Study on the vegetative propagation of guava (Psidium guajava L.) Through air and stool layering” Mr

ABSTRACT
In African marigold Cv. Pusa Narangi Gainda, the maximum plant height was recorded at a wider spacing of 50 cm x 30 cm and without pinching. More number of branches per plant, minimum number of days for first flowering, and 50% flowering, more number of flowers per plant and maximum flower diameter were observed in wider spacing (50 cm x 30 cm) with pinching at 30 DAT. The weight of single flower, flower yield per plant and yield per hectare were found maximum in spacing of 40 cm x 30 cm with pinching at 30 DAT.
The maximum plant height, less number of days for flowering (1^st flowering) and 50% flowering, maximum weight of single flower and maximum weight of flowers per plant were observed in the interaction of nitrogen @ 250 kg ha^-1 and phosphorus @ 100 kg ha^-1 along with ferrous sulphate @ 0.75% (N₂P₂F₂).

Maximum number of flowers per plant was observed in the interaction of nitrogen @ 250 kg ha^-1 and phosphorous @ 100 kg ha^-1 along with foliar spray of magnesium sulphate 0.75% (N₂P₂M₂).

Maximum number of branches per plant, flower diameter and flower yield per hectare were found with the interaction of nitrogen @ 250 kg ha^{- 1} _{and phosphorus @ 100 kg ha}^-1 _{along with foliar spray of zinc sulphate 1.0%} (N₂P₂Z₂).
Maximum plant height, increased number of branches per plant, more number of flowers per plant, maximum flower diameter, single flower weight, weight of flowers per plant and maximum yield per hectare were observed with the treatment NAA @ 300 ppm. Less number of days for flowering (1^st flowering) and 50% of plants to reach flowering was found with the treatment of CCC @ 1000 ppm.
Increased flower yield ha^-1 and maximum lutein content were found with the composite treatment CT₃ (spacing at 40 cm x 30 cm, pinching at 30 ^{DAT, 250 kg nitrogen ha-1, 100 kg P}₂^O₅ ^{ha-1 along with foliar spraying of}

magnesium sulphate at 0.75% and NAA at 300 ppm).

Highest carotenoid content was recorded with the composite treatment CT₄ (spacing at 40 cm x 30 cm, pinching at 30 DAT, 250 kg nitrogen ha^-1, 100 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1 along with foliar spraying of magnesium sulphate at 0.75% and NAA at 200 ppm).
The minimum percent loss of physiological weight of flowers and maximum storage life of flowers were observed with the composite treatment CT₃ (spacing at 40 cm x 30 cm, pinching at 30 DAT, 250 kg nitrogen ha^-1, 100 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1 along with foliar spraying of magnesium sulphate at 0.75% and NAA at 300 ppm).

2. 
   “Exploitation of heterosis and combining ability for yield, quality and processing in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L).” – Y.Madhavi.
   

ABSTRACT

The present investigation “Exploitation of heterosis and combining ability for yield, quality and processing in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L).” was carried out during rabi, 2010-11 and kharif, 2011 at Vegetable Research Station, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad to study the genetic parameters, heterosis, combining ability, gene action governing the inheritance of the traits, correlation coefficient analysis, path coefficient analysis, storage studies at ambient conditions and quality of value added products. Six lines (EC-165749, LE-56, LE-62, LE-64, LE-65 and LE-67) were crossed with three testers (Punjab Chhuhara, Pant T-3 and Pusa Gaurav) in line x tester mating design. The resultant 18 F1’s were evaluated along with their parents and three standard checks (Lakshmi, US-618 and Arka Vikas) for twenty characters viz., plant height (cm), number of primary branches per plant, days to 50% flowering, number of flowers per cluster, number of fruits per cluster, fruit length (cm), fruit width (cm), average fruit weight (g), fruit yield per plant (kg), pulp yield (%), peel to pulp ratio, number of locules per fruit, pericarp thickness (mm), TSS (° Brix), titrable acidity (%), ascorbic acid content (mg/100 g), total carotenoid content (mg/ 100 g), reducing sugars (%), total sugars (%) and lycopene content (mg 100/ g).

