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Subject: Plant Physiology × Author: KAU × End date: 1999 × Start date: 1997 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Provenance evaluation in the seedling characters of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss)
    (Department of tree physiology and breeding, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara., 1997) Vinod, S; KAU; Vijayakumar, N K
    A study was conducted at College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, Trichur on provenance evaluation in the seedling characters of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) for a period of one year from 1995 to 1996. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomised design. A total of eight provenances were used in this study they are Dindigul, Nagarcoil, Coimbatore, Trichur, Srivelliputhur, Palghat, Ghatti Subramanya and Molakalmur. In respect of various seed characters studied Nagarcoil was the best performer in characters like 100 seed weight, seed breadth and germination percentage. Trichur was the best performer in seed length and seed length breadth ratio and Srivelliputhur was the best performer in thickness of pericarp. In terms of various seedling characters studied Coimbatore was the best performer in height, leaf number, leaf area, stem dry weight, leaf dry weight, and shoot dry weight. Palghat provenance was superior with respect to root dry weight, and root shoot ratio; Nagarcoil was the best in terms of collar girth and Dindigul in total dry weight. Nevertheless, Coimbatore provenance was found to be the best performer in most of the seedling character studied. Isozyme banding pattern for peroxidase showed two bands PRX-1 and PRX-3 in common. Eight provenances were grouped in to two based on the presence or absence of PRX-2. No significant variation was observed in terms of chlorophyll - A, Band total chlorophyll content between provenances. Number of stomata per square centimetre was maximum in Coimbatore provenance. For the genetic characters studied 100 seed weight and germination percentage recorded maximum GCV and PCV for seed characters and shoot weight and shoot root ratio for seedling characters. Maximum heritability and genetic gain were recorded in germination percentage and height and collar girth in seedling characters. Application of Mahalanobis' D2 statistics and Tocher's method of clustering resolved eight provenances in to four distinct clusters. Cluster I comprising of three provenances (Dindigul, Palakkadu and Ghatti Subramanya). Cluster II comprising of only one cluster (Coimbatore), cluster III comprising of again only one cluster (Molakalmur) and cluster IV comprising of three provenances (Nagarcoil, Trichur and Srivelliputhur). Incidence of pests was not noticed during the entire period of investigation. All provenances were found affected by sooty mold caused by Capnodium sp. during the rainy seasons with out affecting the growth of the seedlings.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Parasitic interference of sandal (Santalum album Linn.) on common agricultural crops from the homesteads
    (Department of tree physiology and breeding, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara., 1997) Saju Varghese; KAU; Ashokan, P K
    Experiments were conducted at College of Forestry. Kerala Agricultural University. Vellanikkara. Thrissur during 1995-96 to elucidate the various aspects of parasitisation behaviour of sandal (Santalum album Linn.). Parasitisation behaviour of sandal on selected agricultural crops occurring in the homesteads of Kerala. response of selected sandal-host combinations to manures and fertilizers and uptake and translocation of nutrients and photosynthates by sandal-host associations were the principal aspects investigated. Pot culture experiments involving a number of hosts like coconut, cashew, banana, black pepper, jack, mango, rubber, casuarina, erythrina and redgram were conducted as part of the study. The results indicated that, growth parameters of the sandal seedling like total dry weight and number of haustoria varied significantly depending on the host associated with sandal. Maximum growth of sandal was observed in association with the host - Casuarina equisetifolia. No significant decrease was observed in the growth of any of the hosts consequent to the parasitisation by sandal. Host is the principal factor governing the growth of sandal and fertilizer levels tried in this experiment had not caused any significant influence on the growth of sandal seedlings. In, view of the favourable influences by the host complex of a good and bad host together ie., casuarina + erythrina, on sandal's growth, the possible competitive/complementary effects of multiple host combinations on sandal's growth, need be investigated in greater detail. Sandal plants can take up elements like calcium, sulphur and phosphorus directly from soil and a small fraction of these are also obtained from host. Carbon compounds also are translocated between sandal and hosts. The same host differed in its ability to supply different elements to sandal ie., in the supply of phosphorus to sandal casuarina was better while carbon compounds were optimally supplied by erythrina. So instead of providing a single host to sandal, a variety of good hosts should be provided in the field for ensuring a more optimal growth of sandal. Anatomical studies showed that, sandal roots can establish direct vascular connections with host roots through haustoria.