Average Fruit Diameter Research Articles

Tomato and Watermelon Production with Mulches and Automatic Drip Irrigation in North Dakota

In North Dakota, agriculture contributes a large sector of the state’s economy, but vegetable production is limited due to the state’s climate condition. Inadequate soil moisture and low soil temperature are the two major factors prohibiting quality produce and high-yield vegetable production. In this study, a soil-water potential, sensor-based drip irrigation system was developed, designed, and installed to evaluate its application on tomato and watermelon productions in a two-year field experiment in 2019 and 2020. The experimental treatments were drip irrigation and no irrigation under three mulches: black plastic, clear plastic, and landscape fabric mulches. Irrigation was scheduled at 8:00 am for watermelon and 9:00 a.m. for tomato, with the ability for each irrigation event to be bypassed based on the soil moisture conditions. Due to rainfall differences in the two years, irrigation was barely needed in 2019, but in 2020, drip irrigation was applied frequently. On average, for the two-years’ field experiment, the highest yield for tomatoes was obtained from drip irrigation under black plastic drip irrigation treatment with 40.24 Mg ha−1 in 2020, whereas the highest yield for watermelon was from drip irrigation under clear plastic mulch with 165.55 Mg ha−1 in 2020. The effect of mulch, irrigation, and combined practices were analyzed based on the average fruit weight and diameter, electrical conductivity (EC), pH, and sugar content of the samples. The results showed that for watermelon, the average weight and diameter were significantly heavier and higher with irrigation treatments, but the EC and the pH values were significantly higher with mulch treatments. For tomatoes, the average weight, diameter, pH, and sugar content were all significantly higher with mulch treatment, but the EC was higher with irrigation treatment.

EFFECT OF Tobacco etch virus (TEV) ON YIELD AND QUALITY OF RED PEPPER IN TURKEY

The most prevalently grown varieties of red peppers in the Eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey are ‘Sena’ and ‘Dila’ in addition to local red pepper populations. Survey studies conducted on Kahramanmaras pepper growing areas in 2014 and 2015 indicated that Tobacco etch virus (TEV) was the most common virus in collected pepper samples. In this study, the effects of TEV on ‘Sena’ and ‘Dila’ were analyzed. The experiment was designed with 5 replicates and randomized plots in fully controlled greenhouses. The experiment consisted of TEV inoculated and control pepper plots. The pepper plants were mechanically inoculated with TEV at the 4–6 leaf stage and periodical observations were made. Virus transmission was confirmed using the double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) method. The total yield, red pepper flake production, average fruit weight, diameter, length and volume, average fruit wall thickness, fruit color and fresh and dry weights of all green parts of harvested red peppers were evaluated. The quoted data on % reduction in yield and different fruit quality criteria are averaged over two years. According to the results of the study, the highest loss of yield was recorded for ‘Sena’ (58.2%) while the highest red pepper flake loss ratio was in ‘Dila’. In terms of fruit quality criteria, the most reductions in fruit weight (40.1%), fruit diameter (30.9%), fruit length (32.8%) and fruit volume (51.8%) were found in ‘Dila’, the highest losses in fruit wall thickness (27.2%) and average fresh and dry weights of green parts (49.9–43.1%) were in the ‘Sena’. There was a significant effect of TEV inoculation. Overall, virus infected plants were had significantly lower yield and reduced quality compared to control plants.

Tolerance to irrigation water salinity in physalis plants: productive aspects

The cultivation of non-traditional fruits has gained ground in the horticulture sector, but which, in certain situations, are plants that require previous studies related to soil adaptability, climate, and irrigation water quality. In this sense, this work aimed to evaluate the effects of irrigation water salinity on Physalis peruviana L. (fisális) plants in the different growth phases. The experimental area was installed on the premises of the Federal University of Campina Grande, adopting a casualized block design, with four saline levels of irrigation water (0.3; 1.2; 2.1 and 3.0 dS m-1) and five repetitions per treatment. The variables analyzed were: stem diameter, plant height and number of leaves every 15 days, leaf area at 55 days after transplanting, number of side branches, number of flower buds, number of flowers, average fruit weight, polar diameter, and equatorial diameter of fruits, number of fruits per plant and productivity. According to the results, the plants were tolerant to saline levels of irrigation water of up to 3.0 dS m-1, without prejudice to the phenological and productive characteristics of the crop. The unitary increase in the salinity of the irrigation water did not result in damage to the physiological characteristics of the plants until the 60 days of transplanting.

