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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 STUDIES ON EFFECT OF KETOPROFEN AND FEBRILE CONDITION ON PHARMACOKINETICS OF LEVOFLOXACIN AND SAFETY OF LEVOFLOXACIN ALONE AND IN COMBINATION WITH KETOPROFEN IN SHEEP(AAU, Anand, 2009) PATEL, URVESHKUMAR DAHYABHAI; Thaker, A. M.Levofloxacin is a novel third generation fluoroquinolone with broad spectrum antibacterial activity. Use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are frequently recommended with antibacterials for the treatment of various bacterial infections accompanied by fever and other inflammatory conditions in animals. Ketoprofen (KTP) is an aryl propionic acid derivative, non-selective COX inhibitor NSAID having anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic properties. In veterinary practice, ketoprofen is used to lower body temperature in animals having fever, to relieve bacteremia and pain in all animals. Pharmacokinetics of an antibacterial drug may change when administered with anti-inflammatory drug or in febrile animals. Despite the great potential for clinical use of levofloxacin, the data on its pharmacokinetics and safety profile in sheep are scarce. The present study was planned to determine the effect of intramuscularly administered ketoprofen (3 mg/kg) and febrile condition (lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced) on pharmacokinetics of levofloxacin following intravenous, subcutaneous and oral administration (3 mg/kg) in sheep and safety of daily intravenous administration of levofloxacin alone (3 mg/kg) and in combination with intramuscular administration of ketoprofen (3 mg/kg) for five days in sheep by monitoring haematological and blood biochemical profiles.ThesisItem Open Access RESPONSE OF RABI MAIZE (Zea mays L.) TO METHODS OF IRRIGATION AND NITROGEN LEVELS UNDER MIDDLE GUJARAT CONDITIONS(AAU, Anand, 2005) PATEL, JASHBHAI BHAGWANBHAI; Meisheri, T. G.An experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Farm, B. A. College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand during two consecutive rabi seasons of the year 2002-03 and 2003-04 with a view to study the "Response of rabi maize (Zea mays L.) to methods of irrigation and nitrogen levels under middle Gujarat conditions". The experiment consisted of twenty treatment combinations comprised of four methods of irrigation (flat bed, all furrow, alternate furrow and skip furrow irrigations) and five nitrogen levels (75, 100, 125, 150 and 175 kg ha-1). The field experiment was laid out in a split plot design with four replications, wherein, methods of irrigation were relegated in the main plots and nitrogen levels were assigned to the sub-plots. The soil of the experimental field was loamy sand in texture having good drainage capacity. It was low in organic carbon and total nitrogen and high in available phosphorus and potassium. The results revealed that methods of irrigation showed significant influence on growth and yield attributes viz., periodical plant height (except at 90 DAS) and number of leaves plant-1, stem girth at bottom and middle portion of the plant at 60 DAS, periodical leaf area index (except at 30 DAS) and periodical dry matter accumulation plant-1 (except at 30 DAS), crop growth rate between 30-60 and 60-90 days of the crop, days to mid tasseling, number of cobs plant-1, length and girth of cob, number of grains and their weight cob-i and weight of 100 grain. These attributes were higher either in all furrows or in flat bed irrigation than alternate furrow and skip furrow irrigation. Like-wise chemical parameters such as chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-b and total chlorophyll contents in fresh flag leaf (except chlorophyll-b content at 30 and 90 DAS), uptake of N, P and K by grain and stover also showed the similar response. Methods of irrigation failed to exhibit their significant influence on stem girth at top portion of the plant and also harvest index as well as protein content of grain. The total nitrogen content of the soil was not significant, while available soil phosphorus and potassium were significant and these nutrients were drained out in sizeable amounts under all furrow and flat bed irrigation over alternate and skip furrow irrigation. Field water use efficiency was maximum under alternate furrow irrigation followed by skip furrow irrigation. Significantly higher grain and stover yields (5165 and 8297 kg ha-1) were obtained under all furrow irrigation than alternate and skip furrow irrigation but it was at par with flat bed irrigation which recorded the grain and stover yields of 4917 and 8018 kg ha-1, respectively. All furrows irrigation registered the highest net realization (Rs. 19044 ha-1) with the maximum CBR of 1: 2.41. The periodical plant height, number of leaves plant-1, stem girth at bottom, middle and top portion of the plant, periodical leaf area index and dry matter accumulation plant and crop growth rate between 30-60 and 60-90 days of the crop, days to mid tasseling; yield