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Dr. Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry, Solan
Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan, was established on 1st December, 1985 with the objective to promote education, research and extension education in the fields of Horticulture, Forestry and allied disciplines. Late Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar, the first Chief Minister and the architect of Himachal Pradesh perceived the importance of Horticulture and Forestry to develop and improve the State economy which led to the establishment of this University. Its history lies in erstwhile Himachal Agricultural College, Solan, established in 1962 and affiliated to the Panjab University. It became one of the campuses of Agriculture Complex of Himachal Pradesh University on its formation in 1970. Consequent upon the establishment of Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya in 1978, this campus became its Horticulture Complex and finally in 1985, assumed the status of a State University, being the only University in the country engaged exclusively in teaching, research and extension in Horticulture and Forestry.
The University is located at Nauni in Solan District of Himachal Pradesh, 13 km from Solan on Solan-Rajgarh Road, at an elevation of 1300 metres above mean sea level. Solan town is situated on national highway (NH-22) and is well connected by train and bus services.
The University has four constituent colleges, out of which, two are located at the main campus Nauni, one for horticulture and the other for forestry, having 9 and 7 departments, respectively. The third College i.e., College of Horticulture & Forestry is located at Neri in Hamirpur District on Nadaun-Hamirpur state highway, about 6 Km from Hamirpur town and is well connected with bus service. The college offers three Undergraduate Degree Programmes i.e. BSc (Hons.) Horticulture, BSc (Hons.) Forestry and B. Tech. Biotechnology and MSc degree programme in a few subjects. The fourth college i.e. College of Horticulture and Forestry, Thunag (Mandi) is located at Thunag District Mandi. This college offer BSc (Hons.) Horticulture and BSc (Hons.) Forestry degree programme. In addition, there are five Regional Research Stations, 12 Satellite Stations and five Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) situated in different zones of the State.
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ThesisItem Open Access CHARACTERIZATION OF GENETIC DIVERSITY AND POLLINATION STUDIES IN SEEDLING POPULATION OF PECAN [Carya illinoensis (WANG) K.KOCH](UHF,NAUNI, 2019-02) THAKUR, KIRAN; SHARMA, GIRISHABSTRACT The present investigation entitled “Characterization of genetic diversity and pollination , in seedling population of pecan [Carya illinoensis (Wang) K.Koch]” was carried out at the Experimental Orchard, Kalaghat Department of Fruit Science, Dr YSPUHF Nauni Solan (HP) during 2015-2017, aimed to assess the nature and magnitude of variability in seedling population so as to identify compatible genotypes to enhance pecan productivity. The plant growth, foliage, floral, nut and kernel characteristics were determined to characterize the genetic diversity in 70 trees of seedling origin while fruit set, fruit retention and various nut, kernel characters under different modes of pollination were studied. The seedling population exhibited variation in plant growth i.e. upright,semi upright and spreading, branching density was also variable so was the yield potential and STN 39 had highest trunk diameter . Nut yield varied from 0.56 to 13.36 kg/tree. Variation was also observed for leaflet number, time of leaf bud burst, leaf fall, leaf shape, time of leaf shedding, stigma receptivity. Most seedlings were protandrous. Maturation of nut extended from 4th September to 29th September. STN 35 had higher nut weight (10.58 g), width, kernel weight (7.40 g), whereas, STN 61 had higher nut length (45.54 mm). Minimum shell thickness (0.25 mm) was in STN 20 and maximum kernel recovery was in STN 7 (87.92 %). Based upon evaluation studies, 8 genotypes were identified as promising for various nut and kernel characteristics. Pollination studies indicated that cross STN 61×PS2 had highest fruit set, retention, nut and kernel weight, nut and kernel length whereas cross STN 63×PS3 had highest kernel recovery, nut and kernel width as well as highest fat content. Mean fruit set and retention were highest in open pollinated trees and so was nut, kernel weight, kernel recovery than in hand self pollination. Nut yield was positively correlated with nut and kernel weight, length, showed inverse relationship with protein. High heritability for kernel recovery, fat content and nut length suggested selection could be effective for these characters.ThesisItem Open Access SURVEY AND SELECTION