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ThesisItem Restricted Effect of harvest dates and packaging on storage of pear cv. patharnakh(Punjab Agricultural University, 2022) Sandeep Kaur; Gill, Mandeep SinghThe investigations on the "Effect of harvest dates and packaging on storage of pear cv. Pathernakh." was conducted in Post harvest Laboratory, Department of Fruit Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana during 2021. The two factors affecting the storage of pear i.e harvest dates and packaging materials were studied independently. For 1st experiment pear fruits cv. Patharnakh harvested on four different dates (2nd, 3rd, 4th week of July and 1st week of August) and packaged in CFB boxes and stored under cold temperature conditions (0-1 ºC and 90-95 % RH). The observations for various quality attributes were recorded on the day of storage and at 30th, 45th, 60th and 70th days of storage. Results demonstrated that fruits harvested on 2nd week of July consistently exhibited the highest fruit firmness, titratable acidity, total antioxidant activity (TAA) and total phenolics content (TPC) than the late harvested fruits. Contrarily, delayed harvested fruits recorded higher total soluble solids (TSS) and total sugars. Moreover, fruits harvested in 3rd week of July had minimum the weight loss and highest sensory quality until 70th day of storage. The fruit harvested at later harvesting stage recorded higher activities of fruit softening enzymes activities like pectin methylesterase (PME), polygalacturonase (PG) and cellulase enzymes as compared to fruit harvested at earlier stage. Thus, the results revealed that fruits harvested during 3rd week of July had retained all the physico-chemical characteristics and enhanced the storage and keeping quality of pear. On the other hand, packaging methods could have a significant effect on quality and storage life of pear fruits. Hence, this second experiment was conducted to study the effects of different packaging materials on storage quality of Patharnakh pear fruit. The fruit were packed in corrugated fibre board (CFB) boxes, shrink film, cling film and wooden boxes and placed under low temperature storage conditions (0-1 ºC and 90-95 % RH). Physico-chemical parameters and enzymatic activities were conducted on the day of harvest and at 30th, 45th, 60th and 70th days of storage. Results revealed that both film packaging‟s significantly reduced the weight loss and maintained higher fruit firmness throughout the storage period, but showed higher spoilage at the end of storage. However, the fruits packed in CFB boxes exhibited lower spoilage and maintained higher sensory quality, total soluble solids (TSS) and total phenolics content (TPC) at the end of storage. Throughout the storage period, film packaging treatments resulted in higher fruit firmness, acid content, total antioxidant activity (TAA) and lower activities of fruit softening enzymes like pectin methylesterase (PME), polygalacturonase (PG) and cellulase. The results showed that for long term storage of pear fruits CFB box packaging is appropriate method because of higher sensory quality and lower spoilage.ThesisItem Embargo Epicuticular waxes for resistance against thrips in onion (Allium cepa L.)(Punjab Agricultural University, 2023) Sandeep Kaur; Bhullar, Harpal SinghThrips is an important insect-pest of onion (Allium cepa L.), which is one of the most important commercial bulbous vegetable crops. Present studies were undertaken to determine the extent of genetic variation for thrips resistance and correlation, if any, between epicuticular wax characteristics and thrips infestation in a diverse set of onion genotypes. Thirty genotypes were screened for thrips incidence and accordingly classified into five resistant-susceptibility categories during Rabi 2021-22. Foliage damage was also scored and it exhibited a positive correlation with thrips incidence both during damage study week and season. CIELAB indices were studied 60 DAT and all showed non-significant correlation with foliage damage. L* and Z% exhibited significant negative correlation with thrips incidence. Darker and less bright foliage faced relatively high thrips incidence compared to lighter and brighter foliage. Foliage lightness had a significant positive correlation with thrips resistance. GC-MS study was undertaken to quantify 16-hentriaconatone wax from leaves wherein QuEChERS-based extraction did not yield acceptable recovery. Total leaf phenol content was estimated before harvesting in selected genotypes and it showed non-significant, positive and negative correlation, respectively, with thrips incidence and resistance. PCRbased molecular study revealed Thrips tabaci Lind. as the prevalent thrips species at research location. FE-SEM revealed varied scattering of spiky, plate-like epicuticular wax crystals (likely ketones) on different leaf surfaces and relative crystal deposition showed an inverse relationship with lightness of foliage colour. Variation in size of stomatal apertures was also observed, however, correlation