Browsing by Author "ANIL KUMAR"
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ThesisItem Open Access BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION AND PHYLOGENETIC DIVERSITY OF MESORHIZOBIUM/ MESORHIZOBIAL STRAINS NODULATING CHICKPEA(DIVISION OF MICROBIOLOGY ICAR - INDIAN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE NEW DELHI, 2018) ANIL KUMAR; K. SwarnalakshmiChickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is the most important legume crop of the arid zones of India and has been grown under rain fed conditions since centuries. Most of the Indian soils harbor a diverse group of rhizobial populations which can nodulate many leguminous crops. Its economic success depends upon the symbiotic association with root nodulating bacteria. The most common rhizobia able to nodulate chickpea have been shown to belong to the genus Mesorhizobium and species of either Mesorhizobium ciceri or M. mediterraneum. The diversity of Mesorhizobia is however far from clear, especially considering the large number of chickpea cultivars and their wide geographical distribution. The genotypic diversity within Mesorhizobium strains nodulating chickpea has not been very well addressed. The phylogenetic analysis based on single gene like 16S rRNA is not sufficient enough to provide clear resolution about the genetic diversity of rhizobia hence polyphasic approach or multi locus analysis is required to resolve the genetic diversity at species or strain level. In the present study, 30 Mesorhizobium strains were isolated from three chickpea cultivars (BGD 72, BG 372, and BGD 547) grown at IARI field, Delhi and farmers’ field at Hisar, Haryana. The genetic diversity of these isolates were analysed on the basis of two housekeeping genes (recA, atpD) and two symbiotic genes (nifH, nodC) along with 16S rRNA. The genetic diversity on the basis of single loci analysis revealed that three to five different Mesorhizobium species associated with chickpea. Even though nodule occupancy based on nifH phylogeny was by the dominant M. mediterraneum 40% and 66.7% (IARI and Hisar respectively) at both locations, nifH sequences revealed not only the presence of diverse species of Mesorhizobium in nodules but also further divergence within M. mediterraneum. Interestingly, the diversification was found lower with nodC phylogeny. The combined phylogenetic analysis of all loci showed the presence of Mesorhizobium temperatum, M. mediterraneum, M. septentrionale, M. ciceri, M. tarimense, M. gobiense, M. tianshanense, M.metallidurans (eight identified species) and several unknown species of Mesorhizobium in chickpea nodules. Our results showed the possibility of varietal and location influence on Mesorhizobial species nodulating chickpea and Multilocus sequencing is essential to delineate the Mesorhizobium diversity. It is clearly evident that in addition to location specific strain, there is a need to develop cultivar specific strain(s) as bioinoculant(s) to improve the overall productivity of chickpea. The study demonstrated that nifH phylogeny could be used for selecting diverse chickpea symbionts in the field conditions. Key words: Chickpea, Mesorhizobium spp., Genotypic diversity, polyphasic approachThesisItem Open Access Clinical Diagnosis and Surgico-Therapeutic Management of Ocular Affections in Cattle(Rajasthan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bikaner, 2018) ANIL KUMAR; DR. S.K. JHIRWALThe present study was conducted on 86 clinical cases of ocular disorders in cattle (Indigenous and cross breed), sheltered at Shree Pannalal Gaushala, Mandore, Jodhpur, Rajasthan and also among those cattle presented during health camps organized by the Department of Surgery and Radiology, College of Veterinary and Animal Science, RAJUVAS, Bikaner, Rajasthan, from August 2018 to December 2018. Of the ocular diseases encountered, eyelid affections 6.97% (n= 6), eyeball affections 4.65% (n=4), conjunctival affections 13.95% (n=12), sclera affection 1.16% (n=1), corneal affections 30.23% (n=26), third eyelid affections 4.65% (n=4), uveial affections 2.33% (n=2), lens affections 5.81% (n=5), orbit affections 4.65% (n=4), nasolacrimal duct blockage 2.33% (n=2) and blindness due to unknown origin 23.25% (n=20) were recorded. Age wise incidence of ophthalmic affections were highest in the cattle of age group 2-8 years (51.16%, n=44). A significantly higher percentage of ophthalmic affections were recorded in the males (58.14%, n= 50) than females (41.86%, n=36). A significantly higher percentage of ophthalmic affections were recorded in indigenous cattle (69.76%, n= 60) than crossbreed (30.24% n= 26). Haemoto-biochemical examinations of all the animals under study were carried out. All the parameter were within normal range in all cases except in one case of corneal ulcer with opacity (an ocular manifestation of theleriosis), in which low hemoglobin (Hb 3%), and low RBCs values (1.3×106/µL) were recorded. 