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Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu
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ThesisItem Open Access Comparative study ofnano elicitors and their role on growth and development of Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) under in-vitro conditions(Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Jammu, 2024-05-15) Yousuf, Muzamil; Chand, GurdevThe present study “Comparative study of nano elicitors and their role on growth and development of broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) under in-vitro conditions” was carried out at Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory, Division of Plant Physiology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu during 2020 to 2023 to develop efficient sterilization, callusing, and regeneration protocol under in-vitro response using various explants of broccoli. The effect of nanoparticles (40nm) alone or along with other PGRs was studied. There were six treatments viz. Zinc oxide, Copper oxide, silver nitrate, Chitosan, Salicylic acid, and Methyl jasmonate with three different concentrations 10 mg/l,20 mg/l, and 30 mg/l.The result showed that the maximum surface sterilization of leaf explants of Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) was achieved by treatment comprising of 1 % (w/v) bavistin for 5 minutes duration followed by 0.50% (v/v) sodium hypochlorite for 3 minutes and mercuric chloride 0.1% for 0.30 minute which gave 88.75% uncontaminated cultures and was highest as compared to all other treatments. Maximum callus induction frequency(CIF) (90.47%), was observed on MS media supplemented with 1.5 mg/l 2,4-D and 0.75 mg/l, Chitosan showed the maximum callus induction frequency (CIF)(90.27%), followed by 87.45% CIF on culture media supplemented with 1.0 mg/l 2,4-D + 0.75 mg/l chitosan. On the other hand, no response was seen on media without growth regulators and nanoparticles. The combination of half-strength MS basal medium, along with a specific mix of 2.0 mg/l NAA and 0.5 mg/l IBA, was most effective in improving root growth.This exceptional medium produced an impressive 84.25% rooting rate, with roots growing to a remarkable length of 4.50 cm.Maximum shoot induction (85.25%) and (52.75%) were produced from callus segments maintained on MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/l TDZ + 0.25 mg/l IBA and 1.5 mg/l BAP, respectively. The highest average shoot length was recorded at 4.15 cm, followed by 3.49 cm with a combination of 1.0 mg/l TDZ + 0.25 mg/l IBA and 1.5 mg/l BAP. After hardening and acclimatization various morpho-physiological parameters were studied It was found that chitosan consistently recorded the highest relative water content (92.29%). Various biochemical parameters viz. total chlorophyll content, total carotenoids, proline content, total soluble sugars, glucosinolate content, antioxidant enzyme activities (catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase) nitrate reductase activity, and pollen viability were studied Nanoparticle application under in vitro conditions enhanced and maintained the higher levels of above parameters. Salicylic acid, zinc oxide, and methyl jasmonate have a more pronounced stimulatory effect on proline and total soluble sugar found in broccoli. Chitosan recorded significantly highest glucosinolate content (8.17μmol/g FW), total biomass and salicylic acid was found effective in maintaining higher antioxidant enzyme activity(superoxide dismutase (SOD) (9.76-μmol min−1mg−1 protein), catalase (12.20 μmol min−1mg−1 protein), peroxidase (μmol min−1mg−1 protein), leaf area 219.02 cm². and also emerged as the most effective in keeping pollen viability(80.01%) and reducing flower shedding (29.01%). Methyl jasmonate exhibited the most significant effect, resulting in increasing curd diameter. With increased concentration and duration of nanoparticles, all physio morphological parameters showed a linear reduction. The in- vitrogenerated plants took fewer days to acclimate in hydroponics than pots. Noabnormal effect of nanoparticles was observed on leaf shape and colour except in silver nitrate-treated in-vitro plants, their leaves were yellow in colour and plants were stunted, molecular markers (SSR) were used to observe the genetic variation among developed in vitro lines of broccoli under in- vitro conditions. A molecular marker study showed that silver nitrate-treated in vitro plants were the most distinct from the control plants, the rest of the in-vitro plants were almost similar with similarity values of 99 to 100 % respectively. Developed in-vitro methodology from the present investigation may be valuable for commercial micropropagation of broccoli.ThesisItem Open Access Valorization of mango waste in developing functional packaging for enhancing shelf life of strawberries(Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Jammu, 2024-05-09) Javid, Shafaq; Bhat, AnjuCoatings play an imperative role in increasing the shelf life of strawberries and have potential to minimize postharvest