The genetic variability studies indicated that genetic material in the present investigation possessed variability which provides sufficient basis for selection by breeder. High estimates of PCV and GCV were obtained for plant height, number of fruits per cluster, average fruit weight, fruit yield per plant, peel to pulp ratio, number of locules per fruit, pericarp thickness, ascorbic acid, reducing sugars and lycopene indicated a good deal of variability in those characters signifying the effectiveness of selection of desirable types for improvement. High heritability assisted with high genetic advance as per cent of mean was observed for plant height, number of primary branches per plant, number of fruits per cluster, fruit length, average fruit weight, fruit yield per plant, peel to pulp ratio, number of locules per fruit, pericarp thickness, titrable acidity, ascorbic acid content, total carotenoid content, reducing sugars, total sugars and lycopene content. Hence, simple selection based on phenotypic performance of these traits would be more effective.
Combining ability analysis revealed that the ratio of gca variance (_ 2 gca) to sca variance (_ 2 sca) is less than unity(<1) indicating the preponderance of non-additive gene action involved in the inheritance of number of primary branches per plant, days to 50% flowering, number of flowers per cluster, number of fruits per cluster, fruit length, fruit width, average fruit weight, fruit yield per plant, pericarp thickness, TSS, ascorbic acid content, total carotenoid content, reducing sugars, total sugars and lycopene content, except plant height, pulp yield, peel to pulp ratio, number of locules per fruit and titrable acidity with the ratio of gca variance to sca variance of more than unity (>1), which are predominated by additive gene action. Since non-additive gene action was predominant for yield, yield contributing traits and quality parameters, it is advocated to undertake hybridization programme among the promising parents for genetic improvement of these characters in tomato. Parental line LE-56 and tester Punjab Chhuhara were identified as good general combiners for yield and yield components with good fruit quality and are recommended for use in breeding programmes to improve yield and quality in tomato. Of the top three promising specific combiners identified for fruit yield per plant (LE-64 × Pusa Gaurav, LE-62 × Pant T-3 and LE-56 × Pant T- 3), the cross LE-56 × Pant T-3 having high per se performance, good fruit quality and one of the parents with high sca effect, could be utilized in recombination breeding with the selection of superior plants in passing generations to evolve hybrids with higher fruit yield per plant and good fruit quality.
Studies on heterosis revealed that majority of the hybrids exhibited relative heterosis, heterobeltiosis and standard heterosis in desirable direction. The hybrids exhibiting high per se performance also showed high standard heterosis. The potential crosses like LE-56 × Pant T-3, LE-56 × Pusa Gaurav, LE-64 × Punjab chhuhara and LE-56 × Punjab chhuhara exhibited high standard heterosis and high per se performance for fruit yield per plant, which offers scope for commercial exploitation through heterosis breeding. From correlation studies it was observed that fruit yield per plant has exhibited highly significant positive association with number of primary branches per plant, number of flowers per cluster, number of fruits per cluster, fruit length, fruit width and average fruit weight. Path analysis showed that the characters, number of primary branches per plant, number of flowers per cluster, number of fruits per cluster, fruit width, average fruit weight, pulp yield, pericarp thickness and lycopene at phenotypic level exhibited positive direct effects on fruit yield per plant and these traits also recorded positive correlation with fruit yield per plant. This suggested that direct selection based on these traits will be rewarding for yield improvement.
Among the thirty treatments of tomato under ambient room conditions the hybrids LE-56 × Pusa Gaurav, EC-165749 X Pant T-3, LE-56 × Punjab Chhuhara, LE-64 × Punjab Chhuhara and LE-64 × Pant T-3 had better keeping quality for 16 days.

In an evaluation of nine parents, eighteen hybrids and three checks of tomato for quality of ketchup, paste and puree, the parent LE-64 was found to be the best for making ketchup, paste and puree followed by LE-56 and Punjab Chhuhara. The hybrids involving LE-64, LE-56 and Punjab Chhuhara were found to be better for their qualities such as lycopene content, total carotenoid content, ascorbic acid content and sugars. The hybrids LE-56 × Punjab Chhuhara, LE-64 × Punjab Chhuhara, LE- 62 × Punjab Chhuhara and LE-56 × Pusa Gaurav are best suited for processing having moderate acidity and high lycopene content and these hybrids scored maximum for overall acceptability of the products.

