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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 Evaluation of some introduced rootstocks for peach, plum and apricot(YSPU, 2013) Nagi, Manpreet; Krishan KumarThe present investigations entitled “Evaluation of some introduced rootstocks for peach, plum and apricot” were conducted in Department of Fruit Science, Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan. Eight exotic Prunusrootstocks (Cadaman, Citation, GF 31, GF 677, Ishtara, Manicot, Montclar and Rubira) along with two local seedling rootstocks viz., Wild Apricot and Wild Peach were assessed for their ability to propagate by conventional vegetative methods, their graft success with commercial scion cultivars and their tolerance to drought and cold stress conditions. Exotic rootstocks namely Montclar (39.9 %) and Rubira (25.8 %) were more amenable to propagation through IBA treated hardwood cuttings than Ishtara (13.6 %), GF 31(13.4 %), Citation (8.6 %) and Wild Peach (10.8 %). As many as three rootstocks Manicot, Cadaman and Wild Apricot did not respond to multiplication through hardwood cuttings. These rootstocks followed similar trend on propagation through softwood cuttings except the fact that the success rate was relatively lower than that achieved through hardwood cuttings. Overall, IBA treatment of 2000 ppm and 1000 ppm was found to result in maximum rooting in Montclar through hardwood (39.9 %) and softwood (26.6 %) cuttings, respectively. The success of multiplication throughstooling varied from very good (Rubira, Manicot, GF 31), good (Citation, GF 677) and low to very low in Wild Peach and Wild Apricot. Three rootstocks Montclar, Ishtara and Cadaman did not record any success in propagation through stooling. Maximum success was recorded in Rubira with nectarine cv. Snow Queen (50.0 %); in Manicot with apricot cv. Ema (43.3 %) and plum cv. Santa Rosa (50.0 %); in Montclar with plum cv. Red Beaut (43.3 %) and peach cv. July Elberta (43.3 %); in Ishtara with peach cv. July Elberta (60.0 %) and nectarine cv. Mayfire (50.0 %); in GF 31 with apricot cv. Ema (23.3 %), nectarine cv. Mayfire (40.0 %) and plum cv. Frontier (46.6 %); in Citation with peach cv. July Elberta (46.6 %); in GF 677 with plum cv. Santa Rosa (53.3 %); in Wild Peach with nectarine cv. Mayfire (53.3 %) and in Wild Apricot with apricot cv. NewCastle (43.3 %) and plum cv. Red Beaut (43.3 %). Exotic clonal rootstocks, on the whole, showed better graft success with scion cultivars than local seedlingrootstocks. Rootstocks namely Manicot, Montclar, Ishtara, Citation and Wild Apricot were observed as more drought tolerant than Rubira, GF 31, GF 677 and Wild Peach, whereas Manicot, GF 31, Ishtara and Cadaman were found to be more cold hardy than Rubira, Montclar,GF 677 and Citation.ThesisItem Open Access Effect of planting dates on growth, flowering and seed production of selected winter annuals(DYSPU, 2013) Sharma, Priyanka; Gupta, Y.C.The present investigation entitled, “Effect of planting dates on growth, flowering and seed production of selected winter annuals.” was carried out at experimental farm of the Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, Dr. Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (H.P) during 2010 and 2011. The studies were conducted on six winter annuals namely; annual chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum coronarium L.), candytuft (Iberis amara L.), godetia or satin flower (Godetia grandiflora Lindl.), helichrysum or paper flower (Helichrysum bracteatum Andr.), snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus L.), sweet william (Dianthus barbatus L.). The experiment was laid out in RBD keeping planting dates as treatments with four replications. Planting was done at an interval of 15 days starting from September 17 in both the years. Plantings dates were; September 17, October 2, October 17, November 1, November 16 and December1. Findings revealed that in case of annual chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum coronariumL.), maximum plant height (120.29 cm), plant spread (55.50 cm), number of side stems per plant (16.23), duration of flowering (41.43 days), number of flowers per stem (21.98), number of heads per plant (308), number of seeds per head (243.95), seed yield per plant (77.40 g), 1000 seed weight (1.67 g) and