Loading...
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.
Browse
16 results
Search Results
ThesisItem Open Access Biological and molecular characterization of apple stem pitting virus(YSPU, 2015) Brakta, Ajay; Thakur, P.D.Surveys conducted during 2011 and 2012 in different apple growing areas of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir revealed viral disease incidence ranging from 3 to 60 per cent. Chlorotic spots coupled with necrotic lesions on apple leaves were the predominant symptoms. Orchards located at Regional Horticulture Research Station, Mashobra and Dhangvi village of Kotkhai area were selected for conducting biological and serological detection of apple stem pitting virus (ASPV). Serological detection through DAC and DAS-ELISA resulted in the detection of apple stem pitting virus (ASPV) either alone or in mixed infection with apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV), apple mosaic virus (ApMV) and apple stem grooving virus (ASGV). Biological detection of one of the ASPV seropositive isolate on herbaceous hosts resulted in the production of symptoms on Chenopodium quinoa, C. amaranticolor, Nicotiana tabacum var. White Burley and Phaseolus vulgaris. Detection on woody indicators (Malus pumila Spy 227 and Jay Darling) under field conditions through double grafting of inoculators and indicator budwood resulted in the production of typical viral symptoms on leaves in Jay Darling and Spy 227indicators. Graft incompatibility and necrotic symptoms were produced at the graft union of Spy 227 indicator followed by decline and dieback. Leaf samples drawn during March to May months were found suitable for the ELISA of ASPV whereas petals were the best source in addition to seropositive detection of ASPV in anthers and sepals. Association of ASPV with viral symptoms in apple was also confirmed by RT-PCR assays. Internal control primers along with coat protein gene specific primers were used to overcome the problem of false negative results. Molecular characterization of full coat protein gene of 3 ASPV isolates, 5 ASGV isolates and partial characterization of coat protein gene of 10 ACLSV isolates was carried out and the resultant sequences were then submitted to NCBI. Phylogenetic analysis of sequences showed the presence of variability among isolates and confirmed that there is no correlation between the geographic origin and genetic diversity of these isolates, which does not allow drawing conclusion on their origin and dispersion. Serological indexing resulted in the selection of 13 trees of 7 cultivars free from infection of ASGV, ACLSV, ASPV and ApMV in ELISA test of 36 symptomless trees of 12 cultivars.ThesisItem Open Access Studies on Marssonina blotch pathogenesis and its management through novel methods(YSPU, 2015) Phurailatpam, Sumitra; Sharma, J.N.Marssonina blotch caused by Marssonina coronaria is one of the most important disease of apple particularly in Himachal Pradesh. Present investigations were undertaken with the objectives to carry out detailed study on Marssonina blotch pathogenesis in apple, investigate the effect of Marssonina blotch on the physiological parameters of the host plants and develop novel methods of disease management through induced resistance. Based on morphological and molecular characters, the isolates collected from different locations of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand associated with Marssonina blotch of apple were confirmed to be belonging to Marssonina coronaria. Colonies of all the isolates were dark brown to black without aerial mycelium with colony diameter ranging from 9 to 14 mm. Conidia were hyaline, ampule shaped, one septate, constricted at the septum and guttulate, and the conidial size ranged from 3-8×12-28 μm. Molecular characterization of the seven isolates of Marssonina spp. showed 96-100% homology to with Marssonina coronaria. Phylogenetic tree depicted that all the isolates were close clustered to Chinese isolates deposited earlier in the NCBI. Pathogenesis studies revealed highest percentage of conidia germination of Marssonina coronaria on the leaves of Starking Delicious cultivar and minimum in Granny Smith. Whereas, shortest incubation and latent periods were recorded in Starking Delicious leaves showing that the cultivar was susceptible to all the isolates tested, while Tydeman’s Early Worcester showing moderately susceptible and Granny Smith moderately resistant reaction. Effect of Marssonina coronaria infection on host physiology studies of different apple cultivars revealed that reducing and non-reducing sugar contents were more in uninoculated leaves of all the test cultivars which reached maximum with time lapse. Total phenolic content, polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase and PAL activity, auxins and gibberellins were more in inoculated plants during all the sampling intervals in all the three test cultivars. Induced resistance studies against Marssonina blotch pathogen on potted plants by using systemic acquired resistance (SAR) chemicals and bioagents revealed that salicylic acid and acibenzolar-S-methyl @ 100 ppm were found to be at par and most effective in all the cultivars tested with minimum disease severity (1.08 to16.50 %) and maximum disease control (66.77 to 88% ) in the polyhouse.Whereas, among bioagents tested, Pseudomonas flourescens @ 10-5 dilution was the best with minimum disease severity (1.33 to 18.50 %) and maximum disease control (61.45 to 83.33 %). To know