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2020 - 20213
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Subject: Spices, Plantation and Medicinal and Aromatic Plants × Author: KAU × Start date: 2020 × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Growth, yield and secondary metabolite production responses to microbial elicitation in Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal
    (Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2021) Ragin, Shaji; KAU; Deepa, S Nair
    The study entitled “Growth, yield and secondary metabolite production responses to microbial elicitation in Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal.” was conducted at the Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram during 2019-2021 with a view to evaluate the effect of bacterial inoculants on seed germination, seedling vigour, growth, yield and secondary metabolite production in W. somnifera. Seeds of W. somnifera were primed with B. amyloliquefaciens (Bam), B. pumilus (Bp) and B. velezensis (Bv) at 1x 108 cfu mL-1 individually and in combination for 24 h. Among these treatments, T7, the trio combination of Bam+Bp+Bv recorded the earliest germination (5.33 days) highest germination per cent (96.67), survival per cent (92.67) seedling vigour index (958.93), basal shoot girth (0.81 cm), number of leaves (6.07), leaf area (13.38 cm2 ), shoot length (5.77cm), root length (4.16 cm) and root volume (0.54 cm3 ). All the biopriming treatments with Bacillus spp. recorded superior germination and seedling parameters over the untreated control (T9) and hydropriming (T8). The seedlings from the first phase were subjected to root dip with the respective bacterial suspension for 30 min on transplanting. The morphological and yield determining parameters such as shoot length(78.99 cm), root length (21.27cm), number of branches (8.78), number of leaves (71.00), collar girth (3.91 cm), leaf area (5146.81 cm2 ) number of flowering branches (7.89), stem fresh weight (61 .85 g plant -1 ), stem dry weight(9.78 g plant -1 ), leaf fresh weight (45.89 g plant -1 ), leaf dry weight (5.07g plant - 1 ), root fresh weight (5.47g plant-1 ), root dry weight (1.44 g plant-1 ) 100 seed weight (0.26g ) root diameter (1.33cm), root volume (5.39 cm3 ) and harvest index (0.10) were observed to be significantly higher in T7, the trio combination of (Bam+ Bp+ Bv), which was observed to be on par with T5, dual combination of (Bam+ Bv). T5 was found to be superior in shoot fresh and dry weight, berry fresh and dry weight, number of berries and 133 seed yield per plant and total dry matter production (97.48, 17.51, 8.85 and 5.32 g plant-1 , 90.56, 7.35, 18.89 g plant-1 respectively, which was observed to be on par with T7. All the said parameters were significantly lower in untreated control. Seedlings treated with bacterial suspension of B. velezensis (Bv) recorded highest chlorophyll content in the leaves of W. somnifera at the time of harvest. The highest total alkaloid content in leaves (7.86 µg 100 mg-1 ) was recorded in dual combination of Bp+Bv which was on par with the other combinantions, Bam+Bv (T5) and Bam+Bp+Bv (T7). T5 recorded the highest protein and carbohydrate content (2.96 and 23.30 mg 100 mg-1 respectively) in the roots which was on par with T7. The withanolide content was superior (7.46 µg mg-1 ) in T7, Bam+Bp+Bv which was on par with T5, Bam+Bv and T6, Bp+Bv. The yield of biochemical parameters on per plant basis viz., total leaf alkaloids, total root withanolides were the highest (397.44 µg plant-1, and 10.77 mg plant-1 respectively) in trio combination of T7 which was on par with dual combination T5. The control treatment recorded significantly lower values in all the biochemical parameters observed. In the first phase of the study, the trio combination of Bam + Bp+ Bv (T7) gave the best performance in terms of seed germination, seedling growth and seedling vigor index, In the second phase, Bam + Bp+ Bv (T7) and Bam+ Bv (T5) gave superior performance, in terms of plant growth, yield and biochemical parameters.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Evaluation of medicinal plant-based formulations for growth, yield and pest management in chilli (Capsicum annuum Linn.)
