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

ABSTRACT

The present investigation entitled “Studies on combining ability and heterosis for qualitative and quantitative traits in china aster (Callistephus chinensis (L.) Nees)” was carried out during rabi 2011 to rabi 2013 at Floricultural Research Institute, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad. The eleven genotypes were evaluated and variability studies were carried out for different yield and yield contributing characters in rabi 2011. In rabi 2012, seven parents from the germplasm showing variability in terms of flower doubleness, flower colour, flower stalk length, earliness in flowering and yield were selected for crossing programme in half diallel fashion (7x7) to study the general

combining ability effects of the parents and specific combining ability of the crosses. The 21 hybrids were grown along with their parents and one check variety, Kamini in

randomized block design in kharif 2013. High estimates of PCV and GCV (>20%) were recorded for most of the characters viz., plant height, number of primary branches per plant, number of secondary branches per plant, fresh weight of the plant, dry weight of the plant, number of ray florets per flower, disc diameter and yield of flowers per plant which indicated a good deal of variability in the germplasm and hence provides sufficient basis for selection. High heritability (>60%) along with high genetic advance as percentage of mean (>20%) for these characters suggested the role of additive gene action signifying the effectiveness of selection of desirable types for improvement. Hence, simple selection based on phenotypic performance of these traits would be more effective. Combining ability analysis revealed that magnitude of gca variance was greater than sca variance suggesting the predominance of additive gene action for most of the economical characters viz., days taken for first flower opening and 50% flowering, diameter of the disc, number of ray florets per flower, number of flowers per plant, yield of flowers per plant and 1000 seed weight. Sca variance was greater than gca variance for some of the characters viz., days to first bud initiation, flower stalk length, fresh weight of the flower, seed yield per plant and vase life of flower which indicated predominance of non-additive gene action in their inheritance.

Based on gca effects of parents, the parents P.G. White and Poornima were the

best general combiners which can be recommended for use in breeding programmes to

generate genetic variability in desirable direction. Studies on specific combining ability of the crosses indicated that the cross P.G. Purple x Poornima was the best specific combiner for most of the characters viz., yield and qualitative characters like number of ray florets, disc diameter and vase life. 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. Most of the hybrids exhibited superiority over the check regarding flower stalk length and fresh weight of the flower (A.M. Red x P.G. White), disc diameter (P.G. White x Poornima), number of ray florets per flower (A.M. Red x P.G. Purple), flower diameter, number of flowers per plant and yield of flowers per plant (P.G. Purple x Poornima) except for earliness. Hence, these hybrids may have the potential to replace existing local varieties for getting desirable flower characters.
These findings suggested that in china aster, it could be possible to select varieties excelling in yield and quality from the segregating generations following simple pedigree method to achieve yield improvement in this crop through heterosis breeding, involving genetically distant germplasm lines with high or average per se performance, as parents. Further the hybrids exhibiting superiority over the commercial check kamini may have the potential to replace the existing local varieties for getting desirable flower qualities.

2. 
   “Effect of planting time, size of planting material, plant growth regulators and storage methods in garlic (Allium sativum L.) Cv. Jamnagar local”- D. Pratap.
   

ABSTRACT

The present investigation on “Effect of planting time, size of planting material, plant growth regulators and storage methods in garlic (Allium sativum L.) Cv. Jamnagar local” was undertaken with the Jamnagar variety of garlic during 2011-13 at Model Orchard, College of Horticulture, Rajendranagar as three different experiments. The first experiment involved studies on method and date of planting, in addition to size of planting material, while the second experiment consisted of studies on the effect of growth regulators on yield and quality of garlic. The third experiment was on storage in garlic.

