Percentage Of Flowers Research Articles

Effect of Micronutrients (Boron & Zinc) on Growth, Flowering and Quality of Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) Under Naturally Ventilated Polyhouse Conditions of Prayagraj, India

The present investigation was done to study the effect of micronutrients (Boron & Zinc) on growth, flowering and quality of carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) under naturally ventilated polyhouse conditions of Prayagraj. The experiment was conducted in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with fifteen treatments replicated thrice. Foliar application with three levels of boron (0.05%, 0.1% and 0.15%), three levels of zinc (0.2%, 0.4%, and 0.6%) and treatment combinations of both boron and zinc along with control were applied. Among all the treatments, T2 (B @ 0.1%) recorded significantly taller plants (84.71 cm), more number of leaves (165.47), more number of shoots (7.53), more number of internodes (17.27), higher internodal length (5.21 cm), longer bud (3.63 cm), more bud diameter (2.33 cm), higher flower stalk girth (4.86 mm) and more vase life (11.2 days). However, treatment T6 (Zn @ 0.6 %) exhibited early days for bud initiation (124.27 days), bud opening (14.47 days), 50 percent flowering (138.73 days), more number of cut flower stalks per plant (7.13) and more number of flowers per meter square (178.33) while treatment T5 (Zn @ 0.4 %) exhibited longer flower stalk (66.23 cm) and treatment T10 (B @ 0.1 % + Zn @ 0.2 %) produced good flower diameter (6.62 cm). Poor flowers were generated by plants that were not given micronutrients. So, T2 (B @ 0.1 %) and T6 (Zn @ 0.6 %) can be applied topically to improve the quality of flowers. Hence, applications of micronutrient are proven to be crucial for improving the vegetative growth, flowering, quality and yield parameters of carnation grown under naturally ventilated polyhouse conditions of Prayagraj.

Long-day photoperiod and cool temperature induce flowering in cassava: Expression of signaling genes.

Cassava is a staple food crop in the tropics, and is of particular importance in Africa. Recent development of genomic selection technology have improved the speed of cassava breeding; however, cassava flower initiation and development remains a bottleneck. The objectives of the current studies were to elucidate the effect of photoperiod, temperature and their interactions on the time of flowering and flower development in controlled environments, and to use RNA-sequencing to identify transcriptome expression underlying these environmental responses. Compared to a normal tropical day-length of 12 h, increasing the photoperiod by 4 h or decreasing the air temperature from 34/31 to 22°/19°C (day/night) substantially hastened the time to flowering. For both photoperiod and temperature, the environment most favorable for flowering was opposite the one for storage root harvest index. There was a pronounced treatment interaction: at warm day-time temperatures, percent flowering was low, and photoperiod had little effect. In contrast, at cooler temperatures, percent flowering increased, and long-day (LD) photoperiod had a strong effect in hastening flowering. In response to temperature, many differentially expressed genes in the sugar, phase-change, and flowering-time-integrator pathways had expression/flowering patterns in the same direction as in Arabidopsis (positive or negative) even though the effect of temperature on flowering operates in the reverse direction in cassava compared to Arabidopsis. Three trehalose-6-phosphate-synthase-1 (TPS1) genes and four members of the SPL gene family had significantly increased expression at cool temperature, suggesting sugar signaling roles in flower induction. In response to LD photoperiod, regulatory genes were expressed as in Arabidopsis and other LD flowering plants. Several hormone-related genes were expressed in response to both photoperiod and temperature. In summary, these findings provide insight on photoperiod and temperature responses and underlying gene expression that may assist breeding programs to manipulate flowering for more rapid crop improvement.

Genetic variability and correlation analysis for yield and yield contributing characters in brinjal (Solanum melongena L.)