    (Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Agriculture, Vellanikkara, 2021) Shafreena Shirin, P; KAU; Lissamma, Joseph
    Pest management is one of the important components of crop management to mitigate economic losses of agricultural crops and commodities. The harmful effects of chemical pesticides on environment and health concern have caused a shift to adapt various ecofriendly ways of pest management. Therefore, botanical pesticides are gaining popularity because they are safe to use on crops produced for human consumption and recently there is a lucrative market among consumers willing to pay more for organically produced food. This positive trend has encouraged the research field to focus more on ecofriendly and effective pest management strategies. A study entitled “Evaluation of medicinal plant-based formulations for growth, yield and pest management in Chilli (Capsicum annuum Linn.)” was carried out at the Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Agriculture, Vellanikkara during the period from October 2020 to May 2021 with Chilli variety Anugraha as the test crop. Three medicinal plant based trial products (P1, P2, and P3) and their combinations (P4, P5 and P6), developed and screened at Aromatic and Medicinal Plants Research Station (AMPRS), Odakkali were utilized for the study. P1 was developed from Vayambu (Acorus calamus), P2 from Manja Koova (Curcuma zedoaria), P3 from Erukku (Calotropis gigantea), P4 from Acorus calamus and Curcuma zedoaria, P5 from Curcuma zedoaria and Calotropis gigantea and P6 from Acorus calamus and Calotropis gigantea. Solid soap formulations of these three and their combination were evaluated at one and two per cent concentrations at ten days intervals along with an absolute control (T13- 1% soap solution without any botanicals) and positive control (T14-1% Neem garlic extract). The growth parameters like plant height (cm), leaf length (cm), breadth (cm),and days to 50 per cent flowering and fruiting, yield characters like fruit length (cm) and breadth (cm), fruit weight (g), number of fruits and fresh fruit yield per plant and qualitative characters like Vitamin C (mg 100g-1 ) and oleoresin content (%) were recorded. Statistical comparison of morphological and qualitative parameters under various treatments was done through one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) using KAU GRAPES software. Effect of spraying the liquid formulations of medicinal plant based products and their combinations against sucking pests like thrips, whitefly and aphids during the experimental period (December, 2020 to May, 2021) were studied. Population density of sucking pests viz. thrips, white fly and aphids were recorded. Data on mean population of sucking pests were tested by analysis of covariance (ANOCOVA) using R studio software, taking population counts prior to the treatments application as covariate. The result obtained was subjected to Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) and treatments were analysed. The plant height showed an increasing trend from one month after transplanting to five month after transplanting. The increment in plant height was reduced from three months onwards after attaining the reproductive stage. The maximum cumulative plant height of 61.05 cm was observed in T3 (Calotropis gigantea at 1%) among the treatments.The maximum cumulative leaf length of 5.82 cm was observed in T2 (Curcuma zedoariaat 1%). The maximum cumulative leaf breadth of 2.87cm was observed in T14 (Pest management as per Organic POP). Days to 50 per cent flowering for different treatments varied from 42.66 to 47.66 days. The minimum days to 50 per cent flowering recorded in T5- Curcuma zedoaria at 2 per cent and T6- Calotropis gigantea at 2 per cent. Days to 50 per cent fruiting for different treatments varied from 55 to 62.66 days. Treatment T9- Curcuma zedoaria and Calotropis gigantea at 1 per cent recorded minimum days to 50 per cent fruiting (55 days). Fruit length of chilli variety Anugraha under different treatments varied from 6.13 cm to 6.80cm. The maximum fruit length of 6.8 cm was recorded in T6 (Calotropis gigantea at 2%). Fruit breadth (cm) varied from 2.16 to 2.76 cm. The maximum fruit breadth of 2.76 cm was recorded in T5- Curcuma zedoaria at 2 per cent. Per fruit weight ranged from 1.22 to 1.63 g. The maximum per frit weight of 1.63 g was recorded in T3 (Calotropis gigantea at 1%).The number of fruits per plant ranged from 35.15 to 104.95 and the maximum number of fruits