14 cases of corneal affections were treated surgico-therapeutically successfully except one case of corneal ulcer with opacity in which animal 84 died within 3 days. All the cases of corneal affections had significantly higher STT 1 value. 5 cases of cataract were treated by Extra-capsular cataract extraction technique, of which 3 cattle were positive menace and pupillary light reflex test as evidence of aphakic vision. Eye of one operated cattle eye get infected and endophthalmitis developed, another animal not had vision but have clear cornea. 18 cases of dermoid, out of which scleral dermoid (n=1), cornioconjunctival dermoid (n=17)) were treated surgico-therapeutically. Six cases of ocular tumour were treated surgico-therapeutically successfully. Out of 6 cases of ocular, 5 were squamous cell carcinoma and one case was bovine papillomatosis which were confirmed by FNAB and histopathological examination. Other ocular affection like 3 cases of eyelid laceration, 3 cases of ocular abscesses, 4 cases of conjunctivitis, 2 cases of nasolacrimal duct obstruction, 2 cases of Chemosis, 2 cases of orbital myiasis, 2 cases of uveitis, 2 cases of chronic traumatic proptosis and 2 cases of chronic exophthalmia treated surgico-therapeutically, Out of those cases, one case of orbital myiasis animal died and one case of uveitis not recovered. 20 cases of blindness were diagnosed as blindness due to unknown origin, could not diagnosed confirmatively due to unavailability of advance diagnostic procedure.ThesisItem Open Access EFFECT OF FUNGICIDES AND POLYETHYLENE WRAPS ON STORAGE LIFE AND QUALITY OF RED BLUSH GRAPEFRUIT AT AMBIENT STORAGE(PUNJAB AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY, LUDHIANA, 2001) ANIL KUMAR; RATTANPAL, H. S.02062017_0005_0003_Abstract.pdfThesisItem Open Access EFFECT OF IRRIGATION AND FERTILIZER ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF Jatropha curcas L. UNDER SOUTH GUJARAT CONDITIONS(Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, 2011-09) ANIL KUMAR; PATIL, N.S.Self-sustainable energy sources are likely to hold the key to economic development of India in future. It is mandatory to seriously implement bio-energy development programmes as a part of environmental sustainability in the form of clean development mechanism. Publicity in an excessive way triggered a lot of investment in Jatropha but the return is not so promising. A small step to assess its potential by applying irrigation and fertilizer were taken up and for that investigations were conducted at the seed production farm Achhaliya under Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, during 2009 and 2010 to study the “Effect of irrigation and fertilizer on growth and yield of Jatropha curcas L. under South Gujarat conditions”. The soil of the experimental plots was clayey in texture (17.65 %, 32.45 % and 49.90 % sand, silt and clay), low in available nitrogen 97.56 Kg/ha N, 47.70 Kg/ha P2O5 (phosphorus) and 159.28 Kg/ha K2O (potassium). The experiment was laid out in split plot design with four irrigation schedules on critical growth stages viz., 0.4 IW/CPE ratio (I1), 0.6 IW/CPE ratio (I2), 0.8 IW/CPE ratio (I3) and 1.0 IW/CPE ratio (I4) and four levels of fertilizer F0 (N0 P0 K0 g/plant), F1 (N20 P40 K20 g/plant), F2 (N40 P80 K40 g/plant) and F3 (N60 P120 K60 g/plant) replicated thrice. The growth and yield attributes of Jatropha were significantly influenced by the treatment I2 and showed highly significant correlation with seed yield. Amongst the various irrigation schedules, treatment I2 produced significantly the maximum seed yield (837.58 Kg/ha and 1147.75 Kg/ha), Stover yield (7968.75 Kg/ha and 11981.58 Kg/ha) with maximum net realization Rs 9426 per hectare giving net BCR value of 1.58.The consumptive use of water was 527 mm (average of two years) and water use efficiency obtained was 2.81 Kg/ha-mm of water (average of two years). Irrigation schedules failed to affect N, P and K content of different plant parts of Jatropha but affected significantly its uptake by different plant components of Jatropha. It was also observed that the Jatropha crop responded significantly to fertilizer in terms of maximum growth and yield attributes, seed yield, Stover yield, as well as oil yield. Treatments F3 (N60 P120 K60 g/plant) produced significantly maximum seed yield (1409.17 Kg/ha and 1891.25 Kg/ha), Stover yield (11006.08 Kg/ha and 15970.92 Kg/ha) in 2009 and 2010, respectively, with maximum realization of Rs10062.00 giving net BCR value of 0.55. The consumptive use of water was 452 mm (average of two years) and water use efficiency 2.70 Kg/ha-mm of water (average of two years) The N, P and K