HORTICULTURE
D. Open centre Fig 22. Evaluation of low chilling peach under
different training systems
Fig 20. Fruit shape and flake variability in jackfruit
Dolichos bean
Among 135 accessions collected from different states of North Eastern states of India. Wider variability was observed for all the traits; leaf length ranged from 9.30 to 21.30 cm, pod weight (4.80- 21.36 g), no of seeds per pod (3.0-8.0), yield per hill (257.0-2685 g), protein content (15.57-36.75 mg/100g), vitamin-C (20.16-51.84 mg/100g), and anthocyanin content (0.12-1.24 mg/100g).
Genotypic coefficient of variation contributed significantly towards phenotypic characters. High heritability and genetic advance as percent of mean was observed for the traits like pod length (92.5 and 56.12), pod weight (85.84 and 67.51), yield per hill (86.63 and 86.97), protein (94.00 and 40.57) and anthocyanin contents (76.0 and 47.07), respectively.
The results of principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that the first seven PCA contributes over 70% of total variance with Eigen value over 1.
Important characters with greater weights in PCA-I were yield per hill, pod weight, pod width and pod length while the variation in PCA-II was contributed by chlorophyll a, b and pod length.
Among the accessions, high yielding genotypes were ASDBC-16 (2.68 kg/hill) and TRDBC-11(2.02 kg/hill). Some unique genotypes were identified as TRDBC-9 (21.30 cm) for high pod length and MZDBC-22 for higher anthocyanin content (1.23 mg/100g); while Selection-1 was high yielding, photo- insensitive bush type. These high yielding and unique lines can be used for the commercial production and further breeding programme to increase yield as well as nutritional security of the population.
Evaluation of local teasel gourd
Total 49 female accessions of teasel gourd (Momordica subangulata ssp. renigera) were evaluated for yield and quality attributes. Wide variability was observed for yield and quality attributes. The peduncle length ranged from 5.8 to 25.0 cm, average fruit weight from 37.5-128.6 g and yield from 0.15- 1.99 kg/plant. The high yielding accessions were RCSG-32 (1.9 kg /plant) followed by RCSG-40 (1.6 kg/plant). Harvesting between 12 - 16 days after fruit set was found to be optimum. Phenol and antioxidant ranged from 62.7-190.6 mg/100g GAE and 61.7-64.8 mg AEAC/100g, respectively.
Further, molecular characterization was also carried out using 43 SSR markers. Among the markers, maximum number of alleles (4) were observed in markers A-4 (325-355bp), C-30 (225-255bp) and McSSR-5 (240-265bp), respectively. However, three markers (McSSR-14, McSSR-18 and Sed-11) were found to be monomorphic.
Evaluation of chow-chow germplasm
Out of 52 accessions, the highest fruit weight was observed in dark green fruit genotype from Mizoram Collection-2 (750 g) followed by RCSC- 44 (660 g). However, the maximum yield per plant was recorded from RCSC-44 (19.0 kg) followed by RCSC-16 (17.2 kg) and Mizoram Collection-2 (17.0 kg). Ideal stage of fruit harvesting ranged from 18 to 22 days after fruit set. Dark genotype was superior with maximum antioxidant (85 mg AEAC/100 g) content while pale yellow had maximum total phenolic (6.14 mg GAE/100 g) and flavonoid (32.26 mg CE/100 gm) contents.
Fig 23. Variability in fruit colour of chow chow Garden pea
Garden pea (Pisum sativum var. hortense L.) varieties viz., Vivek Matar-11 and Vivek Matar-12 were evaluated during rabi season. The tallest plant (99.74 cm) Vivek Matar-12 produced early flowers (in 89.8 days), early flowering (89.83 days), maximum number of pods per plant (16.67), number of seeds per pod (7.33) and pod yield (9.63 t/ha). The same treatment combination also recorded second highest B: C ratio in both the evaluated varieties.
AICRP on Vegetable Crops
French bean germplasm evaluation: Out of 75 pole type accessions, the maximum pod length was recorded in MZFB-45 (20.0 cm) followed by MZFB- 52, MZFB-43 (16.0 cm each), respectively. However, maximum yield per plant was observed in MZFB-47
(317 g) followed by RCFB-19 (305 g), MNFB-7 (267 g) and RCMFB-1A (260 g) , respectively. Similarly, among the pole type accessions, the highest yield per plant was observed in RCBFBC-3 (114 g).
