Browsing by Author "Gopalakrishnan, P K"
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ThesisItem Open Access Biochemical characterisation of coconut palms in relation to yield(Department of Horticulture (Plantation Crops and Spices), College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1983) Narayanan Kutty, M C; KAU; Gopalakrishnan, P KAn investigation on the morphological and chemical components of yield in coconut palms was conducted at the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during 1981-83, in order to characterise the yield of palms based on these characters. Sixty palms of the cultivar West Cost Tall (W.C.T.) were selected from the existing Plantation at Agricultural Research Station, Mannuthy comprising twenty palms each under low, medium and high yield groups (< 40, 40-80 and 80 nuts/palm/year respectively). Observations on morphological characters such as number of leaves, length of leaf, length of petiole, number of leaflets, length of leaflets, periodicity of leaf emergence and girth at collar were recorded at bimonthly intervals. Analysis of leaf samples from the leaf position 14 were taken up to estimate the contents of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, soluble sugars, starch, total phenols, free amino acids, total chlorophyll, catalase activity and peroxidase activity during March-April and September-October seasons. There was a significant positive correlation for number of leaves, length of leaves, number of leaflets, length of leaflets and girth at collar with the mean annual yield. The periodicity of leaf emergence had a negative correlation with yield. Among the mineral nutrients, nitrogen and potassium had significant positive correlation with yield. Phosphorus, Calcium and magnesium failed to show any linear relationship. The nutrient ratios viz., N/Ca, K/P, K/Ca, K/Mg and K/Ca + Mg also exhibited significant positive correlation with yield. The biochemical components such as soluble sugars and total chlorophyll content in the leaf lamina had significant positive correlation with yield. Total phenolic compounds present in the leaf lamina had a significant negative correlation with yield. Starch content in the leaf did not show such relations. The free amino acids present in traces in the leaf were identified. Leaf catalase and peroxidase activity exhibited no definite pattern of variation in relation to yieldThesisItem Open Access Biometrical studies in ash gourd(Department of Olericulture,College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1981) George, T E; KAU; Gopalakrishnan, P KA field experiment was laid out during 1979-80 at the instructional farm, College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikara to estimate genetic variability, correlations, path coefficients and selection indices in ash gourdThesisItem Open Access Compatibility among cucumis melo varieties inodorus ,conomon,flexuosus,momordica & utilissiumus(Department of Olericulture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1984) Subha Mary, Mathew; KAU; Gopalakrishnan, P KThe investigation on compatibility among Cucumis melo var. conomon Mak., Cucumis melo var. inodorous Naud., Cucumis melo var. utilissimus Duth. and Full., Cucumis melo var. flexuosus Naud. and Cucumis melo var. momordica Duth. and Full. Was conducted during October-January 1982-1983 and February – May 1983 at the Instructional Farm of College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Trichur. The five botanical varieties of Cucumis melo were observed crossable among each other. Oriental pickling melon x long melon and snake melon x snap melon were perfectly crossable (CI > 70%). There was significant maternal effect on crossability index. There was good fruit set and seed set at F1 level. The F1 hybrids were found to be intermediate between the parents for discrete fruit character. Inter varietal heterosis was significant for earliness, yield and their components. Combining ability analysis indicated the role of both additive and non-addetive gene action in the expression of nodes to first male and female flowers, days to first female flower, days to first fruit harvest, days to fruit maturity, seeds/fruit and seed yield/fruit. Additive gene action was predominant in nodes to first male and female flowers, female flowers in first ten and 20 nodes, fruit length, fruit girth, fruit weight, fruit volume, flesh thickness, seeds/fruit, 100 seed weight, seed yield/fruit, fruits/plant and fruit yield/plant. Reciprocal effect was significant in nodes to first male flower, days to first female flower, days to first fruit harvest and days to fruit maturity. The correlation between gca values and per se performance of the parents was significant for all characters. This showed that per se performance of melon varieties would indicate their relative general combining ability effects. Musk melon and snake melon had the maximum genetic distance of 14.49. Long melon and snap melon were the closest (D2-0.38). In the order of affinity the five melon varieties could be arranged as oriental pickling melon, long melon, snap melon, snake melon and musk melon. Fruits/plant contributed