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Anand Agricultural University, Anand
Anand Agricultural University (AAU) was established in 2004 at Anand with the support of the Government of Gujarat, Act No.(Guj 5 of 2004) dated April 29, 2004. Caved out of the erstwhile Gujarat Agricultural University (GAU), the dream institution of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Dr. K. M. Munshi, the AAU was set up to provide support to the farming community in three facets namely education, research and extension activities in Agriculture, Horticulture Engineering, product Processing and Home Science. At present there seven Colleges, seventeen Research Centers and six Extension Education Institute working in nine districts of Gujarat namely Ahmedabad, Anand, Dahod, Kheda, Panchmahal, Vadodara, Mahisagar, Botad and Chhotaudepur
AAU's activities have expanded to span newer commodity sectors such as soil health card, bio-diesel, medicinal plants apart from the mandatory ones like rice, maize, tobacco, vegetable crops, fruit crops, forage crops, animal breeding, nutrition and dairy products etc. the core of AAU's operating philosophy however, continues to create the partnership between the rural people and committed academic as the basic for sustainable rural development. In pursuing its various programmes AAU's overall mission is to promote sustainable growth and economic independence in rural society. AAU aims to do this through education, research and extension education. Thus, AAU works towards the empowerment of the farmers.
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ThesisItem Open Access LINE X TESTER ANALYSIS FOR COMBINING ABILITY, HETEROSIS AND GENE ACTION IN OKRA (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench(AAU, Anand, 2004) AHLAWAT, TIMUR RAMPAL; Joshi, K. I.The present investigation entitled "Line x Tester analysis for combining ability, heterosis and gene action in okra (Ahelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench)" was undertaken at Main Vegetable Research Station, Gujarat Agricultural University, Anand during kharif 2000 and 2001. The experimental material comprising of fifteen females, five males, their 75 hybrids and standard hybrid check GOH-1 was evaluated in a randomized block design with three replications in both the environments. Observations were recorded on fruit yield per plant and eight other yield components. The individual environment-wise and pooled analysis of variance revealed sufficient variation among the genotypes for all the traits studied, indicating the existence of sufficient variability in the material. The pooled analysis over environments revealed that environmental differences were non-significant for all the characters, thereby suggesting that the characters were not influenced by the changes in environment. Considerable level of heterosis was observed for fruit yield and its component traits. Maximum heterosis was observed for number of primary branches per plant followed by fruit yield per plant, plant height, fruits per plant and fruit weight. However, the magnitude of heterosis varied in different environments for the various traits studied.ThesisItem Open Access BIOECOLOGY OF SPOTTED POD BORER, Maruca vitrata (Fabricius), BIOEFFICACY AND RESIDUAL STATUS OF SOME INSECTICIDES IN RELATION TO INSECT PEST COMPLEX OF COWPEA [Vigna unguiculata (Linnaeus) Walpers](AAU, Anand, 2004) PANICKAR, BINDU M. K.; JHALA, R. C.The investigations in cowpea on comparative biology and biometrics of spotted pod borer, Maruca vitrata (Fabricius) on different host crops (cowpea, green gram, black gram, pigeonpea and Indian bean), population dynamics in relation to weather parameters and field life table of M vitrata, evaluation of various insecticides for their efficacy against insect pest complex and toxicity to lady bird beetles and residual status of some insecticides on cowpea were carried out during 2001-2003 at Anand Agricultural University, Anand. The studies on comparative biology and biometrics indicated that significantly higher length (mm) of egg (0.64), 1st (3.18), 3rd (9.39), 4th (12.05) and 5th (16.23) instar larva, male (13.55) and female (13.64) pupa, male (11.81) and female (11.99) moth; significantly higher breadth (mm) of 1st (0.73), 2nd (0.88). 