contents of different plant parts of Jatropha was uninfluenced due to irrigation schedule but was affected significantly owing to application of different levels of fertilizer. The nutrient uptake by leaves, stem, shell and seed was significantly affected by irrigation schedule, levels of fertilizer and interactions between irrigation and fertilizer. In case of major nutrients viz., N, P and K uptake by leaves, stem, shell and seed, the treatments I2 maintained its superiority over rest of the treatments. Similarly, among the fertilizer levels, F3 showed higher removal of N, P and K by different plant parts of Jatropha compared to rest of the treatments. The treatment combination I2F3 recorded significantly higher uptake of N, P and K as compared to the remaining treatment combinations. In case of quality characters viz., oil percent and oil yield was influenced by irrigation, fertilizer and interactions between irrigation and fertilizer. Irrigation schedule I2 showed its superiority over rest of the treatments and recorded the highest oil percent (32.34 and 32.72) and oil yield (281 Kg/ha and 391 Kg/ha) in the year 2009 and 2010, respectively. Similarly, the fertilizer levels F3 (N60 P120 K60 g/plant) recorded significantly the highest oil percent (33.73 and 34.42) and oil yield (578 Kg/ha and 654 Kg/ha) in the year 2009 and 2010, respectively. The treatment combination I2F3 recorded significantly higher oil per cent (34.80 and 35.73) and oil yield (589 Kg/ha and 779 Kg/ha) as compared to the remaining treatment combinations. In respect to biological properties of soils, the higher level of fertilizer increased the soil organic carbon as compared to control. The chemical properties viz., pH and EC were not affected due to irrigation schedule but affected due to levels of fertilizer. Treatment F3 recorded significantly lower pH and EC in both the years as compared to rest of the treatments. In case of soil fertility, only the available N was influenced due to irrigation schedule, fertilizer levels and interactions between irrigation and fertilizer. The soil P2O5 and K2O were significantly increased with treatment F3 in comparison to rest of the treatments. Based on the above findings, it can be said that the Jatropha var, (local) required (13) irrigations based on IW/CPE ratios, over and above one common irrigation required initially after application of fertilizer to different plots as per the treatments. The fertilizer treatment F3 (N60 P120 K60 g/plant) was found most economical dose for getting optimum yield in vertisols of South Gujarat.ThesisItem Open Access ENERGY AUDIT IN ONION DEHYDRATION PLANT(Anand Agricultural University, Anand, 2014) ANIL KUMAR; Dr. S. S. KapdiThe present global scenario of energy crisis has forced food processing industry to become more energy conscious. With liberalisation of industrial policy, the food processing industry is facing challenges both in terms of quality and plant performance. As operations performed in food processing plants especially in onion processing line are quite energy intensive, the check on energy usage is in priority concern. Engineering services in food plants are considered as the area where simple plant optimization measures can lead to substantial and almost immediate savings. In onion processing line, electricity was the main energy utilized for operation of machineries, such as prime movers, dehumidification system, chilled water system and compressed air system while the thermal energy was used for drying of onionThesisItem Open Access Genetic Variability and G x E Interaction Studies for Agro-morphological and Physio-biochemical Traits in Mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek](COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, BIKANER SWAMI KESHWANAND RAJASTHAN AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY, BIKANER (RAJASTHAN)-334006, 2022) ANIL KUMAR; N. K. SharmaPulses are an important source of staple protein for vegetarians which constitute a major population of the country. Mungbean is also known as green gram, an ancient pulse crop widely cultivated under different agro-ecological situations in India mainly during Kharif and summer seasons. It is a diploid species having chromosome number (2n=22) belongs to family Leguminosae (Fabaceae), sub-family Papilionaceae and is botanically recognized as Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek. Mungbean is a native of South Asia (India). Vigna radiata var. sublobata is the possible progenitor of mungbean. It is basically a self- pollinated crop (Singh et al., 2015).ThesisItem Open Access Genetic variability, heritability and D2 analyses in forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench)(SARDAR VALLABHBHAI PATEL UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE & TECHNOLOGY, MEERUT - 250 110 (U.P.), INDIA, 2019) ANIL KUMAR; Dr. S.K. SinghABSTRACT Name : Anil Kumar Id. No. : 3941 Department : Genetics and Plant Breeding Degree : M.Sc. (Ag.) Major : Genetics and Plant Breeding Minor : Ag. Biotechnology Advisor : Dr. Shiv Kumar Singh Thesis Title : “Genetic variability, heritability and D2 analyses in forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench)” Present investigation entitled “Genetic variability, heritability and D2 analyses in forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench)” was undertaken, involving forty diverse genotypes of forage sorghum under genetic divergence analysis during kharif 2018 at Crop Research Centre of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut to take information on variability, heritability, genetic advance, character association among the characters, path coefficient analysis and genetic divergence analysis, so as to identify the traits of interest and to select divergent parents for their use in further breeding programme to evolve suitable genotypes in forage sorghum. Data was recorded and compiled for ten attributes namely, days to 50% flowering, plant height, leaf length, leaf breadth, leaf area, stem girth, leaves per plant, leaf stem ratio, total soluble solids and green fodder yield per plant. Data were statistically and biometrically analyzed with help of computer for obtaining various estimates of genetic parameters. Analysis of variance exhibited significant differences among the material used in the present investigation for all the attributes viz., days to 50% flowering, plant height, leaf length, leaf breadth, leaf area, stem girth, leaves per plant, leaf stem ratio, total soluble solids and green fodder yield per plant, indicated that the presence of genetic variability in the material under study. Out of the 6 clusters, cluster I with 3 genotypes, cluster II had 10 genotypes, cluster III with 5 genotypes, cluster IV had 7 genotypes, cluster V with 6 genotypes and cluster VI had 9 genotype based on present investigation, it was concluded that in general, there was parallelism between genetic and geographic diversity. The cluster I and cluster III represented by three or five genotypes which independently diverged from others. The formation of solitary clusters may be due to the gene flow or intensive natural/human selection for diverse adaptive complexes. These genotypes may be very unique and useful in breeding point of view. Ten genotypes grouped under Cluster II, indicating their proximity and narrow genetic base. The intra cluster distance among various clusters recorded maximum intra cluster distance for cluster III (2.63) and lowest intra cluster distance was noted for cluster IV (2.09). The maximum intra cluster distance was because of wide genetic diversity among its genotypes. The chance of developing good segregates by crossing the genotypes of the same cluster showing low value for intra cluster distance are very low. Therefore, it would be logical to attempt crosses between the genotypes of clusters separated by larger inter cluster distances. The little diversity and selection of parents within the cluster having higher mean for a particular character may also be useful for further developing high yielding forage sorghum varieties. Average inter cluster D2 values among 40 genotypes exhibited maximum inter cluster distance values between cluster I and III (4.51) followed by cluster I and IV (4.38), cluster I and II (3.92), cluster I and VI (3.88), cluster III and VI (3.86) and cluster III and V (3.59). The clearly indicates that the genotypes included in this clusters are having broad spectrum of genetic diversity and could very well be used in hybridization programme of forage sorghum for improving fodder yield. The minimum inter cluster distance was observed between clusters II and IV (2.47) which indicates that the genotype of these clusters had close relationship and hence, may not be emphasized upon to be used in hybridization programme. The comparison of cluster means for ten traits under study attributes considerable genetic differences between the clusters regarding one or more characters. Clusters I exhibited maximum values of cluster mean for days to 50% flowering, stem girth, leaf stem ratio and total soluble solids. Cluster. Cluster III estimated maximum values of cluster mean for plant height and leaves per plant. Cluster IV recorded high mean values for stem girth. Cluster V observed maximum values of cluster mean for leaf length, leaf area and green fodder yield per plant. These findings indicated that the genotypes having high mean values for respective traits gathered in the clusters showing high cluster mean for respective trait. Individually, the genotypes from the respective clusters would be exploited