Significant differences among the planting methods, planting dates and the size of planting materials were observed for all the characters studied during both the years of investigation. Among the methods of planting, ridge and furrow method of planting (S₂) was consistently superior for sprouting characters; plant height, plant girth, number of leaves per plant, fresh and dry weight of leaves per plant, dry matter production and leaf area index and CGR at different growth stages, yield per plant, yield per plot, yield per hectare, bulb girth, bulb fresh and cured weights, number of cloves per bulb, size of cloves, per cent large sized bulbs, shoot : bulb ratio, TSS, total sugars, reducing and non-reducing sugars, sulphur content and ascorbic acid content, over the flat bed method of planting (S₁) during both the years of study. Further, planting on October 1^st (D₁) was noticed to be uniformly superior for the different sprouting characters; plant height, plant girth, number of leaves per plant, fresh and dry weight of leaves per plant, drymatter production and leaf area index and CGR at different growth stages, yield per plant, yield per plot and yield per hectare, bulb girth, bulb fresh and cured weights, number of cloves per bulb, size of cloves, per cent large sized bulbs, and shoot : bulb ratio, TSS, total sugars, reducing and non-reducing sugars, sulphur content and ascorbic acid content studied, over planting in November 1^st (D₂) during both the years of study. The results also revealed that planting of 2.5g size cloves (P₄) was 2.0g size cloves (P₃) superior in terms of early sprouting, 50 per cent sprouting and higher per cent of sprouting, greater plant height, plant girth, number of leaves per plant, fresh and dry weight of leaves per plant, drymatter production and leaf area index and CGR at different growth stages; higher yield per plant, yield per plot, yield per hectare, bulb girth, bulb fresh and cured weights, number of cloves per bulb, size of cloves, per cent large sized bulbs, and shoot : bulb ratio, TSS, total sugars, reducing and non-reducing sugars, sulphur content and ascorbic acid content, during both the years of investigation, compared to planting of 1.5g size (P₂) and 1.0g size (P₁) cloves. The various interaction effects due to method of planting, date of planting and size of planting material were however, found to be non-significant for the sprouting characters, per cent large size bulbs, total sugars, reducing sugars, non-reducing sugars, sulphur content and ascorbic acid content studied in the present investigation. In contrast, the interaction effects were significant for plant height, plant girth, number of leaves per plant, fresh and dry weight of leaves per plant, drymatter production and leaf area index at different growth stages, yield per plant, yield per plot and yield per hectare, bulb girth, bulb fresh and cured weights, number of cloves per bulb, size of cloves and shoot : bulb ratio and TSS, during both the years of investigation.

Planting in ridge and furrow method during October with 2.5g sized cloves (S₂D₁P₄) uniformly recorded maximum plant height, plant girth, number of leaves per plant, fresh and dry weight of leaves per plant, drymatter production, leaf area index, CGR, yield per plant, yield per plot and yield per hectare, bulb girth, bulb fresh and cured weights, number of cloves per bulb, size of cloves and shoot : bulb ratio and TSS, during both the years of investigation. Further, among the two-way interactions studied, planting in ridge and furrow method during October (S₂D₁); planting in ridge and furrow method with 2.5g size cloves (S₂P₄); and planting during October with 2.5g size cloves (D₁P₄) were also noticed to result in maximum plant height, plant girth, number of leaves per plant, fresh and dry weight of leaves per plant, drymatter production, leaf area index, CGR, yield per plant, yield per plot, yield per hectare, bulb girth, bulb fresh and cured weights, number of cloves per bulb, size of cloves and shoot : bulb ratio and TSS, at all the growth stages, during both the years of investigation. The cost : benefit ratio of different treatments studied in the present investigation revealed maximum gross income and net returns for planting in ridge and furrow method during October with 2.5g sized cloves (S₂D₁P₄), during both the years of investigation, while minimum gross income was recorded for planting in flat bed method during November with 1.0g sized cloves (S₁D₂P₁) during both the years of investigation. However, the net returns were minimum for planting in flat bed method during November with 1.5g sized cloves (S₁D₂P₂) during both the years of investigation. The results also revealed maximum B: C ratio for planting in ridge and furrow method during October with 1.0g sized cloves (S₂D₁P₁), while minimum value was observed for planting in flat bed method in November with 2.5g sized cloves (S₁D₂P₄) during both the years of investigation. In conclusion, early planting in October under ridge and furrow method with large sized cloves had resulted in higher yield and quality of garlic. However, based on benefit : cost ratio, it is desirable to adopt early planting in the first week of October under ridge and furrow method of planting with small sized cloves (1.0g) for realization of optimum yield, quality and returns in garlic.