the mechanism of induced resistance in all the cultivars tested after treatment with SAR inducers and bioagents, post-inoculation with the pathogen showed that the biochemical parameters (reducing and non- reducing sugar contents; total phenolic content, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase , PAL activity; -l, 3-glucanase and chitinase activity and ROS production) were highest in salicylic acid treated leaves and minimum in dipotassium phosphate; whereas in bioagent treated leaves they were recorded in highest levels in case of Pseudomonas flourescens and minimum in Bacillus subtilis. Further, on comparison among the cultivars, it was found that their contents were higher in resistant Granny Smith leaves than that in the susceptible cultivar Starking Delicious.ThesisItem Open Access Variability and management studies of Botrytis cinerea causing grey mould in gladiolus(YSPU, 2015) Kaur, Gurvinder; Chandel, SunitaBotrytis Grey Mould (Botrytis cinerea Pers. ex Fr.) in gladiolus is one of the major limiting factors in its cultivation affecting both yield and fruit quality in Himachal Pradesh. Present investigations were undertaken with an objective to study the prevalence of the disease, variability among the Botrytis isolates on the basis of cultural, morphological, pathological and molecular parameters. The role of environmental factors in disease development, germplasm screening and devising of suitable disease management strategies were elucidated. Botrytis grey mould was found to occur in moderate to severe form in different gladiolus growing areas of Solan, Shimla, Mandi, Bilaspur, Kullu and Sirmour districts of Himachal Pradesh. The average disease incidence and severity in two years of surveys (2012- 2013) ranged between 14.83 to 64.92 and 2.98 to 33.33 per cent, respectively. Based on the cultural, morphological and molecular characterization, out of fifteen isolates, fourteen were identified as Botrytis cinerea and one was identified as Botrytis fabae. Mycelial growth and sporulation was recorded maximum on PDA media at temperature of 20oC however sporulation was obtained excellent at temperatures 10 and 15oC. Sclerotia formation was more at low temperature compared to high temperatures (30oC). Fructose and asparagines were adjudged best as carbon and nitrogen sources for multiplication of the pathogens. There was variation in among the isolates in respect to physiological studies. Molecular variability was carried by using 45 RAPD primers, out of which only 25 primers were amplified and showed 100 per cent polymorphism. DNA amplification was done by using 16 ISSR primers, only 14 primers were amplified and gave 143 polymorphic bands and showed 100 per cent polymorphism. Moderate temperature (22±2oC) coupled with high RH (80%) favoured the disease development under natural epiphytotic conditions. Esta Bonita, Grand Prix and Amesterdam cultivars were found to be resistant against grey mould under natural conditions. In vitro effect of different fungicides on mycelial growth of B.cinerea revealed that two fungicides i.e., Quintal and Contaf gave no mycelial growth with cent per cent inhibition at all the concentrations tested. Amongst different bioresources, minimum growth was recorded in Allium sativum and Azadirachta indica. Amongst 15 plant oil peppermint, geranium, palmarosa, citronella and oregano completely inhibited the growth of B. cinerea. Integrated disease management studies revealed that the treatments, Quintal+ Allium sativum + Neem oil and Contaf + Allium sativum + Neem oil gave minimum disease severity and maximum disease reduction of 94.40 and 93.19 per cent, respectively. Plant growth parameters viz., plant height, spike length,no. of flowers/ plot and yield also increased with application of these combinations in field conditions during the years 2012-2013.ThesisItem Open Access Studies on bacterial blight of pomegranate caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. punicae (Hingorani and Singh) Vauterin et al.(YSPU, 2015) Katwal, Vinay Singh; Sharma, R.C.The present investigation entitled “Studies on bacterial blight of pomegranate caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. punicae (Hingorani and Singh) Vauterin et al” was conducted in the laboratories of Department of Plant Pathology and experimental farm of Department of Fruit Science during the year 2012 to 2014. Considering the magnitude and losses due to bacterial blight in pomegranate, investigations were undertaken on cause of the disease, variability, epidemiological factors and management aspects. Survey revealed that disease was prevelant in nine districts of Himachal Pradesh with highest incidence and severity in Jachh in Kangra district. The bacterium was rod shaped, gram negative and non-spore forming. It was positive to starch hydrolysis, gelatin, liquefaction and H2S production. Yeast extract dextrose broth was found superior in supporting the growth of the pathogen at a temperature of 28±1oC with a pH range of 6.5. Study on 20 different bacterial isolates revealed variations in growth and colour in cultural studies, size in morphological and appearance of symptoms in pathogenic studies. The isolates exhibited 100 per cent polymorphism for OPA-2, OPB-1, OPF-7 and OPF-10 primers showing significant molecular variability. The infection rate increases as rainfall, temperature and relative humidity favours the disease development and spread, in 2012 and 2013 on both leaves and fruits. The AUDPC was maximum