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Open Access
Effect of indigenous methods of ripening on shelf life and quality of banana fruits
(AAU, Jorhat, 2019-07) Roy, Manuranjan; Langthasa, Supriya
The present investigation entitled “Effect of indigenous methods of ripening on shelf life and quality of Banana fruits” was carried out during 2017-2019 in thelaboratories, Department of Horticulture, B.N. College of Agriculture, AAU, Biswanath Chariali. The experiment was conducted with six different ripening methods with two varieties (Amritsagar and Chenichampa). The treatments were: ripening in covered pit with smoke (T1), ripening with ripe tomato (T2), ripening with paddy straw (T3), ripening in covered pit without smoke (T4), ripening with Calcium carbide(T5) and ripening naturally at room temperature (T6). The study was laid out in factorial CRD with three replications. Result of the study revealed marked variation in quality characters among the different treatments on ripening. Among the indigenous ripening methods, fruit ripenedwithripe tomato (T2) retained maximum TSS (21.75%), reducing sugar (5.12 %),total sugar (6.15%), moisture content (73.85%), calcium content (17.38 mg/100g), magnesium content (58.47 mg/100g) and potassium content (427.28 mg/100g). Similarly, fruit ripened with calcium carbide (T5) recorded highest acidity (0.347%) and phosphorous (74.81 mg/100g). The fruits ripened in covered pit without smoke exhibited maximum ash content (1.84%) and specific gravity (1.21%). The retention of ascorbic acid (5.19 mg/100g) was highest in T3 (paddy straw) treatment. Banana fruits ripened withcalcium carbideshowed rapid colour initiation within 2 days and full colour development stage in 2.5 days and followed by smoke which required 5 days for full colour development. Significant differences in terms of biochemical characters were observed among the banana varieties. The shelf life of Chenichampa banana was found to be 11.61 days as compared to Amritsagar (8.48 days). But among the treatment combinations, fruit of Chenichampa variety ripened naturally (control) showed maximum shelf life of 14.33 days. Aprogressive increase in PLW of banana fruit was observed with an increase in ripening period. The overall preferential score (23.93)with aroma (8.01) and taste (7.88) were highest in fruits ripened with tomato (T2) than the rest of the ripening methods.Chemically treated Banana showed highest score for colour 8.89. In case of ripening of fruits calcium carbide, colour change in peel was faster with bright yellow colour but with short shelf life and inferior taste. The use of calcium carbide is known to be carcinogenic as reported earlier; thus an alternative method to induce ripening of fruits with ripe tomato or ripening of banana in covered pits with smoke might be used for ripening of bananas with desirable quality in terms of colour, days require for ripening, biochemical characters and shelf life. Naturally ripened fruit develop poor colour, which might reduce the market price but they had longest shelf life.
Open Access
QUALITY OF SWEET POTATO FLOUR AS AFFECTED BY BY PRE–TREATMENT AND DRYING METHODS
(AAU, Jorhat, 2019-07) Borah, Mriganka Shekhar; Samindra Baishya
Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas, family:Convolvulaceae) is a perennial crop, grown in tropical and subtropical lowland agro-ecologies, although it is well adapted to other zones and can be grown in different environmental conditions. Sweet potato is an excellentsource of energy, but due tolow digestibility of the starch it is suitable fordiabetic or overweighed people. Because of its highly perishable nature, there are many problems related to storage and transport of the raw sweet potatoes. However, it can be processed into flour, which is less bulky and more stable than the highly perishable fresh root.The present investigation was aimed to evaluate the effect of pre-treatment and drying methods on chemical composition and the functional properties of sweet potato flour. Fourpre-treatment methods (soaking in water, T1;blanching, T2; calcium chloride solution, T3 and pre-drying at 100oC for 5minutes, T4along with thecontrol, T5) and three drying methods (sun drying,D1 oven drying,D2 and microwave drying,D3) were employed in the preparation of flour from three varieties of sweet potato (Dergaon red, Shree Bhadra and ST-14).Drying methods and pre-treatment were found to influence all the parameters studied, titratable acidity remained unaffected by the drying methods.The pre-treatments caused significant reduction in the nutritional parameters compared to control with T4 being the worst. Sun drying was found better in maximum retention of crude protein, crude fat, starch and amylose over the other two. Microwave drying was found better for crude fibre and ash content. Functional properties of sweet potato flour were also affected by the pre-treatment and the drying methods with T4 and D3 affecting the most of them. The interactive effect of variety, pre-treatment and drying method was found to have a significant effect in all the attributes of sweet potato flour. Orange fleshed variety, ST-14 was found nutritionally superior over the other two and the quality and functional properties of flour was best with treatment combinations, T5D1. Sun drying of sweet potato slices with no pre-treatment was found better in preparing sweet potato flour over any other combinations used in the study.