attributes like number of cobs plant-1, length and girth of cob, number of grains and their weight cob-1 and weight of 100 grains were significant due to nitrogen levels and these attributes were tended to increase with the increase in the levels of nitrogen from 75 to 175 kg N ha-1. Chemical parameters viz. protein content, chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-b and total chlorophyll, uptake of N, P and K by grain and stover were also increased with the increase in levels of nitrogen except stem girth at middle and top portions of the plant and P uptake by grain which were improved upto application of 150 kg N ha-1. Harvest index, total soil nitrogen and available soil phosphorus were not significantly influenced due to nitrogen levels but available soil potassium was found to be significant due to nitrogen levels and higher amount of applied nitrogen depleted higher quantity of potassium from the soil. Field water use efficiency was also increased with the increase in levels of nitrogen. Application of 175 kg N ha-1 (N175) recorded significantly higher grain yield (5077 kg ha-1) than the rest of the nitrogen levels except 150 kg N ha-1, which recorded the grain yield of 4960 kg ha-1. Similarly, 150 and 125 kg N ha-1 were also at par. The stover yield (8465 kg ha-1) was significantly higher under the highest level of nitrogen (175 kg N ha-1) than others, but was comparable to 150 kg N ha-1 (8283 kg ha-1). Net profit was increased with each successive increase in nitrogen levels and maximum net realization of Rs. 18362 ha-1 was accrued with the application of 175 kg N ha-1 with the CBR of 1:2.33 followed by 150 kg N ha-1 (Rs. 17911 ha-1) and 125 kg N ha-1 (Rs. 17049 ha-1), which recorded the CBR of 1:2.33 and 1:2.29, respectively. The interaction effect between methods of irrigation and nitrogen levels also brought out significant variations in plant height at 60 DAS, number of leaves plant-1 at 90 DAS, stem girth at bottom, middle and top portions of the plant at 60 DAS, leaf area index at 60 and 90 DAS, dry matter accumulation planH at 30 DAS, chlorophyll-a and chlorophyll-b at 60 and 90 DAS and total chlorophyll at 90 DAS, protein content of grain, uptake of phosphorus and potash by grain, total soil nitrogen, available soil phosphorus and potassium status of soil. The correlation studies indicated that grain yield had highly significant positive correlation with almost all the growth and yield attributes and chemical traits. From the above findings, it is concluded that for accruing maximum economic advantage, rabi maize variety GM 3 should be irrigated by adopting all furrow method of irrigation and fertilized @ 150 kg N ha-1 along with 50 kg P2O5/ha.ThesisItem Open Access INFLUENCE OF DECAPITATION AND PGR's ON GROWTH, YIELD AND QUALITY OF CLUSTER BEAN SEED (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L. Taub.) CV. PUSA NAVBAHAR(AAU, Anand, 2010) NARSHI, SATODIYA BAKUL; Patel, H. C.A field experiment was conducted at Main Vegetable Research Station, Anand Agricultural University, Anand during the years 2008-09 and 2009-10 in summer seasons on sandy loam soil with a view to study the "Influence of decapitation and PGR's on growth, yield and quality of cluster bean seed (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L. Taub.) cv. Pusa Navbahar" under middle Gujarat conditions. There were twenty one treatment combinations comprising three decapitation treatments i.e. D1-Without decapitation (control), D2-Decapitation at 70 DAS and Ds-Decapitation at 85 DAS and seven different PGR's treatments along with control i.e. G1 -Water spray (Control), G2-NAA 20 mg/l, G3-NAA 40 mg/l, G4-GA3 20 mg/l, G5-GA3 40 mg/l, G6-Thiourea 500 mg/l and G7-Thiourea 1000 mg/l in a Randomized Block Design (Factorial) with three replications. Growth parameters viz. plant height and number of leaves per plant were found non-significant at 30 and 60 DAS. Whereas, without decapitation (control) treatment recorded significantly the highest plant height i.e. 112.07 and 115.72 cm and number of leaves per plant i.e. 50.70 and 45.15 at 90 DAS and harvest stage, respectively. The effects of decapitation on physiological parameters viz. LA, LAI, CGR, NAR and dry weight of plant were found non-significant at 30 and 60 DAS whereas, at 90 DAS all the physiological parameters and at harvest only LA and dry weight of plant recorded significantly, higher values in control treatment (Without decapitation). Decapitation of plant at 70 DAS registered significantly the highest number of pods per cluster (7.55), number of clusters per plant (18.29), number of pods per plant (138.00) and weight of 1000 seeds (37.00 g) in pooled analysis. However, dry pod length (9.59 cm) and number of seeds per pod (7.05 cm) were found maximum in treatment decapitation at 85 DAS. Decapitation of plant at 70 DAS produced significantly the highest seed yield (917.7 kg/ha) in pooled analysis as compared to without decapitation (889.13 kg/ha), which was 9.26 % higher than without decapitation. Root and