according to the objective of the breeding programme. Therefore, the elite genotypes GFS-4, GFS-5, Jawahar Chari-6, Jawahar Chari-69 and SPV-15 may be involved in crossing for developing fodder yield. Crosses suggesting parents belonging to most divergent clusters would be expected to manifest maximum heterosis and also wide variability of genetic architecture. Thus the crosses between the genetically diverse genotypes of cluster III characterized by plant height and leaves per plant with genotype GFS-4, GFS-5, Jawahar Chari-6, Jawahar Chari-69 and SPV-15 Cluster III with genotype SPV-669, SPV-815 and SSG-59-3 Cluster I characterized by days to 50% flowering, leaf stem ratio and total soluble solids are expected to show high heterosis and are also likely to produce new recombinants with desired characters and may be rewarding and effective in forage sorghum improvement programme. Hence, the above identified eight genotypes as potential parents can be utilized in further breeding programme in which the as above attributes will be considered for selection to achieve the best result of the breeding programme. Percent contribution of leaf area followed by green fodder yield per plant, stem girth, leaf breadth, days to 50% flowering and leaf stem ratio contributed most towards genetic divergence. Remaining traits contributed very little or did not contribute at all towards genetic divergence. Green fodder yield per plant showed positive and significant correlation with plant height and leaves per plant at both genotypic and phenotypic level, indicated that these characters may be considered as important yield components in forage sorghum. Leaf area displayed high order of direct effect on green fodder yield per plant followed by leaf length, leaves per plant and leaf breadth towards green fodder yield per plant at both genotypic and phenotypic level, suggested that these traits plays a major role for improvement of yield potential of fodder sorghum. Genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) and phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) were high (>25%) for leaf stem ratio, total soluble solids and green fodder yield per plant, suggested that there was a possibility of improvement of fodder yield through direct selection. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance showed for plant height, leaf length, leaf breadth, leaf area, leaf stem ratio, total soluble solids and green fodder yield per plant, indicating that these traits are governed through additive gene action and phenotypic selection for these attributes will be effective. (Dr. S. K. Singh) (Anil Kumar) Advisor AuthorThesisItem Open Access Management of Thrips, Thrips tabaci Lindeman on Onion, Allium cepa Linnaeus(Department of Entomology COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, BIKANER SWAMI KESHWANAND RAJASTHAN AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY, BIKANER, 2018) ANIL KUMAR; Veer SinghThe present investigations on “Management of Thrips, Thrips tabaci Lindeman on Onion, Allium cepa Linnaeus” were carried out at Research farm, College of Agriculture, (SKRAU), Bikaner during Rabi, 2015-16. The minimum incidence of thrips (30.55thrips/plant) were observed on early transplanted crop on (24th November) and highest bulb yield was obtained from crop transplanted on 4th December (184.75 q ha-1). The maximum incidence of thrips (44.35 thrips/plant) and minimum bulb yield (173.50 q ha-1) were recorded in late transplanted crop i.e. 3rd January. A significant positive correlation was observed between transplanting times and thrips population whereas, negative in both transplanting times and thrips incidence with bulb yield of onion.ThesisItem Open Access A PATHOLOGICAL STUDY ON GRADED LEVELS OF JATROPHA (Jatropha curcas) DEOILED SEED CAKE TOXICITY IN BROILER CHICKS(SRI VENKATESWARA VETERINARY UNIVERSITY TIRUPATI - 517 502. (A.P.) INDIA, 2009-01) ANIL KUMAR; ANAND KUMAR, A(MAJOR); ANJANEYULU, Y; RAJASHEKAR REDDY, AABSTRACT : Jatropha (Jatropha curcas) the medicinal plant of India has potential to solve the growing feed insecurity of world economically at cheaper rate. Jatropha seed cake is rich in crude protein, but proved to be toxic to poultry and livestock unless and until complete oil is not removed. But, the degree of toxicity varies at different concentrations. The present study was undertaken to study the pathological changes in broiler chicks fed with differently graded Jatropha deoiled seed cake. A total 120 day-old male broiler Vencobb strain chicks were divided into 5 groups consisting of 24 birds in each group. Group I was under control feed for the whole experimental period i.e., 6 weeks. Group II was fed with control fed (CF) for 1 – 14 days and then CF + JSC @5% for 15-42 days. Group III was fed with CF JSC @5% for 1 – 42 days. Group IV was fed with CF for 1 – 14 days and CF + JSC @10% for 15 – 42 days. Group V was fed with CF + JSC @10% for 1 – 42 days. The influence of treatment diets on broiler was evaluated in terms of performance, haematological, biochemical, gross and histopathological changes. Body weight gain and feed intake was recorded at weekly intervals in each group. Six birds from each group were sacrificed at fortnightly intervals. Blood, serum and tissue samples were collected for haematological, biochemical profile and hitopathological studies. Treatment groups resulted in significant (P<0.05) reduction in body weight gains, feed consumption and increase in FCR. The percentage mortality in groups III, IV and V was 12.5, 29 and 33 per cent, respectively and in groups I and II no mortality was observed. Clinical signs such as dullness, inappetance, loss of condition, greenish diarrhoea, reduced water intake and muscular and nervous imbalance prior to death in birds of group V were observed. Haematological study revealed that overall mean values of PCV, Hb, TEC and TLC were significantly (P<0.05) reduced in all the treatment groups. Group II and IV showed less reduction as compared to group III and V, respectively. The biochemical profile showed a significant (P<0.05) reduction in total protein, albumin, globulin, HDL cholesterol while significant increase in A/G ratio, ALT, AST, creatinine, bilirubin, total cholesterol and triglycerides was observed in all the treatment groups but the changes were less in group II and IV as compared to group III and V respectively. The gross pathological changes in treatment groups included hydropericardium, enlargement with rounded borders of liver, enteritis, regression in size of spleen and bursa of faricius. The histopathological changes included congestion and haemorrhages in various organs of treatment groups. Fatty changes were found in liver of group III, IV and V and in heart fatty changes were noted in group V. Heart sections revealed separated, disrupted muscle fibres. Liver sections revealed degenerative changes, necrosis in groups IV and V. Enterisis, infilitration of mononuclear cells in villi, broad and eroded villi observed in intestine. Focal shrinkage of glomeruli, degenerative ruptured tubules were noted in kidney sections. Sections of spleen revealed congestion and depletion of germinal centres. Bursa of fabricisus sections showed severe congestion and depletion of lymphoid follicles. The lesions described were more evident in group III and V as compared to group II and IV respectively as prolonged duration of toxicity in group III and V. The present study concluded that the toxicity of Jatropha at 10% level was severe in comparison to 5% level. At same level it’s toxicity was considerably less if the birds were maintained on normal feed for the 1st two weeks as the immune status of the birds will be sufficiently functional to withstand the toxicity.ThesisItem Open Access SERORESPONSIVENESS OF LAMBS FOLLOWING SHEEP POX VACCINATION 'ROUMANIAN STRAIN'(Rajasthan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bikaner - 334001, 1986) ANIL KUMAR; K N SHARMAThesisItem Open Access STUDIES ON EPIDEMIOLOGY AND MONITORED CONTROL OF MARSSONINA BLOTCH CAUSING PREMATURE LEAF FALL IN APPLE(2011) ANIL KUMAR; SHARMA, J.N.ABSTRACT The present investigation entitled “Studies on epidemiology and monitored control of Marssonina blotch causing premature leaf fall in apple” was undertaken to study the influence of different weather parameters and comparative physical mode of action of different test fungicides against Marssonina blotch. Experiments were conducted under controlled, semi-controlled and natural conditions to find out the optimum temperature, relative humidity and leaf wetness requirements for the development of Marssonina blotch disease. A temperature of 20oC, 100 per cent relative humidity and 48 h of leaf wetness were the most suitable parameters for the development of Marssonina blotch disease in apple. Rainfall, leaf wetness, and relative humidity were positively correlated with disease severity, whereas, temperature showed a negative correlation. The coefficient of multiple determination was also calculated which signifies that 91.61 and 97.03 per cent variation in per cent disease severity in year 2009 and 2010, respectively, depended on weather parameters included in these studies. Further studies revealed that none of the cultivars of apple was resistant to Marssonina blotch, however, Granny Smith and Gibbson's Golden showed moderately resistant reaction. The commercial cultivars Royal Delicious, Golden Delicious, Vance Delicious and Scarlet Spur were found highly susceptible. Older leaves of apple plants were more susceptible to Marssonina blotch than the younger ones. The