Faculty Of Agriculture Research Articles

Hematological Profile in Free-Range Chickens at The Age Of 4, 8, 12 Weeks

The purpose of this study was to determine the hematological profile in hens at the ages of 4, 8, and 12 weeks. The research lasted for 4 months, and its implementation was in the Laboratory of the Department of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Agriculture, Pattimura University. The livestock commodities used in this study were native chickens in the age groups of 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Each age group will have 4 pieces of blood drawn. The variables observed are hematological values, namely the number of erythrocytes, hemoglobin levels, and hematocrit values. The results showed that the age of native chickens had a significant effect on hematocrit values and hemoglobin levels, while the average number of erythrocytes did not differ markedly. The average number of erythrocytes, hematocrit values, and hemoglobin levels of native chickens at the ages of 4, 8, and 12 are still within the normal range.

If Nobody Hears Us, Do We Really Make a Sound? Investigating Agriculture Faculty Members’ Engagement in Science Communication

If Nobody Hears Us, Do We Really Make a Sound? Investigating Agriculture Faculty Members’ Engagement in Science Communication

Effects of harvest height and time on hay yield and quality of some sweet sorghum and sorghum Sudangrass hybrid varieties.

This experiment was conducted in the Research and Application Field of Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Faculty of Agriculture, during the 2020 and 2021 summer period. The objective of this experiment was to determine the effects of different harvesting heights on forage yields and crude ash, fat, protein, and carbon and nitrogen content of leaves and stalks of sweet sorghum (SS) and sorghum sudangrass hybrid (SSH) cultivars. Nutri Honey and Nutrima varieties of SSH and the M81-E and Topper-76 varieties of SS were used in this study. The experiment was conducted using the randomized complete block design with four replications. The main plots each included two early and late varieties of SS and SSH cultivars, while the subplots were used to test different harvesting heights (30, 60, 90, 120, 150 cm) and physiological parameters of each crop. The results of this study showed that dry forage yields increased with plant growth, with the amount of forage produced at the end of the growth cycle increasing 172.2% compared to the early growth stages. Carbon (C) content of leaves decreased by 6.5%, nitrogen (N) by 46%, crude protein (CP) by 54%, crude fat (CF) by 34%, while crude ash (CA) content increased by 6% due to the increase in plant height harvest. At the same time, in parallel with the increase in plant height at harvest, the nitrogen content of the stems of the plants decreased by 87%, crude protein by 65%, crude ash by 33% and crude fat by 41%, while the carbon content increased by 4%. As plant height at harvest increased, hay yield increased but nutrient contents of the hay decreased. However, the Nutrima, Nutri Honey and M81-E sorghum cultivars, harvested three times at heights of 90 to 120 cm, are recommended for the highest yield.

Identification of Transgressive Segregation for Yield and Resistance to Yellow Stem Borer (Scirpophaga incertulas Walker) in F2 Segregating Generation of Six Rice Crosses (Oryza sativa L.)

The research investigation on the occurrence of transgressive segregation in F2 populations derived from six rice crosses namely: ADT 43 X TKM 6, ADT 43 X ASD 12, ADT 45 X TKM 6, ADT 45 X ASD 12, ASD 16 X TKM 6 and ASD 16 X ASD 12 with the aim of identifying superior genotypes for yield and resistance to the yellow stem borer (Scirpophaga incertulas). This research was conducted through series of field observations for transgressive segregants at Plant Breeding Farm, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University during Kharif season of 2022. The crosses involved high-yielding but susceptible female parents (ADT 43, ADT 45, ASD 16) and YSB resistant but low yielding male parents (TKM 6, ASD 12). In the F2 generation, a wide range of phenotypes was observed for yield-related traits and YSB resistance. Twelve superior transgressive segregants were identified in each cross, exhibiting increased grain yield per plant, number of productive tillers, and number of grains per panicle, coupled with high levels of resistance to YSB. The results suggest that the parents carried different alleles and genes governing yield and its component traits, allowing the accumulation of favorable alleles in the F2 progeny through recombination. The identification of these high-performing transgressive segregants provides opportunities for further evaluation and potential use in rice breeding programs to develop improved cultivars with enhanced yield and biotic stress resistance.