losses. In this study, impact of coating formulated from starch, isolated from mango kernel and bioactive compounds, extracted by using three different techniques (conventional solvent extraction, microwave assisted extraction and ultrasonic assisted extraction) and solvents (distilled water, ethanol and hydro-alcohol) was evaluated. Microwave assisted extraction using hydro-alcohol resulted in highesttotalphenoliccontent(36.77mgGAE/g),totalflavonoidcontent(23.81mgQE/g), antioxidantactivity(84.78%)andtotal carotenoidcontent (9.58mg/g). Starchextracted from mango kernel was used in making edible based coating using alkaline methodand analyzed for various physico-chemical properties like yield (40.73±0.97%), amylose content (36.68±0.05%) swelling power (16.81±0.03g/g), solubility power(1.54±0.12g/g) and gelatinization power (72±3.57ºC).Thus the effect of edible coating (2,4and6%) concentration and bioactive compounds(0.5,1.0,1.5 and2.0%) were effective for prolonging the shelf life of strawberries during the storage period. Lowest decrease (12.66 per cent, 0.47 per cent, 1.59 mg GAE per gand1.96×104c.f.u/g) in physiological weight loss, titratable acidity, total antioxidant activity and microbial count was recorded in 4 percent starchand highestdecrease (19.30 per cent, 0.40 per cent, 1.52 mg GAE per g and 3.40×104c.f.u/g) was recorded in 2 per cent starch. Thereforecombined effect of starch and bioactive compounds can be integrated into the supply chain management of strawberry fruit to extend storage life, retain maximum quality attributes, marketability and maintain quality during transport and storage.Coatings are proven to be feasible due to edible, non-reactive and biodegradable nature.ThesisItem Open Access Some New Aspects of Post stratification in Sample Surveys(Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Jammu, 2024-05-09) Shah, Mohd Younis; Rizvi, S.E.H.Post-stratification, also known as stratification after sample selection is a sampling method employed when there's a desire to categorize based on an important variable, yet it's not feasible to assign units to their respective groups until after the sample is chosen. The resulting weights are then used in forming estimates of means or totals of variables collected in the survey. Inferences can be made either unconditionally, i.e. across all possible realizations of the post-strata sample sizes, or conditionally given the achieved sample sizes. The present study “Some New Aspects of Post stratification in Sample Surveys” has been undertaken with objectives to develop some improved estimators of variance for conditional as well as for unconditional post stratification and improved post stratified estimators of mean in two stage sampling design by using auxiliary information. The expressions for bias and mean square error (MSE) of proposed estimators have been obtained up to the first order of approximation. The theoretical results are supported by numerical data that demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed estimators over existing estimators in terms of mean square error. For objective first, (the study variable (Y) and the auxiliary variable (X)), the improved exponential product type estimatorσ ̂_pst(t1)^2 has been proposed. For objective second, (the study variable (Y) and the auxiliary variable (X)), the improved combined estimator for estimating the finite population variance σ ̂_pst(t2)^2 has been proposed and for objective third, (the study variable (Y) and the auxiliary variable (X)), the post-stratified separate ratio type exponentialestimator in two stage sampling designY ̅_TS has been proposed. Based on percent relative efficiency, all the proposed estimators(σ ̂_pst(t1)^2=191.76, σ ̂_pst(t2)^2 = 586.05 and Y ̅_TS = 8170.43) are found to be more efficient than Sadia and Masood (2015) and other existing estimators like Yadav et al. (2018) and other authors in respective cases.ThesisItem Open Access UTILIZATION OF SILKWORM FOR MASS REARING OF TETRASTICHUS HOWARDI (OLLIFF)(Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Jammu, 2024-05-20) Chowdhary, Shahnoor; Gupta, R. K.The present study entitled, “UTILIZATION OF SILKWORM FOR MASS REARING OF Tetrastichushowardi(Olliff)” was conducted in the laboratory of division of Sericulture, SKUAST- Jammu. The focus was on utilizing the waste product of the sericulture industry, specifically the pupae of two silkworm species i.e. Bombyxmori (Linnaeus) (Mulberry silkworm) and Philosamiaricini (Boisd) (Eri silkworm), for mass rearing of Tetrastichushowardi (Olliff), a valuable pupal parasitoid. The investigation aims to find the efficacy of three hosts including Spodopterafrugiperda (Smith) (natural host of T. howardi), B. mori, and P. riciniin sustaining parasitoid populations and finding out the optimal rate of parasitoid production at various densities of host-parasitoid interactions. To identify optimal dosages for mass rearing, densities ranging from 1:1 to 1:5 were tested. Results indicate that with an increase in host-parasitoid density, characters such as parasitization percentage, female-biased