if any, with thrips incidence and damage could not be determined.ThesisItem Restricted Impact of parental migration on children left behind: a study of rural Punjab(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2022) Sandeep Kaur; Atinder Pal KaurThe present study was an attempt to analysed the impact of parental migration on children left behind: a study of rural Punjab, with specific objectives: (i) to study the pattern of migration in selected families and (ii) to examine the impact of parental migration on leftbehind children (iii) to study the challenges faced by the left-behind children and suggest possible remedies. Based on 120 household data, the study concluded that migration was (63.33%) in scheduled caste and highest migration to Dubai (43.33%). 60% of migration from migrant households to Gulf countries. The study depicts overall labor migration in the selected families. (90%) of migrants indulge in semi-skilled occupations after migration that was working in unskilled occupation before migration. In the migrant household, remittances were the primary source of income (73.33 %). The study highlighted that parents' migration positively and negatively impacted children left behind. Most children approximately (66%) went to private schools, and daughters in migrant households were getting good educations. Even a significant share of the remittances was utilized for food consumption and luxury items for their children. Migrants also send gift remittances such as technological gadgets such as mobile phones (53.33%), tablets (28.33%), toys (26.70%) and other items. On the positive side, children can get better education and comfortable life after their father's migration. However, on the psychological side, children in (58%) of households face loneliness and (75%) of their children miss their fathers. Even (56.67%) of household guardians faced difficulty in maintaining household responsibilities. Children in (65%) of households face a problem talking about personal feelings. The study suggested that there is a need to understand the living environment of left-behind children to design an effective programme.ThesisItem Restricted Adoption of home science practices disseminated under Rural Awareness Work Experience (RAWE)(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2020) Sandeep Kaur; Mann, Sukhdeep KaurThe present investigation was conducted to assess the adoption status of home science practices disseminated under Rural work experience and to indentify the various factors affecting adoption and non adoption of these practices. The study was conducted in purposively selected Rauwal, Sidhwan Kalan, Talwandi Khurd and Sarabha villages of Ludhiana district, where RAWE programme was conducted during the year 2013-14 to 2016- 17. From each village, thirty rural women who were exposed to home science practices during RAWE were randomly selected. Thus, a total of 120 respondents constituted the sample of the study. Data were collected through a well structured and pre tested interview schedule. The study reported that majority of the respondents had low level of print media exposure and medium level of electronic and social media exposure. Findings revealed that majority of the respondents adopted ‘care and storage practices of clothing’, ‘energy saving techniques’, ‘ Fruits and vegetable preservation’ and ‘ care during pregnancy’ practices under different disciplines. However, lowest adoption was found for the practices of ‘stain removal’, ‘consumer education’, ‘therapeutic diet plan’ and ‘Awareness/counselling’. Large number of respondents reported ‘personal interest’ and ‘saves resources’ as the major factors affecting adoption. Whereas, lack of interest and resources leads to non adoption. The results also showed that age of the respondent was negatively and significantly associated with the extent of adoption. Practices should be need based and cost effective and students should be trained properly before RAWE were the major suggestions given by the respondents for improvement in RAWE programme.ThesisItem Open Access Estimation of fenazaquin residues in brinjal, okra and soil(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2019) Sandeep Kaur; Kang, Balpreet KaurSupervised field trials were conducted to study the residues of fenazaquin in brinjal and okra following its application at minimum effective (25 g a.i. ha-1), double the minimum effective (50 g a.i. ha-1) and the recommended dose (125 g a.i. ha-1), respectively. The samples were collected at 0 (2 hrs), 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 15 days after its application at an interval of 10 days. Sample processing was done following QuEChERS methodology and quantification by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) followed by confirmation with Liquid Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS). The mean initial deposits of fenazaquin on brinjal were 0.046, 0.098, 0.174 and 0.048, 0.102, 0.170 mg kg-1 following its last application during 2017-18 and 2018-19, respectively. For the corresponding