Thirty brinjal genotypes were evaluated for eighteen quantitative characters in a randomized block design with three replications. Variability studies for 18 quantitative characters revealed that the phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was comparatively greater than the corresponding genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all the characters studied. Maximum PCV (59.49%) and GCV (59.48%) were registered for fruit weight. High estimates of heritability accompanied with high genetic advance as per cent of mean were  recorded for most of the traits viz., fruit length, diameter, pedicel length, pedicel thickness, relative fruit calyx length, fruit weight, fruits per plant, the number of marketable fruits, marketable fruit yield and fruit yield per plant indicating the prominence of additive gene action, thus pointing towards the effectiveness of simple selection depending on the phenotypic expression of genotypes would be rewarding for genetic improvement of these characters. Significant positive correlation of fruit yield per plant at both genotypic and phenotypic levels with plant height, percentage of medium and long styled flowers, fruit setting percentage, fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit pedicel length, fruit pedicel thickness, fruit weight, marketable fruit yield and significant negative correlation with the number of primary branches, days to 50% flowering, days to first harvest, relative fruit calyx length, fruits per plant, total marketable fruits. Therefore, considering these characters would be beneficial in the selection for fruit yield per plant. Keywords: Brinjal, Genetic variability, Correlation analysis

Genetic Variability and Association of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) for Yield and Yield Components

The present study consists of 21 rice genotypes including one check variety that were evaluated in 2021 to study genetic variability, correlation and path coefficient for thirteen quantitative characters. Observation recorded to study the genetic variability parameters, correlation coefficient and path coefficient for yield and its attributing traits. On the basis of mean performance MTU-1224 was found to be superior in grain yield per hill followed by, BPT-329, KNM-118 and MTU-1001 to give higher yield over the check (NDR 359). High to moderate estimates of GCV and PCV were recorded for grain yield per plant followed by, harvest index, test weight, biological yield, number of spikelet per panicle, flag leaf width and number of total tillers. Grain yield indicated significant positive correlation with biological yield followed by harvest index and number of spikelet per panicle in terms of both phenotypic and genotypic level. Path coefficient analysis showed positive significant direct effects on number of spikelet’s per panicle, number of productive tillers, harvest index, test weight, panicle length, days to fifty percent flowering, flag leaf length and biological yield at genotypic level whereas it showed positive and significant direct effect for harvest index, biological yield., test weight, flag leaf width, number of productive tillers, number of spikelet’s per panicle and day to maturity at phenotypiclevel. Thus, these traits are identified as the efficient and potential for indirect selection for the improvement of rice productivity in the present experimental materials.

Genetic Variability Analysis for Agro-morphological and Seed Yield Component traits of Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) Genotypes under Mid Hill Zone of Himachal Pradesh

Aim, Design and Methodology: A research with 21 soybean genotypes including three checks was carried out in kharif 2021 at Research Farm of Genetics and Plant Breeding, CSK HPKV Palampur to estimate the genetic variation, heritability and genetic advance for 13 agro-morphological & seed yield component traits that can be used as selection criteria in breeding programmes. RBD design was used to set up the experiment with a plot size of 3 × 1.35=4.05 m2 and replicated three times.
 Results and Conclusion: The results of the analysis of variance revealed that the genotypes varied considerably for days to 50 percent flowering, days to 75 percent maturity, plant height (cm), number of nodes per plant, inter-nodal length (cm), number of branches per plant, number of pods per plant, pod length (cm), number of seeds per pod, seed yield per plant (g), 100-seed weight (g), biological yield per plant (g) and harvest index (%) showing the genetic divergence of the planting materials from one another. According to the estimates of genetic variability, the phenotypic coefficient of variation for all the traits were greater than the genotypic coefficient of variation explaining the important role played by environmental factors in the manifestation of the traits. Higher values of PCV coupled with moderate GCV values were detected for harvest index (27.93%, 11.84%) indicating the presence of sufficient genetic variation for selection in such traits. High heritability estimates along with high genetic advance (as percent of mean) were recorded for plant height and 100-seed weight which could be ascribed to predominance of additive gene action and high selective index and therefore, selection pressure could be applied profitably to such traits for genetic modification in soybean.