Preservation by lactic fermentation and physicochemical characterization of okra produced underwater salinity and potassium fertilization

The use of saline water in agricultural production will be increasingly necessary in the next decades. However, postharvest quality may be compromised, as in okra, due to salt stress and/or factors inherent to storage and transportation. In this context, developing alternative methods of preservation, including lactic fermentation, may be a promising way to maintain and even improve the nutritional quality of okra. Thus, the objective was to evaluate the production components of okra subjected to different levels of water salinity and doses of potassium fertilization, and further to evaluate the preservation by lactic fermentation of okra fruits produced under water salinity. The first experiment was carried out in lysimeters under field conditions in Neossolo Regolítico (Psamment) of sandy loam texture in Pombal-PB, in a randomized block design in a 5 x 5 factorial scheme, testing 5 levels of irrigation water salinity (0.3; 1.3; 2.3; 3.3, and 4.3 dS m-1) and 5 doses of potassium fertilization (75; 112.5; 150; 187.5, and 225 mg of K2O kg-1 of soil), with three replicates. After that, the okra fruits produced under the different salinity levels were stored in six mixtures of salts present in lactic fermentation brine (100-0-0, 0-100-0, 0-0-100, 50-50-0, 0-50-50, and 50-0-50 of NaCl, CaCl2, and KCl, respectively), under a 5 x 6 factorial, with three replicates, in a completely randomized design. The post-harvest quality, after fermentation, was evaluated based on their physicochemical characteristics. Irrigation water salinity negatively affected the average length, average weight, titratable acidity, soluble solids/titratable acidity ratio, and pH of the okra fruits. Potassium doses increased the average diameter of okra fruits, minimizing the deleterious effects of irrigation water salinity. The vitamin C contents of pickled okra fruits were not compromised by salt stress. Among the lactic fermentation brines, the formulation containing the proportion NaCl:CaCl2 stands out as promoting the highest titratable acidity and soluble solids content in pickled okra fruits.

Variability and Genetic Diversity of Bottle Gourd [Lagenaria siceraria (mol.) Stand.] in Bangladesh

The presented study was conducted at the experimental field of Olericulture Division, Horticulture Research Center, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur, Bangladesh during the year 2018-19 to assess the extent of genetic diversity among 25 bottle gourd germplasms. Data on: days to first harvest, fruit number per plant, average fruit weight, fruit yield (kg/plant), fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit yield (t/ha), fruit shape and fruit color were recorded. Plot means for quantitative characters were used for the statistical analysis, while genetic diversity, principal component analysis (PCA), principal Coordinate analysis (PCO), cluster analysis, cluster means and two-dimensional scattered plotting diagram were studied. The germplasms were constellated into five distinct groups with the range of 3 germplasms in the cluster III to 6 germplasms in the clusters II and IV. The inter-cluster distance in all cases was larger than is the intra-cluster distance. The highest intra-cluster value (2.65) was found in the cluster IV. Maximal inter-cluster distance (12.24) was observed between germplasm of cluster I and V, followed by the clusters I and III (12.05) and minimal was found between germplasms of cluster I and IV (3.46). In case of the cluster means values and yield contributing performance cluster I, cluster IV and cluster III performed well. Considering the group distance and inter-genotypic crosses between the clusters and cluster means, inbreeds belong to clusters: I, IV and III, to that will be given higher priority for crossing in future bottle gourd hybridization program.

