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ThesisItem Open Access Morphological characterisation of tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) genotypes under Punjab conditions(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2017) Manpreet Kaur; Madhu BalaThe aim of this study was to evaluate the tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) genotypes collected from different regions of India under Punjab conditions. The experiment was conducted at the Research Farm, Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, PAU Ludhiana during 2016-2017. The experiment consisted of total eight single type cultivars of tuberose namely Local Single, Prajwal, Shringar, Mexican Single, Sikkim Selection, Calcutta Single, Phule Rajni and Pune Local Single were evaluated on the basis of their different growth and yield parameters. Among these cultivars evaluated, ‘Prajwal’ took minimum days for spike emergence (81.73 days), minimum days for opening of first floret (114.33 days), exhibited maximum plant height (54.53cm),spike length (90.53 cm) rachis length (42.00 cm),number of spikes per clump (4.80) and duration of flowering (34.27 days).Number of floret per spike and length of floret was recorded maximum in ‘Calcutta Single’ (46.60) which was at par with ‘Prajwal’ (45.93) and ‘Prajwal’(5.85 cm) was at par with ‘Calcutta Single’(5.78 cm) respectively. ‘Prajwal’ is also a good multiplier and produced significantly more bulbs and bulblets (2.93 and 18.40) respectively in comparison to the other cultivars whereas minimum bulbs and bulbets was recorded in cv. ‘Mexican Single’. From the above study it can be concluded that among all the single tuberose cultivars, ‘Prajwal’ performed best in all the growth, flowering and yield parameters under Punjab conditions.ThesisItem Open Access Status of population and assessment of environmental contaminants on egg parameters and breeding biology of House Crow (Corvus splendens) in Malwa region of Punjab(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2017) Manpreet Kaur; Khera, K.S.Birds are the common inhabitants of the ecosystem and are well known as indicator species of the ecosystem health. Among these birds, the Indian House Crow (Corvus splendens), is the most wide spread subspecies of the corvidae family in India as well as in the world. Present study was undertaken to study the dynamics of house crow population in some pockets of Malwa region of Punjab. The present study on the status of population of House Crow was carried out in the 3 districts of Malwa region of Punjab (Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana and in selected villages of Sangrur and Bathinda), while study on assessment of environmental contaminants on egg parameters and breeding biology was carried out only in the 2 districts of Malwa region of Punjab (PAU, Ludhiana and in selected villages of Sangrur). It was observed that population of House Crow was significantly low at the Sangrur and Bathinda villages as compared to PAU, Ludhiana. In present study, breeding season of House Crow was observed to be from April to September. 99 nests were recorded during two breeding seasons in PAU, Ludhiana and 9 nests were found in two villages of Sangrur. Quantitative analysis of the nests of house crow was also done. Majority of the nests of the House Crow located on 17 different tree species. In the present study two types of nests were observed i.e. Active nests and Non-active nests. In PAU, Ludhiana, out of total 99 nests, 61 nests found to be active and 38 nests were remain in-active on 16 different tree species in both breeding seasons. In villages of Sangrur, all nests were found inactive on the 3 tree species used. Average egg length, breadth, shape index, egg weight, albumen weight, yolk weight, shell weight, albumen percentage, yolk percentage, shell percentage, egg shell thickness, CaCO3, egg volume and specific gravity which indicate hatchability of eggs were determined. In present study high levels of chlorpyriphos and few heavy metals were detected in feather samples collected from villages of Sangrur. Overall it was observed that the population at PAU, Ludhiana was higher as compared to selected villages of Sangrur and Bathinda. Analysis of feathers indicated higher levels of chlorpyriphos and some heavy metals in the feathers collected from villages of Sangrur. As birds are the visible indicators of the health and quality of the ecosystem in which they live, therefore, fixing priorities and developing strategies for their conservation needs further studies for a healthy environment.ThesisItem Restricted Synthesis and characterization of graphene oxide nanocomposite for water decontamination(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2017) Manpreet Kaur; Kiran JeetThe present study focuses on synthesis of Graphene oxide and its nanocomposite films for the removal