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Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa

In the imperial Gazetteer of India 1878, Pusa was recorded as a government estate of about 1350 acres in Darbhanba. It was acquired by East India Company for running a stud farm to supply better breed of horses mainly for the army. Frequent incidence of glanders disease (swelling of glands), mostly affecting the valuable imported bloodstock made the civil veterinary department to shift the entire stock out of Pusa. A British tobacco concern Beg Sutherland & co. got the estate on lease but it also left in 1897 abandoning the government estate of Pusa. Lord Mayo, The Viceroy and Governor General, had been repeatedly trying to get through his proposal for setting up a directorate general of Agriculture that would take care of the soil and its productivity, formulate newer techniques of cultivation, improve the quality of seeds and livestock and also arrange for imparting agricultural education. The government of India had invited a British expert. Dr. J. A. Voelcker who had submitted as report on the development of Indian agriculture. As a follow-up action, three experts in different fields were appointed for the first time during 1885 to 1895 namely, agricultural chemist (Dr. J. W. Leafer), cryptogamic botanist (Dr. R. A. Butler) and entomologist (Dr. H. Maxwell Lefroy) with headquarters at Dehradun (U.P.) in the forest Research Institute complex. Surprisingly, until now Pusa, which was destined to become the centre of agricultural revolution in the country, was lying as before an abandoned government estate. In 1898. Lord Curzon took over as the viceroy. A widely traveled person and an administrator, he salvaged out the earlier proposal and got London’s approval for the appointment of the inspector General of Agriculture to which the first incumbent Mr. J. Mollison (Dy. Director of Agriculture, Bombay) joined in 1901 with headquarters at Nagpur The then government of Bengal had mooted in 1902 a proposal to the centre for setting up a model cattle farm for improving the dilapidated condition of the livestock at Pusa estate where plenty of land, water and feed would be available, and with Mr. Mollison’s support this was accepted in principle. Around Pusa, there were many British planters and also an indigo research centre Dalsing Sarai (near Pusa). Mr. Mollison’s visits to this mini British kingdom and his strong recommendations. In favour of Pusa as the most ideal place for the Bengal government project obviously caught the attention for the viceroy.

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20216
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Subject: Fruit Science × End date: 2021 × Start date: 2021 ×
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Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    STUDIES ON MACRO-PROPAGATION OF BANANA (Musa spp.)
    (Dr.RPCAU, Pusa, 2021) KUMAR, VINAY; Panda, Asish Kumar
    The present investigation entitled “Studies on Macro-propagation of Banana (Musa spp.)” was carried out during 2020-21 in the research farm of All India Co-ordinated Research Project on for Fruit crops research field, Department of Horticulture, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agriculture University, Pusa, Samastipur (Bihar). The experiments was laid out in Two-factors Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with eight different types of treatment viz., T1 (Sawdust), T2 (Sawdust + Azotobacter), T3 (Sawdust + Trichoderma), T4 (Sawdust + Azotobacter + Trichoderma), T5 (Sawdust (50%) + Banana fibre waste (50%) + Azotobacter), T6 (Sawdust (50%) + Banana fibre waste (50%) + Trichoderma), T7 (Sawdust (50%) + Cocopeat (50%) + Azotobacter), T8 (Sawdust (50%) + Cocopeat (50%) + Trichoderma) which were replicated five times. The results of the investigation that, among the different growing media of T6 (Sawdust (50%) + Banana fibre waste (50%) + Trichoderma) gave better performance in macro-propagation of banana on growth parameters. With referce to different propagation media, Sawdust (50%) mixed with Banana fibre waste (50%) & Trichoderma recorded maximum survival percentage (94.79 %), minimum days taken primary bud (21.45), secondary bud (46.91) & tertiary bud emergence (58.99), and maximum number of primary shoots (4.21), secondary shoots (7.16) & tertiary shoots (19.91). Same growing media also recorded minimum days taken for root emergence (17.61 days), maximum number of roots per shoot (161.10), primary roots (24.89), secondary roots (46.32), tertiary roots (89.90) & highest root length (21.88 cm).
