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ThesisItem Open Access Effect of planting date, weight of rhizome and spacing on the growth, yield and quality constituents on turmeric (Curcuma longa L)(Department of Horticulture (Plantation Crops & Spices), College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1983) Chatterjee, R K; KAU; Mohanakumaran, NThesisItem Open Access Effect of growth regulators and certain formulations on bunch development in banana var. palayankodan(Department of Pomology & Floriculture and Landscaping, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1983) Rajendran, P; KAU; Aravindakshan, MThe yield of banana in Kerala remains very low inspite of the adoption of proper manuring and other management practices. Investigations have indicated that the main barrier to the increased production in banana is the lack of sufficient leaf area at the active phase of growth of the plants. The present experiment was conducted with the banana cultivar ‘Palayankodan’ under sparsely irrigated conditions with a view to increase the plant growth and ultimate yield by the use of growth regulators and commercially available formulations. The growth regulators viz., 2-4-D and NAA and the commercially available formulation namely ‘Navras Banana Special’ were tried at four different concentrations as given below:- 2,4-D - 5,10,15 and 20 ppm NAA - 20, 30,40 and 50 ppm ‘Navras’ - 0.25, 0.50,0.75 and 1.00 per cent The various chemicals at different concentrations were applied as two foliar sprays at three and four months after planting. A third spray was also given on the bunches immediately after the female phase of flower opening. On an overall analysis, 2,4-D at 20 ppm and ‘Navras’ at 0.50 per cent were found to be more effective in promoting the vegetative growth of plants. With respect to flowering and duration of the crop, the growth regulators alone had significant effects when compared to the commercial preparation ‘Navras’. The effectiveness also depended on the concentrations of the growth regulators. Thus 2,4-D at 20 ppm induced early shooting of plants by about 12 days whereas NAA at 50 ppm caused substantial delay in shooting. The chemicals at their various concentrations were not effective in influencing the bunch maturity, thus indicating that the applied chemicals caused the earliness or delay observed, through their influencedon the vegetative growth only. Consequent to the application of 2,4-D at 20 ppm the crop duration was advanced by 22 days. Contrary to this, NAA at 50 ppm delayed the duration of the crop. The treatments with 2,4-D at 5 to 20 ppm, NAA at 40 and 50 ppm and ‘Navras’ at 1.00 per cent were found to advance the ripening of fruits. The best quality fruits in terms of TSS and total sugars were obtained by the application of 2,4-D at 20 ppm. Among the concentrations of ‘Navras Banana Special’, o.5 per cent gave the best results with respect to the growth and yield of plants. When the concentration was increased further, there was a decrease in the performance of the plants. The optimum doze of ‘Narvas Banana Special’ was worked out to 0.534 per cent. The correlations worked out from the data collected revealed that the vegetative and bunch characters such as girth of psuedostem, number of functional leaves, total leaf area, length of bunch, number of hands and fingers per bunch, number of fingers per hand and weight of hand, length, girth and weight of fingers amply contributed to the overall yield in the form of bunch weight. The yield increase observed in the present study due to the application of 2,4-D at 20 ppm was by 88 per cent and that for ‘Navras’ at 0.5 per cent was by 96 per cent. The benefit/cost ratio worked out for these treatments did not differ and hence application of 2,4-D (20 ppm) and ‘Navras Banana Special’ (0.5 per cent) were equally good for increasing the yield. The present investigations were conducted under sparsely irrigated conditions where, irrigation was given just for the maintence of the crop. Further investigations with rainfed and irrigated ‘Palayankodan’ bananas may be of particular interest.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 Studies on the fermentation and curing of cocoa beans(Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1983) Premalatha, T; KAU; Mohanakumaran, MInvestigations conducted at the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during 1979-81 indicated mini- basket lined with banana leaves and mini- box as the methods suitable for fermenting small quantities of beans . These methods were chosen from among the seven studied , based on the temperature development in the ferment and on the result s of the cut test. Polythene sheet was found to be a poor insulating material as compared to banana leaves having led to unsatisfactory aeration and low temperature build up during fermentation. Fermentation during the dry season was found to be better with respect to the fermentation characteristics and physical quality characteristics of the beans. Fermentation of beans from yellow /ripe pods and over-ripe pods gave higher proportion of commercially acceptable beans . The cured beans had desirable PH and good physical quality characteristics. Storing the harvested pods for two to six days before the extraction of beans for fermentation led to the development of optimum temperature in the ferment , desirable pH in the dried and the production of a higher proportion of commercially acceptable beans. Storing the cured beans increased the proportion of commercially acceptable beans . An increase in the pH of the beans was also observed during the 28-week storage.ThesisItem 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 Flower bud differentiation in pepper (Piper nigrum L.)