Relationship between the Profile of Agricultural Students and their Career Aspiration about Prospects of Agripreneurship

Career aspiration refers to a long-term professional aim or goal that a person sets for themselves in their chosen career or profession. Aims: To ascertain the relationship between the profile of students and their career aspiration about prospects of agripreneurship. Study Design:  Expost facto research design. Place and Duration of Study: The study was taken at four State Agricultural Universities of Gujarat. August 2023 – March 2024. Methodology: The study was conducted among the students from the agriculture faculty in four State Agricultural Universities of Gujarat which are Navsari Agricultural University, Junagadh Agricultural University, Anand Agricultural University and Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University. The respondents were M.Sc. (Agri.), Ph.D. (Agri.) and final year B.Sc. (Agri.) students from the main campus of each university. Expost facto research design was used. By simple random sampling technique, 25 students from each degree from four universities were selected. Thus, the total sample is 300. By interview method, responses were collected using an interview schedule. The relationship between the independent and dependent variable were analysed using statistical tools such as correlation and stepwise regression. Results: The variables such as age, source of information, risk taking ability, achievement orientation, leadership ability, critical thinking, self-confidence and innovativeness were significantly correlated with the level of career aspiration about prospects of agripreneurship at 1 per cent level of significance. The variables such as the source of information, achievement orientation, critical thinking, innovativeness and age were accounting influences and 41.00 per cent variation in career aspiration of the students. Conclusion: Hence, these variables should be taken care and need to improve for the change in career aspiration.

Improving color quality in goldfish (Carassius auratus) by giving of papaya seed flour (carica papaya) as a natural inhibitor in the gonad development process

Goldfish (Carassius auratus) is a freshwater ornamental fish growing fast and in demand in Indonesia. This study aimed to obtain the best dose for the treatment and determine the effect of papaya seed powder on gonadal infertility, thereby increasing the development of colour quality in Comet fish (Carassius auratus). This research was carried out from May to August 2023 which was carried out in the Aquatic Laboratory room of the Aquaculture Study Program, Faculty of Agriculture, Juanda University, Bogor, West Java Province. This study used comet fish weighing 14-17 g stocked with three fish/aquariums. The study used a completely randomized design with four treatments and three replications. Treatment P0 (without papaya seed flour), P1 treatment (5 g papaya seed flour), P2 treatment (10 g papaya seed flour), and P3 (15 g papaya seed flour). The parameters observed were colour, weight gain, body circumference, sperm volume and survival rate. The results showed significantly different (P<0.05) in colour, weight growth, body circumference, and sperm volume, with the best results in the P2 treatment with a colour scoring value of 24.93, weight growth of 15.78 grams, body circumference of 5.94 cm and a sperm volume of 0.06 ml. The range of water quality includes temperature 24 – 28.9 oC, pH 7 – 8.68, and DO 5 – 7.5 mg/L. The survival rate in adding papaya seed powder showed no significant difference (P>0.05) in survival results (SR) with a value of 100%.

Development of Learning Modules for Entrepreneurship Courses to Train The Independence of Agricultural Product Technology Study Program Students

This research aims to produce a learning module for entrepreneurship courses to train student independence. The module was prepared in the form of a printed module. This module was created as an educational tool for entrepreneurship classes in the Faculty of Agriculture's Agricultural Product Technology Study Program, PGRI Banyuwangi University. The technique employed in developing this module is the ADDIE development model, this model is used because the development stages are simpler and the time used is not too long. The study's findings are in the form of an entrepreneurship learning module to determine the feasibility of using this module, trials have been carried out including individual trials and group trials. The individual trial involved 3 students, while the group involved 9 students. In this study, it was found that the confirmation from material experts was 92.5% and the media expert validation was 87.5% so that it could be categorized as very good. It is also carried out limited and group trials with the aim of seeing the feasibility of the products developed. The restricted trial's outcomes were as follows an average of 89.58%, meaning that the average can be categorized as excellent and the results of the group trial obtained an average of 90.26% so that the developed module is categorized as feasible and can train student independence.

Monitoring and Genotyping of Wild Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L. subsp. sylvestris) in Slovenia.