shoot ratio (0.057) and harvest index (627.04) were also found significantly superior in treatment decapitation at 70 DAS. Seed quality parameters viz. seedling length, seedling dry weight, vigour index-I and II were recorded the highest values in treatment decapitation at 70 DAS at 6th 8th and at 10th day on pooled basis. Plant growth regulators treatments significantly influenced growth parameters viz. plant height and number of leaves per plant at various growth stages of crop except at 30 DAS. At 60, 90 DAS and harvest stage treatment GA3 40 mg/l recorded significantly maximum plant height and number of leaves per plant as compared to rest of treatments. Physiological parameters viz. LA, LAI, NAR and dry weight of plant at 60 and 90 DAS registered significantly the higher values in treatment GA3 40 mg/l in pooled analysis. At harvest, LA, LAI and dry weight had recorded significantly maximum values in treatments Thiourea 500 mg/l and GA3 40 mg/l which remained at par with each other. Yield attributing characters viz. number of pods per cluster (7.25), number of clusters per plant (18.75), number of pods per plant (136.01), dry pod length (9.86 cm) and weight of 1000 seeds (37.22 g) were significantly the highest in treatment Thiourea 500 mg/l on pooled basis. The significantly maximum seed yield was recorded by the treatment Thiourea 500 mg/l (1030.36 kg/ha) in pooled analysis, which was at par with treatment GA3 20 mg/l (992.81 kg/ha) which was 26.67 and 22.05 %, higher than control, respectively. The treatment GA3 20 mg/l recorded the highest harvest index (638.80). Seed quality parameters viz. germination percentage, seedling length, seedling dry weight and vigour index-I and II were recorded the maximum values in treatments of GA3 and Thiourea at all the three stages i.e. 6th, 8th and 10thday. Interaction effects between decapitation and PGR's treatments on growth parameters viz., plant height and number of leaves per plant showed significant differences at 60, 90 DAS and harvest stage except for number of leaves per plant at harvest. Different combination of decapitation and PGR's treatments recorded significant results on physiological parameters at various growth stages viz. LA, LAI, CGR, NAR and dry weight of plant. At 60 and 90 DAS LA, LAI, NAR and dry weight of plant recorded significant results in different combinations except CGR at 60 DAS. At harvest stage, CGR, NAR and dry weight of plant were found significant due to interaction between decapitation and PGR's treatments. At all the growth stages, interaction between without decapitation and treatments of GA3 and Thiourea recorded significantly higher values of all the physiological parameters. Yield attributing parameters viz. number of seeds per pod and weight of 1000 seeds significantly affected by interaction between decapitation and PGR's treatments which, were the highest in combinations D'aGe (8.20) and D2G6 (41.40 g), respectively. Seed quality parameters like, seedling length, seedling dry weight and vigour index-I and II recorded the maximum values in combinations of decapitation at 70 DAS with treatments of GA3 and Thiourea at all the three stagesi.e. 6th 8th and10th day. The higher net return of 47,849 Rs./ha along with B.C.R. of 1: 2.60 was obtained by decapitation at 70 DAS, whereas, the lowest net realization (41,935 Rs. /ha) and B.C.R. (1:2.43) was obtained when plant decapited at 85 DAS. The treatment Thiourea 500 mg/l recorded the maximum net realization of Rs. 52,277 per hectare with 1:2.73 B.C.R., followed by treatment GA3 20 mg/l.ThesisItem Open Access DETECTION AND DIFFERENTIATION OF MAREK'S DISEASE VIRUS SEROTYPES BY POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION (PCR) AND CHARACTERIZATION BY DNA SEQUENCING OF THE PCR PRODUCT(AAU, Anand, 2006) KALYANI, IRSADULLAKHAN HABIBULLAKHAN; Purohut, J. H.Marek's disease (MD) is a lymphoproliferative disorder of chicken characterized by oncogenic transformation of T cells that infiltrate lymphoid tissues, peripheral nerves and visceral organs, resulting in a complex pathogenesis that usually leads to death of the affected chicken. The causative agent of MD, Marek's disease virus (MDV) a cell associated herpesvirus, is ubiquitous in almost all poultry population raised under commercial conditions. The present study was under taken to assess incidence of MD as per the farm records on the basis of clinical signs and post mortem lesions, detection of MDV from clinical cases exhibiting frank lesions of MD by PCR, comparing the efficacy of different primers in detecting the MDV as well as differentiating the serotypes in tissues and feather follicle and genetic characterization by sequencing of the PCR amplified fragment carrying 132 bp repeats. During June to November 2005 outbreaks of MD were suspected in flocks of egg type birds on farms situated in and around Anand district located of central Gujarat as well as from farms around Mahuva located in Saurastra region of Gujarat state. The strength of individual affected flocks varied from 4500 