sex ratio of progeny, and progeny production per host pupae also increased. However, the rate of parasitization and fecundity of females decreased as density increased. The study reveals that the highest number of parasitoid progeny and maximum females were found at a density of 1:4 (5 host pupae: 20 parasitoids), particularly in P. ricini pupae, suggesting its potential to enhance the effectiveness of T. howardi in pest population suppression due to its better female biased sex ratio and nutritional content that others two hosts.ThesisItem Open Access Study on Adoption of Saffron Cultivation Practices by by the Farmers in Kishtwar District of Jammu Region(Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Jammu, 2024-04-12) Khajuria, Vibhore; Slathia, P.S.Saffron is a spice obtained from the dehydrated stigmas of the flower Crocus sativus Linnaeus, a member of the family iridaceae. Saffron was first grown in Iran, where currently about 90 per cent of the global production comes from . India is the world’s second largest producer and importer of saffron and the fourth largest exporter of this product. The export value of saffron of India is $ 48.48 million, Saffron imported to India is worth $ 31.06 million, constituting 11.3% of global saffron imports. In India, the annual demand for Saffron spice is 100 tons per year but its average production is about 6-7 tons per year. Hence a large amount of Saffron is being imported. At present, about 3,715 hectares of land is under cultivation of Saffron in Jammu and Kashmir. Recently, Kashmir saffron got Geographical Indication (GI) tag status.In Jammu region saffron is mainly cultivated in Kishtwar District which is having nearly 120 ha area under its cultivation. Saffron possesses crucial economic importance as it has multiple uses as coloring agent, food additive in bakery and confectionary, medicinal value etc. Keeping in view the importance of saffron study was conducted in Kishtwar district of union territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir. A list of 322 saffron growers was procured from department of Agriculture. From the procured list, 150 number of saffron growers were selected by using random sampling technique for the purpose of the study. The results showed that majority of the respondents have low knowledge regarding saffron cultivation practices. The study revealed that 98 per cent of the farmers were growing local saffron genotype. None of the farmers were found using chemical fertilizers in saffron crop. However, 46 per cent of the farmers adopted recommended dosage of FYM. All the respondents perceived that saffron is more susceptible to insect, pests and diseases, followed by (98.66 %) of farmers perceived that saffron is susceptible to weather conditions. Majority (90%) of the farmers faced climatic factors as the constraint followed by (28.66 %) of respondents reported lack of irrigation facilities as a constraint. Among the factors, land holding was significantly affecting the knowledge of farmers about saffron cultivation practices. The study also revealed that the farmers were not having adequate knowledge regarding the saffron cultivation practices. Therefore, training programmes on regular basis should be conducted for saffron growers in order to enhance their knowledge and skills in different aspects of saffron cultivation. Proper marketing facilities should be provided to the saffron growers. Assured irrigation facility should be provided to saffron growers so that the saffron production can be enhanced. Improved saffron genotypes should be promoted in the area so that saffron growers can adopt it.ThesisItem Open Access Studies on Planting Configurations, Tuber Size and Bio-inoculants for Quality Seed Production in Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)(Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Jammu, 2024-05-24) Sarswat, Shivanjali; Chopra, SandeepThe present investigation entitled “Studies on Planting Configurations, Tuber Size and Bio-inoculants for Quality Seed Production in Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)” was conducted during the year 2021-22 and 2022-23 at Vegetable experimental farm 1and II, with the objectives (i) To study the effect of planting configurations, tuber size and bio-inoculants on the growth, yield and quality of seed potato (ii) To study the impact of planting configurations, tuber size and bio-inoculants on the incidence of aphids, viruses, early and late blight in seed potato(iii) To study relative economics of different treatments. The experiment was carried out in Randomized Block Design (Factorial). It comprised of three factors (a)Planting configurations: S1- 60 cm × 20 cm,S2- 60 cm × 30 cm and S3- 60 cm × 40 cm (b) Tuber size: (T1) 30g ≤ 50g ,(T2) 50g ≤ 70g . (T3) 70g ≤ 90g (c) Bio-inoculant B0 - Control (No bio-inoculant application), B1- Pseudomonas fluorescens B2- Trichoderma viride and B3- Beauveria bassiana. The study revealed that days to 50% emergence and 50% physiological maturity i.e., 14.58 and 95.92 days was recorded in large sized tubers (T3) which