2. 
   “Studies on genetic diversity, screening and identification of parents and hybrids for drought tolerance in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)” – Anitha. P
   

ABSTRACT
The present investigation “Studies on genetic diversity, screening and identification of parents and hybrids for drought tolerance in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)” was carried out during rabi, 2011, summer, 2012 and rabi 2012-13 at Vegetable Research Station, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad and NBPGR Regional station, Hyderabad. Fifteen lines were crossed with three testers in line x tester mating design and the resultant 45 F₁’s along with their parents and three standard checks (Pusa Ruby, Marutham and PKM1) were evaluated for 22 characters viz., root length (cm), stem girth (mm), plant height (cm), number of primary branches, days to 50% flowering, number of fruit per plant, number of locules per fruit, average fruit weight (g), fruit yield/plant (g), shoot dry weight (g), root dry weight (g), RDW/ SDW, SDR (sec/cm), relative water content, leaf area (sq.cm), specific leaf weight (mg/sq.cm), proline (µ moles/100g), lycopene (mg/100g), ascorbic acid (mg/100g), chlorophyll (%), leaf nitrogen (%) and TSS(^oBrix)).
The genetic diversity among 50 genotypes in tomato showed highly significant differences among the genotypes for all the characters indicating presence of sufficient amount of variability in all the traits. Mahalanobis D² statistics revealed that considerable genetic diversity within and among nine clusters. The characters viz., fruit weight, number of fruits per plant, root length and plant height were the potent factors in differentiating the germplasm of tomato under this study. Based on genetic divergence and mean performance of eleven genotypes viz., EC165036, EC164665, EC310301, EC164677, EC164654, BSBS 47, IC249511, EC162600, EC251578, NS 537 and NS 526 from I, II, III and IX clusters for fruit yield, eight genotypes viz., IC249503, EC163663, IC 249507, EC23528, IC249514, EC251750, EC497390 and EC164670 from II, III, IV, VI, VIII and IX clusters for earliness, nine genotypes viz., EC164665, IC249511, EC315500, IC249507, EC164667, EC165045, EC257509, EC165038 and EC165700 from I, II, III IV and VII clusters for root length and seven genotypes viz., EC165045, EC241150, EC164665, EC251646, IC249511, EC645165 and EC165952 from I, III and VIII clusters for RDW/SDW were found superior and they can be used for future breeding programmes even under moisture stress conditions.
Genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation were high (>20%) for all traits except for days to 50% flowering and days to first fruit set. High heritability (>60%) coupled with high genetic advance as per cent mean (>20%) was observed for all the characters except for number of primary branches per plant, days to 50% flowering, days to first fruit set and fruit yield per plant indicating the additive gene action for these traits.
Screening of 50 tomato genotypes for drought tolerance under PEG-6000 concentrations of 0, 20, 40 and 60 g/l revealed significant differences for all the traits. Genotypes with higher germination percentage, root length and dry weights were selected during screening tomato germplasm for drought tolerance.
Depending on environmental conditions, tomato genotypes have a specific growth and productive potential. In present drought tolerance screening experiments, the 50 genotypes further screened in polyhouse to confirm their performance under stress (control, 10days, and 15 days irrigation interval).
The divergent drought tolerant genotypes possessed the features of moderate leaf area, higher RWC, more pubescence, higher proline and lycopene content, high stomatal diffusive resistance and dry weights. Considering the results of all the three experiments (Genetic diversity, laboratory and field screening), the genotypes viz., EC251578, NS537, EC162516, EC164845, IC249512, EC165952, EC164665, IC249511, EC168096, EC164677, EC162600, EC310301, EC635525, IC249513 and EC241148 were selected based on drought tolerance for breeding experiments and used as one of the parents for future use in breeding for drought tolerance.

