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ThesisItem Open Access INFLUENCE OF PINCHING AND PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS ON MORPHOLOGICAL, PHYSIOLOGICAL, FLORAL AND YIELD CHARACTERS OF CUCUMBER (Cucumis sativus L.) UNDER OPEN FIELD CONDITION(DEPARTMENT OF VEGETABLE SCIENCE ASPEE COLLEGE OF HORTICULTURE AND FORESTRY NAVSARI AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY NAVSARI, 2017-05) Nayak, Sagar Raj; Parmar, V. K.The present investigation on “Influence of pinching and plant growth regulators on morphological, physiological, floral and yield characters of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) under open field condition.” was conducted during the year 2016, at the Regional Horticultural Research Station (RHRS) farm, ASPEE College of Horticulture and forestry, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari. The experiment was arranged over 15 treatment combinations comprising of 3 levels of pinching (P0: no pinching, P1: pinching at 4th node and P2: pinching at 6th node) and 5 levels of plant growth regulators (G0: control, G1: CCC @ 200 ppm, G2: CCC @ 400 ppm, G3: ethrel @ 300 ppm and G4: ethrel @ 600 ppm) laid out in a Randomized Block Design (Factorial concept) with three replications. The pinching treatment P2 (pinching at 6th node) exerted great influence on various morphological and physiological parameters such as length of vine (142.47 cm), [iii] number of primary branches (7.66), number of nodes on main stem (112.48), internodal distance (8.88 cm), total leaf area (43500.08 cm2/plant) and leaf area index (2.90). It also improved the floral characters viz., number of female flowers (16.89), number of male flowers (89.64), sex ratio (5.43:1) and first female flowering node (8.27). Further, it also recorded the maximum yield attributes such as maximum average length of fruit (23.34 cm), highest number of fruits per vine (14.25), maximum yield per vine (3.15 kg) and ultimately the highest yield per hectare (21023.27 kg). While, the pinching treatments did not exhibited any significant effect on the average fruit weight in cucumber. Plant growth regulator treatment G4 (ethrel @ 600 ppm) profoundly influenced the morphological attributes such as length of vine (161.22 cm), number of nodes (107.94), internodal distance (9.47 cm). Similarly, floral characters such as minimum days to first female flowering (54.47), maximum number of female flower per vine (16.69), lowest sex ratio (5.06:1) and minimum value for first female flowering node (8.65) were recorded in G4. Likewise, it also had significant impact on the yield parameters viz., average length of fruit (23.39 cm), number of fruits per vine (14.33), yield per vine (3.18 kg) and yield per hectare (21223.28 kg). While, the number of primary branches per vine (6.71), days to first male flower appearance (49.72) and number of male flowers per vine (81.65) were found significantly affected by another plant growth regulator treatment i.e. G2 (CCC @ 400 ppm). But all the plant growth regulator treatments failed to exhibit any [iv] noticeable effect on the average fruit weight and both the physiological characters i.e. total leaf area and leaf area index. The interaction effect of pinching and plant growth regulators was found to be non significant for all the characters studied. From the economic point of view for securing maximum return, treatment P2G4 (pinching at 6th node and foliar application of ethrel @ 600 ppm) was found superior with highest B:CR value of 2.44:1 which was followed by treatment P2G3 (pinching at 6th node and foliar application of ethrel @ 300 ppm) recording B:CR value of 2.27:1. On the basis of the results obtained in present investigation it could be concluded that in order to obtain good growth, low M : F sex ratio and profitable yield in cucumber cv. Gujarat Cucumber-1 either it should be pinched at 6th node or foliar application of ethrel @ 600 ppm at 2 and 4 true leaf stage.ThesisItem Open Access Effect of integrated nutrient management on growth, yield and quality of sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam(DEPARTMENT OF VEGETABLE SCIENCE ASPEE COLLEGE OF HORTICULTURE AND FORESTRY NAVSARI AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY NAVSARI, 2017-04) Sheth, Sachin G.; Desai, K. D.The experiment was conducted during Rabi, 2016 at Regional Horticultural Research Station (RHRS), Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat, India to evaluate the effect of different levels of integrated nutrient sources and bio-fertilizers on growth, yield and various quality parameters of sweet potato and also its impact on soil fertility status after harvesting the crop. The experiment was arranged over 8 treatment combinations comprising, 4 levels of integrated nutrient sources (T1: RDF- 75 : 50 : 75 NPK kg ha-1 + 15 t FYM ha-1, T2 : 50 % RDN + 50 % N from vermicompost along with RDF of P & K, T3 : 50 % RDN + 50 % N from FYM along with RDF of P & K and T4 : 50 % RDN + 50 % N from bio-compost along with RDF of P & K) and 2 levels of biofertilizers (B0 : without bio-fertilizers and B1 : with biofertilizers i.e. combination of AZ, PSB and KMB each at 5 liters ha-1) which was laid out in a Randomized Block Design (Factorial concept) with three replications. iii The application of 50 % RDN through inorganic fertilizers + 50 % N through vermicompost (T2) had shown significant impact on vine length at 60, 90 DATP and at harvest (78.98 cm, 120.17 cm, and 175.87 cm, respectively) and highest number of leaves at harvest i.e. 138.80 per vine. Both these characters were found at par with T3 treatment. Highest total and marketable tuber yield per net plot (8.27 kg and 7.84 kg, respectively), total and marketable tuber yield per hectare (34.47 t and 32.67 t, respectively) and yield attributes viz. number of tuberous roots per vine (5.10), Fresh weight of tubers per vine (0.512 kg), average tuber weight (129.30 g), tuber girth (15.94 cm), tuber length (24.34 cm) and harvest index (43.52 %) were recorded significantly highest in T2 treatment and were also at par with the treatment T3. While dry matter content of vine and dry matter content of fibrous roots did not show any significant differences. The marketable tuber yield per hectare recorded 21.81 % increase in T2 treatment over the lowest yield noted in T1 treatment. Application of different nutrient sources did not show significant influence on any of the quality parameters recorded. However, starch content (14.43 %) and total sugar content (2.97 %) was found higher in treatment T2 while higher dry matter content of tuber (31.33 %) was recorded in treatment T4 and lower moisture content of tuber (68.67 %) was found in T3 treatment. Among the parameters studied for soil fertility status after harvest only organic carbon content showed significant difference with highest value of 0.603 % in T2 treatment but remained at par with T3 treatment. While the other parameters iv like bulk density, available N, P and K contents did not show any significant difference. The application of bio-fertilizers produced significantly the highest vine length at 60, 90 DATP and at harvest (76.83 cm, 117.03 cm, and 170.98 cm, respectively) and highest number of leaves (133.06) per vine. Total and marketable tuber yield per net plot (7.89 kg and 7.45 kg, respectively) and per hectare (32.88 t and 31.04 t, respectively), number of tuberous roots per vine (4.81), fresh weight of tubers per vine (0.495 kg), average tuber weight (126.73 g), tuber girth (15.47 cm), tuber length (23.15 cm) were also significantly highest. Marketable tuber yield per hectare was recorded 12.34 % increase in B1 treatment over B0 treatment. Combined effect of different levels of integrated nutrient sources and bio-fertilizers did not show significant influence on any of the parameters recorded. The different INM treatments were also profoundly influenced benefit cost ratio. The treatment which received 50 % RDN through FYM along with combination of biofertilizers (T3B1) realized the highest benefit cost ratio followed by the treatment received 50 % RDN through biocompost along with bio-fertilizers (T4B1).ThesisItem Open Access INFLUENCE OF PINCHING AND PLANT GROWTH REGULATOS ON GROWTH, SEX EXPRESSION AND YIELD OF BOTTLE GOURD (Lagenaria siceraria L.)