Impact of the introduction of stingless bee colonies (Scaptotrigona aff. postica) on the productivity of acai (Euterpe oleracea)

O açaí é uma palmeira típica do estuário amazônico, especialmente importante na alimentação e economia da agricultura extrativista da Amazônia Oriental. Sua produtividade de frutos é altamente dependente da polinização cruzada. A meliponicultura avançou muito nas últimas décadas, porém o uso de meliponineos para a polinização de fruteiras tropicais é pouco usual. Neste trabalho, em uma cultura irrigada de Euterpe oleracea, a produtividade dos frutos foi avaliada após a introdução de colônias de Scaptotrigona aff. postica (Latreille, 1807). Três gradientes, 0-50, 65-115 e 130-180 metros, foram utilizados como metodologia para avaliar o aumento de produtividade, a partir do ponto central onde foram instaladas 30 colônias. A produtividade foi avaliada pelo peso do fruto por cacho, número de frutos por rachilla, diâmetro médio do fruto e peso de cem frutos amostrados. Pôde-se observar um aumento significativo na produtividade, chegando a 2,5 vezes mais, dependendo da distância da planta às colônias de abelhas. O maior intervalo de produtividade foi o mais próximo, de 0-50 metros.

Experimental planning for conducting experiments with cucumber

ABSTRACT In order to be considered highly reliable (showing very accurate results), an experiment needs to be very well planned. Defining the experimental plot size and number of replicates is fundamental to control the experimental error at the beginning of the experiment. The aim of this study was to estimate the plot size and the number of replicates sufficient to perform experiments with Cucumis sativus. A uniformity trial was installed in the first week of January 2017. The spacing used was 0.3 m between plants and 1 m between rows, resulting in 12 plants in each of the 12 cultivation rows and each basic experimental unit was composed of one plant. The variables observed in 18 harvests were average fruit mass (MMF, in g), average fruit length (CMF, in cm) and average fruit diameter (DMF, in cm). The harvests were analyzed individually and grouped to reduce experimental variability. The number of replicates and the plot size were estimated using the method of maximum curvature of the coefficient of variation. The plot size and the number of replicates were influenced by the variability in the rows and between the harvests. We recommend plots consisting of four plants per cultivation row with six replicates for the minimum significant difference by Tukey’s test, expressed in 25% the means percentage.

Agro-economic performance of bur gherkin under staking systems

ABSTRACT The bur gherkin cultivation is predominantly carried out without a staking system, but problems such as the "white belly" and fruit rot occur in this system. This study aimed to evaluate staking systems for bur gherkin plants. The experimental design was randomized blocks, with five treatments (no staking, agricultural netting staking, Mexican staking, vertical ribbon with total secondary stem thinning and vertical ribbon with alternate secondary stem thinning) and four replicates. The fresh mass and number of fruits per plant, fruit length and average diameter, number and fresh mass of fruits with white belly per plant, fresh mass per fruit and total yield were evaluated, as well as the economic indicators gross income, net income, rate of return and profitability index. For all the staking systems, the incidence of fruits with white belly was lower. The agricultural netting (43.75 t ha-1), Mexican (35.94 t ha-1) and vertical ribbon with alternate secondary stem thinning (22.24 t ha-1) systems promoted yields superior to that for no staking. The best economic indicator (US$ 21,031.46 ha-1) was observed for the agricultural netting staking, which is the most recommended for the bur gherkin cultivation.

SEEDLINGS PRODUCTION AND FRUIT YIELD OF CUCUMBER ON DIFFERENT ORGANIC SUBSTRATES

Demand for agricultural products with zero or reduced amounts of agrochemicals leads to increasingly healthy production alternatives. Thus, seedling formation and fruit yield of three cucumber cultivars were evaluated on different organic substrates in a protected environment. Marketer, Caipira and Verde Comprido cultivars were grown on five substrates: 100% cassava stems + 0% cattle manure; 75% cassava stems + 25% cattle manure; 50% cassava stems + 50% cattle manure; 25% cassava stems + 75% cattle manure and 0% cassava stems + 100% cattle manure. A completely randomized design in a 5 x 3 factorial scheme (5 substrates X 3 cultivars) was used, with six replications of four seedlings in the seedling formation phase and five replications of two plants in the fruit production phase. The seedlings were produced in trays with 72 cells, and fruit production was conducted in 13-liter pots. There was a little influence of the substrates on the emergence of cucumber cultivars: the substrates with 75 and 100% of cattle manure provided the best conditions for seedling formation, as well as the highest yield and the largest amount of fruits. On the best substrates, the cultivar Caipira had fruits with higher mass and larger average fruit diameter, but in smaller numbers.