benefit cost ratio (14.24) were recorded when planting was done on September 17. Earliest visible flower bud formation (60.08 days), flowering (95.08 days) was also recorded September 17 planting; however head formation was earliest (158.53 days) in December 1 planting. In candytuft (Iberis amara L.) also, September 17 planting resulted in maximum plant height (34.81 cm), plant spread (33.23 cm), number of side stems per plant (6.25), duration of flowering (41.43 days), number of flower clusters per stem (15.46), number of siliquae per plant (3467.72), seed yield per plant (10.25 g), 1000 seed weight (2.18 g) and benefit cost ratio (1.62). Earliest visible flower budformation (55.43days), flowering (77.80 days) was also recorded September 17 planting; however siliqua formation was earliest(157.58 days) in December 1 planting. In case of godetia (Godetia grandifloraLindl.), maximum plant height (68.35 cm), plant spread (50.66 cm), stem length (58.38 cm), duration of flowering (33.91 days), number of flowers per stem (central and side; 110.08 and 15.74), number of capsules per plant (327.50), number of seeds per capsule (90.69), seed yield per plant (9.18 g) and benefit cost ratio (1.21) were recorded when planting was done on September 17. Earliest visible flower bud formation (121.36 days), flowering (151.53 days) and capsule formation (205.42 days) were observed in December 1 planting. In helichrysum (Helichrysum bracteatumAndr.), maximum plant height (92.88 cm), plant spread (46.00 cm), number of side stems per plant (12.35), duration of flowering (45.00 days), numberof flowers per stem (6.02), flower size (5.63 cm),number of heads per plant (65.38), number of seeds per head (534.93), seed yield per plant (24.84 g), 1000 seed weight (0.77 g) and benefit cost ratio (3.07) were recorded when planting was done on September 17. Earliest visible flower bud formation (62.28 days), flowering (100.44 days) was also recorded September17 planting; however head formation was earliest (162.01 days) in December 1 planting. In case of snapdragon (Antirrhinum majusL.), maximum plant height (91.83 cm), plant spread(36.78 cm), stem length (82.00 cm), duration of flowering (39.97 days), number of florets per stem (31.70), number of pods per stem (30.87), number of seeds per pod (390.76), seed yield per plant (8.44 g), 1000 seed weight (0.126g) and benefit cost ratio (1.59) were recorded when planting was done on September 17. Earliest visible flower bud formation (70.18 days) and flowering (107.35 days) was recorded in September 17 planting, however, earliest capsule formation (182.48 days) was observed in December 1 planting. In case of sweet william (Dianthus barbatusL.), maximum plant height (63.54 cm), plant spread (33.32 cm), stem length (56.30 cm), durationof flowering (41.98 days), number of flowers per stem (central and side; 109.42 and 27.58), number of capsules per plant (373.75), number of seeds per capsule (40.85), seed yield per plant (10.75 g) and benefit cost ratio (1.75) were recorded when planting was done on September 17. Earliest visible flower bud formation (71.15 days), flowering (99.50 days) and capsule formation (153.28 days) were observed in September 17 planting.ThesisItem Open Access Anthocorid bugs as predator of insect and mite pests on cultivated crops(YSPU, 2012) Nisha Devi; Gupta, P.R.The present studies were primarily carried out in the laboratory and partially under field conditions at Nauni, Solan during January 2009 to August 2011. Anthocorid bugs belonging to 3 genera and 5 species, viz. Anthocoris confususReuter, A. dividens Bu and Zheng, Orius bifilarusGhauri, O. nigerWolff andLippomanus brevicornis Yamada and Hirowatari, were identified on the basis of habitus, biometry and morphological features, mainly the genitalia (copulatory tube in the female and paramere in the male). Except A. confusus, all are being reported for the first time from HimachalPradesh and A. dividens and L. brevicornisare new records from India. Field activity of anthocorid bugs continued from March to November on one or other flora among the 16 plant species. Amongst these, Orius bifilaruswas the predominant one and this as well as A. dividens were amenable for laboratory rearing. The growth pattern of O. bifilarus and A. dividensin subsequent five nymphal stadia was heterogonic as the various body parts