Open Access
PRODUCTION OF BLENDED TEA-FRUIT WINE WITH EFFICIENT YEAST CULTURE
(AAU, Jorhat, 2019-07) Sika, Richi; Barooah, Madhumita
Wine refers to the un-distilled alcoholic fermented fruit product. Tea is the most popular beverage in the world with known therapeutic value. Microbial fermentation of tea will lead to value addition in terms of taste, flavour and health components. Assam, a key tea producing state of India has an attractive entrepreneurial opportunity with domestic tea wine during the peak seasons with possible economic implications. Yeasts are the prominent organisms involved in wine production and determine important characteristics of the wine, including the flavour. Wines produced by selected yeasts have a better quality than those produced by spontaneous fermentation. At the moment, most of the wine production processes rely on Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains that allow rapid and reliable fermentations. The present study focused on developing a tea-fruit wine using either tea leaves/infusion (tea waste, fresh tea leaves) alone or blended with pineapple/honey. Indigenous yeasts numbering 11 were isolated from rice based starter culture and fermentation efficiency was evaluated. Based on the fermentation efficiency 4 isolates were selected and along with 4 previously isolated yeast cultures obtained from the Department of Agricultural Biotechnology were evaluated for wine brewing efficiency. Among the 8 yeasts isolates tested, the isolate ABTMB-YA (KF055432) was found to produce the highest alcohol concentration (12.3%). As this isolate displayed good thermo-tolerance (40 0C), ethanol tolerance (12%) and had good growth rate, it was selected for further studies in wine preparation. Eighteen treatments with a combination of fresh tea leaves/ tea waste infusion + honey (10, 15, 20, 25%), fresh tea leaves (50% w/v) + pineapple juice (50%), fresh tea leaves (25% w/v) + pineapple juice (75 %) and waste tea (5, 10, 15 & 20 % w/v) + pineapple juice (50%) or (75%) were designed for wine preparation. Both T1S4 (Fresh tea leaves 50% w/v+ Honey 25%) and T3S4 (Tea waste infusion 10% w/v+ Honey 25%) treatments were recorded with highest alcohol content (10.20%) while least was recorded in T1S1 (Fresh tea leaves 50% w/v + Honey 10%) and T5 (Fresh tea leaves (25% w/v) + Pineapple juice 75%) i.e. 4.17%. However, the sensory evaluation (9 point hedonic scale) revealed the T8S2 (Tea waste infusion 10%w/v+ Pineapple juice 50%) treatment with alcohol content of 7.0% as the best among the tested wine samples. The study revealed that wine produced from the infused tea waste and pineapple juice as superior among the tested. Further refinement and scale up will position it for commercialization.