Effect of Gibberellic Acid and Naphthalene Acetic Acid on Growth, Yield and Quality of Chilli (Capsicum annum L.)

The experiment entitled "Effect of gibberellic acid and naphthalene acetic acid on growth yield and quality of chilli (Capsicum annum L.)” was conducted at Department of Horticulture, Naini Agricultural Institute, SHUATS, Prayagraj during August to December, 2021. Experiment was laid out in Factorial Randomized Block Design with three replications and ten treatment combinations. The experiment consisted of two factors. Factor A: Variety (two variety) as TMPH-449, TMPH-443 and Factor B: Plant growth regulator T1: NAA (30ppm) T2: NAA (40ppm) T3: GA3 (50ppm) T4: GA3 (100ppm). The results revealed that among the varieties studied, variety TMPH-449 resulted better in vegetative growth (Plant height, leaf area) whereas variety TMPH-443 resulted better in vegetative growth (Number of branches per plant), yield parameter (Minimum days taken for 50 percent flowering, minimum days to first harvest, length of fruit, fruit girth, weight of fruit, number of chilli fruit per plant, average fruit yield per plant, fruit yield per hectare), and quality parameter (total soluble solids). Among different concentrations of growth regulator application T2: NAA (40ppm) gave better result in vegetative growth (Plant height, Number of branches per plan, leaf area), yield parameter (Minimum days taken for 50 percent flowering, minimum days to first harvest, length of fruit, fruit girth, weight of fruit, number of chilli fruit per plant, average fruit yield per plant, fruit yield per hectare), and quality parameter (total soluble solids). The best interaction amount different variety and growth regulators were found to be variety TMPH-443 and Growth regulator T2: NAA (40ppm) which give maximum growth and quality characteristics of chilli.

Development of High Yielding Fusarium Wilt Resistant Cultivar by Pyramiding of "Genes" Through Marker-Assisted Backcrossing in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.).

Pusa 391, a mega desi chickpea variety with medium maturity duration is extensively cultivated in the Central Zone of India. Of late, this variety has become susceptible to Fusarium wilt (FW), which has drastic impact on its yield. Presence of variability in the wilt causing pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceri (foc) across geographical locations necessitates the role of pyramiding for FW resistance for different races (foc 1,2,3,4 and 5). Subsequently, the introgression lines developed in Pusa 391 genetic background were subjected to foreground selection using three SSR markers (GA16, TA 27 and TA 96) while 48 SSR markers uniformly distributed on all chromosomes, were used for background selection to observe the recovery of recurrent parent genome (RPG). BC1F1 lines with 75–85% RPG recovery were used to generate BC2F1. The plants that showed more than 90% RPG recovery in BC2F1 were used for generating BC3F1. The plants that showed more than 96% RPG recovery were selected and selfed to generate BC3F3. Multi-location evaluation of advanced introgression lines (BC2F3) in six locations for grain yield (kg/ha), days to fifty percent flowering, days to maturity, 100 seed weight and disease incidence was done. In case of disease incidence, the genotype IL1 (BGM 20211) was highly resistant to FW in Junagarh, Indore, New Delhi, Badnapur and moderately resistant at Sehore and Nandyal. GGE biplot analysis revealed that IL1(BGM20211) was the most stable genotype at Junagadh, Sehore and Nandyal. GGE biplot analysis revealed that IL1(BGM 20211) and IL4(BGM 20212) were the top performers in yield and highly stable across six environments and were nominated for Advanced Varietal Trials (AVT) of AICRP (All India Coordinated Research Project on Chickpea) in 2018–19. BGM20211 and BGM 20212 recorded 29 and 28.5% average yield gain over the recurrent parent Pusa 391, in the AVT-1 and AVT-2 over five environments. Thus, BGM20211 was identified for release and notified as Pusa Manav/Pusa Chickpea 20211 for Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra, Southern Rajasthan, Bundhelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh states by the Central Sub-Committees on Crop Standards, Notification and Release of Varieties of Agricultural Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, for commercial cultivation in India (Gazette notification number S.O.500 (E) dt. 29-1-2021).Such pyramided lines give resilience to multiple races of fusarium wilt with added yield advantage.

