Calcium and potassium amongst major nutrients as well as zinc, boron amongst micro nutrients have been found to play a major role in maintenance of mango fruit quality. Moreover, for rapid response and correction of deficiencies of mineral nutrients, foliar spray of nutrients especially Ca, B, Zn and K have been used singly or in combination. The experiment was conducted on mango cv. Dashehari at Horticulture Research Centre, Patharchatta, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar. The experiment involved the pre-harvest foliar spray of nutrients at 'marvel stage' of mango fruits. The treatments included CaCl2@1.2%, Borax@0.5%, K2SO4@0.5%, Ca(NO3)2@1.0%, ZnSO4@0.5%, ZnCl2@0.3% and control. The results obtained indicated that the trees sprayed with 0.5% borax showed maximum fruit yield, fruit weight, fruit volume, T.S.S., reducing sugar, non reducing sugar and ascorbic acid content, however, this treatment found to be at par with 1% Ca(NO3)2. While with regard to maintenance of post harvest fruit quality in mango, the minimum physiological loss in weight was reported in 1.0% Ca(NO3)2 followed by CaCl2 (1.2%) up to the end of 12th day. Other quality parameters like fruit TSS, sugar and ascorbic acid content were best maintained by borax, calcium and potassium treatments.

312-317

Authors: Anil Kumar Singh

Genetic resources are the basic material for any crop improvement programme, obviously because they contain some unique traits/gene. Exploration for collection of germplasm is the quickest and simplest method for acquiring the desired one. Indian is world's biggest home of vegetarian inhabitants and legumes are main source of protein in their diet, pods are consumed fresh, or processed as vegetable either dried seed are used as dal or variety of preparation. A vegetable type pigeon pea of perennial nature has been identified and explored from Vaishali district of Bihar. Such promising and unique germplasm could be utilized by pigeon pea workers in their respective crop improvement programme to reinforcement food and nutritional security of country by efficient utilization.

323-327

Authors: Priyamvada Sonkar; R.B. Ram; M.L. Meena

An experiment was conducted at the Horticultural Research Farm of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow. The experiment was performed to find out the most suitable mulching material and an ideal spacing for strawberry cultivation under Lucknow conditions. The experiment was laid out in a Factorial Randomized Block Design with three replications. The treatments comprised of six mulching materials viz. paddy straw, dry grass (Saccharum spp.), dry leaves (dry neem leaves), red polyethylene, green polyethylene and transparent polyethylene with two spacings (30×15 cm and 30×30 cm). On the basis of the statistical data, it is concluded that spacing of 30×30 cm with green polyethylene mulch was found to be the best in terms of plant growth viz. plant height, spread of plants, number of leaves and leaf area. Similarly, spacing of 30×15 cm with green polyethylene mulch significantly influenced number of flowers, fruit length and fruit width, yield and quality. However, there was slight difference in quality parameters among different treatments.

334 - 338

Authors: Prashant Katiyar; O.P. Chaturvedi; Dheerendra Katiyar

The experiment was carried out on spike production in gladiolus with foliar application of zinc, calcium and boron, conducted in Horticulture Garden of Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology Kanpur in Randomized Block Design with four replications. The experimental plots were 32 with 8 treatments and two levels of each of zinc, calcium and boron treated by zinc sulphate 0.5%, calcium sulphate 0.75% and borax 0.2%, respectively. The results obtained revealed that the foliar spray of zinc at 0.5% to gladiolus plant was most effective to influence the vegetative growth and size of spike.

344 - 347

Authors: Rajesh Kumar; Shant Lal; K.K. Misra

The search for techniques that extend shelf life of guava (Psidium guajava) fruits, and reduce its postharvest losses is desirable. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of concentrations of competitive ethylene antagonist calcium salts on conservation of 'Sardar" guava fruits. Treatments consisted of 0.5%, 1% Calcium Nitrate, 1%, 2% Calcium Chloride and 0.5%, 1% Calcium Sulphate for 12 days followed by storage at room temperature. The application of 1% calcium chloride for 12 days was efficient in delaying loss of skin color and in keeping fruit firm at room temperature storage. The calcium nitrate at 1% concentration was efficient in delaying skin colour loss only when fruits were stored at 25°C. The effect of calcium nitrate was quite significant on the reduction of acceptability in both the year. The product was efficient in delaying the ripening of fruits and the calcium chloride 1% showed the best effect.

