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Subject: Horticulture × Author: KAU × End date: 1982 × Start date: 1982 × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Maturity and post-harvest studies in mango (Mangifera indica Linn.)
    (Department of Processing Technology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1982) Jessy Kuriakose, M; KAU; Damodaran, V K
    The present investigations were carried out in the College of Horticulture, during the year 1979-80. The objectives were to study (i) the growth and maturity of mango fruits in order to standardise the harvest indices in five varieties viz., Bennet Alphonso, Mundappa, Suwarnarekha, Olour and Neelum (ii) the effect of different storage methods on the shelf life of fruits harvested at three different stages (A,B and C) and (iii) the suitability of the varieties for canning. Studies on physic-chemical characters of the fruits throughout the period of maturation were conducted with the view to fix optimum time for harvest. This study brought out that the length, weight, specific gravity (except for Mundappa) reducing sugar, starch and T.S.S. contents could be taken as dependable maturity standard. Based on these parameters the maturity standards have been fixed for the five varieties studied. The growth of fruits by way of increased length, girth, weight and volume was maximum during the first four weeks of maturation. From a stage to full maturity the acidity showed a declining trend while starch content increased. The change in reducing sugar content was erratic throughout the period of maturation. Towards full maturity the moisture and ascorbic acid contents showed gradual decline whereas an increasing trend was observed in case of drymatter content. As maturity advanced, the rate of increase in carotene content also increased. To prolong the shelf life, the most effective method was to store fruits in polythene bags of 300 gauge thickness along with KMnO4 which gave a mean storage life of 25.5 days. Storage in 300 gauge polythene bags alone was also equally good. The more the thickness of polythene, the longer was the shelf life. Waxing of fruits was not be effective as storing fruits in 300 and 250 gauges polythene bags, in terms of shelf life, but the extent of reduction in weight at the end of storage life was least in this method. Waxing was also effective in retention of acidity as well as ascorbic acid content during storage. In this method the total sugar content of the ripe fruits was not appreciably affected compared to other methods except control. The waxed fruits on ripening had the same extent of increase in carotene content as those under the other methods. Waxed fruits at the end of storage period had significant increase in T.S.S. content as compared to storage in polythene bags 250 and 300 gauges as well as in polythene bags 300 gauges along with waxing or KMnO4 . Storage of fruits in polythene bags of 300 gauge thickness, at the end of storage period, resulted in reduction of acidity and T.S.S. content compared to waxing. Compared to the untreated fruits, there was more retention of ascorbic acid content in this method. In terms of storage life as well as quality of fruits at ripening, the best stage for harvest was found to be B stage. Among the five varieties studied Bennet Alphonso and Neelum had better storage life followed by Mundappa, Suwarnarekha and Olour respectively. The quality of ripe fruits varied with varieties. In terms of storage life as well as quality of fruits Neelum came best. In shelf life though Bennet Alphonso came second, in quality of ripe fruits Mundappa was the second best. Neelum was found to be most suitable variety for canning followed by Mundappa. Bennet Alpphonso was the least suitable.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Response of cucumber genotypes to ethephon application
    (Department of Olericulture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1982) Sadhan Kumar, P G; KAU; Peter, K V
    Investigations were carried out during two seasons (October-January, 1981-82 and March-May, 1982) to find out the response of 20 Cucumis genotypes to four levels of ethephon (0,100, 200 and 300 ppm) at the Instructional Farm, College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara. Ethephon caused significant reduction in length of main vine, nodes to first female flower, nodes to first fruit, seed number and flesh thickness. Nodes to first male flower and primary branches/plant were significantly increased. There was no significant effect of ethephon on fruit length, fruit weight and fruit volume during both the seasons. There was an increase in yield in CS 27 (326.62%) while definite reduction in yield was observed in CS 26 (42.53%), CS 43 (60.47%), CS 38 (60.79%), CS 51 (50.74%) and CS 31 (63.82%) during the first season. During second season there was no significant effect of ethephon on fruit yield. Effect of ethephon sprays on plant to alter vegetative characters is further confirmed in the present study. Despite reduction in seed number due to ethephon application, no appreciable change was observed for fruit weight, fruit volume and fruit length. This is a matter for worth investigation. Reduction is vine length and increase in primary branches could be attributed to effects of ethephon to effect the phenomenon of apical dominance. The study proved that response of Cucumis genotypes to ethephon is governed by genotype, season of cultivation and concentration of ethephon used.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of pruning on growth, quantity and quality of produce in pepper (Piper nigrum. L)
    (Department of Horticulture (Plantation Crops & Spices) College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1982) Sajan Kurien; KAU; Sivaraman Nair, P C
    The present investigations were carried out at the Pepper Research Schema, Vellanikkara during the period December 1980 to February 1982. The objectives were to find out. (1) Whether pruning encourages more lateral growth and thereby an increase in yield. (2) Whether it is necessary to retain large volume of unproductive shoots. Studies were conducted on six year old bearing vines and the following inferences were drawn. The nutrient removal was significantly superior in higher intensity pruning. Pruning of hanging shoots recorded significant difference in mean extension of growth and spread of plants after full growth. There were two growth flushes in May and October- November. The later was relatively smaller. Significant difference was noted in the production of shoots, number of bearing shoots, and number of spikes. In all the above three characters, hanging shoot removal was best. Spike and berry characters were unaffected by pruning.
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    ThesisItemOpen 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 K
    The 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.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Floral biology, Pollination and fruit development in pineapple (Ananas comosus L.)