doses on brinjal, the residues declined below limit of quantification (LOQ <0.01 mg kg-1) after 3, 5 and 7 days following its last application. The average initial deposits of fenazaquin on okra were 1.663, 2.037, 3.117 and 1.611, 2.299, 3.100 mg kg-1 during 2017-18 and 2018-19, respectively. The residues declined below LOQ at 7, 10 and 15 days during 2017-18 whereas during 2018-19 the residues reached below LOQ after 15 days following application of fenazaquin at all the three doses, respectively. Residues of fenazaquin were found below LOQ in the soil samples collected after 15 days of last application from both brinjal and okra fields. The half-life of 0.75, 1.16, 1.43 and 1.62, 1.75, 1.92 days in brinjal and okra was calculated following its last application at all the three doses, respectively. The average initial deposits observed at recommended dose were more than maximum residue limit of 0.01 mg kg-1 so, the waiting period of 7 and 15 days is suggested for safe consumption of brinjal and okra. Leaching studies showed the presence of fenazaquin residues in the upper layer (0-15 cm) only in the soil columns installed under field capacity and flooding conditions at different time intervals. None of the residues were detected in the leachate collected under both these conditions.ThesisItem Restricted Paddy straw, Growth, Lignocellulolytic, Laccase, Endoglucanase, Exoglucanase , -glucosidase, Pretreatment, Biogas, Delftia sp. PP4_S3, Coriolus versicolor MTCC 138(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2018) Sandeep Kaur; Dhillon, Satwinder KaurSoybean harbours many anti-nutrients unsuitable for human digestive tract, among them “Kunitz Trypsin inhibitor (Kti)” is major anti-nutrient inhibiting activity of digestive proteases. Further, the crop is prone to devastating biotic stress i.e. yellow mosaic virus (YMV) prevalent in northern region of the country. Therefore, the present study was planned to identify YMV resistant soybean genotypes carrying null kti gene and cross was made between SL525 x NRC101 to develop YMV resistant and Kti free soybean genotypes. SL525 is YMV resistant but has Kti gene on the other hand NRC101 susceptible to YMV and lacks Kti gene referred to as ‘null kti’. A total of 45 F4 lines of the cross were screened for YMV resistance using infector row technique in kharif 2017. A total of 125 genotypes were selected and grown in kharif 2017 as F5 generation. Molecular markers (gene specific and SSR markers linked with kti locus) were used to screen plants for presence/absence of Kti allele. A total of 65 genotypes were Kti positive, 50 null kti and 10 genotypes were heterozygote. Phenotyping was done by measuring trypsin inhibitor activity (TIA). Consequently, the genotypes lacking Kti allele recorded reduced levels of TIA. Furthermore, YMV resistance of F5 genotypes was confirmed by molecular markers and phenotypic screening. Analysis of variance of F5 genotypes revealed that genetic variation for the morphological and quality traits was present in genotypes. Trypsin inhibitor activity was observed to be positively correlated with germination, days to maturity, plant height, grain yield and seed weight. Non significant direct effect of TIA was observed on grain yield whereas traits such as germination at 6 months after harvest, number of pods per plant, 100-seed weight, plant height, days to maturity showed significant positive direct effect on grain yield. The comparison of performance of null kti and kti genotypes revealed that null kti genotypes had low germination, delayed maturity, less grains and lower TIA values in comparison to kti genotypes whereas traits such as days to flowering, plant height, pods/plants, seed weight, oil content, protein content, fatty acid composition were unaffected by allele present. A total of 14 null kti genotypes had significantly higher grain yield than SL525 and these genotypes were resistant to yellow mosaic disease.ThesisItem Open Access Assessment of groundwater vulnerability of Amritsar district using GIS based DRASTIC model(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2017) Sandeep Kaur; Khullar, N. K.Groundwater contamination is of particular concern as groundwater is the principal source of water for irrigation, drinking and industrial activities. The present study investigated the groundwater vulnerability of Amritsar district (Punjab) by using the GIS based DRASTIC model. This model uses seven hydrogeological parameters viz. depth to water table, net recharge, aquifer media, soil media, topography, impact of vadose zone and hydraulic conductivity. Layers for all these parameters were created in ArcGIS. Groundwater vulnerability index was computed within ArcGIS and it varies between 129 and 175. The results of the analysis showed that about 57.91% study area lies in the low vulnerable zone with vulnerability index ranges between 129 and 145, 40.46% area lies in the moderately vulnerable zone with vulnerability index ranging between 145 and 160 and 1.63% area is the high vulnerable zone with vulnerability index range between 160 