Vitis vinifera L. subsp. sylvestris (sylvestris) is the only native wild grapevine in Eurasia (Europe and western Asia) and is the existing ancestor of the grapevine varieties (for wine and table grape production) belonging to the subsp. sativa. In Slovenia, the prevailing opinion has been that there are no Slovenian sylvestris habitats. This study describes sylvestris in Slovenia for the first time and aims to present an overview of the locations of the wild grapevine in the country. In this project, a sample set of 89 accessions were examined using 24 SSR and 2 SSR markers plus APT3 markers to determine flower sex. The accessions were found in forests on the left bank of the Sava River in Slovenia, on the border between alluvial soils and limestone and dolomite soils, five different sites, some of which are described for the first time. The proportion of female to male accessions differed between sites. At two sites, female plants dominated; at others, the ratio was balanced. The plants' genetic diversity and structure were compared with autochthonous and unique varieties of subsp. sativa from old vineyards in Slovenia and with rootstocks escaped from nature from abandoned vineyards. Sylvestris was clearly distinguishable from vinifera and the rootstocks. Based on genetic analyses, it was confirmed that Slovenian sylvestris is closest to the Balkan and German sylvestris groups. Meanwhile, a safety duplication of the wild grapevine accessions has been established at the University Centre of Viticulture and Enology Meranovo, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences at the University of Maribor.

The Effects of Propylene oxide Fumigation on the Mortality of Plodia interpunctella (Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

This study was carried out in 2014-2015 at Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Plant Protection, Entomology Laboratory. This study aims to evaluate the viability of propylene oxide (PPO) as an alternative fumigant to methyl bromide (MeBr) for the efficient control of Plodia interpunctella (Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and to model the mortality rates of P. interpunctella insects using different regression techniques. The biological effectiveness of PPO was assessed across all life stages of P. interpunctella during a brief exposure period (4 hours) under three conditions: normal atmospheric pressure (PPO alone), low pressure (PPO+Vacuum), and an atmosphere enriched with carbon dioxide (CO2) (PPO+CO2). For all PPO treatments, PPO was directly introduced into the fumigation chamber at seven or more concentrations using different micro-syringes of different volume ranges: 2.5-25 µl l-1, 1.5-45 µl l-1, 1.5-30 µl l-1, and 0.5-15 µl l-1 for eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults, respectively. The results indicate that 100% mortality was observed in eggs at concentrations of 25 µl l-1, 20 µl l-1 and 20 µl l-1; in larvae at concentrations of 45 µl l-1, 30 µl l-1 and 40 µl l-1; in pupae at concentrations of 30 µl l-1, 15 µl l-1 and 25 µl l-1; and in adults at concentrations of 15 µl l-1, 10 µl l-1 and 10 µl l-1 for the PPO alone, PPO+Vacuum, and PPO+CO2 treatments, respectively. The results obtained from the developed regression models for insect mortality reveal that these models generally exhibited a better fit when described by exponential and third-order polynomial functions. In summary, this study indicates that PPO treatments hold significant promise for rapid insect control, particularly in the case of the Indian meal moth, rendering them invaluable for quarantine purposes.

The effect of tryptone and tomato juice addition on the growth performance of strawberry (Fragaria ananassa) explant under in vitro condition

Strawberries are a fruit commodity that has high economic value. The obstacle in strawberry production is the lack of high-quality seed availability with disease-free properties. Tissue culture offers a promising solution to increase both the quantity and quality of strawberry seeds. This study aims to assess the effect of different concentrations of tomato juice and tryptone on the growth of strawberry explants under in vitro growing condition. The research was conducted at the Plant Breeding Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Jenderal Soedirman, from December 2022 to May 2023. The study employed a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with two factors. The first factor was tomato juice (Z), consisting of Z0 = 0 mL/L, Z1 = 50 mL/L, Z2 = 100 mL/L. The second factor was tryptone (T), consisting of T0 = 0 g/L, T1 = 1 g/L, T2 = 2 g/L, T3 = 3 g/L. The addition of 50 mL/L tomato juice solely (T0Z1) resulted in the highest plant height, number of leaves, number of branches, and leaf width. Meanwhile, the addition of2 g/L tryptone solely showed the highest germination rate.

Response of growth and tuber seed production of G0 potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cv Medians in medium lands of Jatinangor to biochar composition and retardant type