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Studies on Clonal Propagation of Guava through Cuttings
    (Dr.RPCAU, Pusa, 2021) TIWARI, SHUBHAM; KANTH, NEEHARIKA
    The present investigation entitled “Studies on Clonal Propagation of Guava through Cuttings” was carried out during 2020-21 in the Nursery Unit, Kitchen Garden, Department of Horticulture, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agriculture University, Pusa, Samastipur (Bihar). The experiment was laid out in two-factors Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with four types of potting media, viz., garden soil, Cocopeat: Perlite (1:1), Cocopeat: Vermiculite (1:1), Cocopeat: Perlite: Vermiculite (1:1:1) and two Plant Growth Regulators , viz., PBZ @ 200 ppm, PBZ @ 400 ppm, IBA @ 500 ppm and IBA @ 1000 ppm which were replicated three times. The results of the investigation revealed that among the different potting media, Cocopeat : Perlite : Vermiculite (1:1:1) was most efficient in terms of shooting competency parameters, viz., number of days to bud sprouting, sprouting percentage, number of leaves per cutting, number of branch per cutting and shoot length and for rooting competency parameters, viz., days taken for root emergence, number of roots, root length, root fresh weight,root dry weight and survival percentage of cuttings. Among PGRs, IBA @ 1000 ppm proved to be the best for both shooting and rooting competency parameters. PBZ @ 400 ppm was found to be almost equally efficient for rooting competency parameters. The economic analysis showed that Cocopeat : Perlite : Vermiculite (1:1:1) gave maximum B:C ratio.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    EFFECT OF SEASON, IBA AND GROWING MEDIA ON ROOTING OF SINGLE LEAF-BUD CUTTING OF LEMON (Citrus limon Burm.) CV. NEPALI OBLONG
    (DRPCAU, PUSA, 2021) Maurya, Poonam; Mukhim, C.
    The present experiment was conducted at Horticulture nursery, TCA, Dholi, Muzaffarpur, Bihar on lemon during August 2020 to June 2021 under agro-shade net (50%) condition to know the influence of season, IBA concentrations and growing media on rooting and survival of single-leaf bud cuttings of lemon cv. Nepali Oblong. The experiment was designed in Factorial Completely Randomized Design (CRD) and consisted of total thirty two (32) treatment combinations, which contained seasons i.e., rainy and spring, IBA concentrations i.e., 1000 ppm, 1500 ppm, 2000 ppm & control (treated only with distilled water) and four growing media i.e., soil + FYM + sand, soil + peat moss + sand, soil + sand and soil alone. The experiment was replicated thrice with 30 cuttings in each replication; therefore total 1440 treated cuttings were planted on raised bed under agro- shade net in each season. After two seasons of experimentation, rainy season showed maximum survival percentage (51.46 %), minimum days taken to first sprouting (19.75 days), highest number of roots (33.28), sprouting percentage (54.75 %), length of longest root (5.81 cm), average fresh and dry wt. of cuttings (3.46 g & 1.31 g, respectively). Among the media, soil + peat moss + sand reported maximum survival percentage (47.92 %), minimum days taken to first sprouting (20.04 days), highest number of roots (28.17), sprouting percentage (54.14 %), length of longest root (5.99 cm), average fresh and dry wt. of cuttings (3.55 g & 1.46 g, respectively). Among the IBA concentrations, IBA @ 2000 ppm performed best with respect to maximum survival percentage (47.50 %), minimum days taken to first sprouting (20.37 %), maximum number of roots (27.02), sprouting percentage (55.33 %), length of longest root (6.10 cm), average fresh and dry wt. of cuttings (3.72 g & 1.41 g, respectively). Highest B: C ratio (2.76) was recorded in cutting planted during rainy season treated with IBA @ 2000 ppm containing soil + peat moss + sand growing media.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Evaluation of Strawberry Cultivars Under Different Growing Conditions
    (DRPCAU, PUSA, 2021) SAHA, KUNAL
