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ThesisItem Open Access Studies on fertility status of rubber growing soils of Palakkad district(Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1991) Mohanan, V; KAU; Nazeem, P AThesisItem Open Access Quality Characters Of Clove And Nutmeg At Different Stages Of Maturity(Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture,vellayani, 1990) Manoj, A M; KAU; Vasanthakumar, KThe present investigation was carried out at the College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 1988 – 89. The objectives of this study were to characterise the growth pattern of clove flower buds and nutmeg fruits and to develop suitable harvest indices for these crops based on quality characteristics at different stages of maturity. The moisture content in clove buds and rind of nutmeg fruits increased with increase in maturity. However, moisture percentage in nutmeg kernel and mace was found to decrease as maturity advanced. The non – volatile ether extract (NVEE), on dry weight basis, was found to decrease on maturity advanced in clove buds and in mace while in nutmeg kernel the NVEE showed an increasing trend. The volatile oil in clove, nutmeg and mace was more at the immature stages and it progressively decreased at the peak harvesting stages. Eugenol, the chief component in clove oil was the maximum at the flowering stage. Hence for extraction of clove oil which is intended for use in medicine, dentistry and other pharmaceutical uses, it is advisable to harvest clove buds at the anthesis stage. The aromatic ethers which are the chief components that determine the flavour and drug action in nutmeg oil was the maximum one month prior to the fruit splitting stage. In mace oil it was found to be high two months prior to fruit splitting stage. So if nutmeg and mace oils are intended for medicinal purpose, then it may be worthwhile to harvest nutmeg fruits at the 6th month for extracting kernel oil and at the 5th month for extracting mace oil. Considering the fact that the nutmeg fruit yield both nutmeg and mace oil, harvesting separately at different maturity stages for extraction of the different oils is practically difficult. The aromatic phenol and phenol ethers showed a very low value in mace oil one month prior to fruit splitting. So in practice the fruit may be harvested two months prior to fruit splitting for extraction of both nutmeg and mace oils. However the high moisture content at this stage makes drying a problem. So such a practice of early harvesting of nutmeg fruits may be resorted to in places where facilities are available for extraction of oil from the fresh kernel and mace immediately after harvesting.ThesisItem Open Access Standrdisation of spacing for tissue culture banana cv. nendran (AAB group)(Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1994) Anil, B K; KAU; Jayachandran Nair, C SThe investigation on “Standardisation of spacing for tissue culture banana cv. Nendran (AAB group)” was conducted at the Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram during, 1992-’93 inorder to study the effect of different spacings on growth, yield and fruit quality of Nendran banana. The results obtained are presented below: In the early stages of growth, the vegetative characters were not influenced by the spacings tried. However, during later periods, the plant height, girth, number of leaves per plant, total and functional leaf area, interval of leaf production, LAI and LAD increased with decrease in spacing. The time taken for bunch emergence, maturity and duration of crop increased with decrease in spacing. The number of suckers per plant decreased with decrease in spacing, while total number of suckers per hectare increased with decrease in spacing. The biomass and drymatter production per plant, bunch yield and fruit size were higher in wider spacing, while on per hectare basis it was the reverse. Drymatter content, TSS, reducing, non-reducing and total sugars and sugar/acid ratio of fruits increased with increase in spacing, while acidity and ascorbic acid content decreased. The time taken for ripening of fruits decreased with increase in spacing, while shelf life remained unaffected. The benefit/cost ratio was most favourable in 1.75 x 1.75 m spacing. Incidence of pests and diseases were severe in closer spacings above 1.75 x 1.75 m. Soil nutrient depletion was tolerable upto 1.75 x 1.75 m spacing, while uptake and partitioning of major nutrients by individual plants decreased with decrease in spacing. Fruits showed the highest nitrogen and phosphorus content followed by leaf, leaf sheath, corn and pseudostem. Potassium content was the highest in leaf followed by fruits, corm, leaf sheath and pseudostem. In general spacing 1.75 x 1.75 m did not significantly affect the plant growth, yield and quality of fruits. However, the experiment has to be repeated to arrive at conclusive results.ThesisItem Open Access Effect of planting density on the growth of rubber in the Vellanikkara estate(Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1993) Karthikeyan, K V; KAU; Nybe, E VThe present observations on the influence of different planting densities on the performance of