Assessment of Genetic Diversity in Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Genotypes for Grain Yield Characters

A set of 55 genotypes of rice were evaluated for “assessment of genetic diversity in rice genotypes for grain yield characters”. The experiment was conducted in a Randomized Block Design with three replications during the kharif season, of 2021 at Naini Agriculture Institute, Naini. The plant to plant distance was 15 cm and row to row distance was 20 cm. The data were recorded from five randomly selected plants for each genotypes from all the replicates for thirteen characters. Analysis of variance showed significant differences among genotypes for all 13 characters indicating that the material has adequate genetic variability to support the breeding programme for improving the grain yield of rice. Out of 55 rice genotypes evaluated for various characters, 5 genotypes were found superior for different characters. These 5 genotypes were found better for more than one character. Among the lines SHUATS DHAN -6 (62.133g) recorded the highest grain yield per hill followed by the genotypes BPT-3291 (51.8g), SHIATS Dhan -2 (51.467g), SIGNET-5455 (50.467g) and SIGNET-5455 (50.4). All these genotypes were significantly higher as compared to the check NDR - 359 (CHECK) (22.67g). High estimate of heritability coupled with high genetic advance as percent of mean was recorded for Grain yield per hill, Biological yield, Number of spikelets per panicle, Harvest Index, Flag leaf length, Number of tillers per hill, Number of panicles per hill, Flag leaf width, Test weight, and Plant height. These traits are governed by additive gene effects and therefore, may be improved through direct selection. Further the characters viz., Biological yield, Harvest Index, Number of tillers per hill, Days to fifty percent flowering, Flag leaf length and Test weight, had the highest direct positive effect and indirect effect (through each other) on grain yield per hill. Thus, selections for these characters will prove efficient for the improvement of grain yield of rice. All the 55 rice genotypes were classified using Mahalanobis D2 statistics involving 13 quantitative characters of 55 genotypes grouped into 6 clusters In the present study, the highest inter cluster distance was observed between cluster IV and cluster V (368.37) followed by cluster II and cluster V (361.04).

Estimation of Genetic Variability, Correlaton for Yield and Yield Compoments in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

The present study consists of 23 rice genotypes including one check variety that were evaluated at Field Experimentation Centre of the Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Naini Agricultural Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj (Allahabad), U.P. to study genetic variability, correlation and path coefficient for 13 quantitative characters. The experiment was conducted by using Randomized Block Design with three replications during Kharif -2021. Observation recorded to study the genetic variability parameters, correlation coefficient and path coefficient for yield and its attributing traits. On the basis of mean performance BPT-3291 was found to be superior in grain yield per hill followed by, SIGNET-5455, KSR-140 and RNR-15048 showed higher yield over the check (NDR359). High to moderate estimates of GCV and PCV were recorded for number of spikelets per panicle followed by number of tillers per hill, harvest index, biological yield, grain yield per hill, flag leaf width, test weight and number of panicles per hill. Grain yield indicated significant positive correlation with plant height followed by tillers per hill, panicles per hill, biological yield and harvest index in terms of phenotypic correlation coefficient whereas in terms of genotypic coefficient it showed positive and significant correlation. Path coefficient analysis showed positive significant direct effects on Biological Yield, Harvest Index and Number of Spikelets per Panicle at genotypic level whereas it showed positive and significant direct effect for days to fifty percent flowering, plant height, flag leaf width, number of panicles, test weight, biological yield, and harvest index at phenotypic level. Thus, these traits are identified as the efficient and potential for indirect selection for the improvement of rice productivity in the present experimental materials.