OF APRICOTS (Prunus armeniaca L.) FROM WILD POPULATION IN HIMACHAL PRADESH(UHF, NAUNI, 2018-10) CHAUHAN, NIRMLA; THAKUR, DINESH SINGHABSTRACT The present study “Survey and selection of apricots (Prunus armeniaca L.) from wild population in Himachal Pradesh” aimed to, and magnitude of variability in apricots growing wild. A total of 92 healthy and bearing wild apricot genotypes on the basis of pre selection survey were marked across apricot growing areas of Shimla and Kinnaur districts of Himachal Pradesh during 2015-17. Marked trees were observed to be upright to spreading in growth habit, trunk girth in Shimla (18.72-78.84 cm) and Kinnaur (35.10-106.17 cm). Yield and yield efficiency were ranged between 36.00-54.00 kg/tree and 38.00-57.00 kg/tree, and 0.09-1.47 kg/cm2 and 0.05-0.45 kg/cm2 respectively, in Shimla and Kinnaur district. The physical characters like fruit length, fruit breadth, fruit weight, fruit firmness, stone weight, stone length and breadth, stone width, pulp/stone ratio, kernel weight and oil content were 22.06-41.31 mm, 20.39-38.41 mm, 8.70-35.34 g and 1.696.97 kg/cm2, 1.00-4.04 g, 14.94-24.87 mm and 12.28-19.50 mm, 8.40-12.89 mm, 4.75-23.72, 0.110.60 g and 37.15-54.08 per cent, respectively under both the districts. TSS, titratable acidity, total sugars, reducing sugars, non-reducing sugars, sugar acid ratio, carotenoid content and phenols were 11.75-21.40 °Brix, 0.48-2.55 per cent, 5.59-16.08 per cent, 1.09-6.89 per cent, 2.41-9.65 per cent, 2.27-26.95, 1630.16-2148.35 µg/100g, 53.29-95.28 mg/100ml, respectively. High heritability coupled with high genetic gain was found for the character trunk girth, stone weight, reducing sugar, kernel weight, pulp to stone ratio, titratable acidity, and leaf breadth which indicated that these characters were under the strong influence of additive gene action and hence simple selection procedure based on phenotypic expression of these traits would be more reliable. Out of 92 wild apricot genotypes studied 19 superior genotypes were selected for further evaluation after field conservation and 15 genotypes used as gene source for the development of new hybrids.ThesisItem Open Access EFFECT OF CALCIUM, BORON AND ZINC ON GROWTH, FRUIT QUALITY AND PRODUCTION OF APPLE(UHF, NAUNI, 2018-09) AJENDER; THAKUR, B SABSTRACT The present investigation entitled “Effect of calcium, boron and zinc on growth, fruit quality and production of apple” was carried out on twelve-year old trees during the years 2015 and 2016 in a private orchard at Reckong Peo (Kinnaur) (H.P.), India. The study was conducted involving three experiments. The first experiment comprised of ten treatments viz. 0.5% recommended dose of calcium chloride at 45 and 30 days before harvest, 0.25g/l, 0.50g/l and 0.75g/l at one, two and three weeks after petal fall and each treatment was replicated three times. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design. Two foliar sprays of CaCl2 @ 0.5% before 45 and 30 days of harvest significantly affected shoot growth, leaf area, yield and fruit quality parameters. The physiological weight loss during different storage interval was recorded to be minimum as compare to other treatments. The fruit firmness was found to be best in treatment T8 (Foliar spray of CaCl2 @0.75g/l one week after petal fall). The second experiment consisted of ten treatments of boron viz. recommended dose of boron 1% at pink bud stage and one month after pink bud stage, 100g, 200g and 300 g of boron through soil application (Fall stage, mid February and tight cluster stage). The results revealed that fall application of boron @ 200g/tree was found to be the best treatment with respect to fruit set, fruit retention and yield which was at par with foliar application of boron @ 0.1% at pink bud stage. The third experiment also comprised of ten treatments of zinc EDTA viz. recommended dose of zinc @ 0.5% during mid June, 30g, 40g and 50 g of zinc EDTA through soil application (Fall stage, mid march and mid April). The results revealed that soil and foliar application of zinc EDTA had a significant effect on shoot growth, fruit quality fruit firmness and yield. The recommended practice i.e. foliar application of zinc EDTA @ 0.5% at mid June resulted in the production of quality fruits which wasat par withfall application of zinc EDTA @ 40g/tree.ThesisItem Open Access STUDIES ON REPLANT PROBLEM IN PEACH [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch](UHF,NAUNI, 2018-02) THAKUR, KISHORE; SHARMA, D.P.ABSTRACT The present investigation entitled “Studies on replant problem in peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch]” was carried out in a private orchard at village Matnali, Tehsil Rajgarh, District Sirmour and Department of Fruit Science, Dr. Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh during the years 2015 and 2016. The objectives of the study were to identify biotic causes of peach replant problem and to study the effects of different soil management practices on plant and rhizosphere related parameters under replant situations. A survey of declined peach orchards was conducted and rhizospheric soil samples were collected from different locations of District Sirmour. The studies were conducted under two different experiments (field and pot-culture), laid out using RBD and CRD, respectively, comprising of 6 treatments including 3 variants viz., soil fumigation, PGPR and biocontrol in 5 different combos and a control (i.e. Recommended package of practices); each with four replications. The process of isolation and identification of fungal pathogens yielded following biotic suspects Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus nidulanse, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus oryzae, Penicillium chrysogenum, Penicillium expansum, Penicillium griseofulvum, Alternaria alternata, Acremonium byssoides, Acremonium strictum, Acremonium kiliense, Gilmaniella humicola, Geotrichum candidum, Chaetomium murorum, Phoma destructive, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium solani, Mycelia sterilia, Fusarium equiseti and Humicola grisea. Some of these fungi have been previously identified while others represent new candidates. Subsequent Koch’s postulates investigations will assess their possible roles in peach replant disease. Further, in consideration of inference drawn from data with respect to plant and rhizosphere soil parameters, combined treatment (Soil fumigation +PGPR +Biocontrol+25% more of recommended SSP) proved to be a potential agro-technique to combat replant problem in peach, which recorded marked increase in growth and vigour, physiological parameters, foliar and available soil nutrient status as well as soil biological parameters under present investigations.ThesisItem Open Access STUDIES ON SELF-INCOMPATIBILITY AND FRUIT DEVELOPMENT IN STRAWBERRY (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.)(UHF,NAUNI, 2017-10) DEEPIKA; SHARMA, GIRISHABSTRACT The present investigation entitled “Studies on self-incompatibility and fruit development in strawberry (Fragaria x ananassaDuch.)’’was carried out during 2014 to 2017 in the experimental field of Department of Fruit Science, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni,Solan, Himachal Pradesh. In experiment 1, floral morphology was studied in sixteen strawberry cultivars,Gorella (0.67 cm) had maximum receptacle, ‘Pajaro’ maximum stamen length (0.53 cm),‘Belrubi’ (309.12) and ‘Chandler’ (307.93) highest pistil numbers followed by ‘Gorella’ (301.62). Pistil length was maximum in ‘Gorella’ (2.03 mm). ‘Fern’ recorded maximum pollen viability with acetocarmine ((89.88 %) and erythrcin B (78.20 %) tests. Pollen germination was best with 15 per cent sucrose solution (73.10). In experiment II, different modes of pollination were studied in seven cultivars, fruit set with better fruit size and weight was obtained from cross-pollination, followed by hand and open pollination and least was in self-pollination.Cross pollination increased fruit set (95.75 %), seed germination (94.16 % in ‘Chandler x Gorella’), fruit weight (16.34 g), fruit length (41.15 mm in ‘Gorella’ x ‘Chandler’) and fruit breadth (34.10 mm in ‘Confectura x Gorella’) and reduced fruit malformation (3.40 % in ‘Chandler x Gorella’) compared to other pollination modes.Selfing by bagging reduced fruit set by 33.89 %, seed germination by 25.39 %, fruit weight by 41.00 % and increased fruit malformation by 174 % compared to open pollination. On the basis of fruit set, self-incompatibility index ranged from 0.47 to 0.71 among all the cultivars.In experiment III, Parental lines Gorella and Chandler exhibited good general combining ability for fruit weight, fruit size, number of fruit and flowers per plant, plant height, spread, leaf area and yield/plant. ‘Selva’, ‘Addie’, ‘Ofra’ were goodgeneral combiners for short duration of flowering and early flowering, including ‘Gorella’ for early flowering. Cross combinations, Chandler x Gorella, Chandler x Selva, Chandler x Sweet Charlie, Selva x Sweet Charlie, Selva x Confectura, Gorella x Ofra, Sweet Charlie x Confectura, Selva x Gorella and Selva x Confectura were good specific combiners for fruit weight, size, number of fruit and yield components. ‘Addie x Ofra’ and ‘Selva x Gorella’ were good specific combiners for plant height, while ‘Ofra x Confectura’ was good reciprocal combiner. ‘Confectura x Chandler’ was good reciprocal combiners for early flowering and early fruit maturity, whereas‘Addie x Chandler’, ‘Addie x Selva’, ‘Addie x Gorella’ were good reciprocal combiners for yield components.The estimates of variance ratio were found to be < 1 for almost all the traits included in this study except for