two clones namely RRII 105 and RRII 118 are in conformity with the results of other field experiments reported earlier. In lower planting densities, trees produced good girth, high yield per tree, thick virgin bark and high rubber content. Whereas, high planting densities contributed to poor tree girth, high yield per tree, thick virgin bark and high rubber content. Whereas , high planting densities contributed to poor tree girth, thin virgin bark and lower yield per tree. However, planting density is dependent on various other factors viz. topography of the land, system of planting to be adopted, the planting materials, cost of labour and price of rubber. Anyway, a comprise between labour cost and rubber price is needed. As far as small holders are concerned, a higher stand per hectare is preferred, since the question of labour does not arise. Therefore, for small holding sector a higher stand is recommended in order to get high per hectare yield. But there should be an optimum stand. In Malaysia, for small holders having available family labour, a planting density of approximately 740 trees per hectare is recommended. However, indepth studies are required for a meaningful recommendation in our country. Salient results The trees were taller in high density planting The trees were more vigorous in low density planting. The highest mean girth of 64.7 cm was recorded by RRII 118 at a population density of 420 plants/ha.The percentage of weaklings increased with increase in population.The highest weakling percentage of 35.8 was recorded by the planting density of 824 plants per hectare. Poor bark growth in high density planting Per tree yield was more for low density planting whereas per hectare yield was less. With regard to high density planting , per tree yield was less and per hectare yield was more. Dry rubber content (drc) was more in low density planting. The highest percentage of 44.5 was recorded by RRII 118 at a planting density of 420 plants/ha. Light penetration was more in low density planting. The maximum light penetration recorded was 110.0 micromole/sec/m2 at a density of 420 plants per hectare.ThesisItem Open Access Enhancing the in vitro response of explants from mature jack (artocarpus heterophyllus lam.) trees(Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1993) Reena, Philip; KAU; Rajmohan, KThe objective of the present study was to improve the propagation efficiency of mature phase jack trees by various pretreatments. The treatments tried involved stock plant treatments, explants treatments and in vitro treatments. Surface sterilization with HgCl2 for 13 minutes was found to be the most effective in reducing microbial contamination during culture establishment. Among the stock plant treatments tried, grafting on to juvenile rootstock was found to be the most effective in improving the in vitro response of explants from mature jack trees. Stress treatments were found to be the most effective among the explants treatments. Cold shock for 5 minutes at – 200C was found to produce the best results followed by heat treatment at 420 C for 2 minutes. Among the in vitro treatments, incorporation of phloroglucinol at the rate of 10mg/l was found to be the most effective. The results also showed significant influence of season on the response of mature explants, the highest response being observed during March – April.ThesisItem Open Access Feasibility of pineapple as an intercrop in small holdings of rubber in Muvattupuzha taluk(Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1993) Jose, V C; KAU; Tharian George, KMuvattupuzha is a taluk where majority of people earn their living through agriculture. The literacy level of people is high. Among the crops raised, rubber is having great importance and it covers larger area. Almost all the rubber growers raise some intercrop during the first three years of immaturity of rubber to get some income. As an intercrop in rubber, pineapple has received much attention in recent years. The present study is an attempt to find out the benefits of growing pineapple as intercrop, to work out the B. C. R and to study its feasibility when compared to other cropping systems. Irrespective of the size of holding pineapple is used for intercropping in many units. Pineapple as intercrop was found to slightly retard the growth of rubber in the immaturity period and at tappable stage. Considering the long gestation period of 5 to 7 years and the profitability of intercropping during this period when there is no other income, it can be ignored. Cost analysis has proved that pineapple is a profitable intercrop in young rubber plantations. Among the varieties of pineapple, Mauritius is preferred due to higher profitability (B. C. R 2.4), easy management practices and marketability. Cultural operations for pineapple is not difficult, requiring minimum digging compared with other crops. Though the profitability depends on market price during harvesting period, it is fetching comparatively higher returns on account of comparatively stable prices. In Muvattupuzha taluk there is good marketing facility for pineapple. Fruits are sold in open market and through cooperative societies. The study revealed that soil