of arsenic As (III)) from water. Preparation of Graphene oxide was carried out by Modified Hummers method. Films of GO nanocomposites were prepared in acetic acid solution by providing physical shear. The electron microscopy results of films indicated that nanomaterials such as graphene oxide (GO) and graphene oxide-carbon nanotubes (GO-CNTs) were well dispersed in chitosan nanoparticles (Ch) matrix. The maximum adsorption capacity for As (III) was obtained to be 30.30, 25.00, 23.81 and 11.63 mg/g for GO, Ch film, GO/Ch film and GO-CNTs/Ch film respectively at optimum condition (i.e. pH = 6, contact time = 20 minutes and temperature = 30°C). GO has high efficiency to remove As (III) ion from contaminated water and also other adsorbents such as GO/Ch film and GO-CNTs/Ch film show great potential in the field of water decontamination due to their ability to be used in the form of thin film membrane. Thermodynamic parameters result indicates that the adsorption processes is spontaneous and exothermic.ThesisItem Open Access Development of high fibre and antioxidant rich fruit bars from fruit juice waste(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2017) Manpreet Kaur; Sachdev, Poonam AThe investigation entitled “Development of high fibre and antioxidant rich fruit bars from fruit juice waste” was undertaken with the objective to study the physico- chemical, phytochemical and antioxidant activity of raw material and product prepared from fruit juice waste, to standardize the method for the development of fruit bars from fruit juice waste and to ascertain the shelf life stability of fruit bars from fruit juice waste. Fruit juice waste of kinnow, guava and grapes were collected during fruit processing in the department and analysed for physico-chemical and phytochemical characteristics. Recipe was standardized using 15-20 per cent sugar and 0.2 per cent citric acid. The drying conditions were optimized by drying thin layer of juice waste on tray drier at temperatures 45, 50 and 55⁰ C. On the basis of sensory quality , the juice waste containing 20 per cent sugar and 0.2 per cent citric acid and dried at 50⁰ C for 6 hours for T1(guava bar), 18 hours for T2 (kinnow bar) , 8 hours for T3 (grapes bar) , 16 hours for T4 (kinnow: guava bar (1:1)), 12 hours for T5 (kinnow: guava: grapes bar (1:1:1) ), 13 hours for T6 (kinnow: grapes bar (1:1)) and 10 hours for T7 (grapes: guava bar (1:1) ) were found the best. The physico-chemical properties i.e. TS, TSS, total sugars, acidity and crude fibre increased while pH and moisture content decreased in all fruit bars during six months of storage at 14-32⁰ C. All the bioactive components (phenols, antioxidants, ascorbic acid and anthocyanins) decreased significantly with storage in all fruit bars. The products prepared could be stored in polythene bags (100 gauge) and laminates (50 gauge) with maximum retention of organoleptic quality. After six months storage, it was concluded that treatment T5 i.e. kinnow: guava: grapes (1:1:1) was found highly acceptable followed by treatments T7 i.e. guava: grapes bar (1:1)> T3 i.e. grapes bar > T1 i.e. guava bar > T4 i.e. kinnow: guava bar (1:1) > T6 i.e. kinnow: grapes bar (1:1) > T2 i.e. kinnow bar, respectively on the basis of sensory evaluation. The average cost for each fruit bar of 200 g was calculated as Rs. 20 which is economically feasible for both the manufacturers and consumers.ThesisItem Restricted SALICYLIC ACID INDUCED CHANGES IN SOME PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS IN MASHBEAN (Vigna mungo L. Hepper) GENOTYPES GROWN UNDER SALINITY(PAU Ludhiana, 2012) Manpreet Kaur; Navita GhaiThe present investigation was undertaken to study the effect of salicylic acid on physiological and biochemical parameters in salt sensitive (KUG 363 and KUG 310) and salt tolerant (KUG 529 and KUG 502) mashbean genotypes, along with a check variety (UL 338) grown under NaCl (30mM and 45mM) stress. The plants were grown in plastic pots kept under a rain-out shelter. NaCl was applied in split dose: 50% at the time of sowing and remaining 50% at 15 days after sowing (DAS). Salicylic acid (SA) @ 0.5 mM and 1.0 mM was applied as a foliar spray at 25 DAS. Data on various physiological and biochemical changes was recorded at 35 (vegetative stage), 50 (flowering stage) and 65 (pod setting stage) DAS. Salt stress decreased the leaf area and plant dry biomass of all the genotypes at various stages of development. The decrease in plant dry biomass led to reduction in relative growth rate and crop growth rate. Sensitive as well as tolerant genotypes showed a sharp increase in membrane permeability under saline conditions. NaCl caused a decrease in photosynthetic pigments and increase in levels of hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde content. Under saline conditions, all the genotypes showed a higher accumulation of osmotic solute proline, with