increased with varied growth rates and the growth increment adhered to Brooks-Dyar law. Developmental Biology of three anthocorids A. dividens, O. bifilarus and O. nigerwas studied. Among the 4 tested food sources for O. bifilarus, thrips from cucurbits and Corcyra cephalonica eggs proved almost equally good for completing development in 22.8 and 24.6 days with nymphmortality of 8 and 8.7% at 25 o C; a nymph required 55.3 thrips or 144.1eggs of Corcyrafor its development. At 28 o C, it took 20.1 and 20.9 days (14.8 and 13.8% mortality, respectively). Trialeurodes vaporariorum and Tetranychus urticae were poor food sources and these protracted the nymphal duration to 35.3 and 38.6 days and mortality was very high (71.9 and73.1%). The adult bug consumed 228 Corcyra eggs and 146.4 thrips during survival of 14.9 and 17.7 days, respectively. O. nigerwas difficult to rear on thrips and Corcyraeggs as the nymph mortality was high (43.8 and 49.9%, respectively). However, A. dividens was easy to rear and it completed its development on Corcyraeggs and thrips (from Bauhinia and cucurbits) in 21.8 and 25.8 days and nymph-mortality was 15.8 and 20% respectively. It required either 137.2 Corcyra eggs or 74.6 thrips for development and adult bug consumed 260.7 eggs or 109.8 thrips during its survival of 18.5 and 15.0 days, respectively. Blaptostethus pallescens Poppius (a species being advocated for biological control in India) required 208.5 Corcyra eggs for nymph development and adult consumed 296.4eggs during its survival. In all these species, feeding potential of the females were higher than that of males. B. pallescensfailed to complete its development on T. urticae and all nymphs died by IV-stadium. Gross morphology of the male reproductive system of three anthocorids, A. confusus, O. bifilarus and B. pallescenswas studied and illustrated; all these having almost round two testicular follicles in each testis. In female reproductive system of A. confusus, A. dividens, O. bifilarus and B. pallescens each ovary contained 6-7 ovarioles. Copulatory tubes measured 1.5-1.7mm in A. confusus, 0.3mm in A. dividens, 0.07-0.12mm in O. bifilarus and 0.02-0.03mm in O. niger. Fertility analysis revealed that for O. bifilarus intrinsic rate of increase was marginally higher onthrips than on Corcyra eggs (r m =0.088 and 0.085 respectively), while for A. dividens andB. pallescensreared on Corcyra eggs vaule of r m was 0.069 and 0.079, respectively. B. pallescensexhibited Holling’s type II and curvilinear type II functional response to increasing density of Corcyra eggs as prey.ThesisItem Open Access Agrobacterium mediated cry 1Aa gene transfer in punica granatum L. cv. Kandhari Kabuli(DYSPU, 2013) Verma, Vipasha; Kanwar, KamleshThe present investigation aims at “Agrobacterium mediated cry 1Aa gene transfer in Punica granatum L. cv. Kandhari Kabuli”. A valuable plant regeneration and genetic transformation protocol was developed for Punica granatum L. cv. Kandhari Kabuli using both mature and juvenile explants. Regeneration from mature explants (leaf and nodal segment) procured from 8 years old selected tree and juvenile (cotyledon and hypocotyl) explants excised from 14 to 15 days old in vitro germinated seedlings ofPunica granatum L. cv. Kandhari Kabuli was carried out through indirect and direct method. Calli were initiated from mature leaf, cotyledon and hypocotyl explants. The best media for callus induction from mature (leaf) and juvenile explants were MS medium supplemented with 20.0 µM NAA + 10.0 µM BA and MS medium supplemented with 12.5 µM NAA+15.0 µM BA, respectively. The highest percentage of callus was obtained from cotyledon (84.56%) explants followed by hypocotyl (77.71%) and leaf (76.72%) explants. The calli thus obtained from mature (leaf) and juvenile (cotyledon and hypocotyl) explants showed highest differentiation on MS medium supplemented with 8.0 µM BA + 2.5 µM kinetin + 2.5 µM NAA and MS medium supplemented with 11.0 µM BA + 2.5 µM NAA. The highest percentage of direct adventitious shoot bud induction from mature explants such as leaf (42.95%) and nodal segment (57.80%) was observed on MS medium supplemented with 10.0 µM BA + 2.5 µM NAA and MS medium supplemented with 9.0 µM BA. Solid MS medium supplemented with 9.0 µM BA + 8.0 µM kinetin + 2.5 µM NAA resulted in highest per cent shoot regeneration