per plant (104.95) was recorded in T6- Calotropis gigantea at 2 per cent. The fresh fruit yield per plant ranged from 54.95 to 121.90 g. Treatment T6 (Calotropis gigantea at 2%) recorded the maximum fresh fruit yield per plant. Factors which influence the yield of the crop like maximum plant height, earliness (minimum days to 50 per cent flowering and fruiting), maximum fruit length, maximum number of fruits per plant were recorded in T6 (Calotropis gigantea at 2%). There was no significant difference for the qualitative characters like Vitamin C (mg 100g-1 ) and oleoresin content (%) with respect to the application of the medicinal plant based formulations. Efficacy of medicinal plant based formulations was studied against various sucking pests during the experimental period. Calotropis gigantea based pesticidal soap formulation showed comparatively good results against thrips population in chilli variety Anugraha under different treatments. Minimum population of whitefly was observed in the treatment T4- Acorus calamus at 2 per cent among various treatments. Acorus calamus based formulation also showed good results with lower pest load against aphids. In general, over all disease incidence in the treatment plot was negligible during the experimental period and Calotropis and Acorus based formulations were showed comparatively good performance in the aspects of growth, yield and pest management in chilli variety Anugraha.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Germination and plant growth responses in Ashwagandha (Withania Somnifera (L.) Dunal) and Kiriyathu (Andrographis paniculata (Burm.F.) Nees) to seed pretreatments
    (Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2020) Namitha, Nadesh; KAU; Deepa S, Nair
    Germination and plant growth responses in Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal) and Kiriyathu (Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Nees) to seed pretreatments. The present investigation entitled “Germination and plant growth responses in Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal) and Kiriyathu (Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Nees) to seed pretreatments” was conducted in the Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 2018-2020 with the objective to standardize pretreatment of seeds for enhanced germination and plant growth in W. somnifera and A. paniculata. The seeds of W. somnifera and A. paniculata used for the study were sourced from Anand Agricultural University, Gujarat, India. The study was carried out in two phases: Phase 1- Pretreatment of seeds for enhanced germination; Phase 2- Evaluation of transplanted seedlings obtained from pretreated seeds for enhanced plant growth. The seeds of W. somnifera and A. paniculata were subjected to various pretreatments viz., physical treatment, hormonal priming, biostimulant priming and biopriming (using microbes). The seeds kept for germination without any pretreatment were taken as the control. In the first phase of the study in W. somnifera, seeds subjected to water soaking recorded higher germination (84.00 per cent), seedling length (13.30 cm) and seedling vigour index (11.16) which were on par with that of hot water treatment. Among the hormonal priming treatments, seeds exposed to GA3 @1500 μM recorded the highest germination (82.00 per cent), seedling length (14.40 cm) and seedling vigour index (11.80) which were found to be on par with GA3 @1500 μM. In biostimulant seed priming, PG @ 10μM primed seeds recorded higher germination (64.00 per cent), seedling length (10.57cm) and seedling vigour index (6.67) and were found to be on par with those of PG @ 1μM primed seeds. The biopriming treatments had no significant effect on germination and seedling length. However, significantly higher seedling vigour index was observed in all the biopriming treatments over the control treatment. Among all the pretreatments tried, water soaking treatment, hot water treatment, GA3 @ 1500μM was recorded significantly higher germination, seedling length and seedling vigour index. In the second phase of the study, the 30 day old seedlings of W. somnifera raised from pretreated seeds and untreated (control) seeds were transplanted and evaluated for plant growth and yield (shoot and root biomass), at harvest (120 DAS). Among the physical treatments, W. somnifera plants derived from water soaked seeds were observed to give higher plant height (60.80cm), number of branches (5.00), collar girth (0.47 cm), shoot biomass (fresh-37.61 