The parents differed markedly in their ability to yield under moisture stress conditions. Ranking of parents on the basis of gca effects and per se performances indicated that good general combiners gave either high or average per se performance for majority of the traits. Based on combining ability results, the genotypes EC251578, IC249512, EC162516, EC249503 and EC164654 recorded high positive gca effects. IC249512, EC164845, EC249505 and EC164654 are ideal choice for yield under stressed condition. IC249512 was good per former for most of the traits in both irrigated and stressed conditions. Besides high yield, IC249512 is a very poor performer for stomatal diffusive resistance, shoot dry weight and proline content under irrigated conditions. Three parents EC162516, EC249505 and EC168096 are identified as good general combiners. They possess yield and yield related genes in drought environment. So, these lines are reliable for further drought tolerance breeding

On the basis of sca effects for fruit yield per plant, the best crosses were EC310301 X EC164654 (251.33), EC 251578 X EC 164654 (304.82), IC249512 X IC249503 (381.70), EC162516 X IC249503 (468.85) and EC164845 X IC249505 (571.92) with high positive and significant sca effects under irrigated conditions. Whereas, in stressed condition IC249512 X IC249503 (258.06), IC249512 X EC164654 (260.16), EC310301 X EC164654 (314.06), EC162516 X IC249505 (388.34) and EC164845 X IC249505 (469.54) showed high positive and significant sca effects under moisture stress conditions.
These results suggested that the general and specific combining ability effect of the parents and crosses, respectively cannot be predicted precisely based on their per se performance. Further, there was no direct relationship between the per se performance of the parents and their resultant crosses. Since per se performance is a realized value while sca effect is an estimate, former should be preferred over later during selection of superior cross combinations in early segregating generations.
In the present investigation, the magnitude of sca variance was greater than gca variance and further the ratio of gca to sca was less than unity for all the traits in all the treatments i.e control, 10 days irrigation interval and 15 days irrigation interval except for lycopene content under 10 days irrigation interval. This indicated the predominance of non-additive gene action governing the inheritance of these characters.
There is predominance of non-additive gene action governing the inheritance of most of the traits. Selection for these traits is not effective and reliance should be placed on heterosis breeding. The hybrids EC164845 X IC249505, EC162516 X IC24950), IC249512 X IC249503 and IC249512 X EC164654 exhibited high heterosis, sca effects coupled with good per se performance.
The present study clearly confirmed that in general, wherever increase in fruit yield was obtained under moisture stress the increase in some of the yield components and as well as morpho physiological traits were also present. Studies on heterosis revealed that majority of the hybrids exhibited relative heterosis, heterobeltiosis and standard heterosis in desirable direction. Heterosis manifestation for fruit yield in four crosses viz., EC164845 X IC249505 (35.97), IC249512 X EC164654 (31.20), IC249512 X IC249503 (27.53), and EC162516 X IC249505 (18.72) is primarily due to complementary combination of two or more of the following component traits viz., root length, shoot dry weight, relative water content, proline content, stomatal diffusive resistance and number of fruits per plant.

2. 
   “Exploitation of heterosis for growth, earliness, yield and resistance to bacterial wilt in brinjal (Solanum melongena L.)”- Syed Sadarunnisa.
   

ABSTRACT
The present investigation entitled “Exploitation of heterosis for growth, earliness, yield and resistance to bacterial wilt in brinjal (Solanum melongena L.)” was carried out during rabi, 2011 to rabi 2013 at Horticultural College and Research Institute, Anantharajupet. The experiment was conducted with a view to screen the available germplasm to identify the bacterial wilt resistant lines, utilizing them in hybridization programme, determining the amount of heterosis, identifying good combining parents and best specific crosses, characterizing the nature and magnitude of gene effects involved in the bacterial wilt resistance, yield and yield components.
Genetic diversity studies of brinjal for sixteen attributes with respect to growth, earliness, yield and bacterial wilt resistance for 50 genotypes of brinjal were carried out during rabi, 2011. The characters average fruit weight, days to last harvest and per cent bacterial wilt incidence were the major contributors towards divergence. In view of very high local preferences for colour, shape, taste and superior performance with regards to yield, two locally preferred cultivars viz., A₄₇ (Gulabi), A₄₆ (Bhagyamati) along with the four bacterial wilt resistant genotypes viz., A₄₈ (Surya), A₄₉ (Arka Neelkanth), A₅₀ (Arka Nidhi) and A₄₅ (Arka Keshav) identified after screening. These were selected as parents for heterosis breeding.
Six parental lines thus identified were crossed in half diallel fashion during kharif, 2012. The resultant fifteen crosses along with six parents and two checks (Arka Anand and Neelima) were evaluated for three seasons viz., summer, kharif and rabi, 2013 for heterosis, combining ability and stability studies so as to identify the promising F₁ hybrids with high productivity, good fruit quality and wide adaptability for commercial exploitation.