(DEPARTMENT OF VEGETABLE SCIENCE ASPEE COLLEGE OF HORTICULTURE AND FORESTRY NAVSARI AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY NAVSARI, 2017-05) Patel, Atishkumar N.; Parmar, V. K.The present investigation on “Influence of pinching and plant growth regulators on growth, sex expression and yield of bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria L.)” cv. Anand Bottle Gourd - 1 was conducted during the year 2016, at the Regional Horticultural Research Station (RHRS) farm, ASPEE College of Horticulture and Forestry, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari. The experiment was arranged over 10 treatment combinations comprising of 2 levels of pinching (P0: no pinching and P1: pinching at 6th node) and 5 levels of plant growth regulators (G0: control, G1: CCC @ 200 ppm, G2: CCC @ 400 ppm, G3: ethrel @ 300 ppm and G4: ethrel @ 600 ppm) laid out in a Randomized Block Design (Factorial concept) with three replications. The pinching treatment P1 (pinching at 6th node) exerted great influence on various morphological parameters [iii] such as length of vine (139.73, 198.60, 224.80 and 240.80 cm), number of primary branches (6.03, 8.71, 9.37 and 9.67) at 60, 90, 120 DAS and at final harvesting respectively, number of nodes on main stem (164.10) and internodal distance (8.17 cm). It also improved the floral characters viz., number of female flowers (36.70), number of male flowers (127.00) and sex ratio (3.57:1). Further it also recorded the maximum yield attributes such as maximum average length of fruit (30.96 cm), highest number of fruits per vine (12.31), maximum yield per vine (5.89 kg) and ultimately the highest yield per hectare (29460.00 kg). While, the pinching treatments did not exhibited any significant effect on the average fruit weight and fruit circumferences in bottle gourd. Plant growth regulator treatment G4 (ethrel @ 600 ppm) profoundly influenced the morphological attributes such as length of vine (150.83, 207.50, 239.33 and 253.83 cm) at 60, 90, 120 DAS and at final harvesting, number of nodes (164.21), internodal distance (8.72 cm). Similarly floral characters such as minimum days to first female flowering (54.28), maximum number of female flower per vine (38.43) and lowest sex ratio (2.97: 1) were recorded in G4. Likewise it also had significant impact on the yield parameters viz., average length of fruit (32.13 cm), number of fruits per vine (12.76), yield per vine (6.14 kg) and yield per hectare (30691.67 kg). While, the number of primary branches per vine (5.91, 8.43, 9.06 and 9.27) at 60, 90, 120 DAS and at final harvesting respectively, days to first male flower appearance (50.25) and number of male flowers per vine [iv] (109.46) were found significantly affected by another plant growth regulator treatment i.e. G2 (CCC @ 400 ppm). But all the plant growth regulator treatments failed to exhibit any noticeable effect on the average fruit weight and fruit circumferences. The interaction effect of pinching and plant growth regulators was found to be non significant for all the characters studied. From the economic point of view, for securing maximum return, treatment P1G4 (pinching at 6th node and foliar application of ethrel @ 600 ppm) was found superior at highest B: CR value of 2.71:1 which was followed by treatment P1G3 (pinching at 6th node and foliar application of ethrel @ 300 ppm) recording B: CR value of 2.55:1. On the basis of the results obtained in present investigation it could be concluded that in order to obtain good growth, low M: F sex ratio and profitable yield in bottle gourd cv. Anand Bottle Gourd-1 either it should be pinched at 6th node or foliar application of ethrel @ 600 ppm at 2 and 4 true leaf stage.ThesisItem Open Access Effect of integrated nutrient management on growth, yield and quality of elephant foot yam [Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson(DEPARTMENT OF VEGETABLE SCIENCE ASPEE COLLEGE OF HORTICULTURE AND