Evaluation of chemical fruit thinning efficiency using Brevis® (Metamitron) on apple trees (‘Gala’) under Spanish conditions

Thinning is an important technique in apple growing which is used to reduce the number of fruits per plant and achieve commercial fruit size and quality. The objective of this work was to evaluate the efficacy of one and two applications of the chemical thinner Brevis® in Gala apple applied at different fruit sizes and at different intervals between the first and second spray. The trials were conducted over two seasons from 2015 to 2016 in apple orchards of the IRTA experimental agricultural stations of Mas Badia and Lleida (Spain). One or two applications with Brevis® were applied at different fruit sizes (king fruit diameter ranging between 7.5 and 13.5 mm) and at a rate of 1.65 kg/ha for all treatments. Under the trial conditions, a Brevis® thinning effect was observed in all trials with a reduction in crop load, fruit set and number of fruits per tree which varied according to the number of applications. In addition, average fruit weight, color and diameter increased significantly with treatments in which Brevis® reduced the number of fruits per tree. The degree of abscission of Brevis® was highly dependent on night temperature and, for this reason, there was a high degree of variability between trials in terms of efficacy. Our results show that the number of days between applications was not as important a factor for Brevis® efficacy as the difference in night temperature in the days immediately after its application.

Sampling Apple Trees to Accurately Estimate Mean Fruit Weight and Fruit Size Distribution

Canopies of ‘Gala’ and ‘Fuji’ trees, trained to the vertical axis, were divided into eight vertical sections, each representing 12.5% of the tree canopy. The diameter of all ‘Gala’ fruit and fruit weight for all ‘Fuji’ fruit were recorded for each canopy section. Fruit size from most canopy sections was normally distributed and distributions were similar for most sections. Therefore, fruit size distribution for a tree can be estimated by harvesting fruit from two sections of a tree, representing 25% of the canopy. For small trees in intensive plantings, with canopy diameters less than 2.0 m, average fruit diameter or fruit weight estimated from all fruit collected from 25% of the canopy may provide estimates within 7% of the true value.

Određivanje morfoloških i kemijskih karakteristika te mikropropagacija tradicionalnih udomaćenih sorata jabuka u Hrvatskoj

Traditionally grown domesticated apple varieties are known for their adaptability to different climates and a wide range of soil types, and some for resistance to the main diseases. Their evaluation and preservation are very important, not only for restoration of traditional orchards, but also as a source of genetic material for breeding new varieties. Micropropagation of the most valuable varieties could be a way to propagate plants for restoration of traditional orchards, or as a prerequisite for ex situ long-term conservation through cryopreservation. Fruit samples were taken from trees 50 or more years old, of 13 traditionally grown domesticated apple varieties in Bjelovar Bilogora County in Croatia. Morphological traits of the fruits were evaluated during 3 years, and chemical characteristics (soluble solids, reducing sugars, acids and total phenol content) were evaluated during one vegetation year. Tissue culture was established from shoot apices approximately 1 mm in size isolated from buds of 1-year-old scion woods. Axillary branching was induced from two types of explants on MS medium with the addition of 2% glucose, 1% sucrose, 0.1 g L−1 myo-inositol, 0.8% agar, 0.2 mg L−1 gibberelic acid (GA3), 0.1 mg L−1 indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and 1.5 mg L−1 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) in proliferation medium 1 (PM1) or 2 mg L−1 zeatin (ZEA) in proliferation medium 2 (PM2). The morphological characteristics of the traditionally grown domesticated apple varieties mentioned were not different from their standard values. Average fruit weight (AFW), average fruit height (AFH) and average fruit diameter (AFD) were less than standard values, which can be explained by the age of the fruit trees. Principal component analysis of these traditionally grown domesticated apple varieties showed that fruit traits very important in today’s breeding for new cultivars, like fruit weight, shape, skin color and flesh taste, stand out in explaining the variability. Despite the age of the fruit trees, the fruits still have surprisingly positive chemical characteristics, especially Canadian Reinette for which the highest concentration of total phenols was found. Of the five traditionally grown domesticated apple varieties used, tissue culture was successfully established for Jonathan and Canadian Reinette varieties. Higher multiplication efficiency was obtained for the Jonathan variety. Medium supplemented with 1.5 mg L−1 BAP produced a significantly higher number of shoots/explant in comparison with those supplemented with ZEA. Morphological features of shoots produced on medium supplemented with ZEA, however, were better. Both explant types, shoots placed in the medium vertically or two-nodal stem segments placed in the medium horizontally, gave similar results for axillary branching.