from both cotyledon (69.60%) and hypocotyl (58.80%) explants. Cotyledon explants was found to be most responsive explants for regeneration through direct as wells as indirect method. The adventitiousshoots obtained were rooted on ½ strength MS medium containing 500 mg l -1 activated charcoal. Sixty five percent of plantlets were successfully established in earthen pots containing soil and sand (1:1). Different explants such as leaf, nodal segment, cotyledon and hypocotyl were transformed using Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain EHA105 harbouring pBinAR-1Aa plasmid carrying cry1Aa (insect resistance gene) and neomycin phoshotransferase-II (nptII) marker through both indirect and direct standardized regeneration protocols. Factors affecting transformation frequency such as age of seedlings, pre-conditioning duration, wounding of explants, immersion duration, co-cultivation duration, presence of acetosyringone and osmoprotectants (betaine HCl and proline) and pH of infection and co-cultivation medium, explants type were studied. Both age of seedlings and pre-conditioning of explants affected putative transformation frequency. Co-cultivation of all the explants (wounded mildly with needle) for 2 days after immersion in Agrobacteriumsuspension for 5 minutes was found to be optimal for transformation. Inclusion of acetosyringone (100 µM) and osmoprotectants (12 µM betaineHCl and 10 µM proline) in the infection and co-cultivation medium (adjusted at 5.8 pH) led to an increase in putative transformation frequency. By applying optimized transformation conditions, the highest putative transformation frequency of 15.12% was obtained with cotyledon explants among all the explants through indirect organogenesis. On the other hand nodal segment showed highest putative transformation frequency of 9.08% as compared to all the other three explants through direct organogenesis. Efficient selection was obtained and escapes were prevented when kanamycin was used at 50 mg l -1 concentration. The putative transgenic shoots were rooted on selective rooting medium and hardened in plastic cups containing sterilized sand. PCR analysis showed integration of cry1Aa and npt-II gene in 55% of the putative transgenic plantlets. Subsequent RT-PCR analysis showed expression of cry1Aa gene in 100% of the PCR confirmed transformed plantlets. Signature of MajorThesisItem Open Access Effect of nutrient management on cutting production, storage and rooting of carnation (Dianthus caryophyllusL.)(YSPU, 2012) Kalkame Ch. Momin; Dhiman, S.R.Studies on the “Effect of nutrient management on cutting production, storage and rooting of carnation (Dianthus caryophyllusL.)” were carried out at the experimental farm of the Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, Dr.Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan during 2010-12 on commercial carnation culitvars viz.; ‘White Wedding’, ‘Farida’, ‘Niva’ and ‘Madras’. The studies included two experiments. First experiment was conducted during 2010-11 on the effect of nutrient management on cutting production of carnation. The second experiment was carried out during 2011-12 to see the effect of storage on rooting of carnation cuttings using best nutrient management treatment obtained from first experiment applied for cutting production. One week before planting, full dose of phosphorous and potassium and half dose of nitrogen were incorporated into the beds according to the treatment requirements and the remaining half dose of nitrogen was applied at the time of planting. Besides the application of basal dose of N, P and K, different doses of N and K were also applied through fertigation which was given twice a week. Application of biofertilizers (VAM, Azospirillum and PSM) @ 3 g/plant and vermicompost @ 1 kg/m 2 was done ten days after planting. Findings of the first experiment revealed that fertilizer module FM 5 comprising of 20-5-5 g/m 2 NPK as basal application along with 200 ppm N + 280 ppm K as fertigation given twice a week resulted in the production of cuttings with maximum diameter (0.75 cm), weight (5.22 g), number of cuttings per plant per harvest (4.25), total numberof cuttings (16.98), yield of cuttings per metre square (152.78) and cost benefit ratio (1:1.95). Results of the second experiment revealed that cuttings stored for 7 days resulted in minimum percentage of weight loss (3.48 %) and maximum cost benefit ratio (1:3.55). Cuttings that were stored for 7 days (S 1 ) and 14 days (S 2 ) resulted in 100 per cent rooting. The studies also indicated that carnation cuttings can be stored up to 35 days at 2°C without significant change in quality and quantity of cuttings.ThesisItem Open Access Studies on organic nutrition in apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.)