Correlation and Path Coefficient Analysis for Yield and Yield Attributing Traits in Blackgram (Vigna mungo. (L) Hepper)

The present research work was conducted at Agricultural Research Station (ARS), Madhira during Rabi 2022 to assess the correlation and path coefficient analysis among yield contributing traits in 35 blackgram genotypes. Correlation analysis has revealed that Plant height, number of seeds pod-1, 100 seed weight, harvest index and biological yield was positively correlated with seed yield per plant. The path coefficient analysis recorded that, days to 50 percent flowering, plant height, number of clusters per plant, number of seeds per pod, 100 seed weight, biological yield and harvest index had direct positive effect on yield. Blackgram seed yield can be significantly improved with the selection of plants with more number of seeds per pod, 100 seed weight, biological yield and harvest index in the segregating generations as these traits were positively associated with the seed yield per plant.

Identification and validation of SSRS linked to fiber quality traits in cotton using RILs derived from Gossypium hirsutum var. MCU5 and TCH 1218

In order to increase the fiber productivity in cotton, it is imperative to genetically improve the fiber component traits and such effort can be quickened by use of molecular markers. Totally, seventy-four simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers that were previously shown to be linked to fibre strength, boll weight, and fibre elongation were used to differentiate Gossypium hirsutum var. MCU5 and TCH1218 and among them two were found to be polymorphic markers. These two polymorphic markers viz., TMB 0409 and CGR 6889 were used to genotype 220 F13 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from MCU5 and TCH1218 and single marker analysis was used to confirm their linkage with target traits using the phenotypic data collected on cotton fiber yield component traits such as plant height, days to 50 percent flowering data, boll weight, number of monopodial and sympodial branches and bolls. These identified and validated markers across genetic background can be employed to genetically improve cotton through marker assisted selection.

Single trait versus principal component based association analysis for flowering related traits in pigeonpea

Pigeonpea, a tropical photosensitive crop, harbors significant diversity for days to flowering, but little is known about the genes that govern these differences. Our goal in the current study was to use genome wide association strategy to discover the loci that regulate days to flowering in pigeonpea. A single trait as well as a principal component based association study was conducted on a diverse collection of 142 pigeonpea lines for days to first and fifty percent of flowering over 3 years, besides plant height and number of seeds per pod. The analysis used seven association mapping models (GLM, MLM, MLMM, CMLM, EMLM, FarmCPU and SUPER) and further comparison revealed that FarmCPU is more robust in controlling both false positives and negatives as it incorporates multiple markers as covariates to eliminate confounding between testing marker and kinship. Cumulatively, a set of 22 SNPs were found to be associated with either days to first flowering (DOF), days to fifty percent flowering (DFF) or both, of which 15 were unique to trait based, 4 to PC based GWAS while 3 were shared by both. Because PC1 represents DOF, DFF and plant height (PH), four SNPs found associated to PC1 can be inferred as pleiotropic. A window of ± 2 kb of associated SNPs was aligned with available transcriptome data generated for transition from vegetative to reproductive phase in pigeonpea. Annotation analysis of these regions revealed presence of genes which might be involved in floral induction like Cytochrome p450 like Tata box binding protein, Auxin response factors, Pin like genes, F box protein, U box domain protein, chromatin remodelling complex protein, RNA methyltransferase. In summary, it appears that auxin responsive genes could be involved in regulating DOF and DFF as majority of the associated loci contained genes which are component of auxin signaling pathways in their vicinity. Overall, our findings indicates that the use of principal component analysis in GWAS is statistically more robust in terms of identifying genes and FarmCPU is a better choice compared to the other aforementioned models in dealing with both false positive and negative associations and thus can be used for traits with complex inheritance.

