nine genotypes viz. Meghalaya purple, Nagaland purple, Kerala yellow, RCPS-1, Panama yellow, DPI, EC-1 and EC-2 were evaluated for fruit yield and physico-chemical parameters of three years old plants. The number of fruits/plant varied from 85- 145 in Passiflora edulis, 105-120 in P. edulis f.
flavicarpa and 12-20 in P. alata. Physico-chemical attributes of passion fruit showed the great variation in their fruit weight, size, juice % and quality traits like TSS, acidity, ascorbic acid and sugars due to genotypes of different species.
UNDERUTILIZED FRUITS
Standardization of propagation techniques for Sohiong (Prunus nepalensis)
Wedge and tongue grafting were performed on one year old seedling of sohiong rootstock during October. Graft success was found to be higher in tongue grafting (70 %) than wedge grafting (60
%).
Studies on physico-chemical properties of different underutilized fruits
Fruits of six genotypes of Elaeagnus latifolia (Soh-shang) were evaluated. Fruit weight ranged from 6.73 to 22.94 g with an average fruit weight of 14.06 g. Pulp recovery from fruits ranged from 58.40 to 74.69% with average of 70.24%. TSS ranged from 8.8 to 11.20B, acidity 1.96-4.03%, pH 3.1-3.3, ascorbic acid 4.8-7.2mg/ 100g pulp and
TSS: acidity ratio from 2.23 to 5.71 in different genotypes.
Myrica
The fruits of Myrica (Green and partially pink stage) were evaluated. Fruit weight ranged from 9.75 to 15.25 g and 7.75-11.35 g, TSS 6.6 and 8.8%
in green and partially pink fruits, respectively.
STRAWBERRY
Standardization of NPK doses and spacing Nitrogen ( 60, 80, 100 kg/ha), phosphorus (60 kg/ha) and potash ( 80, 100, 120 kg/ha) was applied as basal dose to all the plants under three different spacing i.e. 30 x 30 cm, 30 x 20 cm and 20 x 20 cm. Maximum plant height (19 cm) and plant spread (east-west) (21.2 cm) was recorded under 80:60:120 kg NPK/ha, while, in north-south direction it was maximum in 80:60:140 kg NPK/
ha. Maximum fruits/plant (21.6), yield/plant (250.7 g), acidity (1.45%), total sugars (7.8%) and ascorbic acid (92.7 mg/ 100 g pulp) was recorded under 100:60:120 kg NPK/ha while higher fruit weight (12.8 g) and TSS (10o Brix) was recorded under 60:60:120 kg NPK/ha.
Higher plant height (19.5 cm), plant spread (22.7 x 22.7 cm), number of fruits/plant (23.3), fruit weight (12.6 g), yield/plant (292.8 g), TSS (10.1oBrix) and total sugars (8.9%) were found under 30 x 30 cm spacing. A fertilizer dose of 100:60:120 kg NPK/ha at a spacing of 30 x 30 cm
Table1. Physico-chemical parameters of Passion fruit genotypes/species
Genotypes Fruit wt. Juice TSS Acidity pH Ascorbic acid Total
(g) (%) (0B) (%) (mg/100 ml juice) sugar
(%) Passiflora edulis
Megha Purple 41.0 28.5 15.8 2.8 4.1 48.8 14.6
Nagaland purple 43.0 30.9 15.0 3.3 4.8 41.3 18.1
P. edulis f. flavicarpa
Kerala yellow 114.2 36.3 16.4 4.9 6.0 22.8 16.6
RCPS-1 133.8 40.8 16.8 4.4 6.0 31.5 15.4
Panama Yellow 112.4 38.2 17.4 3.5 6.1 22.5 13.3
DPI 95.6 32.7 16.2 3.8 6.1 26.5 10.0
P. alata
EC-1 192.9 22.4 19.0 1.4 6.0 30.8 13.5
EC-2 123.3 16.2 22.0 1.4 6.0 14.4 12.9
were found better with respect to growth and yield of strawberry cv. Ofra.
PEACH
Effect of pruning severity and time on early flowering
Peach cv. TA-170 was pruned on 30th October, 15th November and 30th November (normal pruning time) with 50% and 75% pruning severity. Earliest shoot emergence was recorded in 30th October pruned trees. 12 days early fruiting was recorded in the trees pruned on 30th October with 75%
severity than normal pruning date (30th November.
PLUM
Evaluation of low chilling plums for vegetative characters
‘Kala Amritsari’ attained maximum plant height (1.78 m), trunk cross sectional area (23.34 mm) and plant spread (east-west) (1.54 m), whereas,
‘Satluj Purple’ recorded highest number of primary branches (3.34) and plant spread (north-south) (1.2 m) as compared to ‘Santa Rosa’, ‘Doris’ and
‘Japanese plum’ after three years of planting.
KIWIFRUIT
Antioxidant and mineral contents of kiwifruit cultivars across locations
Antioxidant and mineral contents of kiwifruit cultivars were evaluated across different locations like Barapani, Upper Shillong (Meghalaya), Gangtok (Sikkim) and Dirang (Arunachal Pradesh).
Cultivar ‘Hayward’ under Dirang conditions recorded highest Vitamin C (103.62 mg/100g), â- Carotene (1.37 mg/100g), P (35.1 mg/100g), K (285 mg/100g) and Ca (31.2 mg/100g). Total phenolic content ranged from 85.5 mg/100g in ‘Hayward’
under Upper Shillong to 137.0 mg/100g in ‘Allison’
under Dirang condition. Minimum vitamin C (74.23 mg/100g) in ‘Monty’, Ca content (14.3 mg/
100g) in ‘Abbot’, P (20.5 mg/100g) and K (192mg/
100g) in ‘Bruno’ was recorded under Barapani condition.
DISEASES
PAPAYA
Screening of papaya cultivars against major diseases
Seven varieties of papaya viz. Pusa Nanha, Ambasa Local, Selection 1, Pusa Dwarf, Pusa Delicious, CO2 and Local cultivar (Nongpoh) were evaluated against Powdery mildew, Ascochyta blight and Papaya ring spot virus (prsv-p) diseases.
Pusa Nanha and Ambasa Local showed resistant reaction against all the three diseases. All the tested varieties appeared to be resistant against Ascochyta blight. Local (Nongpoh) var., Selection 1 and CO2 were found to be highly susceptible to (prsv-p).
Occurrence of hyperparasite on powdery mildew pathogen of papaya
In northeastern region powdery mildew caused by Oidium caricae occurs in devastating form on papaya. During a general survey at Barapani, Meghalaya, a hyperparasite was found to be associated with O. caricae. It was identified as Cladosporium cladosporioides causing lysis of mycelium and conidiophores of O. caricae.
CITRUS
Diseased samples of citrus scab were collected from ICAR farm (Entomology, Horticulture);
Farmers’ Orchards at Ranibari (Ri-Bhoi), Umsning (Ri-Bhoi), Cheruphi (Jaintia Hills) villages and State government orchard and nursery at Mynkre (Jaintia Hills). The samples were also collected from Sikkim (Saramsa KVK farm and horticulture farm). The pathogen was isolated and identified (Elsinoe spp.). Ten citrus species were planted and are maintained at Plant Pathology farm.
INSECTS AND PESTS
CITRUS
Management of major citrus insect-pests Evaluation of different biopesticides and conventional insecticides showed that karanjin @
2 ml/l was at par with monocrotophos @ 2ml/ l in controlling the aphids, leaf miners and scales.
Monocrotophos @ 2 ml/hole was found effective in controlling citrus trunk borer.