(YSPU, 2014) Shivajirao, Ghumare Vikas; Sharma, D.D.The present investigations entitled “Study of organic nutrition in apple (Malus x domestica Borkh.)” were conducted on farmers field at Theog and Rohru in Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh, during the years 2011 - 2012. Fifteen years old apple trees of cultivar Starking Delicious grown on seedling rootstock were selected on the basis of uniform vigour. The trees were planted at a spacing of 6 x 6 m and trained on modified central leader training system. The study was split into two experiments with an objective to elucidate the effect of comparison of organic and inorganic plant nutrition on fruit quality parameters, leaf and soil nutrient status in apple orchards. The first experiment was survey work of organic and inorganic apple orchards, which were statistically analyzed on two-way analysis of data to study the effect of locations and nutrition sources. The second field trial was conducted to find out the nutrition requirement of fully grown apple trees through organic manures viz. FYM, vermicompost, wood ash and neemcake in comparison to recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) held as control. Data was statistically analyzed using randomized block design (RBD) with five replications in each treatment. The variations in vegetative characteristics, fruit parameters, and leaf and soil nutrient status were studied. From first experiment, organic apple orchards and T4 [FYM (100 kg/tree) + Vermicompost (25 kg/tree) + Wood ash (8 kg/tree) + Neem cake (4 kg/tree)] treatment in second experiment gave 43 and 21 per cent reduction in yield compared to inorganic orchards and recommended dose of fertilizers, respectively. However, organic orchards and T4 treatment was most effective for producing better fruit quality in terms of TSS, fruit firmness, total sugars, reducing sugars, titratable acidity and secondary metabolites such as anthocyanins, phenols and antioxidants. In addition, significant improvements in soil physical (bulk density, soil pH, MWHC, organic carbon) and biological properties (total microbial counts) were also recorded. However, higher yield, leaf and soil nutrients status were observed under inorganic orchards and recommended dose of fertilizers during both the years of study. Therefore, it can be concluded that the use of organic manures might be useful as supplement to inorganic fertilizers and helpful in improving fruit quality and enhancing soil health with respect to physico-chemical and biological properties of the soil.ThesisItem Open Access Bioprospecting of thermophilic bacteria from hot water springs of Himachal Pradesh for laccase enzyme production(YSPU, 2015) Sharma, Ruchika; Shirkot, PoonamLaccase enzyme has acquired the status of ‘green catalyst’ as it possesses remarkable bioremediation potential along with numerous applications in effluent detoxification, degradation of textile dyes, herbicide and insecticide degradation, wine clarification, enzymatic conversion of chemical intermediates, biosensors and organic synthesis. In the present study, significantly high diversity of laccase producing bacteria from hot water springs of Himachal Pradesh was assessed. A total of 118 laccase producing thermophilic bacterial isolates were obtained from 200 hot water spring samples using TYM containing 5 mM guaiacol which were morphologically characterized. These were rescreened on the basis of their ability to oxidise tannic acid, dimethoxyphenol and syringaldazine leading to selection of 50 laccase producing thermophilic bacterial isolates, which were characterized biochemically. Eighteen thermophilic bacterial isolates exhibiting maximum laccase activity of 0.0007-0.0038 U/l were selected for further, molecular characterization using RAPD-PCR and 16S rrna gene technology. In silico analysis of 16S rrna gene sequences led to identification of these