to 25000 birds with a total population of 4,26,991 birds. Of these, 14110 birds died due to MD (as per the farm records of history, symptoms and postmorterm lesions) with an over all mortality of 3.30 per cent during the months of June to November 2005. During the investigation, a total of thirty six commercial poultry farms and forty nine batches of layer birds suffered from mortality due to MD, in addition to Central Poultry Research Station (CPRS) Veterinary College Anand, where mortality occured in layer birds. Mortality in commercial poultry farms ranged between 0.6 to 7.3 per cent. A total of 34 clinical samples (17 feather follicles and 17 spleen ) from 27 birds suspected of MD were collected by making visits to the various commercial poultry farms and also from CPRS Veterinary College Anand. Suspected clinical samples and four MD vaccine strains, including three HVT (MDV-3) vaccines and one SB-I(MDV-2) vaccine were processed for DNA extraction. DNA was extracted from samples of feather follicle using proteinase K mixture, where as DNeasy Tissue Kit (QIAGEN Pvt. Ltd) was used for tissue samples. Sample showing acceptable purity and concentration were subjected to PCR amplification using six different primers. Total of six pairs of primers were used, which were selected to amplify different gene segments. The primer pair BamHl/BamH2 specifically amplifying a 434 bp segment from BamHI fragment (of MDV-1) containing 132 bp repeats located in TRL and IRL region of MDV genome, detected 32 samples positive indicating presence of double 132 bp repeats in the amplified segment. All the three HVT vaccines and one SB-1 vaccine failed to produce the amplification as the selected primer is specific for MDV-1 only. Primer pair AGAM1/AGAM2 and P1/P2, both targeting the antigen A gene (UL44) produced 314 bp and 199 bp products respectively in 30 out of 34 clinical samples tested, however, none of the HVT vaccine or SB-1 vaccine yielded positive result, suggesting the specificity of these primers for MDV-1. Primer set M1.1/M1.8 amplified a 318 bp product as against expected 247 bp product in 30 samples. To confirm the result, these primers were subjected to NCBI BLAST, and it was found that the primer specific segment of 318 bp does exist in pubhshed sequence of Md5, and Mdl IBAC. None of the HVT as well as SB-1 vaccine produce any amplification indicating the specificity of primer in detecting MDV-1. Only two field samples produced expected amplicon of 505 bp when tested with MDV-3 specific HVT1/HVT2 to detect the vaccine virus (HVT). All the three HVT vaccines produced the amplicon of 505 bp, whereas SB-1 vaccine was negative, proving specificity of this primer pair for HVT. Out of the six primer pairs, BamHl/ BamH2 and AGA1/AGA2 detected MDV in maximum number (32) of field samples. Primers AGAM1/AGAM2, P1/P2 and Ml.l/M.1.8 detected the same number (30) of samples positive. Primer pair HVTl/ HVT-2 detected MDV-3 in two feather follicle samples indicating possible excretion of the vaccine virus. PCR products (434 bp) of MDV genome amplified by BamHl/BamH2 primers from two field samples (M3, M4) having good quality DNA (i.e. 1.7-1.9 OD at 260/280 nm) as detennined by spectrophotometry were used for sequencing by ABI PRISM® 310 Genetic Analyzer (Applied Biosystems, USA), using BigDye® Terminator v3.1 Cycle sequencing kit (Applied Biosystems, USA). The sequence obtained revealed two 132 bp repeats in the 378 bp stretch indicating virulent nature of the field MDV. The alignment of 378 bp sequence of M3 and M4 with previously published sequences of the MDV isolates Md5, Mdll, HPRS-16 and CDs of tumourogenicity associated m-RNA and CDs published from BamH gene family revealed that the field isolates of present study shared complete homology (100%). Results of sequencing along with history of vaccination in the affected birds and involvement of different organs on postmortem examination indicated about the increase in virulence of MDV circulating in field causing recent outbreaks.ThesisItem Open Access STUDY OF HORMONES AND BIOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF FOLLICULAR FLUID OF UNOVULATED FOLLICLES AND OVARIAN TISSUE IN SUPEROVULATED GOATS(AAU, Anand, 2001) DESHPANDE, SATISH B.; Pathak, M. M.Totally 24 indigenous goats of Gujarat state were superovulated with Folltropin-V (FSH) and FolHgon (PMSG) during low and peak breeding season of the year to study the hormonal and biochemical profile of follicular fluid of unovulated follicle, luteal tissue and ovarian interstitial tissue of superovulated goats. The goats were mated on the day of superovulatory estrus with an injection of 750 lU of chorulon (LH) to facilitate maximum ovulation and were laparotomized on day-3 of the superovulatory estrus. The superovulatory response was recorded in terms of number of ovulation and number of unovulated follicles. The ovaries were removed surgically and after recording the biometrical changes, 10 % tissue homogenates of luteal and interstitial tissue were prepared in distilled water. The