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Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat

Assam Agricultural University is the first institution of its kind in the whole of North-Eastern Region of India. The main goal of this institution is to produce globally competitive human resources in farm sectorand to carry out research in both conventional and frontier areas for production optimization as well as to disseminate the generated technologies as public good for benefitting the food growers/produces and traders involved in the sector while emphasizing on sustainability, equity and overall food security at household level. Genesis of AAU - The embryo of the agricultural research in the state of Assam was formed as early as 1897 with the establishment of the Upper Shillong Experimental Farm (now in Meghalaya) just after about a decade of creation of the agricultural department in 1882. However, the seeds of agricultural research in today’s Assam were sown in the dawn of the twentieth century with the establishment of two Rice Experimental Stations, one at Karimganj in Barak valley in 1913 and the other at Titabor in Brahmaputra valley in 1923. Subsequent to these research stations, a number of research stations were established to conduct research on important crops, more specifically, jute, pulses, oilseeds etc. The Assam Agricultural University was established on April 1, 1969 under The Assam Agricultural University Act, 1968’ with the mandate of imparting farm education, conduct research in agriculture and allied sciences and to effectively disseminate technologies so generated. Before establishment of the University, there were altogether 17 research schemes/projects in the state under the Department of Agriculture. By July 1973, all the research projects and 10 experimental farms were transferred by the Government of Assam to the AAU which already inherited the College of Agriculture and its farm at Barbheta, Jorhat and College of Veterinary Sciences at Khanapara, Guwahati. Subsequently, College of Community Science at Jorhat (1969), College of Fisheries at Raha (1988), Biswanath College of Agriculture at Biswanath Chariali (1988) and Lakhimpur College of Veterinary Science at Joyhing, North Lakhimpur (1988) were established. Presently, the University has three more colleges under its jurisdiction, viz., Sarat Chandra Singha College of Agriculture, Chapar, College of Horticulture, Nalbari & College of Sericulture, Titabar. Similarly, few more regional research stations at Shillongani, Diphu, Gossaigaon, Lakhimpur; and commodity research stations at Kahikuchi, Buralikson, Tinsukia, Kharua, Burnihat and Mandira were added to generate location and crop specific agricultural production packages.

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20183
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Subject: Horticulture × End date: 2018 × Start date: 2018 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: Ph.D ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    MORPHO-BIOCHEMICAL STUDIES OF TEZPUR LITCHI
    (AAU, Jorhat, 2018-07) GOGOI, SUKANYA; Kotoky), U.
    A study was conducted on different varieties of litchi (Litchi chinesis Sonn.) at litchi garden, Porua, Tezpur and Experimental Farm, Department of Horticulture, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat during 2016-2018 to have a “Morpho-biochemical studies of Tezpur litchi”. A total of seven varieties with four replications were laid out in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The varieties that were taken for investigation were Bombay, Shahi, Piyaji, China, Bilati and Elaichi from Tezpur and Shahi from Jorhat district. The canopy spread of cultivar T2 (Tezpur Shahi) was the highest (15.80m) and lowest (8.65m) in T7 (Jorhat Shahi). Pyramidal, oblong, spherical and elliptical tree shape was observed among the various cultivars of litchi. During the period of investigation, the cultivar T1 (Bombay) took the lowest duration of flowering (18 days) and the highest was recorded in cultivar T5 (Bilati), i.e., 31.50 days. The duration from flowering to harvesting was highest (92.25 days) in T5 (Bilati) and lowest (81.25 days) in T1 (Bombay). The highest fruit weight of 27.79g was recorded in the cultivar T5 (Bilati) which is followed by T4 (China) cultivar (21.88g) and lowest (13.12g) was recorded in T7 (Jorhat Shahi). The highest fruit length of 3.82cm was recorded in the cultivar T3 (Piyaji) and the lowest fruit length (2.97cm) was in T7 (Jorhat Shahi). Fruit circumference showed significant difference among the cultivars where highest (12.40cm) was recorded in T5 (Bilati) and that of lowest (8.70cm) in T7 (Jorhat Shahi). The highest fruit volume (29cc) was recorded in T5 (Bilati) followed by T4 China (24.50cc). Round, cordate, oblong and oval shapes were noticed among the cultivars. The highest aril weight was observed in case of T5 (18.42g) and the lowest was observed in the cultivar T7 i.e., 9.40g. The highest peel weight (4.98g) was recorded in case of Bilati. The highest (6.42) and the lowest (3.07) aril-peel ratio of were observed in case of the cultivar T2 and T7 respectively. The aril thickness was the highest in case of T5 (0.97cm) and the lowest was recorded in T7 (0.47cm). The highest seed weight (3.69g), length (3cm) and diameter (1.27cm) were recorded in T3 (Piyaji) and the lowest values were recorded in T6 (Elaichi). The highest specific gravity of 1.091 was recorded in the cultivar T5 (Bilati) and the lowest (1.036) in T7 (Jorhat Shahi) though their differences among the varieties were found to be non-significant. The variety T4 (China) recorded the highest yield per hectare (48.47t/ha), whereas, the lowest yield (13.92t/ha) was recorded in T7 (Jorhat Shahi). The data on fruit cracking percentage revealed that, the highest fruit cracking (27.22%) was recorded in cultivars T2 (Tezpur Shahi), followed by T3 (Piyaji) and the lowest (12.56%) was in T5 (Bilati). The highest skin strength of 3.21kgcm-2 was recorded in cultivar T5 (Bilati) and T2 (Tezpur Shahi) was found to have the lowest fruit skin strength of 2.48kgcm-2. The highest fruit skin calcium (5.29mg/100g DW) and highest boron content (0.123mg/100g DW) were found in case of the variety T5 (Bilati) and lowest values were in T7 (Jorhat Shahi). Regarding juice content, the highest (18.46cc) was recorded in T5 (Bilati). The cultivar T5 (Bilati) was recorded to have the highest TSS content of 19.77oBrix and the lowest TSS was in T7 (Jorhat Tezpur). The highest titratable acidity (1.65%) was recorded in the cultivar T7 (Jorhat Shahi). Highest reducing sugar (9.86%) and total sugar 17.33% were recorded in the cultivar T5 (Bilati). The cultivar T5 (Bilati) exhibited the highest Vitamin C content of 63.38mg/100g. The highest potassium content (1270mg/100g) was recorded in T5 (Bilati) which was followed by T1 (1105.75mg/100g). The highest anthocyanin content (39.93mg/100g) was recorded in the cultivar T5 (Bilati), whereas, the highest anthocyanin degradation index (4.07) was recorded in the cultivar T7 (Jorhat Shahi). The highest POD (4870.93U/mg protein) and PPO (89.17U/mg protein) specific activity were recorded in T7 (Jorhat Shahi) and that of the lowest values was observed in T5 (Bilati). The highest DPPH inhibition percentage (69.62%) and highest flavonoid content (65.93mg/100g) were recorded in T5 (Bilati). Physiological loss in weight (4.46%) and browning index (243.77) were lowest in T5 (Bilati). Correlation coefficient analysis revealed significant positive correlation of yield with fruit weight, volume, aril weight and canopy spread. The available soil nutrient content of Tezpur was found to be better than that of Jorhat and from this investigation, it can be concluded that, all the litchi varieties of Tezpur were found superior both in quantitative and qualitative characters.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    GENETIC DIVERSITY IN BANANA (Musa spp.) GERMPLASM OF ASSAM
    (AAU, Jorhat, 2018) Baruah, Sudeshna; Kotoky, U.
    An experiment was conducted at the Experimental Farm, Department of Horticulture, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat to evaluate the huge diversity among the banana germplasm commonly available in the state of Assam. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with five replications the evaluation was done based on agro-biochemical parameters as well as the genetic diversity present within the genotypes using SSR markers. Based on growth, yield and fruit biochemical characters, the genotypes were clustered with respect to Euclidean distance and also by Trocher’s method. These clusters showed significant differences as compared to the genomic classification of banana. The genotypes were found to show significant diversity based on all the characters and considering all the variations, there were four major clusters found within the 24 genotypes under this investigation. The diploid balbisiana genotypes (Bhimkal and Athiakal) were found to occur in two different solitary clusters, whereas both the culinary genotypes (Kachkal green and white types) consisted a single cluster. The characters like pseudostem height, leaf area, planting to shooting interval, shooting to harvesting interval, crop duration, number of fingers per bunch, fruit weight, fruit volume, number of seeds, pulp: peel ratio, sugar content were found to show high GCV, PCV added with very high heritability and high genetic advance and therefore, these characters were identified to be subjected to improvement by direct selection. After the molecular study using 52 primers, a total of 32 primers were found to produce reproducible bands and 197 alleles were detected by them, of which 170 were polymorphic bands. Percent polymorphism thus obtained was 84.95%. The average polymorphism information content of the primers was 0.437, which was the highest for primer 41(0.913). In the study, a few molecular identities for different genotypes could be identified. A single band sized 400bp, specific to ‘Digjowa’ genotype was found with the SSR27. For both the red bananas considered in the study (Agnisagar and Gobin Tulsi), another specific band sized 250bp was identified with SSR22. The Jaccard’s similarity index was calculated using the molecular marker data and the average similarity index was found to be 0.552, which suggested sufficient diversity present within the genotypes. The maximum similarity based on this was found between ‘Manjahaji, and ‘Barjahaji’. Based on this similarity index, another clustering was done which found two major clusters within the 24 genotypes. In cluster 1, there were two subclusters and in cluster 2, there were three sub-clusters followed by a single genotype (‘Fesa Manohar’). This study had revealed that even among the genotypes belonging to same genomic group, there is sufficient differences based on agro-biochemical parameters and genetic information they carry. Moreover, from this study, the promising genotypes for different characters could be identified on the basis of growth, yield and fruit biochemical characters. Further, on the basis of the present study, efforts can be made for inclusion of more number of primers for even better characterization of the genotypic variability, detailed study for pest and disease resistance and more specifically by including gene specific primers.