Varietal/Hybrid trials: Under advance varietal trial of tomato (AVT-II), highest yield was recorded in 2015/TOINDVAR-6 (347.0 q/ha) closely followed by 2015/TOINDVAR-5 (345 q/ha). In cherry tomato, the highest yield was recorded in 2015/TOCVAR-5 (422 q/ha) followed by 2015/TOCVAR-3 (406.9 q/ha). In brinjal round segment, the highest yield was observed in 2015/BRRVAR-2 (284.5 q/ha) followed by 2015/BRRVAR-4 (271.0 q/ha) while in brinjal long the highest yield accession was 2015/
BRLVAR-3 (263.2 q/ha). Further, in cabbage hybrid, the highest yield was observed in 2015/CABHYB-1 (565 q/ha) followed by 2015/CABHYB-5 (467 q/ha).
Resistant trials: A field experiment of brinjal against bacterial wilt was conducted during 2018 under natural condition. The per cent wilting ranged from 8.77%-33.45%. Among the accessions the highest yield (426 q/ha) and lowest wilting (8.77%) was recorded in 2016/BRBWRES-2 while, accession 2016/BRBWRES-3 was susceptible to bacterial wilt.
Fig 24. Performance French bean at farmers field AICRP on Tuber Crops
Sweet potato : Six sweet potato entries supplied by ICAR-CTCRI, Thiruvananthapuram, were evaluated for yield and other parameters. The variety TSp12-12 recorded the highest marketable yield (10.03 t/ha) as well as the highest total yield (15.53 t/ha). Dry matter content was found highest in TSp12-10 (30.47 %) whereas starch and sugar were
Fig 25. Flemingia vestita tubers sold in market
Spices
Character Association and path analysis in King Chilli
A total of 15 genotypes of King Chilli (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) were evaluated to study the phenotypic correlations between ten major horticultural traits and its consequences in direct and indirect effects on yield by path analysis. The results indicated that the correlation of fruit yield per plant with number of fruits per plant (0.69), days to 50%
flowering (0.51) and plant height (0.47) were positive and significant. The number of fruits per plant (0.74) and days to 50% flowering (0.56) also exhibited direct effect on fruit yield per plant.
AICRP on Spices
Organic production of Turmeric: Three (3) genotypes of turmeric viz. Megha Turmeric-1, Rajendra Sonia and Prathiba were evaluated.
Recommended Package (NPK 120:90:90 kg/ha) produced higher yield of 39.40 t/ha and 34.79 t/ha in Megha Turmeric-1 and Prathiba, respectively.
While higher yield of 30.72 t/ha was obtained in Rajendra Sonia with the organic package developed by IISR (Seed rhizome treatment with GRB-35
@ 1 capsule/100 litre water + FYM @ 25-30 t/
ha + Vermicompost @ 2 t/ha/Ash 0.5 t/ha + IISR micronutrient booster @ 5 g/l water 3-5 kg/ha). The organic package developed by IISR gave the second highest yield in Megha Turmeric-1 (31.60 t/ha) and Pratibha (24.21t/ha). The dry recovery percentage was higher under organic package developed by IISR in all the three varieties.
Organic production of ginger: Three (3) genotypes of ginger viz. Jorhat, Suprabha and Hiching were evaluated under the present study.
Maximum yield of 29.92 t/ha (Hiching), 29.54 t/ha (Suprabha) and 23.58 t/ha (Jorhat) were recorded with recommended package (NPK 100:90:90 kg/
ha). The second highest yield of 14.09 t/ha, 15.32 t/ha and 14.97 t/ha were obtained with the organic package developed by IISR (Seed rhizome treatment with GRB-35 @ 1 capsule/100 litre water + FYM
@ 25-30 t/ha + Vermicompost @ 2 t/ha/Ash 0.5 t/
ha + IISR micronutrient booster @ 5 g/l water 3-5 kg/ha) in Johrat, Suprabha and Hiching, respectively.
Organic package developed by IISR showed lower fibre content and higher oleoresin content in all the three varieties.
found highest in Sree Bhadra and Tsp12-9 (19.52%
and 3.95%), respectively. Evaluation of another 32 collections of sweet potato for yield and yield attributing parameters revealed that collection-3 had the highest total yield (24.47 t/ha) and tuber diameter (6.37 cm) whereas, Mizo Collection 2, recorded the maximum tuber length (16.18 cm). Average tuber weight was found highest in Selection -1 (183.44 g).