plant height and leaf number indicated predominance of non additive gene action.ThesisItem Open Access EFFECT OF NITROGEN SOURCES ON GROWTH, PRODUCTION, FRUIT QUALITY AND NUTRIENT STATUS OF APPLE CV. ROYAL DELICIOUS(UHF,NAUNI, 2017) SINGH, DEEPIKA; BHATIA, H.S.ABSTRACT The present investigation entitled “Effect of nitrogen sources on growth, production, fruit quality and nutrient status of apple cv. Royal Delicious”, was conducted in private orchard at Denwari (Rohru) in Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh during the year 2015-16. Twenty eight years old apple trees of cultivar Royal Delicious grafted on seedling rootstock of uniform vigour. The trial was laid out in randomized block design (factorial) with four replications. The purpose of these studies were to compare the effects of various sources of nitrogen on apple growth, production, fruit quality, leaf and soil nutrient status, to find out alternate source of nitrogen for the substitution for CAN (calcium ammonium nitrate), which was recommended for Himachal Pradesh. Two field experiments were conducted simultaneously in same orchard wherein, soil application of five sources of N viz. urea, calcium nitrate, 19:19:19 + urea, 12:32:16 + urea and calcium ammonium nitrate similarly, soil application of nitrogen sources + foliar urea sprays at the three levels (840, 700 and 560 g N/tree) were tried and compared to get best nitrogen source and level of application. The data were recorded for growth, fruit set, yield, quality, leaf and soil nutrient status of apple for both the experiments and data of two years was also pooled and analysed to assess the combined impact of the treatments. On the basis of experimental results CAN at 700 g level was observed best treatment for growth, fruit set, yield and was closely followed by calcium nitrate at 700 g N/tree and urea at 700 g N/tree. Leaf N content was recorded with the treatment of urea at 840 g N/tree, whereas highest P and K content were recorded with 19:19:19 + urea at 560 g N/tree. Leaf Ca, Mg and micronutrient concentrations viz., Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn were also quantified significantly by different soil N fertilization in similar trend. Soil pH decreased with treatment 12:32:16 + urea. However, Organic carbon, soil nutrients (N, Fe, Cu and Mn) increased with urea application. Soil P and K contents increased with 12:32:16 + urea and CAN, respectively. Likewise the experimental results of soil applied N sources and levels + foliar urea sprays has observed calcium ammonium nitrate + foliar urea sprays at 700 g N as best treatment combination and was closely followed by calcium nitrate + foliar urea sprays and urea (soil) + urea (foliar) application at 700 g N level. Similarly, Leaf N content was recorded with the urea (soil) + urea (foliar) at 840 g N/tree, whereas highest P and K contents were recorded with soil + foliar treatment (19:19:19 + urea) + urea at 560 g N/tree. Leaf Ca, Mg and micronutrient concentrations viz., Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn were also quantified significantly by different soil + foliar N fertilization in similar trend. Soil pH decreased with soil + foliar application of CAN + urea, whereas organic carbon, soil nutrients ( N, Fe, Cu and Mn) increased with urea (soil) + urea (foliar) treatment. Soil P and K contents increased with soil + foliar treatment (12:32:16 + urea) + urea and CAN + urea, respectively. Since, the CAN availability is problem due to ban on its production, calcium nitrate and urea are two left out options. So, calcium nitrate or urea at 700 g N/tree as soil application and calcium nitrate (soil) + urea (foliar) or urea (soil) + urea (foliar) at 700 g N/tree are best sources based on present experiments and therefore, recommended for use by the farmers/orchardists.ThesisItem Open Access “Studies on the effect of Dormex and CPPU on biochemical changes and production of kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa Chev.)”(UHF,NAUNI, 2017) BABITA; RANA, VISHAL S.ABSTRACT The present investigation entitled “Studies on the effect of Dormex and CPPU on biochemical changes and production of kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa Chev.)” was carried out in the Kiwifruit Block of Department of Fruit Science during 2014-16. The kiwifruit vines having uniform growth and vigour, planted at a spacing of 4m x 6m and trained on T- bar system were selected for the present study. The entire program of study was divided into three experiments. The Experiment-I was laid out according to RBD 12-years-old kiwifruit cv. Hayward and comprised of seven treatments viz., T 1 (Dormex 2%), T 2 (DORMEX 2% + Mineral oil (Orchol) 2%), T 3 (Dormex 4%), T 4 (Dormex 4 % + Mineral oil (Orchol) 2%), T 5 (Dormex at 6%), T 6 (Dormex Mineral oil (Orchol) 2%) and T 7 (control). These