3rd (1.66), 4th (2.81) and 5th (3.56) instar larva and female moth (24.85); significantly higher width (mm) of head capsule in 1st (0.29), 2nd (0.39). 3rd (0.52), 4th (0.59) and 5th (0.66) instar larva; significantly shorter period (days) of egg (2.32), 1st (2.30), 3rd (2.75), 4th (2.75), 5th (2.60) instar larva; significantly shorter total larval (13.71 days), pre-pupal (1.59 days), pupa! (5.36 days) and pre-oviposition (1.10 days) periods; significantly longer oviposition periods (4.30 days) in the female and adult period (6.40 days) of male; significantly shorter total life cycle (29.36 days) of female and significantly higher fecundity (41.80 eggs) and growth index (5.71) were recorded in the culture of M. vitrata reared on cowpea [V. unguiculata (L.)] as compared to green gram [V. radiata (L.)], black gram [V. mungo (L.)], pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.)] and Indian bean [Lahlah purpureus (L.)]. Based on these parameters, it was concluded that cowpea is the most preferred host for growth and development of M. vitrata. Per cent damaged pods ranged from 2.20 to 55.52 and 2.77 to 29.43 in kharif cowpea crop during 2001 and 2002, respectively. The infestation commenced 1 to 2 week(s) after initiation of pod setting and it was higher in the month of August. The correlation coefficient was significant only in case of maximum and mean temperatures having positive correlation and mean relative humidity having negative correlation with per cent pod borer damage during kharif, 2001. It was significant with evening vapour pressure (X8) having positive correlation in kharif, 2002. The regression equations showing relationship between per cent pod borer damage (Y) and mean temperature (X5) was found to be : Y = -656.08 + 23.7570 X5 [R2 = 0.4161] for kharif 2001 and Y =-136.18 + 6.6927 X8 [R2 = 0.4314] for kharif, 2002. Field life table studies on M vitrata revealed that a larval-pupal parasite Agathis sp. accounted for 48.14 and 32.52 per cent mortality in 2001 and 2002, respectively. Studies on key mortality factor analysis indicated that big size larvae and pupal stage were most valuable stages for managing this pest. Based on overall rank for bioefficacy against pest complex plus safety to lady bird beetles, the chronological order of various insecticides with green pod yield in kg/ha and incremental cost benefit ratio, respectively given in bracket was : lambdacyhalothrin @ 0.0025% (3337 and 1:31.68) > methyl-o-demcton @ 0.025% (3160 and 1:29.99) > fenvalerate @ 0.01% (2882 and 1:33.50) > deltamethrin @ 25% tablet (6962 and 1:49.53) > alphamethrin @ 0.01% (3742 and 1:28.53) > deltamethrin @ 0.0014% (5729 and 1:71.53):- endosulfan fa) 0.07% (5150 and 1:45.50) > quinalphos @ 0.05% (4045 and 1:29.21) > indoxacarb @ 0.00725% (4454 and 1:18.45) > methomyl @ 0.08% (5364 and 1:16.53) > azadirachtin @ 0.001% (2498 and 1:13.08) > Btk@ 0.75 kg/ha (2188 and 1:2.51) > NSKE @ 5% (1890 and 1:12.98).ThesisItem Open Access MOLECULAR GENETIC CHARACTERIZATION OF BANTAM, BANTAMISED WHITE LEGHORN, AND WHITE LEGHORN CHICKENS USING PCR-RAPD, PCR-RFLP & MICROSATELLITE TECHNIQUES(AAU, Anand, 2004) Pipalia, Devendrakumar L.; Solanki, J. V.The molecular genetic techniques RAPD, PCR-RFLP and microsatellite markers studies were used for investigation of genetic composition and genetic distances among BNT, BWLH and WLH genetic groups of chicken at molecular level. Out of 13 RAPD primers, 9 primers gave amplifications and amongst them 3 primers (BG-1, PLANTAGO-01 and PLANTAGO-06) showed variation between pooled DNA samples from each sex of BNT, BWLH and WLH groups. The BG-1 produced 4 to 7 scorable bands from sexwise pooled DNA samples within 550 to 1550 bp range and amplified approximately 1235 bp female specific band and 625 & 550 bp fragments specific to BWLH and WLH. The band sharing (BS) value was highest between BWLH and BNT group (0.4454) as compared to BWLH and WLH group (0.3880). The PLANTAGO-01 produced 7 to 8 scorable bands from sexwise pooled DNA samples within 724 to 2038 bp range and amplified approximately 1014 bp size fragment specific to BWLH and WLH group. While 724 bp fragment was only found in BNT group. The PLANTAGO-06 primer produced 5 to 8 scorable bands from sexwise pooled DNA samples within 696 to 2530 bp range and amplified approximately 790 and 832 