Mechanical flower thinning in peach trees

Abstract In cultivation of peaches, thinning is conventionally performed on fruits by hand, and needs to be done in a short time and with specialized labor, which increases the operational costs of this practice. Mechanical thinning can be an alternative to manual fruit thinning. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of mechanical flower thinning with different equipment in advanced peach orchard. The experiment was conducted in 2016 and 2017, combining advanced selections of peach trees and thinning methods. The evaluated variables were percentage of flowers thinning, thinning time, fruit number per plant, plant production, estimated yield, average fruit mass and fruit diameter class. Flower mechanic thinning alters the yield index of peach trees. Mechanical thinning on peach trees was efficient in flower thinning and reduced the practice execution time. Therefore, mechanical thinning is an alternative to the manual fruit thinning of peach trees.

Effect of pre-harvest foliar application of amino acids and seaweed (Ascophylum nodosum) extract on growth, yield, and storage life of different bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) cultivars grown under hydroponic conditions

The study was set up to evaluate the efficiency of amino acids and seaweed on vegetative growth, reproductive phase, yield, and postharvest storage quality of hydroponically grown bell pepper cultivars “Sven Rz F-1” and “Red Knight.” Different concentrations of amino acid and seaweed were sprayed on bell pepper plants under hydroponic conditions. Pre-harvest foliar application of amino acids and seaweed significantly increased plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, yield per plant, number of marketable fruits per plant, average fruit diameter, fruit wall thickness, and average single fruit weight. Amino acid and seaweed significantly improved postharvest physicochemical quality of both bell pepper cultivars under extended cold storage conditions. Conclusively, amino acid as well as seaweed extract not only improved growth, development, yield, and overall quality of bell pepper cultivars but also increased storage life with reduced weight loss and decay along with better physicochemical quality.

Effect of chemical thinning using 6-benzyladenine (BA) on Maciel peach (Prunus persica L.)

High effective peach fruit set results in an excessive amount of fruits, requiring thinning accomplishment, which is a manual practice and demands specialized labor, raising production costs. In this sense, chemical thinning may be an alternative to improve the peach production chain. The objective of this work was to evaluate the efficiency of 6-benzyladenine (BA) on chemical thinning and the effect of different BA dosages on peach production and color characteristics of 'Maciel' fruits. Treatments consisted of plants without thinning (Control), sprayed BA at doses of 100 mg L-1, 200 mg L-1 and 400 mg L-1, applied 45 days after full bloom (DAPF) and hand thinning at 45 DAPF. The applications of different dosages were carried out by spraying, using backpack spraying equipment. Percentage of thinning abscission, number of fruits per plant, yield per plant, fruit mass, color and average fruit diameter were evaluated. The doses of 200 and 400 mg L-1 BA for thinning increased the percentage of fruit abscission and fruit mass. The doses of 400 mg L-1 BA presented lower yield per plant, but fruits with higher average mass. Increasing BA dose reduced the number of fruits per plant. Hand thinning and 400 mg L-1 BA resulted peach fruits with larger diameter. BA application to thin peaches did not alter the fruit skin color. Therefore, BA may be a chemical thinning alternative for 'Maciel' peach cultivar, because it reduces the time of thinning in plants when compared to manual thinning. For an efficient chemical thinning with BA the product dose must be taken into account, along with climatic conditions and the cultivar.

