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  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Value chains for crop diversification and higher farm incomes: A study of green pea in Punjab
    (Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2021) Simranpreet Kaur; Vatta, Kamal
    This study was undertaken to examine the cost-return structure of pea value chains, compare the traditional and modern value chains and explore the means for value chain up gradation for pea in Punjab during 2019-20. The primary data were collected from 50 pea growers located in Amritsar and Hoshiarpur district, which are the major pea growing districts in Punjab. The primary data was also collected from wholesalers, retailers and pea processors. The overall cost of pea cultivation was Rs. 77700/ha and the gross returns were Rs 176109/ha. The study reveals the involvement of diverse actors, participating directly or indirectly in the value chain. Different actors identified in the study area were farmers, commission agents, wholesalers, retailers, processors and ultimate consumers. Three traditional value chains for pea were identified and the value chain of producer-consumer was the most preferred by the pea growers. Value added product of pea i.e. frozen was found among the modern value chain (MVC-I). Degree of value addition in pea varied from 3.52 to 11.69 per cent among different chain actors. Major production constraints faced by the pea growers were high seed cost, high fertilizer cost, high pesticide cost, impact of weather, storage facility, high labour cost, problem of pest and disease attack, lack of availability of electricity and variability in production. The major marketing constraints were long distance, high transportation, delay in payments and lack of assured markets. The study highlights the role of awareness generation, price incentives, input subsidies, better credit facilities to the pea growers for encouraging value chain upgradation. It also suggests transport incentives, special focus on capacity building for quality production, better dispute redressal system (between producers and processors) and encouragement of processors for encouraging pea production and ensuring better returns to the farmers. The expansion of pea cultivation and better integration of the farmers with modern value chains will contribute towards sustainable crop diversification in Punjab.
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Heterosis and combining ability studies in muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.)
    (Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2021) Simranpreet Kaur; Sharma, Sat Pal
    In the present investigation, ten diverse inbred lines were crossed in a half diallel fashion to generate forty-five F1 hybrids. The analysis of variance exhibited a significant difference among all the genotypes for the target traits. Among the parental lines, MM-625 and MM 916/NS-1 were identified as the best general combiners for fruit yield ha-1 and TSS content, respectively. The cross-combination MS-1×MM-610 exhibited the highest specific combining ability for fruit yield ha-1, while Kajri×MM-904 was identified as the best combination for TSS content. Further, the F1 hybrids KP4HM-15×MM Sel-103, MM Sel-103×MM-904, MM 916/NS-1×Riogold exhibited the positively significant heterobeltiosis for fruit yield ha-1 and TSS content. The cross combinations, KP4HM-15×MM Sel-103, KP4HM-15×MM-1831, and MM-610×MM 916/NS-1 recorded the highest standard heterosis for fruit yield and TSS content over the popular hybrids, MH-27, MH-51, and Farmer Glory. The genetic inheritance inferences revealed the predominance of non-additive gene action (dominance) for most of the characters indicating their exploitation through hybrid breeding. In relationship analysis, fruit yield per ha-1 exhibited positive and significant correlation with average fruit weight, number of fruits per vine, flesh thickness, vine length and number of branches. The direct and indirect effect of different characters on fruit yield per hectare were also studied. The path analysis indicated the effectiveness of selection through direct and indirect effect of variables. Kajri × MM-904, MM Sel-103 × MM 916/NS-1 and KP4HM-15 × MM Sel-103 F1 hybrids were found to be resistant to Fusarium wilt, root knot nematode and virus infestation, respectively. In molecular divergence analysis, among 121 SSRs, 70 primers exhibited the parental polymorphism. Certain SSR markers viz., DM0561, CMAAAGN14, TJ147, CMMS35_3, CMAGN45 and DE1337 identified specific/unique alleles, which could further be utilized to identify the respective genotypes. DNA finger printing of F1 hybrids was also carried out using these SSR markers. Overall, the finding of this study revealed that the novel inbred lines can effectively be combined to generate heterotic F1 hybrids for yield and other traits, such as total soluble solids, β-carotene content, netting intensity, both rind and flesh thickness. Further, SSR markers can potentially be utilized for confirming the genetic diversity among parental lines and DNA finger printing of F1 hybrids.
  • ThesisItemRestricted
    Effects of double stranded RNA in Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) on guava
    (Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2018) Simranpreet Kaur; Sandeep Singh
    The present study entitled “Effects of double stranded RNA in Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) on guava” was conducted in the Fruit Entomology Laboratory, Department of Fruit Science and Fruit Biotechnology Laboratory, School of Agricultural Biotechnology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana during 2016-17 and 2017-18. Evaluation of impact of two genes NOA and V-ATPase D on maggots, pupae and adults of B. dorsalis revealed that these two genes were vital for growth and survival of B. dorsalis. Bacteria (Escherchia coli HT115) expressing dsRNA was successfully delivered to maggots and adults through artificial diet containing 10g agar, 120g sucrose, 10g soya peptone, 40g dry yeast, 1g sorbic acid, 6.6g ascorbic acid, 0.1g ampicillin, 0.03g tetracycline and 1000ml water. Silencing of NOA and V-ATPase D genes resulted in mortality of different life stages of B. dorsalis in a dose-dependent manner. Maximum moratlity was observed in maggot, pupa and adult stages of B. dorsalis after feeding of bacteria expressing dsRNA at 700µl concentration followed by bacteria expressing dsRNA at 350µl and 200µl concentrations for both NOA and V-ATPase D genes as compared to control (bacteria without dsRNA). Silencing of target genes had greater impact at higher concentrations of bacteria expressing dsRNA. Thus, utilization of this novel strategy might help to manage population of B. dorsalis in guava and may further strengthen the Integrated Pest Management module for B. dorsalis in Punjab after carrying out further research on these aspects.