In the second experiment, the effect of GA₃, NAA, Maleic Hydrazide and Cycocel was investigated on sprouting, morphological, yield, yield attributes and quality traits of Jamnagar variety of garlic at different concentrations. The results revealed greater plant girth, number of leaves per plant, fresh and dry weight of leaves per plant, drymatter production and leaf area index at different growth stages, in addition to higher yield per plant, yield per plot and yield per hectare, bulb girth, bulb fresh and cured weights, number of cloves per bulb, size of cloves, per cent large sized bulbs, and shoot : bulb ratio, along with higher TSS, total sugars, reducing and non-reducing sugars, sulphur content and ascorbic acid content with the application of GA₃ at 200, 400 and 600ppm; NAA at 50, 100 and 150ppm; Maleic hydrazide at 500, 1000 and 1500ppm; and cycocel at 500, 1000 and 1500ppm, compared to control, during both the years of investigation. Further, maximum plant girth, number of leaves per plant, fresh and dry weight of leaves per plant, drymatter production and leaf area index at different growth stages, in addition to yield per plant, yield per plot and yield per hectare, along with bulb girth, bulb fresh and cured weights, number of cloves per bulb, size of cloves, per cent large sized bulbs, and shoot : bulb ratio, TSS, total sugars, reducing and non-reducing sugars, sulphur content and ascorbic acid content were recorded with the application of GA₃ @ 200ppm. However, application of MH and cycocel were noticed to result in delayed sprouting along with reduced germination and plant height, compared to control. In conclusion, application of GA₃ @ 200ppm had resulted in maximum yield and quality and hence, may be recommended for increasing yield in garlic. Further, NAA @ 50ppm had also resulted in on par yields and quality, compared to GA₃ @ 200ppm and in view of its significantly lower cost, compared to GA₃ may be recommended in garlic for yield and quality improvement.

The third experiment was undertaken to assess the effect of different packing materials in addition to pre-harvest cultural practices and treatments on shelf-life and quality of garlic. The results revealed minimum physiological weight loss, sprouting per cent, black mould and soft rot incidence for T₁₂ treatment at 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 DAS, during both the years of investigation. The treatments, namely, T₁₆, T₄ and T₈ had also recorded physiological weight loss on par with T₁₂ treatment at 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 DAS, during both the years of investigation. In contrast, maximum physiological weight loss, sprouting per cent, black mould and soft rot incidence was recorded in T₇ treatment at 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 DAS, during both the years of investigation. The treatments, namely, T₃ and T₅ had also uniformly recorded physiological weight loss on par with T₇ at 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 DAS, during both the years of investigation. Further, a perusal of the results on TSS and sulphur content revealed maximum total soluble solids and sulphur content for T₁₂, during both the years of investigation. Further, T₁₆ treatment had also recorded total soluble solids and sulphur content on par with T₁₂ treatment, during both the years of investigation. In contrast, minimum total soluble solids and sulphur content were recorded in T₇ treatment, during both the years of investigation. The T₅ and T₃ treatments had also recorded total soluble solids and sulphur content on par with T₇ treatment, during both the years of investigation. In conclusion, storage of garlic bulbs was found optimum with minimum physiological weight loss, sprouting per cent, black mould and soft rot incidence in addition to high TSS and sulphur content under open storage and plastic net, compared to storage in gunny bags and plastic crates.