bp fragments specific to BNT group. These primers, PLANTAGO-01 and 06, showed higher BS values between BWLH and WLH (0.6235 and 0.5235) as compared to BWLH and BNT groups (0.5346 and 0.4637). Phylogenetic tree using data revealed that distance between BWLH was less with WLH than BNT group. The PCR products amplified by cGH1 and cGH2 primers specific to chicken growth hormone gene showed size variation as compared to literature i.e. 1216 bp instead of 1163 bp (53 bp difference) for cGHI and 770 bp instead of 756 bp (14 bp difference) for cGH2 region. PCR-RFLP of growth hormone showed restriction enzyme (RE) sites at 628 and 1074 bp at cGHI/Sac / locus and RE sites at 373 and 529 bp at cGH2//Wsp / locus. The new RE sites found at 628 bp for cGHI/ Sac I locus and at 529 bp for cGH2/Msp / locus. The exact size, sequence and position of restriction sites can be more precisely known only by sequencing. For cGHI/Sac / locus, alleles A2 and A3 were not observed in BNT and WLH groups, while only allele A3 was absent in BWLH group. The allele A was found in highest frequency in BNT (0.5357) and WLH (0.5968) groups. While allele A1 was at highest frequency in BWLH (0.7766) group. The allele A2 was only found in BWLH group. It may happen due to insertion of particular restriction site (628 bp) at the time of gametic recombination. The WLH population significantly (P<0.05) deviated from genetic equilibrium at this locus. For cGH2IMsp I locus, the allele frequencies for A1 and A3 alleles were found intermediate in BNT genetic group. For BWLH group, A1 allele showed higher frequency (0.8878), while WLH group showed lack of polymorphism with only A1 allele present. This may be due to mutation or deletion of restriction site at 373 bp in WLH. BNT and BWLH genetic groups were in genetic equilibrium (P<0.01). The phylogenetic trees constructed from cGH1 and cGH2 motifs showed that WLH was at equidistance from BWLH and BNT. The five microsatellite markers i.e. ADL-102, ADL-136, ADL-158, ADL-171 and ADL-172 have shown presence of genetic polymorphism in all genetic groups. The number of alleles ranged from 2 to 6. The marker ADL- 171 was found to be highly polymorphic than other four microsatellite markers. BNT and WLH genetic groups deviated significantly (P<0.01) from genetic equilibrium at ADL-102 locus. All three genetic groups deviated significantly (P<0.01) from genetic equilibrium at ADL-136 locus and ADL-158. The genotypic frequencies of BWLH and WLH populations significantly deviated (P<0.01) from equilibrium at ADL-171 locus. The genetic groups BNT and BWLH were in genetic equilibrium while genetic group WLH significantly (P<0.01) deviated from equilibrium at ADL-172. The heterozygosity for five microsatellite markers ranged from 0.48 for ADL-102 to 0.78 for ADL-171. The PIC values ranged from 0.463 for ADL-102 to 0.683 for ADL-171. The microsatellite marker ADL-171 was more polymorphic and informative than other four microsatellite markers. A consensus tree obtained by bootstrapping multiple data set analysis from all 5 microsatellite markers revealed that WLH and BWLH were forming one cluster in cent percent cases, where as BNT branched out separately from the cluster. The statistical analysis revealed non-significant effect of genotypes at cGH1/Sac / and cGH2/Wsp / locus on BW-8, BW-20, BW-40, TEN-40, EW- 40 and TFC-40 traits. The statistical analysis revealed that various genotypes of all 5 microsatellite markers exerted no significant effect on different production traits under study except for BW-8 in WLH at Adl-102; BW-40 in BNT at ADL- 171; and BW-20, BW-40, TEN-40 and EW-40 in BNT at ADL-172.ThesisItem Open Access IMPACT OF HERBICIDAL MIXTURES ON WEEDS, MAIZE AS WELL AS THEIR RESIDUAL EFFECT ON SUCCEEDING CROPS.(AAU, Anand, 2004) PATEL, V. J.; UPADHYAY, P. N.Atrazine, alachlor, metolachlor each @ 1.0 kg/ha, metribuzin @ 0.30 kg/ha and pendimethalin @ 0.50 kg/ha and their feasible combinations applied at half of the rate and compared with weed free (HW at 20 & 40 DAS) and weedy check treatments in a field investigation carried out at the College Agronomy Farm of Gujarat Agricultural University, Anand on maize crop during Kharif season of the year 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 to study the impact of herbicidal mixtures on weeds, maize as well as their residual effect on succeeding crops. The soil of the experimental field was loamy sand in texture having good drainage capacity. The soil was low in organic carbon and available nitrogen, while medium in available phosphorus and high in available potassium. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with four replications. All the recommended agronomic practices were adopted to raise the crop. The findings of the present investigation indicated that Eleusine indica, Digitaria sanguinalis, Eragrostis major and Dactyloctenium aegyptium as monocot and Digera arvensis, Phyllanthus niruri, Boerhavia diffusa and Euphorbia hirta as dicot weeds were completely controlled by the mixture of either atrazine (0.50 kg/ha) with pendimethaUn (0.25 kg/ha) or alachlor (0.50 kg/ha) and weed free (twice hand weeding carried out at 20 & 40 DAS), while mixture of atrazine (0.50 kg/ha) with metolachlor (0.50 kg/ha) completely controlled Digera arvensis, Phyllanthus niruri, Boerhavia diffusa and Euphorbia hirta upto critical period. Application of alachlor or metolachlor each @ 1.0 kg/ha or metribuzin @ 0.30 kg/ha was found inferior but their mixtures with either atrazine or pendimethalin performed better and gave excellent control of weeds. Pre emergence application of atrazine (0.50 kg/ha) with metribuzin (0.15 kg/ha) did not give complete control of Eleusine indica and Digitaria sanguinalis. Alachlor (0.50 kg/ha) in conjunction with metolachlor (0.50 kg/ha) failed to gave effective control of Digera arvensis, Phyllanthus niruri, Boerhavia. diffusa as well as Euphorbia hirta but excellent for monocot weeds. Further, metribuzin applied @ 0.30 kg/ha did not exert their effect on control of monocot weeds.ThesisItem Open Access Impact of herbicidal mixtures on weeds, maize as well as their residual effect on succeeding crops(AAU, Anand, 2004) Patel, Vimalkumar J.; Upadhyay, P. N.Atrazine, alachlor, metolachlor each @ 1.0 kg/ha, metribuzin @ 0.30 kg/ha and pendimethalin @ 0.50 kg/ha and their feasible combinations applied at half of the rate and compared with weed free (HW at 20 & 40 DAS) and weedy check treatments in a field investigation carried out at the College Agronomy Farm of Gujarat Agricultural University, Anand on maize crop during Kharif season of the year 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 to study the impact of herbicidal mixtures on weeds, maize as well as their residual effect on succeeding crops. The soil of the experimental field was loamy sand in texture having good drainage capacity. The soil was low in organic carbon and available nitrogen, while medium in available phosphorus and high in available potassium. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with four replications. All the recommended agronomic practices were adopted to raise the crop. The findings of the present investigation indicated that Eleusine indica, Digitaria sanguinalis, Eragrostis major and Dactyloctenium aegxjptium as monocot and Digera arvensis, Phyllanthus niruri, Boerhavia diffusa and Euphorbia hirta as dicot weeds were completely controlled by the mixture of either atrazine (0.50 kg/ha) with pendimethalin (0.25 kg/ha) or alachlor (0.50 kg/ha) and weed free (twice hand weeding carried out at 20 & 40 DAS), while mixture of atrazine (0.50 kg/ha) with metolachlor (0.50 kg/ha) completely controlled Digera arvensis, Phyllanthiis niruri, Boerhavia dijfusa and Euphorbia hirta upto critical period. Application of alachlor or metolachlor each @ 1.0 kg/ha or metribuzin @ 0.30 kg/ha was found inferior but their mixtures with either atrazine or pendimethalin performed better and gave excellent control of weeds. Pre emergence application of atrazine (0.50 kg/ha) with metribuzin (0.15 kg/ha) did not give complete control of Eleusine indica and Digitaria sanguinalis. Alachlor (0.50 kg/ha) in conjunction with metolachlor (0.50 kg/ha) failed to gave effective control of Digera arvensis, Phyllanthus niruri, Boerhavia, dijfusa as well as Euphorbia hirta but excellent for monocot weeds. Further, metiibuzin appUed @ 0.30 kg/ha did not exert their effect on control of monocot weeds. Minimum dry weight of weeds (34.64 kg/ha) was recorded under combined application of atrazine (0.50 kg/ha) and pendimethalin (0.25 kg/ha) with the highest WCE (98.96 %) closely followed by weed free treatment and tank mix application of atrazine either with alachlor or metolachlor with more than 93 per cent WCE. Application of metribuzin @ 0.30 kg/ha was found toxic, which had significantly reduced the plant stand, plant height as well as all the yield attributes resulting into reduced grain and stover yields. Maximum plant height, girth and length of cob, number of grains/cob, test weight, grain and stover yields and protein content of grain were obtained under pre emergence application of atrazine (0.50 kg/ha) with pendimethalin (0.25 kg/ha) and weed free treatment followed by atrazine in conjunction with either alachlor or metolachlor (each @ 0.50 kg/ha). Weedy conditions throughout the crop season reduced the grain yield by 46.77 per cent over weed free treatment. The levels of nitrate nitrogen in the surface soil was significantly higher under application of pendimethalin @ 0.50 kg/ha closely followed by mixtures of atrazine (0.50 kg/ha) in conjunction with pendimethalin (0.25 kg/ha) at 0 and 10 day. Minimum plant nutrients removed by weeds (0.21, 0.07 and 0.30 kg N, P and K/ha, respectively) was observed under tank mix application of atiazine + pendimethalin @ 0.50 + 0.25 kg/ha, while maximum nutrients uptake by grain (41.49,18.03 and 23.60 kg N, P and K/ha, respectively) and stover (31.42 and 15.70 kg N and P/ha, respectively) was noticed under weed free treatment and higher potash uptake by stover (50.21 kg/ha) was noted under atrazine + pendimethalin @ 0.50 + 0.25 kg/ha. None of the herbicides applied alone or as mixtures at tested rates had adverse effect on succeeding Rabi crops viz., oat, sorghum, mustard and chickpea. The highest net return was obtained under tank mix application of atrazine with either pendimethalin (Rs. 15831/ha) or alachlor (Rs. 15779/ha) and weed free condition (Rs. 15687/ha). The mixtures of ati-azine with alachlor gave the highest CBR of 2.78 followed by atrazine with pendimethalin (2.71), alachlor with pendimethalin (2.68) arid weed free (2.66).ThesisItem Open Access SUCCESSION OF MAJOR INSECT PESTS, THEIR POPULATION DYNAMICS AND MANAGEMENT IN BRINJAL (Solanum melongena L.)(AAU, Anand, 2004) BHATT, HEMALKUMAR VINODRAI; Koshiya, D. J.Investigations were carried out on succession of insect pests, their population dynamics and management in brinjal (Solatium melongena L.) at B. A. College of Agriculture, Gujarat Agricultural University, Anand during the year of 2001-02 and 2002-03. Siudy on succession of ir.portant insect pests and their natural enemies indicated that sucking pests viz; jassid , Amrasca biguttula biguttula Ishida; whitcfly, Bemisia tabaci Gennadius and aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover appeared during early vegetative stage and was active ihroughout the crop life span, whereas the activity of shoot and fruit borer, Leucinodes orhonalis Gtienee observed initially on shoots and subsequently on fruit during the fruit formation stage of the crop. The population of natural enemies viz; ladybird beetle Coccinella septempunctata L.; green lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea Steph. and geocoris bug, Geocoris ochropterus Fab. also coincided with their host population. A correlation study among the incidence of sucking pests and occurrence of natural enemies revealed that population of jassid and whitefly were positively correlated with ladybird beetle. Similar relationship was also observed between whitefly and predators green lacewing and geocoris bug. The study further indicated that peak population of aphid and jassid was (Miservcd when whitefly population was at its low level showing avoidance of competition among the sucking pests. Infestation of shoot and fruit borer, L orbonalis found throughout the Crop season. Initially, it was observed on tender shoots, then moved to fruits. Correlation study indicated that fruit damage had positive correlation with occurrence of green lacewing and geocoris bug. Similar association was found between aphid population and borer activity for shoot damage. A study on population dynamics of jassid revealed that pest appeared during third week of September and was active throughout the crop season. The highest population was recorded during fourth week of November. Correlation between population