bacterial isolates and they were found to belong to genus Bacillus, Aneurinibacillus and Pseudomonas, as Bacillus licheniformis strain RSV20, Bacillus licheniformis strain RSM8, Bacillus licheniformis strain RSV10, Bacillus sonerensis strain RSM17, Bacillus sonerensis strain RSV8, Bacillus licheniformis strain RSP1, Bacillus licheniformis strain RSP2, Bacillus licheniformis strain RSP3, Bacillus licheniformis strain RSP7, Bacillus sonerensis strain RSP5, Bacillus sonerensis strain RSP11, Aneurinibacillus thermophilus strain RSP13, Bacillus aerius strain RSP4, Bacillus aerius strain RSP9, Bacillus subtilis strain RSP8, Bacillus amyloliquifacience strain RSP10, Bacillus pumilis strain RSP12 and Pseudomonas taiwanensis strain RSP6. On the basis of maximum laccase enzyme activity Bacillus licheniformis strain RSM8 was selected for production and purification of the laccase enzyme. Maximum extracellular enzyme production was achieved at 60°C, pH 9.0 and 24 hrs incubation with 5 mM guaiacol, 5 % tryptone and 3 % yeast extract in combination with nitrogen source. Crude extracellular thermolaccase enzyme preparation was purified by ammonium salt precipitation (50-90%) followed by gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography which showed 15.21 yield and 10.5 fold purification. The purified enzyme had optimal activity at pH 9.0 and 60 °C, and 16.22 μM Km value. The molecular weight of thermolaccase in the present study was found to be 72.5 kDa. However activity was inhibited by sodium azide and DTT. Bacillus licheniformis strain RSM8 as well as its enzyme preparations were investigated for their ability to decolourize dyes which are the potential contributors of water pollution. Six different synthetic dyes were decolourized RBBR (68 %), congo red (86 %), indigo carmine (73 %), brilliant blue (40 %), bromophenol blue (51 %) and aniline blue (54 %) when treated with the crude enzyme preparation of Bacillus licheniformis strain RSM8. And partially purified enzyme preparation of Bacillus licheniformis strain RSM8 showed greater decolourization of dyes comparatively RBBR (74 %), congo red (91 %), indigo carmine (80 %), brilliant blue (60 %), bromophenol blue (64 %) and aniline blue (67 %). The purified enzyme was successfully immobolized using adsorption method in calcium alginate beads with 76% immobolization percentage and immobolized laccase enzyme beads were studied for their ability to degrade dyes. The stability and reusability of the immobilized enzyme system has the potential to make the entire treatment process inexpensive. Bacillus licheniformis strain RSM8 enzyme preparations was investigated for phytotoxicity evaluation of three dyes viz., Congo red, RBBR and Indigo carmine and each of enzyme treated dyes for Phaseolus mungo and Calendula officinalis and Tagetes patula plant species respectively, under in vitro conditions and Phaseolus mungo with Congo red dye under in vivo conditions. Significant germination inhibition, a slower rate of plumule and radicle seedlings growth was observed for Congo red, RBBR and Indigo carmine dyes as compared to enzyme treated dyes. An extracellular laccase producing gene has been isolated using degenerate primer based on the copper I and II conserved site of laccase enzyme, from the hot water spring bacteria, Bacillus licheniformis strain RSM8 followed by determination of the amino acid which were translated from nucleotide sequence and encodes a polypeptide comprised of 50 amino acids showeng 97 % identity with the amino acid sequences of bacterial laccases i.e. copper oxidase [Bacillus licheniformis]. Further multiple sequence alignment using MULTALIN and structure prediction using Phyre1 & 2 revealed conserved histidine residues.ThesisItem Open Access Effect of orchard management practices on growth, fruiting and yield of senile plum trees(YSPU, 2012) SuklaBaidya, Ashima; Mehta, KuldeepThe present investigation on Effect of orchard management practices on growth, fruiting and yield of senile plum trees was conducted during 2010 and 2011 at the experimental orchard of the Department of Fruit Science, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni-Solan (H.. P). The experiment consisted of three levels of irrigation (Irrigation at 20, 40 and 60 % soil moisture depletion of field capacity), four levels of pruning (Heading back of Scaffolds 