maximum (80%) to total genetic divergence.ArticleItem Open Access Effects of graded doses of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium on yield of pumpkin (Cucurbita Moschata Poir)(Kerala Agricultural University, 1983) Rajendran, P C; Gopalakrishnan, P K; Gopalakrishnan, T R; Peter, K V; KAUArticleItem Open Access Genetic distance among five botanical varieties of Cucumis melo(Kerala Agricultural University, 1986) Subha Mary Mathew; Gopalakrishnan, P K; Peter, K V; KAUThesisItem Open Access Genetic variability and correlation studies in pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Poir)(Department of Horticulture (Olericulture), College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1979) Gopalakrishnan, T R; KAU; Gopalakrishnan, P KEighteen diverse pumpkin genotypes were grown in a randomized block design with three replications during 1978-79 at the Instructional Farm of College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara to estimate the extend of genetic variability, association among polygenic characters and its partition into direct and indirect effects. A discriminant function analysis was also carried out to find out the efficiency, if any, of selection through discriminant function over straight selection vice versa. The 18 genotypes were significantly different for the 32 polygenic characters studied. The genotype C.M. 17 and C.M.14 emerged as high yielders with other desirable qualities (16.10 kg. and 15.38 kg. fruit yield / plant respectively). Selection of plants considering yield per S E was observed to be efficient than selection of component characters. Fruit yield /plant was positively correlated with length of main vine, average fruit weight and weight of first mature fruit. Leaves /plant and intermodal length had maximum direct effects on length of main vine. Weight of first mature fruit was positively correlated flesh thickness and circumference of fruit. Number of female flowers/plant and number of fruit /plant had no correlation with fruit yield/plant. This aberrant behaviour requires further physiological studies to define the physiological sink in pumpkin. The line C.M.18 is observed to contain the maximum amount of carotene(0.527%) among the 18 genotypes studied. The carotene content was observed rather independent fruit yield /plant.ThesisItem Open Access Genetic variability and correlation studies in snake gourd (crichosanthos anguina L.)(Department of Olericulture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1978) Joseph Pynadath, S; KAU; Gopalakrishnan, P KStudies were undertaken with 25 diverse snake gourd types in the Department of Horticulture (Olericulture), College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, to estimate the genetic variability, correlation coefficients and path coefficients in the crop, during 1977-78. The results have shown that the differences between the types were highly significant for all the 21 characters studied. The estimates of variance components and coefficients of variation have indicated that the major portion of total variability in most of the characters was due to genetic causes, heritabllity in the broad sense was found to be quite high for most of the characters but the heritabllity estimate of yield was only 45.90 per cent. The estimate of genetic gain has shown that by selecting five per cent superior plants from the available population, yield can be improved upto 35.66 per cent over the mean. Characters such as per cent ash content, crude protein per cent, percentage P, number of female flowers per plant, weight of individual fruit and vitamin C content which exhibited parallelism in the high estimates of heritabillty and genetic gain may be suggested to be due to the action of additive genes and can be straightly improved through selection. The type T.A.19 was found to be the highest yielder. Yield per plant was found to be highly associated with number of primary branches, days for opening of first female flower, weight of individual fruit, length of fruit and girth of fruit. The correlation coefficients among these yield components were also significant. Path coefficient analysis has shown that weight of individual fruit, girth of fruit, number of fruits per plant and node at which first female flower appeared are the more important characters contributing to yield, on account of their high direct effects. Number of female flowers per plant and length of fruit are also important characters as their direct effects were moderate and indirect effects substantial.ThesisItem Open Access Genetic variability, correlation studies and path coefficient analysis in bittere gourd (Momordica Charantia L.)