FORESTRY NAVSARI AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY NAVSARI, 2017-04) Navya, K.; Desai, K. D.The experiment was conducted during kharif, 2016 at Regional Horticultural Research Station (RHRS), Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat, India to evaluate the effect of different levels of integrated nutrient sources and bio-fertilizers on growth, yield and various quality parameters of elephant foot yam and also its impact on soil fertility status after harvesting the crop. The experiment was arranged over 8 treatment combinations comprising 4 levels of integrated nutrient sources (T1: RDF- 100 : 50 : 150 NPK kg ha-1 + 25 t FYM ha-1, T2 : 50 % RDN + 50 % N from vermicompost along with RDF of P & K, T3 : 50 % RDN + 50 % N from FYM along with RDF of P & K and T4 : 50 % RDN + 50 % N from bio-compost along with RDF of P & K) and 2 levels of biofertilizers (B0 : without bio-fertilizers and B1 : with biofertilizers i.e. combination of AZ, PSB and KMB each at 5 liters ha-1) laid out in a Randomized Block Design (Factorial concept) with three replications. iii The application of 50 % RDN through inorganic fertilizers + 50 % RDN through vermicompost (T2) had shown significant impact on plant height (73.02 cm and 78.87 cm), canopy spread E-W (88.17 cm and 90.27 cm) and N-S (88.87 cm and 89.82), culm girth (15.06 cm and 15.74 cm), petiole length (49.33 cm and 56.75 cm) and number of leaflets per plant (362.07 and 318.90) which recorded maximum values given in the brackets at the age of 120 and 150 DAP, respectively. These values were statistically remained at par with T3 treatment. Yield attributes viz., harvest index (51.77 %), fresh corm weight (1.267 kg) and yield per hectare (26.37 t) were recorded highest with treatment T2 and were also at par with T3 treatment. The increase in yield of T2 treatment was 22.77 % higher than the treatment obtained minimum yield. The quality attributes like corm circumference (48.37cm) was highest in treatment T2 while the starch content was highest (16.57 %) in T3 treatment which was at par with T2 and T4 treatments. The other two quality characters i.e. calcium oxalate and β-carotene content were found to be non significant irrespective of the different INM treatments imposed. Among the parameters studied for soil fertility status after harvest only organic carbon content showed significant difference with highest value of 0.597 % in T2 treatment but remained at par with T3 and T4 treatments. While the other parameters like bulk density, available N, P and K contents did not show any significant differences. iv The application of bio-fertilizers produced significantly the highest plant height (70.12 cm and 76.68 cm), canopy spread E-W (83.91 cm and 87.09 cm) and N-S (83.84 cm and 86.88 cm), culm girth (14.37 cm and 14.82 cm), petiole length (47.94 cm and 53.50 cm) and number of leaflets per plant (343.63 and 302.98) at 120 and 150 DAP, respectively. The other parameters like harvest index (48.51 %), fresh corm weight (1.186 kg), corm circumference (46.99 cm), yield (24.84 t ha-1, which is 12.35 % higher than treatment without bio-fertilizer application) and organic carbon content (0.588 %) were also significantly highest. Combined effect of different levels of integrated nutrient sources and bio-fertilizers was significant only on plant height and petiole length at 150 days after planting. The treatment combination T2B1 (50 % RDN through inorganic fertilizers + 50 % RDN through vermicompost along with biofertilizers) recorded the highest plant height and petiole length of 79.15 cm and 57.30 cm, respectively. The different INM treatments were also profoundly influenced the gross and net returns in addition to benefit cost ratio. The treatment which received 50 % RDN through FYM along with combination of bio-fertilizers (T3B1) realized highest benefit: cost ratio followed by the treatment receiving 50 % RDN through vermicompost along with combination of bio-fertilizers (T2B1).ThesisItem Open Access EVALUATION OF GA3 ON PERFORMANCE OF COWPEA (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.)