treatments were given 45 days prior to anticipated date of bud break as a foliar spray. Application of Dormex at 4 per cent along with mineral oil 2 per cent resulted an advancement of bud break by 9-10 days, emergence of flower buds by 9 days, full bloom date by 9-11 days, fruit set by 11-12 days. Maximum number of shoots emergence and number of buds per flowering shoots were also obtained with this treatment in comparison to control. Further, this treatment resulted in highest total fruit yield, maximum periodic increase in bud peroxidase activity with the concurrent decrease in catalase activity and highest C/N ratio in comparison to untreated vines. The Experiment-II was laid out according to Variance-ratio test (F-test) and Fisher’s t-test/ Behran dtest on 30-years-old vines of Allison kiwifruit, comprising CPPU (a synthetic cytokinin) treated and untreated fruits to study the different growth kinetic curves in developing kiwifruit. The CPPU 5ppm was applied as a fruit dip treatment after 10 days of petal fall. The results revealed that CPPU treated fruit exhibited higher fresh weight at 15 days interval exhibited double sigmoid growth pattern, characterized by rapid growth for 75days (Stage-I), period slow growth for 15 days (Stage-II) and period of enhanced growth for 90 days (Stage-III). This treatment also resulted in bigger sized fruits in terms of length and diameter. The CPPU treated fruits recorded higher amounts of total carbohydrates, ascorbic acid, organic acids and nutrients viz., nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium. Among growth hormones, CPPU exhibited higher levels of IAA, GA 3 , Zeatin riboside with lower levels of ABA during all fruit growth stages. Residue dynamics of CPPU in kiwifruit revealed a rapid and continuous decrease of CPPU residues in developing kiwifruit with complete dessipation after 45 days of application. The Experiment-III was carried out to illucidate the effect of CPPU on the postharvest behaviour of kiwifruit after storage at ambient temperature (25+2 o C). This experiment was laid out according to RBD factorial. During storage, CPPU treated fruits exhibited higher per cent of physiological loss in weight (PLW), reduced titratable acidity, high TSS, polygalacturonase (PG) and pectin methyl esterase (PME) activities. Further, the CPPU application enhanced the climacteric rise in respiration and ethylene production during fruit ripening, shortening the shelf life of kiwifruit in comparison to untreated fruits.ThesisItem Open Access STUDIES ON THE EFFECT OF DRIP IRRIGATION AND FERTIGATION IN PEACH (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch.) cv. REDHAVEN(UHF,NAUNI, 2017) VERMA, PRAMOD; CHANDEL, J.S.ABSTRACT The present investigation entitled“Studies on the effect of drip irrigation and fertigation in peach (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch.) cv. Redhaven” was carried out on five-year old peach trees duringthe years 2015 and 2016 in the integrated horticultural based farming system modelfarm of Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (H.P.), India. The two experiments were conducted during the course of study. The first experiment consisted of five irrigation treatments viz. drip irrigation at 100, 80 and 60 % ETc, basin irrigation at 100 % ETc and rainfed (control), and each treatment was replicated five times. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design. Drip irrigation at 100 and 80 per cent ETc significantly increased growth,yield, fruit quality parameters and leaf nutrient contents as compared to basin irrigation and control. The results revealed that drip irrigation at 100 per cent ETc recorded maximum increase in tree height, tree spread, tree volume, trunk girth and highest annual shoot growth, fruit yield and proportion of three layer grade fruits. The fruit quality parameters in terms of fruit length and diameter, fruit weight and volume, total soluble solids and sugars content were also found highest in drip irrigation at 100 per cent ETc treatment. The trees irrigated with drip irrigation at 100 % ETc also significantly increased leaf macro (N, P, K, Ca and Mg) and micro (Fe, Zn,Mn and Cu) nutrient contents than basin irrigation and control. The highest total water requirement (93.23 and 108.78 cm/tree during 2015 and 2016, respectively) was recorded in trees subjectedto basin irrigation at 100 per cent ETc treatment,however, the maximum water-use-efficiency was found in drip irrigation at 80 % ETc treatment during both the years. Drip irrigation at 100 % ETc registered 21.22, 16.07, 17.72 and 24.02 per cent increase in tree height, trunk girth, annual shoot growth and yield, respectively, over basin irrigation method of irrigation and also produced better size and quality fruits. The second experiment consist of eight treatment combinations