    The present investigation entitled “Evaluation of Strawberry Cultivars Under Different Growing Conditions” was conducted at Hi-Tech Horticulture Unit, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar. Major objective of the research was to identify the best strawberry cultivar under in this region, to identify most suitable growing condition for strawberry in this region and to evaluate the performance of different strawberry cultivars under various growing conditions. The experimental material consists of three varieties of strawberry viz., Winter Dawn, Nabila and Sweet Sensation under three different growing conditions viz., open, polytunnel and shade net in Completely Randomized Design (Factorial CBD) consist of three replications during the season of 2020 - 2021. In case of parameters vegetative, reproductive and quality parameters were evaluated throughout the study. Among the vegetative parameters number of leaves per plant, leaf area, plant height, plant spread and crown diameters were evaluated. In case of reproductive parameters days taken for flower bud initiation, days for anthesis, number of flowers, number of fruits, days taken for anthesis to harvesting. Whereas among the quality parameters fruit length, width, weight, total soluble sloid, ascorbic acid content, titratable acidity, anthocyanin Dr. RAJENDRA PRASAD CENTRAL AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY, PUSA, SAMASTIPUR, BIHAR-848125 content, reducing sugars, non-reducing sugars and total sugars were determined. Results revealed that highest vegetative growth were recorded in the cultivar Winter Dawn and among the growing conditions inside polytunnel situation maximum were recorded. The same results were found both in case of reproductive and, quality oriented parameters those which were evaluated.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    INFLUENCE OF PLANT EXTRACT ON POSTHARVEST QUALITY AND SHELF LIFE OF PAPAYA FRUIT UNDER AMBIENT STORAGE
    (DRPCAU, PUSA, 2021) SINGH, GURPREET; PRASAD, K.
    Postharvest losses and their management in papaya fruits are always a prime concern for researchers. Hence, studies were conducted to derive an eco-friendly and health-friendly postharvest treatment for quality retention of papaya fruit. The commercial papaya cultivar of Bihar ‘Red Lady’ was assessed for postharvest losses during harvesting and storage under ambient conditions (25 ± 4º C and 65 ± 5% RH). Further, for reduction in fruit decay and retention of postharvest quality, different treatment of plant extract such as ‘Neem oil’ (2% v/v), ‘Pummelo peel extract’ (1 % v/v), ‘Pummelo essential oil’ (0.1% v/v), ‘Turmeric leaf extract’ (1% v/v), ‘Turmeric essential oil’ (0.1% v/v) along with control (water dip) were attempted as edible coating dip treatment on papaya fruit cv. ‘Red Lady’ for five minutes followed by storage at ambient conditions (25 ± 4º C and 65 ± 5% RH) for recording of observations on external and internal quality attributes during the storage period. From results, it has been observed that papaya fruit exhibited high postharvest losses which was more than 10% in terms of pathological loss and up to 15 % in terms of physiological loss. These losses could be reduced/managed significantly by the application of plant extract treatment. Among the attempted postharvest plant extract treatments ‘Turmeric leaf extract (1% v/v)’ was found to be the most effective treatment. It reduced the postharvest decay and physiological loss significantly over the control. It also improved the fruit gloss score (7.00), lowered the physiological activities of fruit in terms of respiration (6.55 CO2 kg-1 h-1) and ethylene evolution rate (60.97 μl kg-1 h-1) over control fruit (5.77, 8.34 ml CO2 kg-1 h-1 and 69.41 μl kg-1 h-1 respectively). Further this treatment positively influenced the activity of fruit browning and senescence causing enzymes such as polyphenol oxidase and lipoxygenase as it exhibited the least polyphenol oxidase (0.309 Δ A410 O.D. min-1 g-1 FW) and lipoxygenase (3.454 Δ A470 μmol g-1 FW min-1) enzyme activity compared to that of control fruit (0.350 Δ A410 O.D. min-1 g-1 FW and 4.128 Δ A470 μmol g-1 FW min-1 respectively). In terms of internal quality attributes, the treatment ‘Turmeric leaf extract (1% v/v)’ maintained the internal quality without exerting any adverse effect on TSS, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid, total carotenoids and total phenolics over control fruit. This treatment also improved the sensory score (7.2) compared to that of untreated fruits (5.8). Our results suggest that plant extract such as ‘Turmeric leaf extract (1% v/v)’ is an eco-friendly and health friendly edible coating approach which retain the external and internal quality of papaya fruit, reduce postharvest decay and extends shelf life of papaya fruit at ambient storage. Further this treatment improves the market value (sensory attribute) of fruit leading to better returns to the grower.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    INFLUENCE OF HYDROCOLLOIDS ON POSTHARVEST QUALITY AND SHELF LIFE OF PAPAYA FRUIT UNDER AMBIENT STORAGE
    (DRPCAU, PUSA, 2021) HOTTIGOUDRA, AKSHATHA; PRASAD, K.