follicular fluid, luteal tissue homogenate and ovarian interstitial tissue honragenate were analyzed for Hormones (progesterone, estradiol-17 p and testosterone), biochemical (total protein and total, free and ester cholesterol), enzymes (AKP, ACP and LDH) and micro minerals (copper, iron and zinc) by standard procedures. The results revealed that the mean ovarian length (21.76 ± 1.89 Vs 13.20 ± 1.06 mm), width (16.04 ± 1.77 Vs 9.74 ± 0.69 mm) and thickness (12.01 ± 1.14 Vs 7.66 ± 0.62 mm) were significantly (P<0.05) higher in superovulated goats than the control one. The differences in these parameters between the two superovulatory drugs were statistically non-significant. The superovulatory response in terms of mean number of ovulation (12.83 ± 2.58 Vs 8.91 ± 1.90) and mean number of embryo recovery (5.91 ±2.14 Vs 3.66 ± 1.11) was recorded significantly (P<0.05) higher in folltropin-v treated animals as compared to folligon treated animals. However, the mean number of unovulated follicles did not differ significantly between the two treatment groups (3.50 ± 0.90 and 3.75 ± 1.65 respectively for folltropin-v and folligon treated animals). The effect of season on superovulatory response was statistically non-significant. The studies on follicular fluid of unovulated follicles indicated that the progesterone, estradiol 17- (3 and testosterone concentration did not differ significantly between the treated groups. The effect of season was also non-significant specifically for estradiol 17-P and testosterone but progesterone was significantly (P<0.05) high during low breeding season. The total protein content was recorded higher in follicular fluid of superovulated goats compared to control (14.47 ±1.20 Vs 12.87 ± 1.12 mg %). The cholesterol concentration was lower in follicular fluid of unovulated follicles compared to control animals but the differences were statistically non-significant. The season also did not influence the cholesterol content in follicular fluid. The AKP and LDH activity was slightly higher in control animals than treated groups. The ACP activity was significantly (P<0.05) higher in PMSG and FSH treated animals than control (2.84 ± 0.20 Vs 3.10 ± 0.16 Vs 2.31 ± 0.15 KAU%). The effect of season was statistically non-significant for AKP, ACP and LDH activity in follicular fluid of unovulated follicles.ThesisItem Open Access STUDIES ON PHARMACOKINETICS AND SAFETY OF CIPROFLOXACIN IN COW CALVES(AAU, Anand, 2000) BHAVSAR, S. K.; Verma, M. P.The present study was conducted to determine the pharmacokinetics of ciprofloxacin after single dose intravenous, intramuscular or subcutaneous administration and multiple-dose intravenous administration. Additionally safety of multiple intravenous doses was evaluated. Following single dose (5 mg/kg of body weight) and multiple-dose (5 mg/kg of body weight repeated at twelve hour intervals for two and five days) intravenous administration of ciprofloxacin, the therapeutically effective serum ciprofloxacin concentration (> 0.12 µg.ml-1) was maintained for up to 8 hours. The pharmacokinetics of the drug was best described by two-compartment open model following the single and multiple-dose intravenous administration of ciprofloxacin. The drug was widely distributed (Vd area; 1.99 ± 0.07 1 kg-1) and rapidly eliminated (t1/2β; 1.69 ± 0.12 hours) following intravenous administration. The drug was not detectable 12 hours after the fourth or tenth intravenous doses given at the rate of 5 mg/kg of body weight in calves. Single and multiple-dose pharmacokinetics of the drug were found to be identical. Following single-dose administration at the rate of 5 mg/kg of body weight, therapeutically effective serum ciprofloxacin concentration was detectable at 2 minutes after intravenous and intramuscular administration and at 8 minutes after subcutaneous administration, However, the concentration was maintained for longer time after subcutaneous administration (12 hours) than following intramuscular administration (8 hours).ThesisItem Open Access MANAGEMENT EFFICIENCY OF ROSE GROWERS(AAU, Anand, 2010) PATEL, DHARMENDRAKUMAR D.; Patel, B. B.The recent advances in rose production technology have demonstrated that scientific management has great potential for increasing the rose production. Therefore, raising management efficiency is of paramount importance for rose producer. This will open up new vistas and make possible for rose growers to achieve substantial gains in income. There are number of factors affecting the rose production. Management is one of the most important factors which help the rose growers to exploit natural resources and accumulate capital. The efficient use of resources depends to a greater extent on how rose growers acquire and adopt innovations in the rose cultivation in effective manner to reach higher levels of economic performance through their management efficiency. The present study on "MANAGEMENT EFFICIENCY OF ROSE GROWERS" was undertaken with following specific objectives: 1. To know the profile of rose growers 