(DEPARTMENT OF VEGETABLE SCIENCE ASPEE COLLEGE OF HORTICULTURE AND FORESTRY NAVSARI AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY NAVSARI, 2017-04) Golakiya, Prayagbhai Dineshbhai; Saravaiya, S. N.Research study entitled "Evaluation of GA3 on performance of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.)" was conducted during the year 2016 in summer season at the Regional Horticultural Research Station (RHRS) of Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat, India. There were twelve treatment combinations comprising two levels of time of application i.e. A1 = Days to 50 % flowering , A2 = During pod development and six concentrations of GA3 i.e. G1 = GA3 50 mg L-1, G2= GA3 100 mg L-1, G3 = GA3 150 mg L-1, G4 = GA3 200 mg L-1, G5 = GA3 250 mg L-1 and G6 = GA3 300 mg L-1 with an absolute control in a Randomized block design (Factorial) with three replications. Observations were recorded for different traits. For various growth parameters, the effect of time of application of GA3 on days to 50 % flowering and during pod development stage was found non-significant for days to 50 % maturity and plant height at final picking. Significant results on primary branches per plant (4.13) under GA3 50 mg L-1 was observed. For different yield parameters, the effect of time of application of GA3 on days to 50 % flowering and during pod development stage was [iii] found significant on days to first picking (46.47 days), days to last picking (85.13 days), pod length (16.75 cm), no. of marketable pods plant-1 (56.70), marketable pod weight plant-1 (238.99 g), marketable pod yield plot-1 (11.72 kg), no. of picking (7.83) and marketable pod yield (9.83 t ha-1). Marketable pod yield plant-1 and harvest index were found non-significant under treatment of GA3 50 mg L-1 during the investigation. Regarding quality parameters, the effect of time of application of GA3 on days to 50 % flowering and during pod development stage was found significant on protein content of immature pod (5.07 %), moisture content (83.49 %), crude fibre (12.19 %) and TSS (4.96 0Brix) under the treatment of GA3 50 mg L-1 in statistical analysis. The effect of foliar application of GA3 on growth parameters viz., days to 50 % maturity (41.10 days), plant height at final picking (53.56 cm) and primary branches per plant at final picking (4.15) were found significant under the treatment of GA3 50 mg L-1 during the period of investigation. The significant effect of foliar application of GA3 on yield parameters viz., days to first picking (46.23 days), days to last picking (88.62 days), pod length (17.24 cm), no. of marketable pods plant-1 (59.16), marketable pod weight plant-1 (250.06 g), marketable pod yield plot-1 (11.91 kg), no. of picking (8.21), marketable pod yield plant-1 (0.148 kg), marketable pod yield (9.99 t ha-1) and harvest index (45.69 %) were observed under the treatment of GA3 50 mg L-1 during the investigation. Effect of foliar application of GA3 was found significant on quality parameters viz., protein content of immature pod (5.13 %), moisture content (87.85 %), crude fibre (12.23 %) and TSS (4.92 0Brix) under the treatment of GA3 50 mg L-1 in statistical analysis. Interaction effect between time of application and foliar application of GA3 on various growth parameters like days to 50 % [iv] maturity, plant height at final picking and primary branches per plant at final picking were found non-significant in statistical analysis. Interaction effect between time of application and foliar application of GA3 on various yield parameters like days to first picking, days to last picking, pod length, no. of marketable pods plant-1, marketable pod weight plant-1, marketable pod yield plant-1, marketable pod yield plot1, marketable pod yield (t ha-1), harvest index and no. of picking did not show any significant effect in statistical analysis. Interaction effect between time of application and foliar application of GA3 on various quality parameters like protein content of immature pod, crude fibre, moisture content and TSS were found nonsignificant in