erosion and weed growth are low or medium in pineapple intercropped plots. The study highlighted the potential of pineapple as an intercrop in rubber plantations in the taluk. The growing popularity of the crop is evident from the steady expansion of area under pineapple in all the villages of the taluk which was initially confined to selected regions.ThesisItem Open Access Selection for mosaic resistance in pumkin (cucurbita moschata poir)(Department of Olericulture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1992) Latha, P; KAU; Gopalkrishnan, T RThe investigation “Selection for mosaic resistance in pumpkin (Cucurbitamoschatapoir)” was conducted at the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, Thrissur during November 1990 – April 1992. The high yielding and locally adapted variety Ambili was sown at bimonthly intervals to study the seasonal influence on mosaic incidence, vector population and yield. Incidence of yellow vein mosaic, pumpkin mosaic, bottle gourd mosaic, watermelon mosaic and cucumber mosaic were observed in crops sown during different months. Incidence of yellow vein mosaic and population of whiteflies (BemisiatabaciGenn.), the vector of yellow vein mosaic, were positively correlated with temperature and negatively correlated with rainfall and relative humidity. Fruit yield and contributing characters were significantly influenced by different dates of sowing and sowing in October was found to yield maximum because of the delayed incidence of mosaic. From the study of P1, P2, F1, F2 , BC1 and BC2 generations of the cross involving mosaic susceptible Ambili and resistant CM 214 (Nigerian Local), resistance to yellow vein mosaic was found to be governed by a single dominant gene and pumpkin mosaic by a single recessive gene. Silvery leaf trait was found to be dominant and governed by two genes. The study resulted in the identification of five promising selections from the segregating populations. Attempt was also made to improve the line CM 214 through selection. Improvement could be made in fruit set, seeds per fruit, hundred seed weight and seed germination. Germination percentage of CM 214 was significantly increased by removal of seed coat before sowing. Superior progenies of CM 214 were also selected for further improvement.ThesisItem Open Access Standardization of postharvest processing of ginger (zingiber officinale roscoe)(Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1992) Ajith Kumar, K; KAU; Sreekandan Nair, GInvestigation on standardization of post-harvest processing of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) was carried out at the Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 1988 -90. Ginger rhizomes were processed to study the effect of various methods like scraping, slicing, blanching, boiling, coating and their combinations on the yield and quality of dry ginger, storage life and also on storage pests and diseases adopting CRD. In this study among the various treatments low recovery (31.6 per cent) of dry ginger was obtained for scraped ginger. The sliced rhizomes took only four days for drying. The essential oil content decreased with an increase in time. The treatments slicing and drying (T4), blanching and drying (T5), unpealed and drying (T1) scraping and drying (T3) and spliting and drying (T2) were found to be the best for longer storage. The oleoresin content also decreased with an increase in time and the treatment combinations which include boiling resulted in the maximum reduction in oleoresin content followed in the maximum reduction in oleoresin content followed by combinations of scraping and spliting. The study revealed that compared to single treatment a combination of treatments especially when boiling as a component reduced the crude fibre content. The ginger rhizomes when sliced and dried took the minimum period for drying and it resulted in the production of normal coloured product and also comparable in quality aspects. Hence slicing and drying of ginger rhizomes is an alternate method for processing of ginger.ThesisItem Open Access Leaf litter addition and nutrient recycling in rubber in Vellanikkara estate(Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1992) Guruprasad, M K; KAU; Sreekandannair, GPreliminary studies on the total quantity of the leaf litter, chemical composition of leaf litter and the nutrients released through leaf litter for recycling, in an eight year old rubber plantation of Vellanikkara Estate of Kerala Agricultural University have been attempted. During the year under study, wintering started by 14th December, 1991 and continued till 2nd March, 1992, the peak being the third week of January, 1992. During annual defoliation period total leaf litter production (dry weight) was estimated to be 4112 kg/ha, the contribution of which works out to annual addition of 63.3 kg N, 2.64 kg P, 44.0 kg K, 42.32 kg Ca and 8.93 kg Mg. During wintering, there is a gradual decline in the levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in leaves due to the shift of these nutrients to trunk. This shift was not abserved in the case of calcium and magnesium. Approximate leaf area index was also worked out and is found to be 4.26.