(Department of Olericulture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1978) Ramachandran, C; KAU; Gopalakrishnan, P KStudies were undertaken with 25 diverse bitter gourd types in the Department of Horticulture (Olericulture), College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Trichur, to estimate the genetic variability, correlation coefficients and path coefficients, and also to formulate a reliable selection index for the crop, during 1977-78. The results have shown that the differences between types were highly significant for all the twenty one characters studied. The estimates of variance components and coefficients of variation have indicated that the major portion of total variability in all characters, except number of seeds per fruit, was due to genetic causes. Heritability in the broad sense was found quite high for all characters except number of seeds per fruit. Expected genetic advance has shown that, by selecting five per cent superior plants from the available population, yield could be improved by 4.08 kg per plant. Characters such as yield per plant, vitamin C content, number of fruits per plant, number of female flowers per plant, iron content and phosphorus content which exhibited parallelism in the high estimates of heritability and genetic gain may be suggested to be due to the action of additive gene and can be straightly improved through selection. Type B.G.23 was found to be exceptionally high yielding. Yield per plant was found to be highly correlated with length of main vine, weight of fruit, length of fruit, number of fruits per plant, number of female flowers per plant and number of primary branches per plant. The correlation coefficients among these yield components were also highly significant. Path coefficient analysis has shown that the weight of fruit, number of fruits per plant and length of main vine had high direct positive effects on yield. Number of primary branches per plant, number of female flowers per plant and length of fruit exhibited low and negative direct effects on yield. Multiple regression analysis resulted in fitting a function, indicating that, about 74 per cent of the fruit yield in bitter gourd could be predicted phenotypically, if the observed value for length of main vine is multiplied by 0.8990, number of fruits per plant by 0.0492 and weight of fruit by 0.0335 and from their sum of products 7.2168 is subtracted.ArticleItem Open Access Growth, yield and quality of Kaempferia galanga L. as influenced by planting time and type of seed material(Kerala Agricultural University, 1985) Rajagopalan, A; Gopalakrishnan, P K; KAUAsplit plot experiment was conducted at the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during 1982-83 with a view to find out the best planting time and type of seed material in Kaempferia gaianga L The treatments included were three planting time, viz., 3rd week of May, 1st week of June and 2nd week of June and two types of seed materials, viz., motherand finger rhizomes. Planting time had significant influence on the number of leaves per plant, leaf width, total leaf area and rhizome yields. Mother rhizome planted during the third week of May was significantly superior to other treatments with respect to rhizome and oleoresin yields. A net income of Rs. 4,316.00 per hectare could be obtained from the crop planted on 3rd week of May using mother rhizomes.ThesisItem Open Access Homeostatic analysis of components of genetic variance and inheritance of fruit colour, fruit shape and bitterness in bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.)(Department of Olericulture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1989) Abdul Vahab, M; KAU; Gopalakrishnan, P KThesisItem Open Access In vitro studies on the propagation of cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum maton)(Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1989) Reghunath, B R; KAU; Gopalakrishnan, P KThesisItem Open Access Incorporation of two main sources of resistance to bacterial wilt in F1 generation of tomato lycopersicon lycopersicum (L) karst(Department of Horticulture (Olericulture), College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1983) Sree Latha Kumari; KAU; Gopalakrishnan, P KBacterial wilt of tomato caused by pseudomonas solanacearum (E. F. Smith) is a serious disease causing considerable damage in crops grown in the acidic soils of Kerala. Development of resistant variety(s) could be a worthwhile attempt which would have considerable impact on tomato production in Kerala. Experiments were planned and carried out during 1981-82 at the Instructional Farm of College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, Trichur, to incorporate two reported sources of resistance in F1 hybrids and then to find out inheritance of combined resistance to bacterial wilt. Two distinct sources of resistance one derived from Louisiana pink possessing North Carolina type of gene system and the other from P1 127805A possessing Lycopersicon pimpinellifolium type of gene system were made use in the present study. Interspecific F1 hybrids were produced between the above two sources of resistance. The F1S were selfed to generate F2S. Parental lines, F1S, F2S were further grown to evaluate the inheritance of combined wilt resistance in a field which was known for disease susceptibility and inoculum potential. The inheritance studies indicated a complementary and hypostatic type of digenic recessive gene system responsible for combined wilt resistance. Interspecific F1 heterosis was estimated. Significant negative interspecific heterosis was observed for days to first flower, days to first