2. To study the management efficiency of rose growers 3. To ascertain the relationship of personal, social, economical, communicational and psychological characteristics with management efficiency of rose growers 4. To know the extent of contribution of selected independent variables on dependent variable of rose growers 5. To study the direct and indirect effect of the independent variables on the management efficiency of rose growers 6. To analyze the constraints faced by rose growers regarding various aspects of rose production The present study was undertaken in Dholka taluka of Amdavad district of Gujarat state. There are 71 villages of Dholka taluka. Out of these, six villages were selected based on specific criteria. These selected villages were considered as stratum and with the help of proportional allocation method sample size of each stratum was determined. A random sampling procedure was adopted for the selection of respondents from the selected villages. Thus, total 127 rose growers were selected randomly. The Ex-post-facto research design was followed. A scale was developed to measure the management efficiency of rose growers. The dependent and independent variables were measured with appropriate scales and procedures adopted by other research workers. To measure the knowledge level regarding improved rose cultivation practices and attitude towards improved rose cultivation practices, tests were developed by the investigator. An interview schedule was developed in accordance with the objectives of the study and it was pre-tested and translated into Gujarati. The data of this study were collected through personal interview. The statistical measures such as percentage, mean, standard deviation, co-efficient of correlation, stepwise multiple regressions, standard partial regression coefficient and path analyses were used. MAJOR FINDINGS The important findings of the study are as under: 1. PROFILE OF THE RESPONDENTS 1.1 PERSONAL CHARACTERISTIC Majority of the rose growers had middle age (72.44 per cent), at least primary education level (83.50 per cent) and medium level of experience in rose cultivation (63.80 per cent). 1.2 SOCIAL CHARACTERISTIC Nearly three-fifth (57,50 per cent) of the rose growers had large family size. 1.3 ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS More than three-fourth (77.16 per cent) of the respondents possess up to 2.00 hectares of land and a great majority (84.25 per cent) of the rose growers had above 35.00 per cent of their total land under rose cultivation. 1.4 COMMUNICATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS Majority (83.46 per cent) of the rose growers had medium to low level of participation in training programme, more than fourfifth (81,10 per cent) of the rose growers had medium to high level of contacts with extension agencies and more than three-fourth (77.95 per cent) of the rose growers possessed medium to high level of exposure to mass media. 1.5 PSYCHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS Majority (74.80 per cent) of the rose growers had medium to high level of economic motivation, three-fourth (75.59 per cent) of them had medium to high degree of risk orientation, four-fifth (81.10 per cent) of them had medium to high level of achievement motivation, a great majority (89.76 per cent) of them had medium to high level of aspiration, majority (77.95 per cent) of them had medium to high level of innovative proneness, a great majority (85.83 per cent) of them had medium to high level of cosmopoliteness, a great majority (85.83 per cent) of them had medium to high level of competition orientation and a great majority (85.04 per cent) of them had medium to high level of self confidence. 2. MANAGEMENT EFFICIENCY AND ITS COMPONENTS OF ROSE GROWERS 2.1 MANAGEMENT EFFICIENCY OF ROSE GROWERS Slightly more than two-third (68.50 per cent) of the rose growers had medium level of management efficiency, while 16.54 per cent of the rose growers had high level of management efficiency and 14.96 per cent of the rose growers had low level of management efficiency. 2.2 VARIOUS COMPONENTS OF MANAGEMENT EFFICIENCY OF ROSE GROWERS Slightly more than four-fifth (81.10 per cent) of the rose growers had medium to high level of knowledge about improved rose cultivation practices, more than four-fifth (85.83 per cent) of the respondents had medium to high level of attitude towards improved rose cultivation practices, three-fourth (75.59 per cent) of the respondents had medium to high level of ability in planning in rose cultivation, slightly less than four-fifth (79.53 per cent) of the respondents had medium to high level, of ability to make rational decision, majority (83.47 per cent) of the respondents had medium to high level of timely adoption, majority (85.04 per cent) of the respondents had medium to high level of ability to mobilize resources, more than four-fifth (85.04 per cent) of the respondents had medium to high level of ability to co-ordinate activities, slightly less than three-fourth (74.02 per cent) of the respondents had medium level of efficient use of resources, majority (84.25 per cent) of the respondents had medium to high level of ability in rational marketing and slightly less than three-fourth (73.23 per cent) of the respondents had medium to high level of competence in evaluation. 