of jassid and weather factors (WF) was worked out. The study indicated that among the different physical factors of environment, maximum temperature (MaxT), evening vapour pressure deficit (VPD2)mean vapour pressure deficit (MVPD) and temperature range (TR) showed positive correlation, while negative correlation with evening relative humidity (RH2), mean relative humidity (MRH) and wind speed (WS). Regression study indicated that increase in MVPD (11 to 18 mm of Hg) and decreased in WS (4 to 2 KMPH) playing an important role for build up of the jassid population. Thus, dry atmosphere with low wind speed favoured the build up of the population. Infestation of whitefly, (B. tabaci) commenced from third week of September and reached to its highest level during December. Among the different physical factors of environment MaxT, minimum temperature (MinT), mean temperature (MT), morning vapour pressure (VPl), evening vapour pressure (VP2) and WS showed negative correlation with whitefly population indicating that population of this pest increased with decreased in Min T (17° to 10° C) and it flourished well in cold weather. Population of aphid, A. gossypii was active from third week of September to second week of January. During this period population showed violent fluctuations with three different peaks. Correlation study between population of aphid and WF revealed that bright sunshine hour (BSS) and WS showed negative correlation with pest population. The study further indicated that decrease in magnitude of BSS in the range of 9 to 7 hours proved favourable for the build up of pest population. It suggesting that cloudy weather favoured the build up of its population. Activity of shoot and fruit borer (L. orbonalis) found throughout the crop life span. Damage to shoots commenced from third week of September was maximum during last week of October. After fruit formation, it moved to fruits and the highest fruit damage observed during the month of December. Correlation study indicated that shoot damage showed positive correlation with MaxT, MinT, mean temperature (MT), morning relative humidity (RHl), VPl, VP2, mean vapour pressure (MVP), evening vapour pressure deficit (VPD2) and MVPD. Similar study for fruit damage revealed that MaxT, MinT, MT, RH2, MRH, VPl, VP2, MVP, morning vapour pressure deficit (VPDl) and WS showed negative correlation, which indicating that decreased in Min T between the range of 23° to 15° C proved favourable for this pest. A study on screening of sixteen genotypes/varieties of brinjal for their susceptibility against major insect pests during kharif season revealed that genotypes/varieties JB-64-1-2, GBH-1, Doli-5, AB-99-16, GBL-1, H-7, JBPR-98-2, Brinjal Castor Long and H-8 proved to be resistant to jassid, whereas Brinjal Green Round, Junagadh Long, Junagadh Oblong, PLR-1, AB-00-7 and AB-99-32 found moderately resistant by registering low jassid population. The population of whitefly was found low in genotypes/varieties Brinjal Green Round, GBH-1, Doli-5, Junagadh Long, Junagadh Oblong, JB-64-1-2, AB-99-16, JBPR-98-2 and GBL-1 and found to be resistant, whereas genotypes/varieties JB-64-1-2, AB-99-16, GBH-1, Doli-5, Brinjal Green Round, PLR-1, Brinjal Castor Long, JBPR- 98-2 and H-8 exhibited lower aphid population and showed resistant reaction to this pest. Further, a study on effect of morphological characters and biochemical contents of brinjal leaves on sucking pests indicated that hair density and hair length on leaves as well as thickness of midrib and lamina and leaf area are the important characters for imparting resistant to brinjal. Similarly, total soluble sugars, amino acids and total phenols of brinjal leaf provide basis for the resistance. Observation on shoot damage due to L. orbonalis revealed that genotypes/varieties Brinjal Green Round, GBH-1, H-7, Doli-5, JB-64- 1-2, AB-99-16, Brinjal Castor Long and H-8 proved to be resistant, whereas low fruit damage was recorded in genotypes/varieties JB-64-1-2, GBH-1, Doli-5, Brinjal Castor Long, Brinjal Green Round, H-7, H-8, Junagadh Long and PLR-1 and found resistant against this pest. Study on effect of morphological characters and biochemical contents of fruit revealed that morphological characters had no any effect on fruit damage, however, total soluble sugars, amino