Parametric and non-parametric indexes applied in the selection of sour passion fruit progenies

Abstract Several traits must be observed in the selection of sour passion fruit progenies. For such, selection indices could be used for gradually increasing the frequency of favorable genotypes for the set of the traits of interest. This study aimed to compare parametric and non-parametric selection indices to be used in the selection of passion fruit progenies and identify the best economic weights. Thus, 118 full-sib families and three controls were assessed for days regarding flowering, productivity in kg ha-1 year, fruit mass in g, number of fruits, average length of fruits in mm, average fruit diameter in mm, fruit shape, average shell thickness in mm, pulp yield, pulp color, total soluble solids, titratable acidity and SS/ATT ratio. The non-parametric selection indexes used to obtain genetic gains were Mulamba and Mock, genotype-ideotype distance, multiplicative and Elston. Smith and Hazel, Williams and Pesek and Baker parametric indexes were used, with different economic weights attributed. The Mulamba and Mock, genotype-ideotype distance nonparametric selection indexes and the Williams parametric index showed satisfactory and balanced gains. The genetic variation coefficient, genetic standard deviation and random weight economic weights provided higher gains for non-parametric selection indexes. Similar gains were obtained for parametric indexes, regardless of assigned weight, except for Pesek and Baker, whose genetic standard deviation provided the highest gain.

Agronomic performance of okra under the effect of seed microbiolization with rhizobacteria

ABSTRACT Plant-growth promoting rhizobacteria are an alternative to increase the productivity, adding value to the productive system of crops like okra. We aimed to evaluate the agronomic characteristics of okra genotypes after seed microbiolization with nine strains of rhizobacteria. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, in a 2x10 factorial scheme, using two okra genotypes, cultivar Santa Cruz 47 and hybrid Dardo, nine strains of rhizobacteria, LEBM 103, 105, 109, 112, 118, 134, 135, 152 and 154 and one control (without microbiolization), with four replications. We analyzed number of fruits per plant (NFP), average diameter of fruits (DM), productivity (PDT); fresh mass of fruits per plant (MFFP) and average mass of fruit (MMF). The rhizobacteria strains LEBM 109, 112, 152 and 154 provided the highest values for MFFP (1202.7; 1086.5; 1158.2 and 1175.9 g, respectively) PDT (24.1; 21.7; 23.2 and 23.5 t/ha, respectively) and NFP (78.0; 69.4; 73.27 and 76.5, respectively) in relation to the other strains and the non-use of seed microbiolization of hybrid Dardo. For cultivar Santa Cruz 47, the rhizobacteria LEBM 105, 112 and 152 provided the highest values for MFFP (896.7; 769.0 and 762.2 g, respectively). Evaluating genotypes when using each rhizobacteria, for MFFP and PDT, only for LEBM 105, no difference among genotypes was noticed, so, we concluded that okra seed microbiolization with rhizobacteria may provide productivity gain with possibility to become a feasible technique. The rhizobacteria which are the most recommended for growing hybrid Dardo are LEBM 109, 112, 152 and 154, whereas for growing cultivar Santa Cruz 47 are LEBM 105, 112 and 152.