3. RELATIONSHIP OF PERSONAL, SOCIAL, ECONOMICAL, COMMUNICATIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS WITH MANAGEMENT EFFICIENCY OF THE ROSE GROWERS Out of eighteen independent variables, sixteen viz.; education, experience in rose cultivation, land under rose cultivation, participation in training programme, contact with extension agency, exposure to mass media, economic motivation, risk orientation, achievement motivation, level of aspiration, scientific orientation, innovative proneness, cosmopoliteness, competition orientation and self confidence were positively and significantly related, while age is negatively and significantly related to management efficiency of the rose growers. 4. EXTENT OF CONTRIBUTION OF SELECTED INDEPENDENT VARIABLES ON THE DEPENDENT VARIABLE OF THE ROSE GROWERS Management efficiency was found to be predicted by nine independent variables such as participation in training, scientific orientation, cosmopoliteness, risk orientation, education, land under rose cultivation, level of aspiration, innovative proneness and experience in rose cultivation, which has together contributed 75.80 per cent of the total variation in the management efficiency of the rose growers. 5. DIRECT AND INDIRECT EFFECT OF THE INDEPENDENT VARIABLES ON MANAGEMENT EFFICIENCY OF THE ROSE GROWERS Participation in training programme of the respondents was the key variable in exerting considerably direct and substantial effect on management efficiency. Education and scientific orientation were the major traits in determination of management efficiency through positive indirect effect. Whereas, age of the respondents is only character which negatively and indirectly influenced on management efficiency. 6. CONSTRAINTS FACED BY THE ROSE GROWERS REGARDING VARIOUS ASPECTS OF ROSE PRODUCTION The most important constraints faced by the rose growers regarding various aspects of rose cultivation were: Fluctuation in prices of roses, non-availability of labours for various rose cultivation practices, high cost of inputs, commission rates of agents very high, weed problem, high cost of transportation, lack of technical guidance at proper time, natural calamites/flood and lack of marketing facility near by village.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 ESTIMATING WHEAT YIELDS IN GUJARAT USING WTGROWS AND INFOCROP MODELS(AAU, Anand, 2003) AKULA, BABY; Shekh, A. M.Crop simulation models are valuable tools to researchers to help them to understand the influence of climatic variables on crop productivity. The model estimated yields are handy to the agencies in government, trade and industry for planning about distribution, storage, processing, export or import of crop produce. Yield estimates by the models are also useful in taking timely policy decisions on fixing levy prices, because the estimates of the yield are available well in advance of the actual harvesting of the crop. Hence, a two-pronged approach was followed to estimate wheat yields in Gujarat, with the help of WTGROWS and InfoCrop simulation models. Initially both the models were calibrated and validated under Anand conditions through field experiment laid out in a strip plot design with three replications during rabi season of the years 2000 and 2001. Tliree dates of sowing were assigned as a main plot treatment with four irrigation regimes as sub plot treatments. Consistently higher yields were realised in case of the second date of sowing (15* Nov) during both the years although the yield differences were not statistically significant. Relatively more yields were realised in 2000 than those realised in 2001 and this was due to prevalence of favourable low temperatures during 50-90 DAS - a period that corresponded with anthesis to dough stage in conjunction with intermittent cold spells from 70-75 DAS corresponding with soft dough phase in the former year. In contrast to what was observed in case of yields in relation to the dates of sowing, yield data due to different irrigation treatments showed significant differences among them. Three irrigations gave significantly the lowest yield as compared with yields realised through any other irrigation treatment. The lowest yields realised in the treatment involving three irrigations were due to prevalence of moisture stress during tillering and flowering. Paradoxically, six irrigations despite not missing any important physiological stage, did not record significantly higher yield in comparison with yield in response to five irrigations. This was on account of the fact that, luxurious vegetative growth in the former case had caused lodging, as the prevailing wind speed was high. Different test criteria were followed to validate the performance of the models. Besides, error