acids and total phenols play a vital role in imparting resistant to this pest. The yield data clearly indicated that a genotypes JB-64-1-2, GBH-1 and Doli-5 which proved resistant to sucking pests as well as shoot and the fruit borer and also registered the higher marketable fruit yield. A field study on evaluation of different newer insecticides for the control of pest complex of brinjal indicated that carbosulfan 0.025, monocrotophos 0.04, difenthiuron 0.05 and endosulfan 0.07 per cent effectively suppressed the jassid population. It has been further observed that whitefly population effectively controlled by difenthiuron 0.05, endosulfan 0.07, monocrotophos 0.04 and carbosulfan 0.025. Treatments with azadirachtin 0.00012 per cent found almost ineffective in controlling both the sucking pests. The results further revealed that all the insecticidal treatments proved significantly superior in reducing fruit damage due to L. orbonalis. However, carbosulfan 0.025 recorded the minimum fruit damage and was at par with monocrotophos 0.04 and endosulfan 0.07 per cent, whereas the treatment with azadirachtin could not prove effective in reducing the fruit damage. Yield data clearly indicated that plots treated with carbosulfan 0.025 registered the highest fruit yield (332.08 q ha-1), which was at par with monocrotophos 0.04 (322.64 q ha-1) and endosulfan 0.07 per cent (318.03 q ha-1). Considering the economics and efficacy of the treatments, monocrotophos 0.04, carbosulfan 0.025 and endosulfan 0.07 per cent gave appreciable net incremental cost benefit ratio (NICER) of 1:29.52, 1:26.54 and 1:22.32, respectively. Thus, these treatments can be recommended for the effective management of pest complex of brinjal.ThesisItem Open Access SIMULATION MODELLING OF WHEAT (cv. GW - 496) YIELD USING CERES-WHEAT MODEL IN VARIED ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOISTURE REGIMES OF MIDDLE GUJARAT AGRO-CLIMATIC REGION(Anand Agricultural University, Anand, 2004) H. R. PATEL; Dr. A. M. ShekhIn order to sustain the higher production and minimize the degradation of crop production by varied environmental conditions, an understanding of crop growth in relation to varying resource input and agro-environments is required for management options. Improved production technology at the farm level is the most crucial starting point for future improvement of productivity of wheat by employing and adapting suitable crop growth simulation models. In addition to this, the use of crop growth simulation models comes handy to the government agencies, trade and industry and for planning about the distribution, storage, processing, and export/importThesisItem Open Access LINE X TESTER ANALYSIS FOR COMBINING ABILITY, HETEROSIS AND GENE ACTION IN OKRA (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench(Anand Agricultural University, Anand, 2004) AHLAWAT TIMUR RAMPAL; Dr K. I. JoshiThe present investigation entitled “Line x Tester analysis for combining ability, heterosis and gene action in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench)” was undertaken at Main Vegetable Research Station, Gujarat Agricultural University, Anand during kharif 2000 and 2001. The experimental material comprising of fifteen females, five males, their 75 hybrids and standard hybrid check GOH-1 was evaluated in a randomized block design with three replications in both the environments. Observations were recorded on fruit yield per plant and eight other yield components.ThesisItem Open Access BIOECOLOGY OF SPOTTED POD BORER, Maruca vitrata (Fabricius), BIOEFFICACY AND RESIDUAL STATUS OF SOME INSECTICIDES IN RELATION TO INSECT PEST COMPLEX OF COWPEA [Vigna unguiculata (Linnaeus) Walpers(Anand Agricultural University, Anand, 2004) BINDU M. K. PANICKAR; DR. R.C. JHALAThe investigations in cowpea on comparative biology and biometrics of spotted pod borer, Maruca vitrata (Fabricius) on different host crops (cowpea, green gram, black gram, pigeonpea and Indian bean), population dynamics in relation to weather parameters and field life table of M. vitrata, evaluation of various insecticides for their efficacy against insect pest complex and toxicity to lady bird beetles and residual status of some insecticides on cowpea were carried out during 2001-2003 at Anand Agricultural University, Anand