354 - 357

Authors: Vijai Kumar; Naresh Kumar; M.C. Singh

In an experiment conducted on ashwagandha (Withania somnifera Dunal), to study the response of different organic amendments with organic manure (FYM) and bio-fertilizers in relation to plant growth, root yield and quality parameters. It was found that the seedlings (5-7 leaf stage) inoculated with Azospirillum @ 105 or 106 CFU resulted a significant increase in plant growth and biomass yield which exhibited a positive association among them in contributing the root yield and quality traits. The maximum and positive correlation (0.884) was observed between the total alkaloid and withanaloid content followed by fresh root weight per plant (g) and fresh root yield per ha (0.831) and between plant height and number of leaves per plant (0.777). The association of the plant height also exhibited a highly significant correlation with stem diameter (0.659), alkaloid (0.777) and withanaloid (0.668) content in the roots. The number of leaves per plant had highly significant and positive correlation (1.99) with plant canopy followed by alkaloid (0.755) and withanaloid (0.774) contents. The fresh root weight per plant exerted the positive and significant effect of high magnitude (0.831) and fresh root yield (kg) per plot. Dry root weight per plant could established a significant and positive association (0.514) with dry root yield (kg) per ha. The total alkaloid content in the roots witnessed a highly significant and positive correlation with plant height (0.777), number of leaves per plant (0.755) followed by positive and significant association with stem diameter (0.573), number of berries per plant (0.554) and fresh root yield (kg) per plot (0.485). Withanaloid content (%) witnessed a highly significant and positive correlation with plant height (0.668), number of leaves per plant (0.754) and alkaloid content (0.884). Whereas a significant and positive correlation exhibited with stem diameter (0.581).

362 - 366

Authors: R.C. Shakywar and S.P. Pathak

Progress of Phytophthora blight of taro (Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum) caused by Phytophthora colocasiae Racib. was found greatly influenced by environmental factors prevalent under field condition. Per cent plant infection, disease intensity, coefficient of disease index and related progress of disease were periodically recorded on a susceptible variety Narendra Arvi-2. The maximum and minimum infection rate ('r') was observed in 33rd and 32nd standard week during 2006 and 2007. Disease intensity and per cent plant infection were significantly but positively correlated with rainfall and relative humidity in both the year. Disease intensity and per cent plant infection were negatively but none significantly correlated with maximum temperature in 2007 but positively correlated in the year 2006. However, rest of the weather factors were positively correlated to disease intensity and per cent plant infection in both the years. Relative humidity, cumulative rainfall and sunshine hour were found most congenial environmental factors for leaf blight development of taro.

371 - 374

Authors: Ramesh Singh; P.C. Singh; Dinesh Kumar; N.S. Sachan

Phomopsis leaf blight caused by Phomopsis vexans is an important disease of Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) in Eastern U.P. Therefore, efficacy of fungicides and biopesticides were tested in-vitro and in-vivo. Bavistin (0.1%), Vitavax (0.1%), Blitox-50 (0.2%), and Ridomil (0.15%) proved to be the most effective in inhibiting the growth of pathogen in-vitro and controlling the disease in the field. Biopesticide, Nimbidine was also proved effective, but slightly less effective than systemic fungicide except Indofil M-45, Nimbidine being a safe eco-friendly and economical bioproduct which can be used in the management of the disease.

380 - 382

Authors: Satish Chand; Vijai Kumar; Jitendra Kumar

A laboratory experiment was conducted in July 2010 to determine the effect of AgNO3 and 8-HQC on vase life of cut roses. The cut flowers having 42-44 cm stem length were harvested and then brought to the laboratory in a bucket containing fresh tap water. The stem ends were then re-cut to uniform length of 40 cm each and retained only 4 uppermost leaves. After recording the fresh weight of each cut stem in the laboratory the cut flowers were kept in 50 ppm and 100 ppm solution of AgNO3 and 100 ppm and 200 ppm 8-HQC under ambient condition of 32 ± 2°C temperature and 50-75% relative humidity. There were 10 treatments in all, each cultivar having 4 and 2 was of control, replicated thrice in completely randomized design (CRD) and the flowers taken per replication were 4 and finally the vase life and quality of cut roses were evaluated in the test tubes containing of 150 ml holding solution. The use of 8-HQC is well known in cut flowers as it acts as an bactericides for improving the vase life of cut rose, while AgNO3 which acts as an anti-ethylene also helps in enhancing the flower diameter and vase life of cut roses. Treatment with AgNO3 (50ppm) and 8-HQC (200 ppm) significantly increased the fresh weight of flowers over the control (distilled water). Higher gain in fresh weight was associated with longer vase life. Further experiment conducted on rose cv. 'First Red' and 'Grand Gala' presents enhanced water uptake and flower diameter over control. In the experiment, vase life of cut flower under different treatments was determined in vase holding solution i.e., 50 ppm, 100 ppm, AgNO3 and 100 ppm, 200 ppm 8-HQC. The cut rose cv. 'First Red' showed the maximum diameter at 100 ppm 8-HQC, while as in cv. 'Grand Gala' 100 ppm AgNO3 showed maximum flower diameter on 3rd day in vase. The maximum vase life of cut roses cv. 'First Red' and 'Grand Gala' was recorded in 8-HQC at 200 ppm and 100ppm. Form the experimental findings, it was observed that cv. 'First Red' has more vase life compared to cv. 'Grand Gala'. It is concluded from investigation that 8-HQC enhances the fresh weight, flower diameter, water uptake and vase life of roses at 100 ppm and 200 ppm.