were significantly earlier than other treatments. Among the growth parameters, Maximum LAI (4.02) was recorded in S1T3B1 and Maximum number of stem/ plant (5.54) was recorded in S3T3B2 whereas, Maximum plant height (90.68 cm) was recorded in S1T3B2. Considering the yield attributes, Maximum yield per plant (884.08g) was recorded in S3T3B2, while, The maximum seed yield per hectare (313.52 q) was recorded in S1T3B2. Minimum unmarketable tuber yield per hectare (30.19q) was recorded in S3T3B2. Among the quality parameters recorded, Maximum dry matter content i.e 24.31% was recorded in S3T3B2 and minimum PLW (13.51%) was found in S3T1B2. The interaction of planting configurations, tuber size and bio-inoculants were found to control the biotic stress traits in potato seed production programme. Aphids were effectively controlled by Beauveria bassiana and Trichoderma viride. Lesser incidence of early and late blight diseases were recorded in tuber planted under wider spacing (S3) and treated with all bio-inoculants. The economic studies were also influenced by the planting configurations, tuber size and bio-inoculants. Highest B:C ratio (2.45) of seed potato was recorded in small sized tubers(T1) treated with Trichoderma viride (B2)andplanted under wider spacing(S3).ThesisItem Open Access Linkage and association analysis for horticultural traits in garden pea (Pisum sativum L.)(Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Jammu, 2024-05-21) Chib, Sonali; Sharma, SusheelThe garden pea (Pisumsativum L.) is a globally significant cool-season vegetable prized for its tender pods, seeds, and foliage. The present study investigates the genetic basis of edible poddedness and other important traits in garden pea through linkage and association analyses, respectively. In linkage studies, a F2 population derived from crossing DPEPP (edible podded) with Lincoln (non-edible podded) was utilized, confirming the recessive nature of edible poddedness. Marker screening identified four markers co-segregating with the trait, pinpointing the presence of locus on linkage group III. The constructed linkage map spanned 49.9 cM, with markers AD134 and PsBLOX2 closely flanking the gene at distances of 2.6 cM and 4.3 cM, respectively, facilitating precise introgression of edible poddedness into non-edible podded genotypes. In addition to linkage studies, Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS) were conducted to unravel genomic regions associated with four key horticultural characters using a coreset of 40 pea accessions genotyped with genotyping by sequencing (GBS). Phenotypic evaluations across multiple years (2020-2021 and 2021-2022) exhibited significant variability amongst germplasm for days to 50% flowering, pod length (cm), pod diameter (cm), and plant height (cm). Over 1 million homozygous SNPs were identified, with stringent filtering criteria yielding 43,554 quality SNPs. Diversity analysis revealed five clusters in the germplasm, partially aligning with geographic origin. Adjustment for population structure was executed using multidimensional scaling (MDS), followed by marker-trait association analysis using Mixed Linear Models (MLM).Days to 50% flowering displayed 13 significant associations (MTAs), with a highly significant marker on chromosome 3. Multiple MTAs on this chromosome explained over 45% of the observed phenotypic variation. Two markers on the same chromosome showed significant association with pod length, while pod diameter exhibited nine significant markers across various chromosomes. Additionally, several markers associated with plant height were identified, with the most significant ones located on chromosome 5. Substantial associations were detected for all traits, with several markers explaining a considerable proportion of phenotypic variation. Furthermore, putative candidate genes were discovered through linkage disequilibrium (LD) decay analysis and annotation of flanking regions of significant SNPs, offering possibilities for further analysis, including quantitative gene expression and functional cloning. Overall, this study improves our knowledge of the genetic basis of important horticultural traits in pea germplasm, providing valuable insights for pea improvement programsThesisItem Open Access Bioprospecting of pigment producing bacteria isolated from different food samples(Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Jammu, 2024-04-01) Kour, Sneahpreet; Dutta, UpmaThe study titled “Bioprospecting of pigment producing bacteria isolated from different food samples" was conducted at the Department of Microbiology, SKUAST-Jammu. Microbial pigments, considered secondary metabolites, are synthesized under specific growth conditions. Bacterial pigments, characterized by enhanced biodegradability and environmental compatibility, hold great potential for diverse applications. These pigments exhibit various advantageous properties, including anticancer, anti-proliferative, immunosuppressive, antibiotic, and biodegradable attributes.The research focused on isolating and characterizing pigment-producing bacteria