2. 
   “Effect of sowing time, plant spacing, nitrogen and phosphorus levels on growth yield and quality of carrot (Daucus carota L.) in high altitude tribal zone of Andhra Pradesh” – G. Narasimha Murthy.
   

ABSTRACT
The present investigation entitled “Effect of sowing time, plant spacing, nitrogen and phosphorus levels on growth yield and quality of carrot (Daucus carota L.) in high altitude tribal zone of Andhra Pradesh” was carried out in two separate experiments viz., ‘Effect of sowing time, spacing and their interaction on growth, yield and quality parameters of carrot cv. Pusa Yamdagni’ and ‘Effect of different levels of nitrogen, phosphorous and their interaction on growth, yield and quality of carrot cv. Pusa Yamdagni’ during rabi 2011-12 and rabi 2012-13 under Factorial RBD at Horticultural Research Station, Pandirimamidi, East Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh. The first experiment was carried out with five different sowing dates viz., September 15^th, October 1^st ,October 15^th, November 1^st and November15^th with three spacings viz., 20 cm x 10 cm, 30 cm x 10 cm and 40 cm x 10 cm. The second experiment was carried out with 4 levels of nitrogen viz., 0 Kg N ha^-1, 25 Kg N ha^-1 , 50 Kg N ha^-1 and 75 Kg N ha^-1 in combination with 4 levels of phosphorus i.e., 0 Kg N ha^-1, 20 Kg N ha^-1 , 40 Kg N ha^-1 and 60 Kg N ha^-1. The above experiments were aimed to ascertain the best sowing date, suitable spacing as well as optimum N and P levels which will give high yield coupled with better root quality in high altitude tribal zone of Andhra Pradesh.

Different dates of sowing shown significant influence on the vegetative growth in terms of plant height, number of leaves, fresh and dry weight of aerial parts in both the years of study which has recorded highest values by the crop sown on 15^th October. The yield and yield contributing characters like root fresh weight, root dry weight, root length, root diameter and per hectare yield were also recorded highest in the plants sown on 15^th October in both the years. The maximum per hectare yields recorded was 19.08 t ha^-1 and 18.63 t ha^-1 during first and second year respectively with 15^th October sowing. Significant differences were observed due to the effect of sowing time on quality parameters like total soluble solids and carotene content which was recorded highest values with 15^th October sowing.

Among the three different spacings tried, the highest plant height and number of leaves at different growth stages were recorded in the plants spaced at 40 cm x 10 cm. All the yield contributing characters like fresh weight of root, root length and root diameter were also recorded significantly highest values with the same 40 cm x 10 cm spacing, whereas, the per hectare yields were recorded maximum at 20 cm x 10 cm spacing with 19.06 t ha^-1 and 18.73 t ha^-1 during first and second year respectively. The observations on quality parameters had shown non-significant results with respect to the different spacings except for total soluble solids which had shown an increasing trend with increase in spacing and recorded the highest TSS of 11.30⁰ Brix during the first year and 11.81⁰ Brix during the second year at 40 cm x 10 cm spacing.
The interaction effect between dates of sowing and spacing was found to be significant in both the years of study with respect to all the growth parameters. The combination of 15^th October sowing with 40x10 cm spacing recorded the highest plant height, number of leaves and fresh weight of aerial parts. The yield related characters were also influenced significantly due to the interaction of different sowing dates and spacings. The combination of 15^th October sowing with 40cm×10cm spacing recorded significantly higher values for root length (13.90 and 14.26 cm during first year and second year respectively). Similarly root diameter (4.56 cm in first year and 4.50 cm in second year), root fresh weight (77.41 g/plant and 79.75 g/plant during first year and second year respectively) were also recorded highest in the plants grown on 15^th October at the spacing of 40 cm x 10 cm and the minimum of these parameters were found in the plants sown on 15^th September at the spacing of 20 cm x 10 cm. However, the highest yield per hectare was observed in 15^th October sown plants spaced at 20 cm x 10 cm which recorded 23.24 t ha^-1 and 22.91 t ha^-1 during first and second year respectively. With respect to the quality parameters studied the interaction effect between dates of sowing and spacing was found to be non significant in both the years of study for all the parameters studied.