tolerant genotypes accumulating more amount than sensitive ones. Antioxidant enzymes like catalase and ascorbate peroxidase showed a decrease under saline conditions. However, peroxidase activity was increased under salt stress. Maximum increase was shown in salt sensitive genotypes. Reduction in yield contributing parameters like number of pods plant-1, number of seeds per pod, 100 seed weight and seed yield plant-1 was observed at both the levels of salinity. SA treatments had a pronounced ameliorative as well as, growth promoting effect under saline conditions. The ameliorative effect of SA was observed as increase in leaf area, relative leaf water content, water potential of leaves and photosynthetic pigments in salt-stressed plants. SA treatments increased the biosynthesis of proline under salt stress. Foliar application of SA enhanced the level of antioxidant system (catalase and ascorbate peroxidase) in mashbean plants under NaCl stress and reduced the hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde content. The reduction in yield and yield contributing parameters was also less in SA-treated salt-stressed plants as compared to non saline controls. However, tolerant genotypes (KUG 529 and KUG 502) and check variety (UL 338) were able to tolerate high salinity and responded better to the application of SA as compared to sensitive genotypes probably due to improved growth, metabolism and enhanced antioxidant system. Lower concentration of SA (0.5 mM) proved to be more effective to ameliorate the adverse effects of salt stress.ThesisItem Restricted Effect of value orientation on environmental ethics of rural and urban adolescents(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2016) Manpreet Kaur; Kang, Tejpreet KaurThe investigation entitled ‘Effect of Value Orientation on Environmental Ethics of Rural and Urban Adolescents’ aimed to assess the effect of value orientation on environmental ethics of rural and urban adolescents. The study was based on a sample of 200 adolescents (i.e. 100 rural and 100 urban) in the age range of 14-16 years. The sample was randomly drawn from four Senior Secondary Schools purposively selected from rural as well as urban areas of Kapurthala district. Self structured questionnaire was administered to collect information on social and personal characteristics of the adolescents. Personal Values Questionnaire by Sherry and Verma (2010) and Environmental Ethics Scale by Taj (2011) were used to assess value orientation and environmental ethics of the respondents respectively. Results revealed significant gender differences in value orientation of respondents. Females were scoring better than their male counterparts. Significant locale differences existed between social, democratic, economic, power and health values among rural and urban girls. In case of boys significant locale differences were found in social, democratic, power and health values. Significant gender difference existed in rural boys and girls whereas non-significant differences were seen in case of urban boys and girls. In environmental ethics gender differences in mean scores of rural boys and girls were found to be significant whereas among urban boys and urban girls these differences were non-significant. Religious, democratic and family prestige values had made a positive and significant contribution in the environmental ethics of respondents.ThesisItem Open Access Development and nutritional evaluation of pumpkin seed (Cucurbita moschata) supplemented products(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2017) Manpreet Kaur; Sharma, SonikaPumpkin seeds are nutritionally dense by-product of pumpkin but commonly discarded as waste. The purpose of the study was proper utilization of pumpkin seeds to supplement various food products to enhance nutritional content. Pumpkin seeds were processed into raw and roasted flour. Five products namely Laddoo, Panjeeri, Mathi, Cake, Cookies were prepared and standardized. For each product, one control and six experimental samples (three using raw pumpkin seed flour and three using roasted pumpkin seed flour) were prepared. The control and test samples were analyzed for their sensory attributes. Most accepted test samples (supplemented with raw and roasted pumpkin seed flour) were analyzed for nutritional composition along with control sample. All the products supplemented with 30% pumpkin seed flour (raw and roasted) were most acceptable except cake which was highly accepted at 20% level of supplementation. The moisture, protein, fat, fiber, ash, iron, zinc content of raw and roasted pumpkin seed flour was 6.98 and 2.80%, 22.05 and 23.45%, 30.80 and 31.90%, 7.68 and 7.56%, 8.92 and 8.04%, 8.16 and 7.08mg/100gm, 6.60 and 6.35mg/100gm respectively. Total carotenoid content, antioxidant activity, peroxide value of raw and roasted pumpkin seed flour was found as 0.75 and 0.42mg/100gm, 