g plant-1; dry -7.17 g plant-1) and root biomass (fresh-5.60 g plant-1; dry-0.79 g plant-1). These were observed to be on par in plants from hot water treated seeds, except for the number of branches and shoot biomass. Among the hormonal priming treatments, plants from GA3 @ 1500 μM primed seeds recorded higher plant height (55.57cm), shoot (fresh-27.73 g plant-1; dry-5.09 g plant-1) and root (fresh-5.60 g plant-1; dry-0.79 g plant-1) biomass. The plant height and shoot biomass were found to be on par with that of GA3 @ 1500 μM. In biostimulant priming, plants generated from PG @ 10 μM treated seeds gave the highest plant height (46.37 cm), shoot (fresh-21.40 g plant-1; dry-3.96 g plant-1) and root (fresh-4.36 g plant-1; dry-0.64 g plant-1) biomass. The plant height and shoot biomass were observed to be on par with that of PG @ 1μM. However, the highest number of branches and collar girth were recorded in plants raised from PG @ 1μM and SA @ 1500 μM primed seeds. Among the biopriming treatments, plants derived from the seeds treated with B. pumilis, recorded higher plant height (47.63 cm), number of branches (3.00), shoot (fresh-23.07 g plant-1; dry-4.39 g plant-1) and root (fresh-4.43 g plant-1; 0.63 g plant-1) biomass. The plant height and shoot weight was on par with that of P. fluorescens and the plants from the same treatment recorded the highest collar girth. Among the various pretreatments tried, plants raised from water soaked seeds gave better performance with respect to plant height, number of branches, collar girth and shoot biomass. The plants from hot water treated and GA3 @ 1500μM primed seeds gave the highest root biomass, which was observed to be on par with that in plants from water soaked seeds. In the first phase of the study in A. paniculata, seeds when exposed to physical treatments, higher germination (84.67 per cent), seedling length (15.93 cm) and seedling vigour index (13.38) were recorded in hot water treatment followed by scarification. Among the hormonal priming treatments, GA3 @1500μM primed seeds recorded the highest germination (82.00 per cent), seedling length (16.37 cm) and seedling vigour index (13.42). With respect to biostimulant seed priming, seeds treated with PG @ 1μM recorded higher germination (66.67 per cent) and seedling vigour index (6.03), while seedling length did not show any variation among the biostimulant treatments. Among the biopriming treatments, seeds primed with B. velezensis recorded the highest germination (82.67 per cent), seedling length (11.33 cm) and seedling vigour index (9.29). In A. paniculata, among all the pretreatments tried hot water treated as well as GA3 @ 1500 μM primed seeds recorded higher germination, seedling length and seedling vigour index. In the second phase of the study in A. paniculata, the 30 day old seedlings from pretreated seeds and untreated (control) seeds were transplanted and evaluated for plant growth and yield (whole plant biomass) at harvest (110 DAS). Among the physical treatments, A.paniculata plants derived from hot water treated seeds recorded higher plant height (55.77 cm), number of branches (21.67), collar girth (1.83 cm) and whole plant biomass (fresh-59.60 g plant-1; dry-21.90 g plant-1) at harvest. These were on par with those of scarified seeds. In hormonal priming, the highest plant height (56.80 cm), number of branches (20.00), collar girth (1.90 cm) and whole plant biomass (fresh-56.63 g plant-1 and dry-23.60 g plant-1) were observed in plants raised from seeds primed with GA3 @1500μM. Among the biostimulant priming, higher plant height (48.57 cm), number of branches (16.00), collar girth (1.20 cm) and whole plant biomass (fresh-38.97g plant-1 and dry-13.14g plant-1) were observed in plants raised from PG @1 μM primed seeds. On evaluation of plants derived from bioprimed seeds, those from B. velezensis primed seeds recorded the highest plant height (55.77 cm), number of branches (19.33), collar girth (1.50 cm) and whole plant biomass (fresh-53.97 g plant-1; dry16.87 g plant-1). Among all the seed pretreatments tried, plants generated from hot water treated and GA3@1500μM primed seeds recorded higher plant height, number of branches, collar girth and whole plant biomass. Among the various seed pretreatments tried, W. somnifera seeds exposed to water soaking, hot water and GA3@1500μM and A. paniculata seeds exposed to hot water treatment and GA3@1500μM recorded superior performance with respect to seed germination, seedling vigour, plant growth and yield.