statistical analysis. From the economic point of view and based on green pod yield, for securing maximum return, foliar application of GA3 @ 50 mg L-1 at days to 50 % flowering stage was found superior with highest B:CR value of 1.64 which was followed by treatment GA3 @ 100 mg L-1 at days to 50 % flowering stage recording B:CR value of 1.58. Both these treatment combinations were found economical, profitable and proved highly remunerative for growth, yield and quality traits of cowpea.ThesisItem Open Access Studies on exogenous application of PGRs in bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) for various horticultural traits under NVPH(DEPARTMENT OF VEGETABLE SCIENCE ASPEE COLLEGE OF HORTICULTURE AND FORESTRY NAVSARI AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY NAVSARI, 2017-04) Bharti, NikkiThe present investigation entitled “Studies on exogenous application of PGRs in bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) for various horticultural traits under NVPH” was carried out at Regional Horticultural Research Station (RHRS), ASPEE College of Horticulture and Forestry (ACHF), Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat during rabi, 2015. The whole experiment was arranged over ten treatments comprising of three levels each of three PGRs (NAA at 20, 40 and 60 ppm; GA3 at 25, 50 and 75 ppm and 2,4- D at 2.5, 5 and 7.5 ppm) and laid out in a Randomized Block Design with three replications. The studies revealed significant variations among different treatments for most of the vegetative, reproductive, quality and yield parameters except ascorbic acid content. Among different levels of treatment, 75 ppm GA3 exhibited maximum plant height of 85.00, 154.67, 214.67 and 239.53 cm at 60, 90, 120 days after planting and at final picking, respectively whereas, control had maximum leaf area (150.03 cm2). Plants treated with 20 ppm NAA was found to ii be superior to all other treatments for majority of the reproductive parameters like fruit set (77.62 %), days to first picking (71.67), number of fruits per plant (26.00) and number of pickings (33.33). Nevertheless, duration of crop was enhanced to maximum number of days (206.67) in plants sprayed with 75 ppm GA3. Response of bell pepper to various quality parameters on exogenous application of different PGRs was observed to be variable. The fruits harvested from plants sprayed with 20 ppm NAA exhibited significantly maximum fruit volume (281.21 cm3) except control and 40 ppm NAA. However, maximum pericarp thickness of 6.5 mm was observed in 7.5 ppm 2,4-D whereas minimum physiological loss in weight (9.43 %) and (23.41%) at 6th and 9th day after picking, respectively was significantly favoured by 7.5 ppm 2,4-D and 20 ppm NAA. Ascorbic acid content remained unaffected by any of the treatments. The superiority of NAA at the rate of 20 ppm was also reflected by bell pepper plants in terms of maximum fruit breadth (7.95 cm), average fruit weight (185.00 g), fruit yield per plant (3.00 kg), marketable yield per m2 (10.75 kg) and total yield per m2 (11.44 kg) except fruit length (9.86 cm) which was observed to be maximum in plants treated with 75 ppm GA3. Subsequently, economic analysis of present investigation revealed T1 (20 ppm NAA) as highly remunerative treatment exhibiting BCR of 1.22 with net realization of Rs. 188849.00.ThesisItem Open Access Effect of different type of mulches on growth, yield and quality of brinjal (Solanum melongena L.(DEPARTMENT OF VEGETABLE SCIENCE ASPEE COLLEGE OF HORTICULTURE AND FORESTRY NAVSARI AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY NAVSARI, 2017-05) Chaudhary, Lalabhai Rajabhai; Masaye, S. S.A field experiment was conducted, with a view to study the “Effect of different type of mulches on growth, yield and quality of brinjal (Solanum melongena L.)” during Rabi season of 2015-16 at Agriculture Experimental Station (AES), Navsari Agricultural University, Villege: Paria, Taluka: Pardi, District: Valsad, Gujarat, India. The experiment was comprised of 8 treatments in a randomized block design with three replications, namely