75, 50 , 25 % and normal pruning) and two levels of nitrogen fertilization (75 % and 50 % additional nitrogen of the recommended dose as CAN). The studies revealed that irrigation at 20 per cent soil moisture depletion of field capacity resulted in higher tree growth, fruit set, yield, size and quality fruits. Annual shoot growth, radial growth of trunk, pruning weight, average leaf area, leaf chlorophyll content, fruit weight, volume, size, fruit firmness, T.S.S, reducing and non reducing sugars were higher in heavily (75 % of HB) pruned trees whereas tree volume, fruit set and yield was higher in lightly (25 % of HB) and normal pruned trees. With the increase in the pruning severity the leaf N, K, Fe and Mn content increases, whereas Ca, Mg and Cu content decreases. P and Zn content were not affected by pruning treatments. 75 % additional N resulted in increased annual shoot growth, trunk girth, tree volume, leaf area and chlorophyll content. Increasing N treatment also resulted in increased organic carbon, N, P, K, Fe, and Zn, and decreased in pH, EC, bulk density, K, Ca and Cu content. Irrigation and nitrogen fertilization (I x N) interaction had significant effect in all the parameters except fruit weight, pulp to stone ratio, TSS, acidity, leaf (N, Mn and Fe), soil (pH, Ca, Mg and Zn). Irrigation and pruning (I xT) interaction had significant effect in all except girth, tree volume and leaf (N, P, K and Mg). Pruning and nitrogen (T x N) interaction had significant effect on annual shoot growth, spread, pruned wood, fruit set, fruit yield, fruit diameter and leaf copper. IxTxN interaction had significant effect on fruit yield, quality parameters (size, acidity, reducing sugar, total sugar) and leaf copper content. The total water expense of 110.9cm, 117.22 cm and 109.9 cm in the year 2010 and 89.56cm, 79.62 cm and 71.67 cm in the year 2011 was worked out in a season under 20, 40 and 60 per cent soil moisture depletion of field capacity irrigation treatments, respectively. Irrigation and nitrogen fertilization had a marked influence on water productivity during both the years. I3 and N1 treatment registered the maximum water productivity.ThesisItem Open Access Standardization of processing techniques for honey and honey based food products(DYSPU, 2013) Sharma, Surabhi; Vaidya, DevinaThe present studies entitled, “Standardization of processing techniques for honey and honey based food products” were conducted during 2010-12 in the department of Food Science and Technology, Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni-173 230, Solan (HP). Honey serves as a source of natural antioxidants, which are effective in reducing the risk of heart disease, cancer, immune-system decline, cataracts, different inflammatory processes etc. In honey aroma and flavour enhancer substances as well as some biological activity are unstable over time and are thermolabile so heating has an effect on the quality of honey. The standardization was done for the processing of honey using different time-temperature combinations. However, heating honey for 30 minutes at 77 0 C increased shelf life of honey for one year. The processed honey was compared with the unprocessed honey under ambient and refrigerated temperature and analysed at specific time intervals for a period of one year. It was observedthat keeping honey under refrigerated temperature increase the storage life of processed honey to one year with minimum changes in quality characteristics. The optimized processing techniques for honey were taken for processing of value added products. Among the different products like lemon RTS, mango nectar and lemon iced tea, honey was used as a sweetening agent which was compared with the sugar based products. These products had higher sensory scores with better quality characteristics and were successfully stored for a period of six months. The honey ginger tea was prepared after standardizing the concentration of ginger flakes and carboxymethyl cellulose to a level of 15per cent and 2 per cent respectively. The honey walnut filled chocolates were developed with the storage life of six months under refrigerated temperature. It can be concluded from the study that honey can be a successful replacement of table sugar in different processed food products as a nutritious sweetening agent with specific process time.