and 175. Sensitivity analysis was also carried out to evaluate the impact of each DRASTIC parameter on groundwater vulnerability index. Two methods were used namely single parameter sensitivity analysis and map removal sensitivity analysis. Single parameter sensitivity indicated that depth to water table, net recharge, topography and hydraulic conductivity layers are most significant hydrogeological parameters for the assessment of groundwater vulnerability of the study area. Map removal sensitivity analysis indicates that vulnerability index is highly sensitive to the depth to water table layer, topography and soil layers but it is least sensitive to aquifer media layer. The study will be helpful for land use planning.ThesisItem Restricted Effect of proline and salicylic acid on germination of muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) seeds at different temperatures(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2016) Sandeep Kaur; Gupta, NamartaIn this work, the effect of proline and salicylic acid on physiological and biochemical parameters of muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) seeds c.v. Punjab Sunehri at different temperatures was studied. The low temperature has deleterious effect on seed germination and seed vigour parameters. Seeds of muskmelon were treated with different treatments (hydration, warm water and different concentrations of proline and salicylic acid) at 20˚C and 25˚C. Various estimations were done from the treated seedlings after 8 days of germination. All the seed treatments increased the physiological (percent germination, seedling length, seedling biomass, speed of germination, vigour index I and II) and biochemical parameters (total soluble sugars, total soluble proteins and activities of antioxidant enzymes) of seedlings as compared to control at 20˚C and 25˚C. But as far as electrolyte leakage was concerned, different treatments were effective in decreasing the leakage of electrolytes at both the temperatures. The results showed that Proline 20mM and salicylic acid 0.1mM were more effective as compared to proline 10mM and salicylic acid 0.5mM at both the temperatures. Thus, application of proline and SA could play an ameliorating role on low temperature stress tolerance by regulating and scavenging the free radicals produced by reactive oxygen species.ThesisItem Restricted PRODUCTION OF RICE VINEGAR AND DNA FINGERPRINTING OF FERMENTING MICROORGANISMS(2013) Sandeep KaurThe present study envisaged to isolate ethanol producing yeast and acetic acid producing bacteria from natural sources for vinegar production from two rice varieties, Basmati (PUSA 1121) and parmal (PR 116). The saccharification of rice starch was optimised through response surface methodology. Using crude enzyme at 60°C, maximum sugars were obtained in the wort of 20% substrate i.e. 110 and 95 mg/ml glucose from rice varieties PUSA 1121 and PR 116 respectively. With commercial enzyme too, maximum sugars were obtained with 20% substrate i.e. 172 mg/ml glucose with PUSA 1121 at 54.5°C and 133 mg/ml glucose with PR 116 at 60°C, hence giving saccharification efficiency of 95% and 90% respectively. PUSA 1121 was validated to have saccharified optimally at 20% substrate, pH 5.3, temperature 54°C and 30 IU/g alpha amylase and 50 IU/g glucoamylase. Similarly PR 116 was best saccharified at 20% substrate, pH 5.6, temperature 60°C and 30 IU each of alpha amylase and glucoamylase. Out of 20 yeast isolates screened, the isolate Y-4 gave maximum 79.25% fermentation efficiency, hence was used to produce ethanol by two techniques, separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF) and simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF). In SHF, Y-4 produced 7.64% (w/v) and 6.82% (w/v) ethanol from PUSA 1121 and PR 116 worts having initial sugar concentration of 17.2% and 14% respectively. However, SSF led to decreased ethanol production i.e. 5.88% (w/v) from parmal rice and 6.82% (w/v) from basmati rice with the same initial sugar levels in the wort. Characteristically Y-4 utilized fructose, dextrose, galactose and mannose, reproduced by lateral budding, sensitive to cycloheximidine, lacked lipolytic activity and unable to produce starch and was identified as Issatchenkia orientalis F701 (Pichia kudriavzeii). It stands deposited in GenBank with accession no. JX537791. On the other hand, standard culture of Acetobacter acetii NRRL 746 from the Dept. of Microbiology, P.A.U, Ludhiana was used for acetic acid production from ethanol. An 8% ethanol wort produced 6.51% (w/v) volatile acids in PUSA 1121 and 5.08% (w/v) volatile acids in PR 116 in the lab studies. In the scale up production of vinegar to 5 litre, the volatile acidity levels were 5.10 and 4.86% (w/v) for respective rice varieties. The sensory evaluation of vinegar samples scored 7.59 and 8.27 points on 10 point scale for basmati and parmal varieties of rice respectively. Both types of rice vinegar were analyzed to have elements such as Fe, Na, K, Mg, Ca, Zn within acceptable limits according to Codex Alimentarius (2000).