from fruits and vegetables, such as spinach, tomatoes, beetroot, papaya, black grapes, and strawberry, obtained from a local market in Jammu. Nine distinct pigmented bacterial isolates—named SK-1, SK-2, SK-3, SK-4, SK-5, SK-6, SK-7, SK-8, and SK-9were identified and subjected to comprehensive studies. These studies encompassed growth rate analysis and the optimization of culture conditions, including temperature, pH, incubation time, carbon and nitrogen sources, and various media to maximize pigment production.Gram's staining technique revealed that SK-1, SK-2, and SK-7 were Gram-positive, while the others were Gram-negative. Furthermore, all nine bacterial isolates were identified using a biochemical test kit (Hi25TM Media®) consisting of 24 tests.Crude pigments were extracted employing diverse solvents, revealing distinct lambda max values and the presence of carotenoids, phycocyanin, and prodigiosin in their absorption spectra. Identification of four chosen isolates was accomplished through 16s rRNA gene sequencing, and the results were deposited in various repositories. Antimicrobial assays demonstrated significant inhibitory effects against human pathogens using the extracted crude pigments. Additionally, these pigments displayed varying total phenolic and flavonoid content levels, showcasing positive correlations with antioxidant activities and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values.Tests such as DPPH scavenging and β-Carotene/Linoleic acid indicated antioxidant properties of the pigments. Correlation analyses underscored relationships between pigment content and biological activities. Further characterization through thin-layer chromatography and HPLC revealed carotenoid and prodigiosin compounds. FTIR and GC-MS analyses unveiled complex structures and bioactive compounds within the pigments.Moreover, these pigments proved successful in dyeing different fabrics, and patch testing affirmed their non-toxic nature on human skin. Translucent candles, coloured with these crude pigment extracts, displayed a spectrum of vibrant hues. This research provides valuable insights into the isolation, characterization, and potential applications of pigment-producing bacteria and their products, elucidating their antimicrobial, antioxidant, and dyeing propertiesThesisItem Open Access Population Dynamics and Management of Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith)(Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Jammu, 2024-05-20) Singh, Monika; Singh, Amit KumarThe thesis embodies the experimental research conducted over two years (2021 and 2022) at the Entomology Farm, SKUAST-Jammu, focusing on the “Population Dynamics and Management of Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith)”. The study encompassed fortnightly surveys across three distinct areas in Jammu district viz., Nagrota, Marh and R.S. Pura Block, to assess the host range and status of S. frugiperda and its natural enemies. The findings revealed widespread fall armyworm infestation, particularly in maize, with minor infestations observed in chilli, cabbage and sugarcane. In the maize ecosystem, ten natural enemies, comprising predators and parasitoids of fall armyworm, were identified. Population dynamics analysis indicated the emergence of adult fall armyworm starting from the 18th standard meteorological week (SMW), with first peak trap catches occurring in the 24th SMW during both years, followed by a second peak in 28th and 27th SMW during 2021 and 2022, respectively after which the population declined till 31st SMW. Similarly, the larval population of fall armyworm commenced from 20th SMW which attained the first peak population in 25th and 26th SMW in 2021 and 2022, subsequently the 2nd peak was observed in 28th and 29th SMW during 2021 and 2022, respectively. Thereafter, the larval population witnessed a gradual decline and observed the minimum population during 31st SMW. Comparative studies between protected and unprotected plots demonstrated higher fall armyworm larval densities in unprotected areas, leading to increased leaf and ear damage and lower yields than the protected plots, and the calculated avoidable yield losses was 33.85 per cent. Among the different management modules evaluated, chemical intensive management exhibited the lowest mean fall armyworm larval counts (0.17 and 0.18 per plant during 2021 and 2022, respectively), followed by IPM, IIMR recommendation, and bio-intensive modules while the control plots showing the highest infestation levels (2.01 and 2.13 per plant during 2021 and 2022, respectively). Evaluating the economic viability of management strategies, the chemical intensive module yielded the highest net profit and cost-benefit ratio (Rs. 25247.00/hectare; 1:2.16), followed closely by IPM (Rs. 21470.00/hectare; 1:1.81), IIMR recommendation (Rs. 19422.00/hectare; 1:1.79), and bio-intensive modules (Rs. 8917.00/hectare; 1:1.48). The present result revealed that IPM module behaved at par with chemical module but it has being advocated that IPM module will be preferred over the chemical module.