Significant variation in results were observed due to different nitrogen and phosphorus levels on growth, yield and quality of carrot in second experiment.

Different nitrogen levels had shown significant influence on the plant growth parameters with respect to plant height, number of leaves and fresh weight of aerial parts which were significantly increased with increasing levels of nitrogen. The highest values for all these parameters were recorded with maximum rate of nitrogen application (75 Kg N ha^-1) during both the years. The yield contributing characters like root fresh weight, root dry weight, root length, root diameter were also recorded highest with maximum rate of nitrogen application (75 Kg N ha^-1). The per hectare yields were also recorded highest with 75 Kg N application which recorded 19.40 t ha^-1 and 20.00 t ha^-1 during first and second year respectively. Significant differences were observed due to the effect of different nitrogen levels on quality parameters of carrot. Total soluble solids, carotene content, reducing sugars, non-reducing sugars and total sugars were increased with increasing rate of N application. Similarly the increasing rate of N has increased the nitrogen uptake in all the plant parts.

The influence of different levels of phosphorus on plant growth parameters was significant in both the years. The plant height, number of leaves and fresh weight of aerial parts were significantly increased with increasing levels of phosphorus. Among the four graded levels of phosphorus, application of 60 Kg P ha^-1 recorded the highest values in all these parameters. The yield contributing characters like root fresh weight, root dry weight, root length, root diameter were also increased with increasing rate of P application and the maximum values were recorded at 60 Kg P ha^-1. The per hectare yields were also recorded highest with application of 60 Kg P ha^-1 which recorded 15.90 t ha^-1 and 16.94 t ha^-1 during first and second year respectively. However, different phosphorus levels had shown no influence on the quality parameters studied in carrot during both the years. The P uptake in the plant was increased with increasing levels of P and recoded maximum at P3 (60 Kg P ha^-1).

The interaction effect between N and P levels was found to be significant in both the years of study with respect to growth parameters. The combination of 75 Kg N ha^-1 and 60 Kg P ha^-1 recorded highest values in plant height, number of leaves and fresh weight of aerial parts. The yield related characters were also influenced significantly due to the interaction of different N and P levels. The combination of 75 Kg N ha^-1 and 60 Kg P ha^-1 recorded significantly higher values for root length (13.67 and 14.03 cm during first year and second year respectively). Similarly root diameter (4.44 cm in first year and 4.51 cm in second year), root fresh weight (95.76 g/plant and 97.00 g/plant during first year and second year respectively) were also recorded highest with the combination of 75 Kg N ha^-1 and 60 Kg P ha^-1 and the minimum of these parameters were found in the combination of treatment where no N and P fertilizers were applied. The per hectare yield was also recorded maximum in the combination of 75 Kg N ha^-1 and 60 Kg P ha^-1 which recorded 20.73 t ha^-1 and 20.05 t ha^-1 during first and second year respectively. With respect to the quality parameters studied, the interaction effect between N and P levels was found to be non-significant in both the years for all the parameters studied viz., TSS, carotenoid content, reducing sugars, non- reducing sugars, total sugars and shelf life. Similarly, NPK uptake in plant and available NPK in the soil were also not significantly influenced by the interaction between N and P levels.
In the experiment on different sowing times and spacings, highest Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) was recorded with the treatment combination of 15^th October sowing with 20cm x 10 cm spacing, which were recorded as 4.37 and 4.31 during the first and second year respectively. In the experiment on different levels of N and P, the combination of 75 kg N ha^-1 with 60 kg P ha^-1 recorded the highest Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR), which were recorded as 3.81 and 4.00 during the first and second year respectively.

2. 
   “Evaluation of pre and post emergence herbicides for their efficacy and selectivity in onion and tomato crops”- M. Venkateswara Reddy.