per cent was also calculated in all the different treatments to express the deviation in simulated values from those observed. Close scatter of simulated yield and total dry matter and respective measured values around the regression line and 1:1 line in case of both the models indicated good agreement between them. Both the models exhibited their robustness in predicting yields by explaining more than 90 per cent of variation in yield and total dry matter on an overall basis. However, there still remains some scope for improvement of the models in accounting for the loss due to lodging. The estimated RMSE for yield by WTGROWS was 318 kg ha-1, while that for yield by InfoCrop was 360 kg ha-1. Among the different dates of sowing, error per cent was relatively low in the treatments of the second date of sowing when compared with that for other dates. Both the models displayed decrease in error per cent with increase in irrigation levels. Underestimation of the simulated yield was more when the number of irrigations was less [three (I1) and four (I2)] when compared with that for more irrigations [five (I3) and six (I4)]. The underestimation was relatively more in case of InfoCrop, than that in case of WTGROWS. The performance of the models could be adjudged with the index of agreement (D), which was relatively high for WTGROWS (D= 0.97) than that for InfoCrop (D=0.95) in terms of yield. The models were also observed to perform in a similar way in terms of their response to the treatments in case of total dry matter, phenology and LAI also. The days to anthesis and maturity were simulated with less accuracy by both the models as compared to that of yield. Anthesis by WTGROWS explained more variance (R2=0.82) than that explained by InfoCrop (R2=0.75). The performance of these models in explaining the variance due to days to maturity was reverse of what was observed in case of anthesis. The highest and the .lowest ET were observed in case of the treatments of D2I4 and Dili, respectively. WTGROWS also showed similar pattern. Relatively higher proportion of MBE as compared to that of MAE during both the years in terms of ET as simulated by WTGROWS revealed under- prediction of ET by the model. Nonetheless, the error per cent did not cross the limit of -15 per cent during both the seasons except in case of Dill (-15.77%). Both the models expressed sensitivity to weather parameters viz., temperature, radiation and CO2 levels under both potential and stressed test conditions. But, the magnitude of change from the respective base yields in case of both the models was more to temperature under stressed conditions. However, the magnitude of response was more in case of WTGROWS than that in case of InfoCrop on overall basis except in case of radiation under stressed conditions where InfoCrop exhibited relatively more sensitivity. Linear response to TTVG, POTGWT, GNODMA, NSOILI, WLSTI was observed in case of both the models. The sensitivity was relatively more in case of WTGROWS than in case of InfoCrop. Moreover, InfoCrop exhibited linear response to RGRPOT and SLAVAR also. Statistical analysis of the historical actual wheat yield data of the state revealed that the average actual yield for the state as a whole was 2.5 t ha-1. Out of the ten districts selected to understand the temporal and spatial variability in wheat production levels and further to estimate yield gap through linking the model results with GIS, only Junagadh, Banaskantha and Bhavnagar exhibited significant positive linear trend at an average increase rate of 66, 31 and 25 kg ha-1 yr-1, respectively. Majority of the other districts failed to exhibit any discernible linear trend. However, Mehsana was found to be the second potential wheat producer of the state after Junagadh. The estimated average district potential yield by the models was 5.9 t ha-1 on overall bases. This is 2.36 times higher than the average actual state yield and is due to favourable thermal regimes as it was evident under Anand conditions where the estimated TTVG explained 87 per cent of variation in the potential yield and indicated significant linear positive trend. Similar reasoning holds good for higher potential yields in other districts. The attainable yields were estimated by imposing the management constraint of delayed sowing by twenty days from the optimum time (15thNov). The attainable wheat yields were found to decrease in all the districts irrespective of the agro climatic zone. The estimated attainable yield for the state as whole was 4.8 t ha-1 on the basis of the ten districts considered in the study. The average sowing yield gap between potential and attainable yield varied from 863 to 1205 kg ha-1 Reduction in yield due to delayed sowing was highest in the districts of Saurashtra which was followed in this respect by middle Gujarat, north Gujarat and south Saurashtra in sequence. The quantity of reduction in succession in these agro climatic zones was to the tune of 60, 59, 49 and 44 kg ha-1 per day delay in sowing, respectively.