Produtividade, qualidade físico-química e resistência ao florescimento precoce de híbridos experimentais de cebola

ABSTRACT In order to produce bulbs or seeds, onion plants depend on genotype X environment interaction. Thus, breeders shall select the genotypes based on the climatic conditions of each producing region. This study aimed to evaluate 17 experimental onion hybrids and two commercial genotypes (‘Bella Dura’ and ‘Buccaneer’), based on agronomic, physicochemical attributes of the bulbs and resistance to early flowering under subtropical conditions. Joint analysis of variance and phenotypic divergence estimated through principal component analysis (PCA) and Ward’s hierarchical clustering were performed. We observed that the time of transplantation affected the agronomic traits more than the physicochemical traits, not affecting the percentage of early flowering of the genotypes. The first transplant season provided higher bulb productivity, whereas the second season reduced the cycle and productivity. Hybrids H1, H17 and ‘Buccaneer’ showed flowering rate lower than 3%. Among the experimental hybrids, H2 showed higher productivity when comparing with commercial cultivars, and H1, H12 and H14 were equivalent to them. However, H12 showed the highest early flowering rate (43%). Thus, considering the experimental genotypes evaluated under subtropical conditions, H1, H2, and H14, showed potential for commercial use or as potential parents in advancing the breeding program, as they stood out for presenting good yield, bulb quality and low percentage of early flowering.

Assessment of different Peageonpea (Cajanus cajan L.) genotypes for growth and yield in Prayagraj region (U.P.)

The trail was conducted at Field Experimentation Centre, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding,NainiAgricultural Institute, SHUATS, Prayagraj during Kharif 2019-2021. The experiment was carried out with17 genotypes (16+1 check variety) of pigeonpea, which were obtained from IIPR, Kanpur (U.P) inRandomized Block Design (RBD) with 3 replications for growth and yield attributes. Observations weremade on five plants that were randomly selected for eleven growth and yield traits except field emergence,days until 50 percent flowering and days to maturity, where the observations were noted on a plot basis.Among the genotypes G13 recorded early days to maturity (252.17), maximum plant’s height (268.70 cm),highest emergence on field (84.67%), more No. of branches/plant (29.67), No. of pods/plant (206.90), No.of seeds/plant (397.93), maximum seed yield/plant (57.00 g.), seed yield/plot (6.45 kg.), 100 seedsweight(15.16 g.) and seed yield q/ha (24.90 q.), while genotype G12 noted less days to 50% flowering (173.83). G-13 and G-7 genotypes taken most down days for flowering and maturity and good yield in comparison tothe check variety (MAL-13). Along with many genotypes G-13 was determined to be the most promisingand should be considered for commercial cultivation under the agro-climatic conditions of Prayagraj.

Deciphering Pearl Millet Grain Yield under Water Stress using Genotypic, Phenotypic Correlation and Path Coefficient Analysis

Yield is a polygenic character, usually depends on its various contributing traits like days to 50% flowering, plant height, and panicle length as well as panicle girth. A study was conducted during kharif 2018 to evaluate the relationship between grain yield and its components in pearl millet using correlation and path analysis studies. In the current study, significant genotypic and phenotypic correlations were found among five yield contributing traits in eighteen pearl millet hybrids. The traits including days to 50% flowering, plant height, and panicle length were found to have positive correlation with grain yield per plant that implied the importance of those traits in selection of high yielding hybrids. Grain yield per plant was used as a dependent character in path-coefficient analysis at the genotypic level. Plant height and panicle length were the independent variables (cm). The highest positive and direct effect was found for days to 50 percent flowering (0.9946) followed by panicle diameter (cm) (0.5726). Pearl millet having deep root system are often found to survive even in various stressful conditions including water stress. These characteristics have made it popular in dry and semi-arid regions around the world; nevertheless, compared to other major cereals, less work has been put into the study of climate-resilient characteristics of pearl millet. We have revealed here some basic ideas of correlation between the grain yield of pearl millet with its yield contributing constituents under drought condition.