T1 : (Black polythene mulch: 25 micron), T2 : (Black polythene mulch: 50 micron), T3 : (Silver polythene mulch: 25 micron), T4 : (Silver polythene mulch: 50 micron), T5 : (Red polythene mulch: 25 micron), T6 : (Red polythene mulch: 50 micron), T7 : (Paddy straw mulch: 5 t/ha) and T8 : (Control). The results of using different type of mulches treatments were found significant for majority of the characters under study except viz., total phenol content (mg/100g of edible portion). The vegetative parameters such as maximum plant height (101.33 cm), number of branches per plant (6) and plant iv spread (N-S= 91.86 cm, E-W= 93.54 cm) as well as minimum days to first flowering (35.67 days) and days to first fruit set (42 days) were recorded under the treatment T4 (Silver polythene mulch: 50 micron). Fascinatingly the brinjal plants with treatment T4 (Silver polythene mulch: 50 micron) has resulted in the higher values of number of fruits per plant (24), fruit weight (81 g), fruit length (7.99 cm) and fruit diameter (81 cm). Attractively the brinjal plants nourished with treatment T4 (Silver polythene mulch: 50 micron) has resulted in the higher values of remarkable improvement on the fruit yield parameters viz., fruit yield (1.89 kg), fruit yield (34.91 t/ha) and economics. Interestingly brinjal plants nourished with using different type of mulches showed nonsignificant effect on total phenol content (mg/100g of edible portion). The soil parameter such as maximum water use efficiency (35.03 kg/ha/mm) and minimum weed density at 20, 40 and 60 DAT (21, 19 and 17.33 Nos./m2, respectively) was recorded under treatment T4 (Silver polythene mulch: 50 micron). However, the soil temperature was recorded from the applied treatment plots at 30, 60 and 90 DAT and treatment T2 recorded maximum soil temperature i.e. 35.13 ºC, 33.90 ºC and 36.23 ºC, respectively. With regard to the infestation of brinjal shoot and fruit borer the minimum value (1.33 %) was recorded in the plants treated with T8 (Silver polythene mulch: 50 micron). Moreover, no little leaf incidence was observed during experimental period in brinjal. v Based on the results obtained in the investigation, it can be concluded that the maximum net return with BCR value of 1.86:1 was achieved under the treatment T4 (silver polythene mulch: 50 micron), which was found economical, profitable and proved highly remunerative.ThesisItem Open Access STUDY OF HETEROSIS AND COMBINING ABILITY IN RIDGE GOURD [Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb.](Vegetable Science Dept., ACHF, NAU, navsari, 2016-07) DONI, SIDAGIREPPA; Bhanderi, D.R.The present investigation entitled “A STUDY OF HETEROSIS AND COMBINING ABILITY IN RIDGE GOURD [Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb.]” was carried out by using diallel analysis excluding reciprocal for different characters during late kharif- 2015 at Regional Horticultural Research Station, ASPEE College of Horticulture and Forestry, N.A.U., Navsari. The materials comprising 37 genotypes including eight parental lines and their 28 F1s produced by half diallel crossing and along with one commercial check (MHRG-7). Different characters were studied in RBD design with three replications for per se performance, heterosis and combining ability of parents and hybrids. Mean squares due to genotypic differences were found significant for different traits under study. This indicated that experimental material used under study had sufficient genetic diversity for different traits. ii An examination of mean values of parents indicated that, parental lines viz., Jaipur Long, Pusa Nasadar, GARG-1, ARGS-0740 and JARG-05-06 were found to be high yielding parents. The mean values of different characters of the hybrids revealed that the crosses ARGS-07-40 × Jaipur Long, GARG-1 × Jaipur Long and ARGS-07-50 × ARGS-07-40 were good for fruit yield per plant and these crosses had also higher magnitude of per se performance for attributing characters. The crosses viz., ARGS-07-40 × Jaipur Long, GARG-1 × Jaipur Long and ARGS-07-50 × ARGS-07-40 showed significant and