Colocasia : Six entries were evaluated for their yield parameters viz. number of cormels per plant, weight of corm and cormels per plant, cormel yield (t/ha), total yield (t/ha), as well as corm and cormel shape. Quality parameters such as calcium oxalate, tolerance to leaf blight, keeping and cooking quality were also recorded. Muktakeshi recorded the maximum number of cormels (21.33) and weight of cormels per plant (933.33g). Cormel yield (11.65 t/ha) and total yield (15.11 t/ha) were also found highest in Muktakeshi. After analysis, lowest calcium oxalate (0.15%) was observed in Megha Taro-1.
Similarly, 6 nos. entries of Bunda type were evaluated, TBd17-7 recorded the highest corm weight /plant (616.67g) and total yield (13.55 t/ha) whereas TBd 17-8 recorded lowest calcium oxalate (0.19%) with good acceptability for corm as well as petiole consumption.
Sohphlang: Survey was conducted in different parts of Meghalaya to find the variability in shape of Sohphlang (Flemingia vestita) tubers like cylindrical, fusiform, napiform, round and oval. Size of tubers ranged from 2.5-8.6 cm in length, 1.5-3.0 cm in width and 5 - 40 g in weight.
Effect of micronutrients on growth and yield of Ginger: Three (3) genotypes of ginger viz.
Hiching, Himgiri and Nadia were evaluated under the present study. Application of recommended package of practice (NPK 100:90:90 kg/ha) along with IISR micronutrients @ 5g/l at 60 and 90 days after planting produced higher yield of 36.78 t/ha, 22.68 t/ha and 30.51 t/ha in Hiching, Himgiri and Nadia, respectively. Higher oleoresin content in Hiching (4.04%), Himgiri (4.17%) and Nadia (4.35%) were also recorded under recommended package of practice +IISR micronutrients (5g/lit).
Effect of biocapsule on growth and yield of Ginger: Experiment was conducted with three genotypes viz. Himgiri, Nadia and Hitching. For Himgiri and Nadia, the highest yield was recorded with application of POP + Trichoderma capsule + GRB 35 capsule (32.87 t/ha and 30.01 t/ha, respectively). Higher oleoresin content in Himgiri (4.16%), Nadia (4.38%) and Hitching (4.10%) was also recorded with POP + Trichoderma capsule + GRB 35 capsule.
Flowers
Collection, characterization, evaluation and maintenance of Orchid germplasm
A total of thirty-three orchid species were collected, evaluated and characterized for vegetative and flowering characters. Twenty two species out of 33 have started flowering. Regarding vegetative characters, plant height ranged from 18.67 cm (in Paphiopedillum fairrieanum) to 148.68 cm in Phaius tankervilleae, plant spread from 19.48 cm in Vanda parasii to 107.83 cm in Phaius tankervilleae).
Maximum pseudobulb size (length, 27.73 cm in Dendrobium nobile and width, 2.57 cm in Dendrobium densiforum), leaf size in Phaius tankervilleae (length, 112.86 cm and width, 15.42 cm) and number of leaves in Coelogyne flaccid (97.73 leaves/plant) were observed. Inflorescence length was maximum in Cymbidium aloifolium (43.64 cm) and minimum in Pleione pracox (1.75 cm). Number of flowers was highest in Aerides multiflorum (94.28/ inflorescence) and minimum in Paphiopedilum spicearianum (1.00/ inflorescence). Cymbidium hybrids recorded the maximum flower diameter (9.42 cm) and flower length (5.84 cm), while minimum flower diameter (0.63 cm) and length (0.62 cm) were recorded in Pleione pracox.
Evaluation of promising gerbera hybrids under open field conditions
Four promising hybrids of gerbera RCGH- 12, RCGH-22, RCGH-114 and RCGH-117 (Fig.
26) developed by the Division of Horticulture were evaluated. Result showed that RCGH-114 recorded maximum flower stalk length (53.47 cm), while RCGH-117 recorded the highest flower stalk diameter (5.36 mm), flower diameter (11.08 cm), number of ray floret/ head (170.56). RCGH-22 showed maximum number of flowers/ Plant (23.52/
year) and longest vase life (5.62 days) in RCGH-117.