    Postharvest losses and their management in papaya fruits are always a prime concern for researchers. Hence, studies were conducted to derive an eco-friendly and health-friendly postharvest treatment for quality retention of papaya fruit. ‘Red Lady’ was assessed for postharvest losses during harvesting and storage under ambient conditions (25 ± 4º C and 65 ± 5% RH). Further, for reduction in fruit decay and retention of postharvest quality, different treatment of hydrocolloids such as ‘Carboxymethyl cellulose’ (CMC) (1%), ‘Xanthan gum’ (0.3%) ‘Guar gum’ (1.5%) and ‘Gum Arabic’ (10%) were incorporated with papaya leaf extract in 1:1 ratio along with control (water dip) were attempted as edible coating dip treatment on papaya fruit cv. ‘Red Lady’ for five minutes followed by storage at ambient conditions (25 ± 4º C and 65 ± 5% RH) for recording of observations on external and internal quality attributes during the storage period. From results, it has been observed that papaya fruit exhibited high postharvest losses which was more than 10% in terms of pathological loss and up to 15 % in terms of physiological loss. These losses could be reduced/managed significantly by the application of hydrocolloid incorporated with papaya leaf extract (PLE). Among the attempted postharvest treatments ‘Carboxymethyl cellulose i.e. CMC (1%) incorporated with PLE (1:1)’ reduced the postharvest decay loss to nearly 3 times (72.48 %) over control, while reducing nearly 2 times (50.68 %) the physiological loss over control. It also improved the fruit gloss score (7.17), lowered the physiological activities of fruit in terms of respiration (5.82 CO2 kg-1 h-1) and ethylene evolution rate (56.00 μl kg-1 h-1) over control fruit (4.90, 8.00 ml CO2 kg-1 h-1 and 64.09 μl kg-1 h-1 respectively). Further this treatment positively influenced the fruit softening enzymes activities such as lowered polygalacturonase (24.01 μg galactouronic acid g-1 h-1 FW) and pectin methylesterase (0.11 ΔA620 μmol min-1 g-1 FW) enzyme activity compared to that of control fruit (31.98 μg galactouronic acid g-1 h-1 FW and 0.17 ΔA620 μmol min-1 g-1 FW respectively). In terms of internal quality attributes, it maintained the internal quality without exerting any adverse effect on TSS, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid, total carotenoids and total phenolics over control fruit. This treatment also improved the sensory score (7.2) compared to that of untreated fruits (5.9). Our results suggest that plant hydrocolloids incorporated with leaf extract i.e., CMC (1%) incorporated with PLE (1:1) is an eco-friendly and health friendly edible coating approach which retain the external and internal quality of papaya fruit, reduce postharvest decay and extends shelf life of papaya fruit at ambient storage. Further this treatment improves the market value (sensory attribute) of fruit leading to better returns to the grower.