fruit harvest, plant height, branches/plant, locules/fruit and fruit weight. Genetic distance (D2) was calculated to find out genetic similarity/dissimilarity between Lycopersicon pimpinellifolium (LE 218) and ten lines of Lycopersicon esculentum. The line LE 217 was observed farthest to Lycopersicon pimpinellifolium (D2 = 449.87). The line LE 212 was the closest to Lycopersicon pimpinellifolium (D2 = 159.96). The line LE 217 had a disease score of two indicating high field resistance. The tomato lines were further evaluated for incidence of nematodol root knots and observed that all the lines were susceptible to nematode. The F2 lines possessing combined wilt resistance are being progressed for further study.ThesisItem Open Access Inheritance of clusterness, destalkness and deep red colour in chilli [Capsicum annuum L.](Department of Olericulture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1985) Gopalakrishnan, T R; KAU; Gopalakrishnan, P KThe research project " inheritance of clusterness, destalkness and deep red colour in chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) was carried out at the College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Trichur from July 1979 to September 1983. Preliminary evaluation of 38 chilli lines during 1979 and 46 lines during 1980 revealed considerable variation for most of the economic characters . Phenotypic coefficient of variation was the maximum for fruits/plant followed by fruit length and main stem length. High heritability coupled with high expected genetic advance was observed for fruit length and main stem length. Earliness measured as days to flower and days to red chilli harvest, though having high heritability , had only a very low expected genetic advance.ThesisItem Open Access Phenotypic stability analysis in bhindi (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench.)(Department of Olericulture,College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1981) Suresh, Babu K V; KAU; Gopalakrishnan, P KTwenty five genotypes of bhindi were grown continuously in two seasons under two contrasting environments in a randomised block design. Observations were recorded on yield and its seven components. Significant variation among the genotypes with respect to these characters were observed.ArticleItem Open Access Relative susceptibility of brinjal lines resistant to bacterial wilt (Pseudomonas Solanacearum Smith)(Kerala Agricultural University, 1985) Gopalakrishnan, T R; Gopalakrishnan, P K; KAUArticleItem Open Access Response of chilli genotypes to ethephon whole plant sprays(Kerala Agricultural University, 1985) Indira, P; Gopalakrishnan, P K; Peter, K V; KAUResponse of chilli genotypes to 4 levels of ethephon (0,100, 200 and 300 ppm) was studied during May-December 1981 and October-March 1981-82 seasons. The 4 levels of ethephon made significant differences for days to first fruitset and days to first red chilli harvest. Yield increased with ethephon application though it was not statistically significant. Plant stature was affected resulting in dwarf plant habit. Differential response to ethephon application was recorded only for days to first fruitset. Ethephon has only a limited use in chilli.ThesisItem Open Access Screening for non-bolting type (S) of Amaranthus suited for year-round planting(Department of Olericulture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1982) Devadas, V S; KAU; Gopalakrishnan, P KThe investigation, "screening for non-bolting type(s) of amaranthus suited for year round planting" was conducted during April 1981 to March 1982 at Instructional Farm of College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara with the following objectives - to isolate stable line (s) for yield and bolting, line (s) with negligible content of antinutrient factors. ie., nitrate and oxalates and to ascribe the reasons for bolting . The 25 amaranth genotypes belonging to four botanical species were grown in a randomised block design with 2 replications at monthly intervals. All the 25 genotypes varied significantly with regard to the total yield yield components and bolting. The heritability, phenotypic coefficient of variation and expected genetic advances were high for all the characters.ThesisItem Open Access Standardisation of propagation method time of planting, time of harvest and phytochemical analysis of Kaempferia galanga L.(Department of Horticulture (Plantation Crops & Spices), College of Agriculture, Vellanikkara, 1983) Rajagopalan, A; KAU; Gopalakrishnan, P KA split-plot experiment was conducted at the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during 1982-83 with a view to standardise the propagation method, planting time and harvesting time in Kaempferia galanga L. The treatments included in the investigation were two propagation method , viz. mother rhizomes and finger rhizomes, three planting time, viz. third week of May, first week of June and second week of June; three harvesting time, viz. six, seven and eight months after planting. Planting time had significant influence on the number of leaves per plant, leaf width, total leaf area, number and girth of rhizomes and yield characters.