Potatoes are the third most consumed food in Indonesia. The availability of high-quality potato tuber seeds is still low which affects potato production. Potato planting in the highlands is limited, so it needs to be expanded into medium lands. The modification that can increase the production of G0 potato tuber seeds on medium lands is the use of biochar and retardant. The purpose of this research was to determine the composition of biochar and the type of retardant to increase the G0 tuber seed yield of potato cv Medians in the medium lands of Jatinangor. The research was conducted from August 2022 to February 2023 at the Station Ciparanje, Jatinangor, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Padjadjaran. The experiment used Factorial Randomized Block Design (RBD). The first factor was the biochar compositions: b1 (100% compost), b2 (80% compost + 20% rice husk biochar), b3 (80% compost + 20% coconut shell biochar), and b4 (80% compost + 10% biochar husk rice + 10% coconut shell biochar). The second factor was the retardant type: r1 (without retardant), r2 (100 ppm paclobutrazol), and r3 (100 ppm prohexadione-Ca). The experimental results showed that there was no interaction effect of biochar compositions and retardant type on the growth and yield of G0 potato tuber seeds. Treatment of 80% compost + 20% coconut shell biochar suppressed plant height but increased the number of tubers. Treatment of 100 ppm paclobutrazol resulted in lower plant height but total chlorophyll content, percentage of stolon forming tubers, the number of tubers, and tuber weight per plant were higher compared to treatments without retardant and with 100 ppm prohexadione-Ca.

Effects of phosphorus and zinc levels on total soluble carbohydrate and crude protein in grain of cowpea (<i>Vigna unguiculata</i> (L.) Walp) grown in Bauchi, Nigeria

Two field experiments were conducted at the Faculty of Agriculture and Agricultural Engineering Research Farm of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, between 2006 and 2007 to study the effects of phosphorus (0, 25, 50 kg P/ha) and zinc levels (0, 2.5, 5 kg Zn/ha) on Total Soluble Carbohydrate and Crude Protein of six cowpea varieties namely: IT90K 277, IT93455 1, IT89KD 288, IT97K 568 18, IT90K 82 2 and Kanannado. The objectives of these experiments were to determine which levels of P, Zn and the various interactions of P, Zn, and year that had produced the highest total soluble carbohydrate (TSC) and crude protein (CP) on the grain contents of the cowpea varieties studied and to determine the best varieties in terms of TSC and CP upon the application of these nutrients (P and Zn) in Bauchi, Nigeria. The results revealed that increased levels of P from P0 to P50 significantly increased the CP and TSC contents of the cowpea grains. Similarly, higher Zn levels (2.5 and 5 kgha-1) were observed to have significant effects on TSC and CP contents of the cowpea grains. Interactions of P and Zn were equally observed to significantly affect TSC and CP contents of the cowpea grains. Of all the six (6) cowpea varieties, Kanannado recorded the highest TSC and CP in the cowpea grains. With regard to year, 2006 recorded the highest CP while 2007 had the highest TSC. Higher levels of P and Zn or their associations were recommended for improving TSC and CP contents of the cowpea grains, with emphasis on Kanannado for Bauchi farmers.

A Mitochondrial DNA-based Molecular Phylogenetics Study of the Mahalli Goat as a New Animal Genetic Resource in Southern Anatolia in Turkey

Background: The Karacadağ Mountains are of extinct volcanic origin and cover a large area in the triangle between Diyarbakır (Center, Nar and Ergani districts), Şanlılurfa (Siverek and Viranşehir districts) and Mardin (Derik district). Agricultural activities are limited due to the stony structure of the region; therefore, small animal husbandry is intensively practiced in the villages of the region. Mahalli goats, which are morphologically new domestic goats, are distinguished from other domestic goats by their spiral horn structure. They are not only resistant to cold weather conditions, but also resistant to diseases. Therefore, present study aimed to determine the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of Mahalli goats in Diyarbakır region. Methods: The study was carried out at Şanlıurfa, Harran University of Agricultural Faculty, Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Molecular Genetics, in 2019-2020. Out of 24 Mahalli goats, forward and reverse primers were used to amplify the 598 bp region over the mtDNA D-loop region encompassing the 481 bp most variable region (HVR1). Analysis of goat D-loop sequences revealed 481 regions of 0.378 G+C, 97 polymorphic regions and 19 haplotypes. The phylogenetic analysis of Mahalli goats was carried out using molecular genetic techniques. Result: As a result of data analysis, both haplotype diversity (HD) and nucleotide diversity (ND) were calculated to be 1.000±0.0039 and 0.0375±0.00209, respectively. The genetic distance between the haplotypes of Mahalli goat ranged from 0.003 to 0.087 and the genetic distance between the haplotypes of Mahalli goat and other domestic goat breeds in Turkey ranged from 0.016 to 0.027. All 19 haplotypes used in this study were represented in the lineage A phylogenetic tree.