Open Access
Suitability Studies of Dracaena as Cut Foliage
(AAU, Jorhat, 2019-07) Baruah, Dikshita; Hatibarua, Preeti
An experiment titled “ Suitability studies of Dracaena as cut foliage” was conducted in the Experimental Farm and Laboratory, Department of Horticulture, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, 2018-2019 with the objective of evaluating the performance of different species/varieties of Dracaena for growth and yield attributes and to study the effect of pulsing solutions on the post harvest life of cut greens of ten different species/varieties of Dracaena namely - three varieties of D. Sanderiana( Lucky Bamboo “Gold”,“Victory”and“Green” ),D.thalioides, D. reflexa “Green” , D. marginata “Mahatma”, D. fragrans “Massangeana” , D. compacta, D compacta “ Purple” and D deremensis“Janet Craig” . The experiment was laid out in 50% agroshade net house inrandomised block design with 3 replications and observations were recorded after one year of planting. Using the cut foliage of Dracaena sanderiana “Victory” in 15 different pulsing treatment combinations, the best five were selected, viz., BAP 25 ppm+ LHB @ 0.25%, Chlorine + Sucrose 10% , BAP 50 ppm+ LHB @ 0.25% Chlorine + Sucrose 10%, BAP 50 ppm + LHB @ 0.50 %. Chlorine + Sucrose 10%, BAP 25 ppm+ BP 0.50% + Sucrose 10%, BAP 50 ppm+ BP 0.25%+ Sucrose 10%. D. fragrans“Massangeana” showed the best performance in terms of growth characters, namely plant height and spread (121.26 cm and 75.23 cm, respectively), leaf breadth (9.46cm), number of leaves per plant (39.66) and leaf longevity (26.7 days). This was followed by D. deremensis which had longest leaves (54.2cm), highest leaf area (1225.03 sq.cm) and consumer preference. D. reflexa “Green” reported the lowest leaf production interval (8.1 daysThe chlorophyll content is highest in D. sanderiana“Gold”(0.85mg g -1 FW). The visual plant quality rating was highest for 4 species- D. sanderiana Gold, D. sanderiana Victory, D. sanderiana Green and D. compacta. D. compacta“Purple” showed the highest vase life (15.93 days), followed by D.sanderiana Green (15.27 days). D.deremensis recorded the highest relative leaf water content (72.31%). The physiological loss in weight was lowest for Dracaena reflexa Green (6.34%). Among the pulsing solutions, BAP 25 ppm+ BP 0.50% + Sucrose 10% recorded the highest vase life (14.40 days), followed by BAP 50 ppm+ LHB @ 0.50% Chlorine + Sucrose 10% (13.9 days). BAP 50 ppm+ BP 0.25%+ Sucrose 10% showed the highest relative leaf water content (49.41%) and the physiological loss in weight was lowest for P2-BAP 50 ppm+ LHB @ 0.25% Chlorine + Sucrose 10% (13.33%).
Open Access
Nutrient budgeting of NPK doses for sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum ssp. grossum var. Swarna) under protected condition
(AAU, Jorhat, 2019-07) Deka, Anjela; Saikia, Luchon
An experiment titled “Nutrient budgeting of NPK doses for sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum ssp. grossum var. Swarna) under protected condition” as carried out in the Experimental farm, Department of Horticulture, Assam Agricultural University, during 2017-18 with the objectives:to study the growth, yield and quality of sweet pepper under different levels of NPK in protected condition and to standardize the NPK requirement of sweet pepper under protected condition and nutrient budgeting. The experiment was laid out in split-split plot design with three N main plots, three P sub plots and three K sub-sub plots which was replicated three times. Three nitrogen levels were N1 (80 kg/ha), N2 (100 kg/ha) and N3 (120 kg/ha); three phosphorus levels i.e. P1(40 kg/ha), P2(60 kg/ha) and P3(80 kg/ha) and three potash levels i.e. K1 (40 kg/ha), K2(60 kg/ha) and K3(80 kg/ha). The mean performance of growth and yield parameters revealed that N3 had recorded the maximum for most of the growth as well as yield attributing characters viz. plant height (202.44 cm), fruit volume (463.94 cc), fruits per plant (12.93), fruit yield per plant (4.28 kg), fruit yield/sq. m (17.83 kg), fruit yield/100 sq. m (17.83 q), fresh weight of the plant (5.17 kg), dry weight of plant (431.58 g) and quality character such as ash content (9.24 %). Similarly N1also recorded the highest fruit weight (340.09 g), seeds per fruit (289.88), seed weight (2.41 g), pericarp thickness (12.10 mm) and quality characters viz.,moisture content (94.69 %), ascorbic acid (28.94 mg/100 g) and shelf life (18.37 days). In respect of phosphorus levels, P3 had recorded the maximum seeds per fruit (276.48), seed weight per fruit (2.36 g), pericarp thickness (11.11 mm), fruits per plant (10.71), fruit yield per plant (3.57 kg), fruit yield/sq. m (14.87 kg), fruit yield/100 sq. m (14.87 q), ash content (8.75 %) and moisture content (94.37 %). Similarly P2 had recorded the highest total sugar content (104.04 mg/100 g) and shelf life (17.27 days). In respect of potassium levels, K3had recorded with the highest seeds per fruit (261.85), seed weight (2.17 g), pericarp thickness (10.4 mm), moisture content (93.95 %), ascorbic acid (27.97 mg/100 g) and shelf life (16.98 days). In case of interaction between nitrogen and phosphorus N3P3 had recorded the maximum fruits per plant (15.46), fruit yield per plant (5.05 kg), fruit yield per sq. m (21.04 kg), fruit yield/100 sq. m (18.96 q) , fresh weight of the plant (3.00 kg), dry weight of the plant (476.01 g) and ash content (9.94 %). While, N3K3 had recorded with maximum fruits per plant (13.85), fruit yield per plant (4.55 kg), fruit yield per sq. m (18.96 kg), fruit yield/100 sq. m (18.96 q), fresh weight of the plant (3.21 kg) and dry weight of the plant (466.91 g). In case of interaction between phosphorus and potassium P3K1 had recorded the highest seeds per fruit (287.55), moisture content (94.58 %) and ash content (9.47 %).In case of interaction among NPK, N3P3K1 had recorded the highest fruit yield per plant (5.09 kg), fruit yield/sq. m (21.20 kg) and fruit yield/100 sq.m (21.20 q). The cost economics indicated the superiority of N3P3K1 i.e. N120P80K40 with benefit cost ratio of 3.19 followed by N120P80K60 with B:C of 3.18. Based on the results of the experiment, it was concluded that N120P80K40 could be suggested as best fertilizer dose for the sweet pepper under protected condition. From the balance sheet of nutrients, it becomes clear that capsicum is an exhaustive crop in nature and demands judicial application of the three major nutrients to derive high yield. There was a residual built up of highly mobile N content, while phosphorus and potash content declined due to reserve nature in soil.
Open Access
Study on the diversity of Colocasia germplasm of Dima Hasao District of Assam
(AAU, Jorhat, 2019-07) Hojai, Nehail; Alam, S.
An experiment entitled “Study on the diversity of Colocasia germplasm of Dima Hasao District of Assam” was carried out during the period of 2017-19. A total of 16 germplasms were collected from the five blocks of the district namely Harangajao, Mahur, Maibang, Diyungbra and Sangbar. The Morphological study of the cultivars was done in the Experimental Farm and their taxonomic identification was carried out. The biochemical analysis of the cultivars was done in the laboratory. A total of 16 different cultivars were evaluated for their morphological traits with three replications in Randomized Block Design. The ethno botanical study was conducted in Dima Hasao district. The mean performance of growth and yield parameters revealed that the cultivar Thaklong-1 registered the maximum plant height (138.67 cm), plant girth (23.13 cm), corm length (48.95 cm), weight of corms per plant (2250 g), weight of cormels per plant (846.67 g), yield per plant (3.36 kg). Similarly, biochemical analysis reflected highest amount of starch (77.9%), fat (1.11%), ash (7.61%) and iron (10.56 mg/100g) content in the cultivar Thaklong-1. However, the highest crude protein (5.32%) was found in cultivar Tharujung. The calcium oxalate was found highest (0.1%) in cultivar Thabasha. The highest number of suckers (13.56 numbers per plant) was observed in cultivar Thagajao-2. Maximum number of corms (2.56 numbers per plant) was found in Cultivar Thaklong-galao whereas cultivar Thagajao-2 was recorded with maximum number of cormels i.e. 23.92 numbers per plant. The variation in leaf characters of the cultivars were also observed during study period. It was observed that out of 16 cutivars, 87.50 per cent cultivars exhibited erect apex down type of leaf orientation. Maximum colour of the petiole junction was found to be green (37.5 %) and purple colour (37.5 %). 