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Author: Ritu × End date: 2022 × Start date: 2022 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Physiological and biochemical changes in response to iron deficiency in pearl millet
    (CCSHAU, Hisar, 2022-08) Ritu; Dr. Vinod Kumar
    Iron (Fe) is the most essential micronutrient required for plant growth and development, being required as a redox active metal involved in various physiological and metabolic processes. About 1/3rd of world soil is deficient in Fe affecting plant growth and development leading to poor yield as well as nutritional quality. It is difficult to manage Fe deficiency to plants through agronomic practices. However, recently developed Fe biofortified crop varieties with higher Fe uptake potential provides an attractive alternate for evaluation for their performance under prevailing Fe deficiency in soils. In this study, Biofortified pearl millet hybrid HHB-299 developed by CCSHAU, Hisar was used along with popular non-biofortified hybrid HHB-67(I) for evaluating these contrasting Fe containing genotypes for their growth performance under varied Fe supply (100, 50, 10 and 0 µM Fe in nutrient solution, respectively) under controlled conditions. Effect of Fe deficiency as compared to Fe sufficiency was studied at 5-leaf and panicle initiation stages of pearl millet genotypes with analysis of various morpho-physiological (root length, shoot length, chlorophyll content and leaf area) and biochemical parameters (SOD and catalase activity, total antioxidant activity, and content of MDA, H2O2, proline, phytosiderophores and Fe). It was observed that with increase in Fe deficiency under treatments T1 to T3, shoot length was decreased in the range of 0.92- 38.9% and 9.5-41.7% at 5-leaf and panicle initiation stage, respectively, for genotype HHB-67(I), as compared to control. In comparison, significantly, less decrease in shoot length was observed for biofortified genotype HHB-299. Similarly, increased rate of chlorosis was observed in both the genotypes, with increased Fe deficiency. Overall analysis of data for antioxidant activity revealed its values in the range of 18-76% at 5-leaf stage and 32.3- 56.1% at panicle initiation stage, respectively, for both the genotypes. With increase in Fe deficiency, the phytosiderophores content was noticed an increase in the range of 55.5-69.2% and 53.3-68.1% at 5-leaf and panicle initiation stages of genotype HHB-67(I), respectively. In the genotype HHB-299, it was increased up to 81.7% and 75% at 5-leaf and panicle initiation stage under increased Fe deficiency treatments. The Fe content in shoots and roots was reportedly decreased under Fe deficient conditions, for both the stages and genotypes. Based on the outcome of study, it is concluded that the contrasting pearl millet genotypes have varied biochemical and morpho-physiological responses towards Fe deficiency. Preliminary findings in this study suggested HHB-299 as better performer under given Fe deficiency treatments over HHB-67(I) owing to its less affected biochemical and morphological responses as observed. The study might have implications in development, evaluation and promotion of biofortified or Fe deficiency tolerant crops for cultivation in soils with prevailing Fe deficiency.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Problems and prospects of flower crops in India
    (Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University hisar, 2022-12) Ritu; Bhatia, Jitender Kumar
    The present study was carried out with the objectives to analyze the trends and growth in area, production and production and productivity of flowers in India, to examine costs involved, returns attained, various marketing channels, value added products from flowers and to identify various constraints in flower cultivation, marketing and export of flower crops in Haryana. The study was based on primary as well as secondary data. The time-series data related to area, production, productivity, export and import of flowers in different zones of India as well as in different zones of Haryana was collected for years 2001-21; the growth rate and trends were computed. The study has been restricted to three crops only i.e. marigold, rose and gladiolus due to availability of reasonable number of flower growers. The study pertains to two districts Sonipat and Gurugram of Haryana. From the selected districts, one block of Sonipat (Rai) and one block of Gurugram (Pataudi) were selected based on highest number of flower cultivators. For marketing data, Delhi flower markets were selected. The outcome of study revealed an increasing trend in the area and production and productivity with CGRs values of 7.86, 8.43 and 3.65 per cent, respectively. Whereas, in Haryana, the trend in area, production of cut flowers and productivity indicated declining trend (-1.04%, -4.64% and -4.54%) over the study period while production of loose flowers illustrated increasing trend with CGRs value of 1.35 per cent. The trends in export indicated declining trend (-2.76%), while import illustrated increasing trend (12.02%). The results of direction of trade of export of flowers from India through Markov value chain resulted that USA was the most reliable country with high probability of retention (0.6217). Per acre total cost of cultivation in French and African marigold worked out was ₹ 65948.48 and ₹ 45495.37, respectively. The corresponding figures for rose were 132874.91for 1st year and ₹ 123884.7 for 2nd year and for gladiolus it was ₹ 318096.63 for 1st year and ₹ 82960.16 for 2nd year. Further, the net returns for French and African marigold were ₹ 177651.52 and ₹ 128504.63, respectively. The corresponding figures for rose were ₹164620.36 for 1st year and ₹ 404866.99 for 2nd year and for gladiolus were ₹170595.87 in 1st year and ₹ 405732.34 in 2nd year. It was found that channel-I was the most efficient among all the marketing channels in disposal of flowers. While considering marketing of value-added products then found that processor’s margin was highest and marketing efficiency was highest among shortest marketing channels for marketing of all floricultural products. Attack of insects-pests, high input prices were major cultivation problems, while transportation cost and high commission charges were major marketing constraints and lack of lack of exporting agencies, coordination among flower growers and exporters and lack of role of FPO’s dealing with flower crops were major export problems faced by farmers in the study area.