Effects of Brassinosteroid Hormone on Chemical Composition of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) under Salt Stress

Following the scientific management of organic manure (poultry) may contribute to reducing environmental pollution and human health, as the current study was conducted with the aim of recycling poultry manure accumulated in the field of poultry farming at the research station - Faculty of Agriculture - Karma site and the impact of varying fermentation durations on organic manure, specifically animal (poultry manure) fermented by different fermentation methods and its impact on the rest of the factors to produce highly decomposed organic manure free of pathogens. Several traditional fermentation methods (compost and water immersion) were followed. and modern (bioreactor), and for a fermentation period of 90 days with an estimate of most of the qualitative characteristics of the organic manure produced and within periods of 15 - 30 - 45 - 60 - 75 - 90 days. The results of the experiment of incubation of poultry manure showed that all the studied traits have changed with the progress of fermentation time and in the same direction, the results demonstrated that fermentation in the bioreactor unit has given the highest values of total nitrogen, total phosphorus and potassium 32.53, 16.72, 20.86, g.kg-1 for the elements mentioned sequentially, while the lowest values of pH 6.68 and C/N ratio 9.96 compared to other fermentation methods.

Effect of fermentation periods of poultry manure on its characteristics when fermented with different ways

Following the scientific management of organic manure (poultry) may contribute to reducing environmental pollution and human health, as the current study was conducted with the aim of recycling poultry manure accumulated in the field of poultry farming at the research station - Faculty of Agriculture - Karma site and the impact of varying fermentation durations on organic manure, specifically animal (poultry manure) fermented by different fermentation methods and its impact on the rest of the factors to produce highly decomposed organic manure free of pathogens. Several traditional fermentation methods (compost and water immersion) were followed. and modern (bioreactor), and for a fermentation period of 90 days with an estimate of most of the qualitative characteristics of the organic manure produced and within periods of 15 - 30 - 45 - 60 - 75 - 90 days. The results of the experiment of incubation of poultry manure showed that all the studied traits have changed with the progress of fermentation time and in the same direction, the results demonstrated that fermentation in the bioreactor unit has given the highest values of total nitrogen, total phosphorus and potassium 32.53, 16.72, 20.86, g.kg-1 for the elements mentioned sequentially, while the lowest values of pH 6.68 and C/N ratio 9.96 compared to other fermentation methods.

Effect of Irrigation Cuttings at Different Growth Stages and Spraying with Citrullus Colocynthis Extract on the Leaf Water Balance of two Cultivars of Zea Mays L.

A study in the real world with a Randomised Complete Block Design (R.C.B.D.) utilising a split-split diagrams layout with three separate replicates was carried out at the research facility of the college's water resources and soil sciences department at the Agriculture faculty / University of Diyala in the autumn season 2022. The experiment included three stages of cutting off irrigation: male flowering, milky stage, and three concentration levels of Citrullus Colocoynthis extract. Two cultivars of Zea mays L. were used: AGN720 and JAMESON. The concentration levels were 50 ml L-1 and 100 ml L-1, respectively, and two cultivars were used: AGN720 and JAMESON Citrullus Colocoynthis extract has an anti-transpiration effect on the water balance of leaves and water use efficacy of Zea mays L. grown under water stress conditions. The most important results are as follows: the AGN720 variety recorded the best water use efficiency, with an increase of 9.04% compared to the JAMESON variety. Spraying the extract of Citrullus Colocoynthis as anti-transpiration at a concentrate level of 100 ml L-1 increased the capability of water retention, relative water content, and water use efficiency. The irrigation cut-off treatment in the milky phase stage had the best water use efficiency, saving 2.559 kg of grain m-3 water compared to the no-cut irrigation treatment.

Feasibility Assessment of Stakeholder Benefits in Community-Based Agritourism through University Social Responsibility Practices

This study selected the TaiAn rural community in Taiwan as the study site. TaiAn collaborated with local universities to implement the University Social Responsibility (USR) practice through community-based agritourism (CBA). The social exchange theory (SET) was adopted as a theoretical framework to weigh the costs and benefits perceived among different stakeholders (residents, tourists, students, and lecturers) regarding CBA development. The research purpose was to explore the determinants of support for sustainable CBA using a mixed quantitative and qualitative approach based on the SET. The empirical results from 117 completed surveys indicated that Agricultural Experiential Benefits, Perceived Environmental Impacts, and Mental Health Benefits positively influenced tourists’ support for CBA. The qualitative interview results also supported the notion that agriculture students, faculty, and community members could derive various benefits from participating in USR practices within local communities. Theoretical and managerial implications were proposed for marketers and policymakers to gain a deep understanding of CBA practices.