Combining Ability Analysis for Yield, Quality, Earliness, and Yield-Attributing Traits in Tomato

ABSTRACTDevelopment of hybrids and varieties for better yield and quality traits requires identification of good specific and general combiners. Combining ability studies provide reliable information for selection of parents for hybrid combination by revealing the nature and magnitude of gene actions involved in expression of quantitative traits. Ten diverse parental lines of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) from the Canadian gene bank were crossed with four testers in a Line × Tester mating design. All 40 F1 hybrids, along with their parents, were evaluated. Analysis of variance for combining ability indicated variation for all traits under study due to lines. Crosses for all traits indicated availability of sufficient diversity to choose the best crosses for yield, quality, and yield-attributing traits. Variation due to testers occurred for days to first fruit set, average fruit weight, and average fruit diameter. Among lines and testers, EC95 (line) and ‘CLN 2264F’ (tester) exhibited desirable general combining ability effects for yield and quality and yield-attributing traits. Cross-combinations EC93 × ‘CLN 2264F’ and EC95 × ‘CO3’ exhibited higher specific combining ability for yield and yield-attributing traits; crosses EC86 × ‘CO3’, EC89 × ‘CLN 2264H’, and EC95 × ‘Punjab Chhuhara’ were good for quality attributing traits and crosses EC86 × ‘CO3’, EC88 × ‘Punjab Chhuhara’, EC89 × ‘Punjab Chhuhara’, EC93 × ‘CLN 2264H’, and EC94 × ‘CO3’ were good for earliness, indicating that these crosses may be further tested for commercial utilization.

INFLUENCE OF IRRIGATION AND POTASSIUM FERTILIZATION ON THE PRODUCTION AND QUALITY OF BANANA FRUIT IN BRASÍLIA

The present work aimed to evaluate quantitative and qualitative aspects of the initial productivity of the ‘BRS Tropical’ banana under different levels of potassium fertilization and irrigation volumes. The tests were arranged in four randomized blocks, which were consisted of a 5x5 factorial design, in slit-plot design. These plots were formed by fve different applied volumes of water in liters per pit (1090 – 2177 – 4300 – 6540 – 8720), which were equivalent to the amount of irrigation of water of 121 mm, 242 mm, 478 mm, 727 mm and 969 mm regarding the range of 9 m2 for each pit. The subplots were formed by fve levels of potassium in Kg.ha-1 (0 – 167 – 334 – 500 – 667). Both volumes of irrigation and levels of potassium were provided during the years of 2013 and 2014. The variables analyzed were for productivity, number of bunches per ha, number of hands per bunches, number of bananas per bunch, number of bananas per hand, average fruit weight, average length and diameter of the banana, the ratio between diameter and length and average pulp consistency. The doses of 500 Kg.ha-1 of K2O and 6,540 liters of water per pit provided the highest productivity (11,752 Kg.ha-1). The volumes of water were only statistically signifcant to the mass of fruit, as well as its length and diameter. The potassium application required caution, because excessive doses of potassium are harmful to productivity and quality of the fruit.

Character association and path analysis for fruit yield and it's contributing traits in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

Experiment was conducted with thirty cucumber genotypes at the Experimental Farm of the Department of Vegetable Science, Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh during Kharif season of 2015 with an objective to find out the contribution of nineteen important traits on yield. Results revealed that yield plant−1 had positive significant association with average fruit weight, fruit length and diameter, marketable fruits plant−1, harvest duration, vine length, primary branches plant−1, seed length, hundred seed weight, germination percentage, seed vigour index I and II, whereas, yield plant−1 had negative significant correlation with node number bearing first female flower, days to first harvest, total soluble solids and severity of four foliar diseases. Path analysis provided a clear picture that, harvest duration had maximum positive direct effect, followed by marketable fruits plant−1 while, days to first harvest had maximum negative direct effect followed by severity of downy mildew on yield plant−1. Further, harvest duration exerted maximum positive indirect effect via marketable fruits plant−1 whereas; severity of powdery mildew showed maximum negative indirect effect via harvest duration on yield plant−1. Thus, while conducting selection for yield improvement in cucumber, a breeder will have to emphasize on the early genotypes having more average fruit weight, longer fruits, more fruit diameter, more number of marketable fruits and primary branches plant−1, longer vine as well as harvest duration, more seed length, seed germination percentage, vigour index I and II with minimum severity of economically important foliar diseases.