    (Department of Processing Technology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1982) Jayachandran, Nair C S; KAU; Damodaran, V K
    Investigations were conducted on the floral biology, pollination and fruit development in pineapple varieties Kew, Queen, Mauritius and Charlotte Rothschild in the College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University, during the period from December 1980 to October 1981. The four varieties under study did not show significant difference in the number of days required for the completion of various developmental changes of the inflorescence. The time requirement of the varieties for the developmental changes are as follows: 1. Colour change in the apical region to Visible appearance of inflorescence - 5.87-6.08 days 2. Visible appearance of inflorescence to - 16.39-16.66 days Opening of the first flower 3. Opening of the first to last flower - 13.89-14.68 days 4. Opening of last flower to harvest maturity - 94.18-98.80 days 5. Total inflorescence development period - 128.42-133.00 days The rate of flower opening varied from 4.99 to 5.97 flowers per day. Total number of flowers produced in an inflorescence was 72.87 to 86.44 in between the varieties. Kew was superior to the other three varieties in the above two characters. In all the varieties flower opening started from the base of the inflorescence and progressed up towards the crown region in a spiral pattern. There was no difference in the morphology of flowers in the four varieties of pineapple. Flower opening and anther dehiscence started early in the morning hours and reached a peak at 4-6 am. Flowers showed satisfactory receptivity from 4 to 10 am on the day of flower opening; the most optimum time for hand pollination being 5 to 8 am. Pollen grains of all the varieties were yellowish and were 30-60 microns (µ) in diameter. The average pollen diameter of kew was 50.45 , µ, Mauritius 47.30 µ, Charlotte Rothschild 46.30 µand Queen 43.40 µ. Pollengrains of Mauritius and Charlotte Rothschild were spherical and those of Queen and kew were slightly ovoid. Pollengrains gave satisfactory germination when incubated for 3 hours in a medium containing 8 per cent sucrose and 1.5% agar. Of the varieties tested kew had highest number of fertile pollengrains followed by Queen, Mauritius and Charlotte Rothschild. Pollen production per flower varied from 1250 to 12, 500 and the average for the varieties were: Mauritius 5030.15, Charlotte Rothschild 4839.09, Queen 4331.80 and kew 4112.46. Pollengrains could not be stored more than three days in the methods employed in the present study. Of the methods tried, storage of flowers at 240C over calcium chloride in a desiccator was the best followed by low temperature storage of flowers at 40C. Kew had the longest shelf life followed by Queen, Mauritius and Charlotte Rothschild. It appeared that natural agencies like vind and insects did not effect cross-pollination in pineapple varieties under Kerala conditions. Out of the cross-combinations tried, K x Q, Q x M, Q x C and C x M were superior and C x K was the least compatible combination. Length and girth of fruit and crown increased gradually during the fruit development in kew pineapple and showed a tendency to stabilize between 135th to 142nd day after visible appearance of inflorescence, when the fruit neared harvest maturity. A gradual increase in the weight of fruit, peel, crown and pulp was noted throughout the development of pineapple fruit except for the tendency to stabilize when harvest maturity neared. Dry matter content, T.S.S., soluble carbohydrates, Vitamin C and carotenoid pigments increased with advancement of fruit development and remained without appreciable changes at harvest maturity. Acidity of the fruits showed an increasing trend throughout the development period of pineapple. pH decreased from the early stages of development till harvest maturity was attained. Towards the last stages of development also, the same trend continued eventhough the decrease was not significant statistically. Crude fat content and Tannin content showed decrease with the advancement of maturity. A sharp decline in tannin content was observed after 86th day of visible appearance of the inflorescence. The fruits of pineapple variety kew were found to reach harvest maturity between 133 to 138 days after flowering under Kerala conditions.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Potassium nutrition in rainfed banana Musa (AAB group) Palayan kodan
    (Department of Pomology, Floriculture and Landscapping, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1982) Sheela, V L; KAU; Aravindakshan, M
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Induction of variability in Abolmoschus manihot var. ghana by irradiation
    (Department Of Olericulture, College Of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1982) Nirmala Devi, S; KAU; Peter, K V
    Yellow vein mosaic, a viral disease transmitted by the white fly (Bemisia tabaci) is the most important disease of bhindi affecting the crop at all stages of growth. Pusa Sawani, reported to be resistant to the disease has, of late, become susceptible. A number of wild species have been reported to be resistant/tolerant to the disease. An experiment was planned and carried out during 1981-’82 at the Instructional Farm of the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, Trichur to induce variability in a reportedly resistant wild species, Abelmoschus manihot var. ghana and then to isolate edible vegetable type(s), if any. The two sources of A. manihot var. ghana available in the Department of Olericulture were found ‘symptomless carriers’ of yellow vein mosaic virus. A. manihot var. ghana (Source IARI) was found comparatively compatible with A. esculentus. This was proved through F0 fruitset, presence of viable F0 seed, germination of F0 seed, fertility of F1 plant and viability of F1 seed. The interspecific F1 hybrid exhibited heterobeltiosis for days to flower, nodes to first flower, plant height, leaf length, leaf width, fruit length, primary branches/plant, fruiting nodes on main stem, intermodal length, fruits/plant, ridges/fruit, marketable fruits/plant, seeds/fruit and fruit yield/plant. The total genetic distance between the two species were found significant (11D2=228.57). Variability was induced in the wild species using 10 kR, 15 kR and 20 kR gamma rays. Qualitative and quantitative characters of each and every plant in the M1 line were observed. The performance of M0 lines were compared with untreated control and vigour due to irradiation for characters plant height, internodal length and length of leaves were found significant irrespective of doses of radiation given. Maximum variability was observed for fruit yield/plant in the three lines. None of the plants were observed affected by diseases like yellow vein mosaic, cercospora leaf spot, powdery mildew and downy mildew and pests like fruit borer and jassids. Incidence of mites was, however, observed.