(Department of Horticulture (Plantation Crops and Spices), College of Horticulture,Vellanikkara, 1983) Nalini, P V; KAU; Mohanakumaran, NStudies were undertaken at the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during 1981-82 to collect information on the factors influencing flowering/flower bud differentiation in pepper and on the chronological development of the vegetative and floral buds. Carbon-nitrogen ratio exhibited a favourable influence on the differentiation of flower buds in pepper. Results of the path coefficient analysis and the data on the weather parameters considered together indicated rainfall as the most important factor influencing flower bud differentiation. Receipt of the pre-monsoon showers after a long spell of dry weather seemed to trigger the flower bud differentiation activity in pepper. Microtechniques for histological examination of pepper stem sections were standardised. Killing and fixing the specimens in FAA, dehydration in TBA serious and staining with saffranin gave satisfactory results. Differentiation of vegetative buds alone was observed in the two types of laterals (which bore the crop during the previous season and which did not). Three stages have been identified in the development of vegetative buds. Flower bud differentiation was observed in the shoots arising from the two types of laterals. Maximum flower bud differentiation occurred during June – July. Five stages were identified in the development of flower buds. The process of flower bud differentiation was seen completed within about 20 days of commencement.ThesisItem Open Access Effect of spacing, rhizome weight and time of harvest on the yield and quality constituents in Costus speciosus(Department of Horticulture (Plantation Crops and Spices), College of Horticulture,Vellanikara, 1983) Mohanakumaran, M; KAU; Joseph, E JAn experiment conducted at the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, during 1981 –’82 to study the influence of spacing, weight of planting material and duration of the crop on the yield and quality factors in Costus speciosus revealed that low density planting (75 x 75 cm) enhanced the overall vegetative growth. However, the per hectare yield of rhizomes and diosgenin were found to be significantly higher at the closest spacing (50 x 50 cm). The higher the weight of the planting material, the better was the vegetative and rhizomatous growth. The yield of rhizomes and diosgenin were proportionately higher when heavier planting materials were used. Planting of 100 g rhizome pieces was found to be significantly superior to planting of rhizomes weighing 50 g and 75 g. Increasing the crop duration significantly increased some of the rhizome and finger characters. Though the yield of green rhizome and diosgenin content were higher at six months after planting, the dry matter content was low at that stage. The yield of dry rhizomes and diosgenin were higher at nine months after planting, due to the high dry matter content. Quadratic response functions showed the eighth month to be the optimum stage of harvest for obtaining maximum yield of diosgenin per unit area. The treatment combination D2S1W3was found to be the economic optimum. A maximum yield of 157.65 kg/ha of diosgenin, giving a net profit of Rs. 6270 per ha, could be expected by planting 100 g rhizome pieces (W3) at 50x50 cm spacing (S1) and harvesting the crop at nine months after planting (D2). The studies indicated that Costus speciosus could be groomed as a commercial crop under Kerala conditions.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.ThesisItem Open Access Effect of planting date, weight of rhizome and spacing on the growth, yield and quality constituents on turmeric (Curcuma longa L.)(Department of Horticulture (Plantation Crops & Spices), College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1983) Chatterjee, R K; KAU; Mohanakumaran, NAsplit-split plot experiment was conducted during 1981-82 at the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara using Kasturi Tenuka as the test variety with a view to arriving at the optimum time of planting, spacing and weight of planting material that can be advocated for commercial cultivation of turmeric. The treatments were early May, middle of May and early June planting, 10 x 20 cm, 15 x 20 cm and 20 x 20 cm spacing and 20 g, 40 g and 60 g weight of the planting material. The crop performance was analysed based on germination , growth and yield parameters. The percentage germination was higher for the early June planted crop with 20 x 20 cm spacing and 60 g planting material