consisting of four levels of fertilizer concentration viz. Recommended dose (RD) of NPK through soil, 100, 80 and 60 per cent of RD of NPK through drip, and two levels of dripirrigation (drip irrigation at 100 and 80 % ETc). The results revealed that treatment combination of fertigation at 100and 80 per cent of RD of NPK and drip irrigation at 100 per cent ETc significantly increased tree height, tree spread, trunkgirth and annual shoot growth, fruit yield, proportion of three layer grade fruits, fruit length and diameter, fruit weight and volume, TSS, sugars and leaf nutrient contents in comparison to soil fertilization. Although fertigation at 100 % RD of NPK incombination with drip irrigation at 100 % ETc attained maximum vegetativegrowth and produced highest yield of better quality fruits, but was found statistically at par with fertigation at 80 % RD of NPK in combination with drip irrigation at 100 % ETc, which resulted in 10.31 and 17.19 per cent increase in tree height, 12.16 and 19.83 per cent increase in yield over soil fertilization with maximum fertilizer-use-efficiency of 7.97 and 12.00 q/ha/q during 2015 and 2016, respectively.ThesisItem Open Access Studies on effect of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria and GA3 on plant growth, fruiting and soil health of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) cultivar Chandler(YSPU, 2015) Seema Kumari; Mehta, KuldeepThe present investigations entitled “Studies on the effect of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria and GA3 on plant growth, fruiting and soil health of strawberry cultivar Chandler” were conducted in the experimental area of Dr. Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, during the year 2013 and 2014. The studies were conducted under two different experiments, with the objectives to study the effect of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria on plant growth, yield, quality, leaf nutrient status and soil health, and to study the effect of GA3 and its combinations with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria on plant growth, yield, quality and leaf nutrient status. The experiments were laid out in randomized block design consisting 35 treatments along with control and replicated thrice. In the present investigation, Experiment-1 included the application of five different isolates of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (S1: Bacillus licheniformis CKA 1, S2: Bacillus subtilis CB 8 A, S3: Bacillus sp. RG1, S4: Bacillus sp. S1 and S5: Bacillus sp. S2) to the strawberry plants through root dip (at the time of planting), foliar application (20 days before expected flowering) and root dip+ foliar application methods, while in Experiment- II, different concentrations of GA3 (25, 50 and 75 ppm) alone or in combinations with these isolates applied as foliar application. Among the different treatment combinations, S1, S3 and S4, alone applied as root dip + foliar application methods or in combination with GA3 @ 75 ppm as foliar application method, were recorded to be most effective isolates with respect to plant height, spread and number of crowns per plant, whereas S4 and S5 was effective in increasing leaf area and number of runners per plant. All the isolates alone or in combination with GA3 resulted in early flowering, harvesting, longest flowering and harvesting durations and yield as compared to the control. The number of fruits and yield per plant were recorded highest with the individual application of S1, S2 and S4 through root dip + foliar application method or in combination with 75 ppm GA3. In case of fruit quality, the isolates S1, S3 and S5 resulted in increased fruit quality viz., fruit weight, size, TSS, acidity, sugars and ascorbic acid. The TSS and sugars were maximum when these isolates were applied alone through root dip or in combination with 25 ppm GA3. The increase in GA3 concentrations resulted in decreased TSS and sugar content, and increase in acidity and ascorbic acid content. The anthocyanin content was maximum with the application of S1 and S2 through root dip method or in combination with 50 ppm GA3 but showed a decline in content at higher GA3 concentration. Results further showed that the leaf nutrient status (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, Fe, Cu and Mn) were also increased with the application of S1, S2 and S5 when applied through root dip + foliar application method or in combination with GA3 @ 75 ppm. However, improved soil health and soil biological properties (available N, P, K, Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn, total rhizobacteria and endo-rhizobacteria, phosphate solubilizing, siderophore producing and nitrogen fixing bacteria) were also observed with the application of these isolates when applied through root dip + foliar application methods.