68.80 and 61.30%, 4.60 and 6.20meq/kg. The protein, fat, fiber, ash and energy content of all the supplemented products were significantly higher as compared to the control samples. Moisture content was highest in control cake i.e. 20.26%, protein content was highest in laddoo supplemented with raw and roasted pumpkin seed flour (11.72 and 12.07%), fat content of mathi supplemented with roasted pumpkin seed flour was maximum i.e. 45.56%, fiber content of laddoo supplemented with raw pumpkin seed flour was maximum with 3.21% and maximum ash content was found in panjeeri supplemented with raw pumpkin seed flour (2.55%). Maximum iron content (3.29 mg/100gm) was found in panjeeri supplemented with raw pumpkin seed flour and maximum zinc content (2.08mg/100gm) was found in laddoo supplemented raw pumpkin seed flour. Higher content of total carotenoid content (0.370 mg/100gm) and antioxidant activity (74.20%) was found in laddoo supplemented with raw pumpkin seed flour. Maximum peroxide value was found in control mathi i.e. 8.9 meq/kg. Microbial count of raw pumpkin seed flour was higher as compared to the roasted pumpkin seed flour but was in safe limits. Thus pumpkin seed flour can be stored in air tight glass container for two months.ThesisItem Open Access Synthesis and characterization of nanosilica particles from rice husk and its effect on soil microbes and vegetative growth in tomato(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2016) Manpreet Kaur; Kalia, AnuRice husk, a waste by-product of rice sheller industry, has serious disposal problems. Turning this waste into nanosilica particles (SiNPs) is an ecologically as well as economical prudent technology. The SiNPs were synthesized from rice husks of 3 basmati and 6 parmal rice varieties by giving the acid pre-treatment using conventional heating and microwave irradiation techniques prior to charring in muffle furnace at 7000 C. The particle size ranged from 20 to 80 nm of individual and 150 to 200 nm of the agglomerated particles for the tested varieties. The synthesized SiNPs along with other micro silica sources (i.e. Rice Husk Ash (RHA), Kaolinite and Sodium Silicate) were applied to soil at six different concentrations to assess their effect on soil properties, total microbial population, soil enzymatic activities and vegetative growth of tomato. The SiNPs and RHA application caused decrease in pH, OC and EC while enhanced the soil available Nitrogen (N). The SiNPs significantly enhanced the soil microbial population, soil dehydrogenase, acid and alkaline phosphatase activities while significantly decreased the urease activity. A numerical increase in shoot and root length, number of laterals and total chlorophyll content of tomato cv. Chhuhara and a significant increase in rhizospheric microbial populations occurred by foliar application of SiNPs. The applied SiNPs remained on leaf surface as aggregates and were observed to be internalized through stomata as confirmed by Scanning EM and SEM-EDS studies. The tomato root-endophytic fungal interactions remained unaffected which further accentuates the beneficial effects of SiNP application in tomato.ThesisItem Open Access ANALYSIS OF ANTIOXIDANT METABOLISM IN WHEAT SEEDLINGS EXPOSED TO WATER STRESS AND UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF EXOGENOUS ABSCISSIC ACID AND REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2012) Manpreet KaurThe present work was aimed to study the involvement of superoxide anions and ABA biosynthesis in germination, growth and antioxidant response under water stress (WS) and under ABA (A) supply in two wheat cultivars C306 (ABA higher sensitive-cum-drought tolerant) and PBW343 (ABA lesser sensitive-cum-drought susceptible) by using tiron (T) as superoxide scavenger and sodium tungstate (ST) as inhibitor of ABA biosynthesis. Biomass and ascorbate were decreased on scavenging superoxide ions under A in both cultivars. Antioxidant enzymes, H2O2 were decreased in PBW343 but increased in C306 on scavenging superoxide ions under A. ABA inhibitions of shoot length, root length and germination were higher in C306 than in PBW343 and these inhibitions were relieved significantly on scavenging superoxide ions in C306 not in PBW343. Fresh biomasses, antioxidant enzymes, ascorbate/dehydroascorbate ratios were decreased and dehydroascorbate and malondialdehyde contents were increased on inhibiting ABA biosynthesis and on scavenging superoxide anions under water stress in both cultivars but such changes were more significant in C306 than in PBW343. Both cultivars were also compared under H2O2 (H) supply for antioxidant response and for the involvement of ABA biosynthesis under H supply. H2O2 induced antioxidant levels were higher in C306 than in PBW343. On inhibiting ABA biosynthesis under H supply, these H2O2-mediated effects were affected but not completely removed in both cultivars.