Combining ability analysis revealed that the magnitude of sca variance was greater than gca variance (the ratio of gca to sca was less than unity) for the characters, plant height, number of branches, days to first flowering, days to 50% flowering, number of flower clusters per plant, number of flowers per cluster, number of fruits per cluster, number of fruits per plant, days to first harvest, days to last harvest, average fruit weight, ascorbic acid, fruit yield per plant and per cent bacterial wilt incidence. This indicated the predominance of non-additive gene action governing the inheritance of these characters. Hence heterosis breeding is ideal to improve these traits. The characters fruit length and fruit width in brinjal were governed by additive gene action indicating efficiency of direct selection for these characters

Based on gca effects, P₂ (Bhagyamati) was a superior general combiner for fruit yield and yield components and the parents P₃ (Surya) and P₄ (Arka Neelkanth) were superior general combiners for bacterial wilt resistance. P₃ (Surya) was also a good combiner for fruit width, ascorbic acid and earliness attributes like days to first flower and days to first harvest. Hence, these genotypes are recommended for use in breeding programmes for crop improvement in brinjal. The hybrid C₇ (Bhagyamati x Arka Neelkanth) was the best specific combiner for most of growth characters.

Studies on heterosis revealed that the hybrids C₇ (Bhagyamati x Arka Neelkanth), C₆ (Bhagyamati x Surya) and C₅ (Gulabi x Arka Keshav) for fruit yield and resistance to bacterial wilt, C₁₂ (Surya x Arka Keshav) and C₆ (Bhagyamati x Surya) for ascorbic acid, C₇ (Bhagyamati x Arka Neelkanth) for number of fruits per plant and C₁₀ (Surya x Arka Neelkanth), C₁₁ (Surya x Arka Nidhi) for earliness characters like days to first flowering, days to 50% flowering and days to first harvest were found to be superior over the better parents.

Significant standard heterosis was recorded for characters like number of branches per plant, number of fruits per plant in cross C₇ (Bhagyamati x Arka Neelkanth), days to first flowering, days to 50% flowering, days to first harvest in hybrids C₁₀ (Surya x Arka Neelkanth) and C₁₁ (Surya x Arka Nidhi), and ascorbic acid content in hybrids C₁₂ (Surya x Arka Keshav) and C₆ (Bhagyamati x Surya).

Among the seasons, rabi was found to be the best season for growing brinjal as observed from the highest positive environmental indices for most of the growth and yield attributing characters besides manifestation of desirably negative environmental index for bacterial wilt incidence. The hybrid C₆ (Bhagyamati x Surya) was found to have above average stability for earliness, fruit yield and bacterial wilt resistance and was found specifically adapted to unfavourable environments. The hybrids C₂ (Gulabi x Surya), C₄ (Gulabi x Arka Neelkanth), C₇ (Bhagyamati x Arka Neelkanth), C₉ (Bhagyamati x Arka Keshav), C₁₀ (Surya x Arka Neelkanth) and C₁₂ (Surya x Arka Keshav) were identified as the stable genotypes as they had high mean value for yield and desirably low mean value for bacterial wilt with unit regression coefficient and hence were proposed for general adaptability.

2. 
   “Studies on combining ability and heterosis for qualitative and quantitative traits in china aster (Callistephus chinensis (L.) Nees)” – U. Pavani.