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    GROWTH, YIELD AND BIOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GARLIC (Allium sativum L.) VARIETIES UNDER ELEVATED REGIMES OF TEMPERATURE AND CARBON DIOXIDE CONCENTRATION
    (AAU, Jorhat, 2018-01) Rahman, Naseema; Narzary, Bhupen Dev
    A study was conducted during 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16 on “Growth, yield and biochemical composition of garlic (Allium sativum L.) varieties under elevated regimes of temperature and carbon dioxide concentration” in the Department of Horticulture and Crop Physiology, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam for screening of nine (9) germplasm/ varieties of garlic (Allium sativum L.) (seven germplasm collected from four North Eastern states along with two National varieties from DOGR, Nashik, Maharastra) in field condition; as well as to optimize the best planting month in terms of yield of selected germplasm/ varieties. The interactive results revealed that planting of garlic cloves in the month of October recorded the highest growth parameters and yield in germplasm/ varieties, viz., Bhima Omkar (V8) (11.51t ha-1) followed by Ekfutia Assam (V1) (10.03 t ha-1), Assam Local (V2) (9.43 t ha-1) and Bhima Purple (V9) (8.94 t ha-1). The four (4) screened germplasm/ varieties viz., Ekfutia Assam, Assam Local, Bhima Omkar and Bhima Purple were grown in Carbondioxide Temperature Gradient Tunnels (CTGTs) to assess the interactive effect of elevated CO2 and temperature and to identify the elite ones for future cultivation. The treatments consisted of T1 = AMB (Ambient CO2 condition and temperature condition); T2 = CTGT I (400 ppm CO2 + 20C higher than ambient temperature); T3 = CTGT II (550 ppm CO2 + 40C higher than ambient); T4 = CTGT III (700 ppm CO2 + 60C higher than ambient). The elevation of temperature and carbon-dioxide condition was maintained from planting to harvesting stage. The results revealed that improvement of some of the major morpho-physiological parameters of the germplasm/ varieties in CTGT II as compared to ambient condition viz., plant height (+9.71%), leaf number (+14.53%), LAI (+13.83%), LAD (+12.82%), relative leaf water content (+3.32%), water potential (+7.78%), photosynthesis (+13.43%). However, in CTGT III some parameters viz. stomatal conductance (-27.48%) and chlorophyll content (-21.97%) were significantly lower over ambient condition. Similarly, the biochemical parameters viz. Allicin, Proline, Ascorbic Acid content, TSS etc. showed a significantly higher value in CTGT II (Allicin content : Assam Local 5.92 mg g-1; Ekfutia Assam 5.69 mg g-1 and Bhima Omkar 4.99 mg g-1) as compared to ambient condition (Allicin : Assam Local 5.21 mg g-1, Ekfutia Assam 5.14 mg g-1, Bhima Omkar 4.54 mg g-1). A decline in chlorophyll content of leaves observed under both the CTGTs. A better status of membrane was recorded at CTGT II, as compared to CTGT III and ambient condition in terms of lower activity of MDA (Lipid peroxidation) and H2O2 content; hence a comparatively lesser reduction in membrane stability index was recorded in CTGT-II over CTGT III. Anatomical studies revealed better stomatal aperture status and anatomical modifications in CTGT II as compared to CTGT III. Better yield attributing parameters were recorded in CTGT II as compared to CTGT III and other treatments, which could be correlated to a higher per cent of reduction in bulb formation in CTGT III. Reduction of the above parameters due to high temperature was ameliorated by CO2 enrichment under CTGT II. From the above experiment, it is evident that some degree of tolerance exhibited against high temperature stress which could be attributed to higher accumulation of proline content in leaves, adjustment of anatomical features, better water status in germplasms Assam Local and Ekfutia Assam and National variety Bhima Omkar as compared to Bhima Purple under elevated carbon-dioxide and temperature condition. This indicates the differential responses of germplasm/ varieties under future climate change conditions. Thus, it may be concluded that, the present investigation extends and adds our knowledge of both crop-intrinsic and extrinsic determinants of growth and productivity. The detailed and comprehensive analysis presented in different garlic varieties and under varied and elevated climatic conditions will provide critical insights into optimal strategies for future farming of commercially and medicinally important crops like, garlic. It is anticipated that this information has the potential to benefit researchers, farmers and ultimately the consumer.