desirable heterosis for fruit yield per plant over standard check. Combining ability studies revealed both additive and non additive type of gene action involved in the expression of traits. However, non-additive type of gene action was found predominant in the expression of most of the traits. Among 8 parents, two parents viz., ARGS-07-40 and Jaipur Long were observed to be good general combiners for fruit yield per plant. In addition to fruit yield per plant, parent ARGS-07-40 was also observed to be good general combiner for traits vine length, first male flower appearing node, first female flower appearing node, days 50 % flowering, days to first fruit harvest, days to last fruit harvest, fruit width, fruit length, number of fruits per plant, fruit yield per plant and hundred seed dry weight. The crosses identified to have high SCA effects for fruit yield per plant also had high SCA effects for at least one major yield components like number of fruits per plant and fruit length etc. Among the hybrid, eight hybrids were moderately resistant and twenty hybrids were moderately succeptiable for fruitfly infestation.ThesisItem Open Access BREEDING INVESTIGATIONS IN BRINJAL (Solanum melongena L.)(Vegetable Science Dept., ACHF, NAU, navsari, 2016-04) Desai, Karamashibhai M.; Saravaiya, S. N.A field experiment was carried out with a view to estimate heterosis and combining ability and gene effects in brinjal (Solanum melongena L.). The experimental material comprised of 8 parents, 28 hybrids and one standard check (Surati Ravaiya) and was laid out in randomized block design with three replications at Regional Horticultural Research Station (R.H.R.S), Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat during Rabi 2014-15 (crossing programme) and Rabi 2015-16 (evaluation programme). The data were obtained for ten characters including fruit yield and its components. Significant differences were observed among parents and hybrids, indicating considerable genetic variation among genotypes. The crosses viz., AB-09-1 × AB-12-10, AB-09-1 × AB-08-5, AB-08-5 × JBL-08-8, GJB-3 × AB-12-10, JBGR-1 × NSR-1, NSR-1 × AB-12-10 and AB-09-1 × NSRP-1 showed significant and desirable heterosis for fruit yield per plant over standard check. Where as crosses viz., AB-09-1 × NSR-1, ii AB-09-1 × AB-12-10, NSRP-1 × NSR-1, JBGR-1 × NSR-1, JBGR-1 × JBL-08-8 and GJB-3 × JBL-08-8 showed significant and positive heterobeltiosis for fruit yield per plant. Combining ability analysis revealed that both additive as well as non-additive gene effects were important in the inheritance of all the traits studied. However, magnitude of variances due to SCA were comparatively larger than those of GCA for days to fifty per cent flowering, plant height at harvest, number of branches per plant at harvest, fruit length, average fruit weight, number of fruit per plant and total soluble solids indicated preponderance of non-additive gene action. While, magnitude of variance due to GCA were comparatively larger than those of SCA for fruit diameter, fruit yield per plant and total phenol content indicated preponderance of additive component of genetic variance. Among the parents, viz., JBGR-1, NSR-1 and JBL08-8 were found good general combiners for majority of the characters. Hybrids viz., AB-09-1 × AB-12-10, AB-09-1 × AB08-5, AB-08-5 × JBL-08-8, GJB-3 × AB-12-10, JBGR-1 × NSR-1, NSR-1 × AB-12-10 and AB-09-1 × NSRP-1 showed higher order sca effects for fruit yield and its component characters. In the present investigation, entitled ―Breeding investigations in brinjal (Solanum melongena L.)‖ the crosses viz., AB-09-1 × AB-08-5, AB-09-1 × NSRP-1, AB-09-1 × JBGR-1, AB-09-1 × GJB-3, AB-09-1 × AB-12-10, JBGR-1 × GJB-3, JBGR-1 × JBL-08-8, NSR-1 × GJB-3, NSR-1 × JBL08-8, GJB-3 × JBL-08-8, and GJB-3 × AB-12-10 as well as parent AB-09-1 recorded the lowest shoot and fruit borer iii infestation. All the parents (except JBGR-1) and all the crosses (except AB-09-1 × GJB-3, AB-08-5 × GJB-3, NSRP-1 × GJB-3, JBGR-1 × GJB-3 and NSR-1 × GJB-3) recorded the least bacterial wilt infection in field condition.