Interactive Effects of Moisture Content and Packaging Material on Common Bean Seed Yield and Yield Components

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) provides nutritional, economic and health benefits. Ghana has introduced the first four commercial varieties for adoption. Maintaining seed quality in storage is challenged in the humid regions due to high temperature and high relative humidity. The study determined the interactive effects of seed moisture content (MC) and packaging material on quality of seeds stored for 8 months and subsequent seed yield and yield related components. A 2x2 factorial in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was used, replicated three times. Seeds were dried to 8 and 11% MC, kept in polythene bags and plastic containers and stored for 8 months under ambient and cold conditions. There were no significant differences (p>0.05) for plant stand at two weeks after planting, days to first and fifty percent flowering, chlorophyll content, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, and seed yield. Leaf area index of plants developed from seeds dried to 8% MC and packed in polythene bags were significantly higher than the other interaction effects. The lowest plant stand was observed in plants developed from seeds dried to 11% MC and packed in plastic containers. 1000SW of seeds dried to 11% MC and packaged in plastic containers were 32.77% higher than in seeds dried to 8% MC and packaged in plastic containers. The Ennepa common bean seeds can be dried to 11% MC and packaged in polythene bags and stored for 8 months without significant seed deterioration.

Use of acetylsalicylic acid and agronomic performance of potatoes in Lima region

BackgroundSalicylic acid participates in the regulation of the plant's response to a series of environmental stresses such as extreme temperatures, salinity, and oxidative condition of potato growth, so it is necessary to determine a safe application dosage for potato in field conditions.MethodsThe purpose of the research was to evaluate the effect of increasing doses of acetylsalicylic acid on the agronomic traits of two potato cultivars in Lima, Peru. In a field experiment, an RCBD with 3 replications was used under a split-plot arrangement in which five doses (0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 mM) of acetylsalicylic acid plus control with Biol (biostimulant) were assigned to plots, and two potato cultivars ('Perricholi' and 'Unica') were assigned to subplots. The average temperatures were between 15 and 21º C, the air relative humidity was between 61 and 73% and the soil was loam textural class, free of salts.ResultsNo statistical differences were found for the number and weight of tubers and biomass due to the effect of the application of the treatments. The effects of doses of acetylsalicylic acid showed statistical differences for sprouting, vegetative vigor, and percentage of flowering; likewise, significant interactions (p < 0.05) were shown between potato cultivars and dose of acetylsalicylic acid for the number of stems per plant and percentage of flowering, which indicated a specific effect for the dose of acetylsalicylic acid in each potato cultivar. Statistical differences (p < 0.05) were found between the two potato cultivars for most of the characters studied.ConclusionNo dose of the product significantly affected the potato yield in two potato cultivars however, the effect of the dosage of acetylsalicylic acid improved the performance of the crop in terms of sprouting in the field, vegetative vigor, a greater number of stems per plant as well as stimulation of flowering, with respect to control.

Performance and field efficacy of indigenous egg parasitoid Trichogrammatoidea bactrae (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) against the cotton pink bollworm Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in transgenic Bt cotton

The pink bollworm (PBW) Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) has emerged as a major pest of transgenic Bt cotton in India. The recent outbreak of PBW caused serious damage, and the existing management strategies become inefficient to reduce the pest incidence and crop yield losses. The development of environment-friendly and sustainable management strategies against PBW is urgently needed. Thus, laboratory tests were performed to evaluate 16 indigenous trichogrammatid species/strains to manage the PBW in transgenic Bt cotton. We compared the parasitism of trichogrammatid species/strains on PBW eggs and found that Trichogrammatoidea nr. robusta (79.6%), Trichogrammatoidea bactrae Nagaraja (76.4%) and Trichogramma chilonis Ishii (73.8%) parasitized a greater percentage of PBW eggs under laboratory conditions. Furthermore, the parasitism of Tr. nr. robusta, Tr. bactrae and T. chilonis were tested in cages. Results of cage study showed that Tr. bactrae parasitized at a higher rate the PBW eggs (73.2%) followed by T. chilonis (60.5%) and Tr. nr. robusta (48.6%). Subsequently, the effectiveness of Tr. bactrae was assessed for consecutive three years (2017–2020) in transgenic Bt cotton fields. We found that the 12 sequential releases of Tr. bactrae from the flowering stage onwards showed a significant reduction in the PBW incidence. Field released with Tr. bactrae or treated with insecticides reduced the number of larvae boll−1 by 1.5 and 3, respectively, the percentage of rosette flower by 1.7 and 2.7, respectively, and the percentage of locule damage by 2 and 2.5, respectively, compared to untreated control field. A higher yield of seed cotton was obtained both in Tr. bactrae released field (27.73 q h−1) and insecticide treated cotton field (31.68 q h−1) as compared to untreated control field. Our results showed that Tr. bactrae is a potential biocontrol agent of PBW. This could be used in biological control programme and may be incorporated in integrated pest management (IPM) programme against PBW in transgenic Bt cotton.