75 per cent of the cultivars were found to have green main vein colour. Most of the cultivars (62.5 %) exhibited undulated type of leaf margin and highest leaf blade margin colour was found to be yellow (37.5 %). Among the all cultivars, majority of the cultivars i.e. 56.25 per cent exhibited purple colour in upper portion of petiole, while 75 per cent of the cultivars were found to have green colour in the lower portion of the petiole. The maximum(. 43.75 %) cultivars had red petiole junction colour in the dorsal side of the leaf. The yellow main vein colour in the dorsal side of the leaf was found to be maximum (43.75%) among the cultivars. Taxomomic study revealed that the cultivars Thagajao, Thaklong galao, Thahon and Tharujung belonged to species Colocasia esculenta whereas only Thaklong belonged to the species Colocasia antiquorum. Ethno botanical study revealed that majority (44.17%) of the respondents was found to use taro in the district. Most of the respondents (52.5 %) cultivate taro for purpose. Majority of the respondents (50.83 %) grow taro mostly in small size land holding. 67.5 per cent of the respondents sold their produce in nearby markets. Taro was mainly grown in mixed cropping system which acounted 53.33 per cent of the respondents. The study also revealed that the respondents use petiole (53.33%), leaf (20%), and corm (15%) for medicinal purpose. Only 11.67 per cent respondents were found to have no knowledge about the medicinal uses of taro. Based on the key informants, the preferential ranking of the cultivars were: Thaklong galao> Thaklong khasiba> Thaklong 1 which ranked first,second and third respectively.
Open Access
ASSESSMENT OF GROWTH, YIELD AND QUALITY OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF CLUSTER BEARING RIDGE GOURD (Luffa acutangula Roxb.)
(AAU, Jorhat, 2019-06) Boruah, Priyanka; Gautam, B. P.
A field experiment entitled “Assessment of growth, yield and quality of different types of cluster bearing ridge gourd” was carried out in the Instructional cum Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, Biswanath College of Agriculture, Assam Agricultural University, Biswanath Chariali during 2018-19. Five different types of cluster bearing ridge gourd viz., Type 1(T1), Type 2(T2), Type 3(T3), Type 4(T4) and Type 5(T5) were collected from Jorhat, Golaghat and Biswanath districts of Assam for the study. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design (RBD) with five treatments replicated four times. Healthy disease and pest free seeds were sown treatment wise at a spacing of 2m×3m on 14th March, 2018. The results of the study revealed significant difference among different types of ridge gourd with respect to morpho-physiological, phenological, yield attributes and quality parameters. Among the types, T4 produced the maximum vine length (440.25 cm and 687.25 cm at 90 and 120 DAS, respectively) highest number of primary branches (7.25), internodal length (13.54 cm), number of nodes per vine (50.75), number of functional leaves per vine (216.50, 415.75 and 187.00 at 90, 105 and 120 DAS respectively). On the other hand, the area of a leaf and leaf area per vine were recorded the highest in T5 (106.54 cm2 and 2.22 m2 at 90 DAS respectively) and (107.05 cm2 and 1.89 m2 120 DAS respectively). The highest leaf chlorophyll content index (32.01), specific leaf weight (36.80mgcm-2) and relative leaf water content (75.44%) were found in T4. While the lowest chlorophyll content index (23.00) and relative leaf water content (70.34 %) were recorded in T2 but the lowest specific leaf weight was recorded in T5 (21.53 mgcm-2). Only in T3 and T5, both male and female flowers were borne but only hermaphrodite flowers were produced in T1, T2 and T4. Again T3 required the shortest period for appearance of male flower (34.75 DAS) at node number 4.5 and female flower (40.50 DAS) at 7th node number, with lower male: female ratio of 19.50:1. Among T1, T2 and T4 the T4 required the shortest days for flowering (38.75 DAS) at node number 5.25. Yield and yield attributing characters were found to be significant among all the types. The T4 required the shortest