Comparative Efficacy of Weed Management Practices on Grain and Straw Yields of Wheat

Wheat is central to Afghanistan's food security. It accounts for 76 percent of the annual grain cereal harvest and 57 percent of the country's total food crop production. Several factors, such as low-yielding varieties, low soil fertility, low-quality agrochemicals, widespread pest and disease infestations, and widespread distribution of weeds, are the leading causes of low wheat productivity in the country. The current study was conducted at the Student Research farm of the Faculty of Agriculture at Kabul University to determine the overall effects of weeds on wheat grain and straw yields and to evaluate and compare different weed management practices in the wheat field. After applying the weed management practices, among the treatments, T1, T3, and T4 showed only 8.3, 5, and 2.3 percent weed populations, respectively, compared to the untreated control. Regarding grain and straw yields, mechanical control (hand weeding) ranked first with a grain yield of 4,867 kg/ha, followed by T1 (4,580 kg/ha), T3 (4,513 kg/ha), T2 (4,133 kg/ha), and T5 (3,416 kg/ha), respectively. The difference in straw yield among the treatments was not significant; however, mechanical control ranked first (7,103 kg/ha), followed by T1 (6,783 kg/ha), T3 (6,700 kg/ha), T2 (6,207 kg/ha), and T5 (5,280 kg/ha), respectively. The study findings concluded that by eliminating weeds, wheat grain and straw yields could be increased by an average of 30 and 26 percent, respectively. As broad-leaved weeds are widely distributed in the wheat fields, applying relative herbicides such as 2,4-D is more effective and recommended for all cultivation methods.

The effect of colchicine treatment on phenotype and genotype characteristics of Detam-2 variety of soybean Glycine max

Abstract. Fathurrahman F, Ulpah S, Sodiq NAM, Mahadi I, 2024. The effect of Colchicine treatment on phenotype and genotype characteristics of Detam-2 variety of soybean Glycine max. Biodiversitas 25: 1230-1238. The enhancement of soybean plant mutagenesis to obtain phenotypic and genotypic diversity is essential in agriculture. This study aimed to analyze the effect of colchicine concentration on phenotypic and genotypic characteristics based on RAPD markers of detam-2 variety. The experiments were carried out from January to June 2023 in the experimental farm of the Agriculture Faculty, Universitas Islam Riau, Pekanbaru, Indonesia. Therefore, 600 plants were used, consisting of 200 controls and 400 samples treated with 3,500 ppm of colchicine. The growth parameter was analyzed using a DMRT statistical test at p<0.05, and stomata densities were compared using T-test. The mutant-1 produced the highest yield, a total of 235 pods (with 233 phity pods), seed weighed 93.20 g, which was significantly different from those of controls. Mutant-2 produced the highest dry weight of 100 seeds, which was 12.80 g, with a dry seed weight per plant of 63.30 g. Leaf types in mutant samples varied, including normal, purple leaf stems, and curly leaves. The genotypic study showed that primer OPAA-01 produced a different number of DNA bands. The highest genetic similarity was 0.961 among the controls, while the lowest was 0.451 between mutant-1 and the controls. Based on the results, the dendrogram produced two groups: control and mutant-1.

Effect of Organic Manures and Foliar Application on Growth, Yield and Nutrient Uptake of Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata Nees.)

A field experiment was carried out to study the effect of organic manures and foliar application of organics on growth, yield and nutrient uptake of Kalmegh at the Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University to find out the suitable organic inputs and foliar organics for better growth, yield and nutrient uptake of Kalmegh. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with twelve treatments and three replications comprising of a different combination (i) basal organics viz., Farm Yard Manure, Vermicompost and Pressmud (ii) foliar spray of organics viz., Panchagavya and Fish Amino Acid and untreated control. Among the twelve treatments, the plants which received Vermicompost at 5 t ha-1 + fish amino acid at 3% expressed higher values for the growth parameters viz., plant height (69.80 cm), number of branches plant-1 (25.13), number of leaves plant-1 (140.87). Physiological parameters viz., leaf area plant-1 (6.78), total dry matter production plant-1 (15.86 g plant-1). Yield parameters viz., fresh herbage yield plant-1 (42.74 g plant-1) and dry herbage yield plant-1 (14.24 g plant-1). Nutrient uptake viz., Nitrogen (38.97 Kg ha-1), Phosphorous (6.87 Kg ha-1) and Potassium (84.23 kg ha-1).