macronutrient combinations with full dose of nitrogen registered good growth of apple plants and reduced the severity of Marssonina blotch. Different isolates of Marssonina coronaria showed different levels of disease severity and conidial production indicating a genetic variability in the pathogen. Fifteen different fungicides, viz. mancozeb, captan, dodine, copper oxychloride, metiram, benomyl, carbendazim, thiophanate methyl, shield, Kresoxim methyl, azoxystrobin, pyraclostrobin, hexaconazole, difenoconazole and tebuconazole were evaluated at different concentrations for their physical mode of action. Whereas, nine fungicides, viz. mancozeb, kresoxim methyl, carbendazim, difenoconazole, metiram, thiophanate methyl, dodine, shield and pyraclostrobin+metiram were selected for such study in the field. Dithiocarbamate fungicides provided maximum control of Marssonina blotch disease with more effect on conidial production, germinability and viability after their protective applications on apple plants both under semi-controlled as well as under field conditions. Mancozeb formulations also showed maximum retention activity as compare to other fungicides, and, registered maximum control of the disease. Strobilurin fungicides showed the strongest curative, pre-symptom and post-symptom activity against Marssonina blotch in semi-controlled as well as under field conditions. These fungicides showed inhibitory effect on conidial production, germinability and number of viable conidia as compared to other test fungicides. On the basis of prophylactic rating, dithiocarbamate fungicides were most effective protectants against Marssonina blotch of apple. The after-infection, pre-symptom and postsymptom activity of strobilurins, benzimidazoles and triazoles exceeded that of their protective activity. Strobilurin fungicides were rated best (with 1-3 rating) followed by the benzimidazoles in this respect. In field, pyraclostrobin+metiram attained the highest rating (1) followed by kresoxim methyl, carbendazim, thiophanate methyl, dodine, difenoconazole, mancozeb, shield and metiram. Among six spray schedules evaluated in field, spray schedule-II (comprising of mancozeb (0.3%) at walnut stage, carbendazim (0.05%) at 20 days after 1st spray and mancozeb flowable (0.3%) at 40 days after 2nd spray) was found best to control Marssonina blotch of apple, ofcourse along with directed sprays of kresoxim methyl in monitored spray programme.ThesisItem Open Access STUDIES ON THE BIOLOGY AND THE PREDATORY POTENTIAL OF GREEN LACEWING, CHRYSOPERLA CARNEA (STEPHENS) ON DIFFERENT INSECT HOSTS(Sardar Vallabhbhi Patel Universiy of Agriculture And Technology Meerut (U.P.), 2015) ANIL KUMAR; C.S. Prasad; Gaje Singh, Rajendra Singh,D.V. Singh,Prashant MishraThesisItem Open Access STUDY OF CROP WEATHER RELATIONSHIP IN SOYBEAN AND EVALUATION OF CROPGRO-SOYBEAN MODEL UNDER VARYING ENVIRONMENT AT ANAND(Anand Agricultural University, Anand, 2006) ANIL KUMAR; Dr. Vyas PandeySoybean (Glycine max. [L] Mirrll.) is one of the leguminous pulse grain and oil seed crops in tropical and sub-tropical regions of India. It, being short duration and thermo-sensitive crop and its response to yield varies with variety and temperature, is successfully raised in kharif as well as in summer where adequate irrigation facilities are available. Since the effect of weather on crop yield is complex, it needs deeper and clear understanding of climatic factors affecting the growth and yield of soybean. A field experiment during the kharif season of the year 2004 was laid out in a split plot design with three dates of sowing (D1, D2 and D3) as a main plot treatment, four levels of spacing (S1, S2, S3 and S4) as sub-plot treatment with four replications. The results obtained during the course of study revealedThesisItem Open Access Variability, Character Association and Genetic Divergence Studies for Seed Yield and Related Traits in Mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek](Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE SWAMI KESHWANAND RAJASTHAN AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY, BIKANER (RAJASTHAN), 2018) ANIL KUMAR; Dr. N.K. SharmaStudies on variability, character association and genetic divergence analysis were carried out with 79 genotypes of mungbean during Kharif-2017 under irrigated normal soil and water situation at College of agriculture, Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner. The analysis of variance revealed significance differences among genotypes for all 11 characters studied. These genotypes were grouped into 15 clusters using Mahalanobis’s D2 statistic and Tocher’s method which is indicating the existence of ample amount of genetic diversity in the germplasm and therefore, signifying the scope of selection for genetic improvement of mungbean.