Genetic Variability Studies for Yield and Its Attributing Traits in Dark Brown Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

The present experiment was carried out during Kharif, 2019 at Jawaharlal Nehru krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India. A total of 500 accessions were evaluated and observations were recorded on twelve traits viz., days to flower initiation, days to fifty percent flowering, days to maturity, plant height (cm), number of primary branches per plant, number of secondary branches per plant, number of capsules per plant, number of seeds per capsule, capsule length (cm), 1000 seed weight (g), seed yield per plant (g) and oil content (%). REML analysis revealed significant differences among the 500 accessions for all the traits. It indicates an adequate amount of genetic variability present among the accessions for yield and yield attributing traits. Phenotypic coefficients variation values were higher than Genotypic coefficients variation values under the study. High heritability was recorded for all the traits under experiment. Genetic advance as percentage of mean recorded low for traits days to flower initiation, days to 50% flowering, days to maturity. Medium for traits oil content (%), plant height, number of seeds per capsule, whereas traits capsule length, number of capsule per plant, thousand seed weight, number of primary branches per plant, seed yield per plant, number of secondary branches per plant recorded in high magnitudes. This result indicates preponderance of additive gene effect, which will help to make selection in early segregating generation.

Study of Various Floral Types on Different Plants of Garcinia indica (Thouars) Choisy and Correlation of Its Functionality in Sexual Reproduction

ABSTRACT Genus Garcinia shows high diversity of sexual systems; most of them are dioecious in nature. The other reported sexual systems of Garcinia include gynodioecious, androdioecious, monoecious, and andromonoecious. Garcinia indica (Thouars) Choisy was reported as facultative apomictic polygamodioecious species. There is a large diversity in floral types. Hence, a detailed study of various floral types found on different types of plants of G. indica and to correlate its functionality with sexual reproduction was undertaken. The study at Kokum Plot, BSSKVV, Dapoli, revealed that the male plants could be categorized into four types – androecious, functional males, andromonoecious, and hermaphrodites. The female plants displayed large variation in number and viability of stamens/staminodes. Each category showed significant difference in phenology, floral morphology and pollen types. In December, the percentage of staminate flowers (79.13 ± 2.93%) in androecious trees was significantly higher than functional males (58.61 ± 8.60%) or andromonoecious trees (56.36 ± 2.77%) (p ≤ .01). As female plants started flowering, all male morphotypes bore significantly higher numbers of staminate flowers and carpellate flowers were significantly reduced. Pollen viability was highest in androecious flowers at 90.11 ± 1.10% and lowest at 64.70 ± 2.09% in hermaphrodite trees. Earlier studies reported female flowers bore well-developed female gametophyte, but the embryo development was not observed. Thus, the fruit formation might be apomictic, but in present embryological investigation; more than 60% of female and andromonoecious flowers, a well-developed embryo was formed between 8 and 24 h after anthesis. Thus, the embryo formation might be sexual or apomictic. Floral types favoring sexual reproduction are essential for conservation of highly endemic species.