duration (67.25 DAS) to first picking of fruits which produced the highest fruit circumference (14.03cm), fruit volume (174.50cc), fruit fresh weight (154.62g/fruit). However, fruits of T5 were longest (21.23cm) among all other types. The significantly highest number of fruits (6.25) per cluster was recorded in T1 while T2 produced the highest number of fruit clusters per vine (43.25) and number of fruits per vine (181.50). Fruit yield per vine (7.28 kg/vine), fruit yield per hectare (12.15t/ha) and number of seeds per fruit (159.50) were recorded highest in T4. In case of fruit quality attributing characters, the highest TSS (4.32 OBrix), flavonoid (0.66% g) and dry matter content (9.53%) were found in T4 followed by T3. Thehighest moisture content was maintained in T5 (94.04%). However vitamin „C‟ content (4.36mg/100g) was found highest in bothT3 and T4. Minor incidence of downy mildew, powdery mildew, fruit fly, red pumpkin beetle, leaf miner and epilachna beetle were observed and were controlled using mild dose of chemicals during the investigation in all the types of ridge gourd. The computation of economics of cultivation showed that T4 recorded the highest benefit: cost ratio (2.97:1) followed by T3 (2.90:1). The lowest benefit: cost ratio of 2.23:1 was found in T5. The study, therefore suggests that T4 and T3 may be recommended to the ridge gourd growers of Assam for maximizing their production of ridge gourd which not only provide good quality ridge gourd to the consumers but also improve their socio-economic status of the growers.
Open Access
Impact of sprout management on growth and yield of pointed gourd (Trichosanthes dioica Roxb.)
(AAU, Jorhat, 2019-07) Gupta, Kanchan Kumari; Gautam, B. P.
The present invesigation entitled “Impact of sprout management on growth and yield of pointed gourd (Trichosanthes dioica Roxb.)” was carried out during February to October, 2018 in the Instructional cum Research Farm of Biswanath College of Agriculture, AAU, Biswanath Chariali.The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with four replications incorporating five pruning treatments viz., retention of one sprout (T1), retention of two sprouts (T2), retention of three sprouts (T3), retention of four sprouts (T4) and control, without pruning (T5). The morpho-physiological parameters, phenological characters, yield and quality parameters were significantly influenced by pruning treatments. Among the pruning treatments, T3 produced significantly higher vine length (195.47 cm and 384.95 cm at 90 and 120 DAP, respectively), internodal length (9.55 cm at 90 DAP and 12.21 cm at 120 DAP), number of leaves per vine with 170.33 at 90 DAP and 206.91at 120 DAP and leaf area per vine with 5491.36 cm2 and 6670.78 cm2 at 90 and 120 DAP, respectively. Among the phenological parameters, duration from fruit set to harvest (10.50 days), days to first harvest(106.18 days), total duration of the crop (198.27days) were found significantly less in T1 treatment. Among the physiological parameters, relative leaf water content (76.99%) and leaf chlorophyll content index (29.29) recorded significantly higher values under T3 treatment. In the same treatment of T3, yield per plant (4.21 kg) and yield per hectare (8.77 t) were found significantly higher along with significantly more number of female flowers per plant (238.50), fruits per plant (225.58). However, the length of fruit, fruit diameter, fruit volume, fruit fresh weight and number of seeds per fruit did not exhibit any significant difference due to pruning treatments. Among the quality parameters, T3 recorded significantly higher vitamin A (223.61 IU) in fruits while ascorbic acid (15.84 mg/100g) was found significantly higher in T1. Pest and diseases like powdery mildew, downy mildew, gummy stem blight, fruit fly, red pumkin beetle were observed at the initial stages of crop growth but the yield loss was minimum due to timely adoption of proper management practices. The study therefore, advocate that pruning treatment with retention of three sprouts (T3) produced the highest yield with higher B:C ratio of 2.14 and may be recommended for the growers of Assam for maximizing their production and profit

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