on leaves as compared to fruits in both the years. None of the tested weeds were found as collateral host of the pathogen. All the pomegranate germplasm was moderately to highly susceptible against the disease. Salicylic acid (100 ppm) was effective under pot and field conditions to reduce the disease severity. Pseudomonas fluorescens and cow urine (5%) were significantly effective in reducing the disease severity under in vitro, pot and field conditions. Clove oil, eucalyptus oil and neem oil reduced the disease severity under in vitro, pot and field conditions, respectively. Among chemicals streptocycline (100 ppm) and Bordeaux mixture 1% spray was very effective in reducing the disease severity under in vitro and field conditions. COC (0.25%) + streptocycline (0.01%) as paste treatment was highly effective in managing the disease. Application of Bordeaux mixture (1%) + bleaching powder (100g/plant) reduces the initial inoculum in the field. Pruning in the month of December and January reduces the disease severity to some extent. Application of NPK and multinutrients lowers severity of the disease under field conditions. The IDM strategy evaluated was found successful and feasible in managing the disease than individual treatments for disease control.ThesisItem Open Access Molecular characterization of apple stem grooving virus(YSPU, 2015) Sharma, Neeraj; Handa, AnilSurveys conducted during 2012 and 2013 in 84 apple orchards of Shimla and Kinnaur districts of Himachal Pradesh revealed viral incidence ranging between 0 to 80 per cent. Chlorotic spots coupled with necrotic lesions on apple leaves were the predominant symptoms. Regional Horticultural Research Station (RHRS), Mashobra, Shimla was selected for conducting biological and serological detection of apple stem grooving virus (ASGV) and other apple viruses. Serological detection through DAC and DAS-ELISA resulted in the detection of Apple stem grooving virus (ASGV), Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV), Apple stem pitting virus (ASPV) and Apple mosaic virus (ApMV) in the form of mixed infection in all the samples marked for assays. Biological detection of one of the isolates carrying infection of ASGV, ACLSV, ASPV and ApMV on herbaceous hosts resulted in the production of symptoms on Chenopodium quinoa, Nicotiana glutinosa, N. tabacum and few other hosts. Detection on woody indicators (Virginia crab, M. platycarpa, Spy 227, Jay Darling and Russian Clone) under field conditions through double grafting, grafting cum budding and double budding of inoculators and indicator budwood resulted in production of typical viral symptoms on leaves in M. platycarpa, Spy 227, Jay Darling and Russian Clone besides swelling of the graft union in case of Spy 227 indicator. Leaf samples drawn during April and May months were found suitable for the ELISA of ASGV, ACLSV and ASPV whereas petals were the best source for detection of these viruses. Association of ASGV with viral symptoms in apple was also confirmed by RT-PCR assay. Molecular characterization and sequencing of ASGV isolates followed by phylogenetic studies revealed the homology of two identified isolates with other isolates of ASGV from other parts of India. Serological indexing resulted in the selection of 13 trees of 7 cultivars free from infection of ASGV, ACLSV, ASPV and ApMV in ELISA test of 36 symptomless trees of 12 cultivars. Serological studies of different cultivars and rootstocks revealed the viral infection status of different cultivars and rootstocks screened.ThesisItem Open Access EPIDEMIOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT OF PHYTOPHTHORA LEAF BLIGHT AND FRUIT ROT OF BELL PEPPER(UHF,NAUNI, 2015) SINGH, AWANEESH KUMAR; KANSAL, SANDEEPABSTRACT Phytophthora leaf blight and fruit rot caused by Phytophthora capsiciLeon. is one of the most important disease of bell pepper in mid-hills of Himachal Pradesh. Survey studies conducted in the present investigation revealed that the disease occurred in moderate to severe form in different bell peppergrowing localities of Solan, Shimla and Sirmour districts of Himachal Pradesh. Temperature of 25°C was found optimum for symptom development and the relative humidity 95 percent with 24 h of leaf and fruit wetness period favoured the disease development most under controlled conditions. The epidemiological studies conducted under field conditions revealed that warm and wet conditions coupled with high humidity favoured the rapid Phytophthora blight disease progression. The in vitroevaluation of fungicides indicated Sectin (fenamidone 10% + mancozeb 50% WG) and Ridomil-MZ (metalaxyl 8% + mancozeb 64%) as potent growth inhibitor of Phytophthora capsici while amongst the botanicals, garlic and neem extracts were most promising. Amongst the different fungal antagonists evaluated in vitro conditions, Trichoderma harzianum proved most inhibitory to Phytophthora capsiciwhile testing their antagonistic efficacy through dual culture or through volatile and non-volatile toxicants. The integrated management studies conducted under field conditions revealed that treatment combination T 10 or T 7 i.e. the prophylactic spray either with Sectin @0.2% or Ridomil-MZ @ 0.25% followed byfour periodic spray of copper oxychloride @0.3% applied in combination with soil application of neem cake and Trichoderma harzianum @2.5kg/50kg FYM/ha besides mulching of treatment plots proved most efficacious in limiting the Phytophthora blight disease and enhancing the fruit yield.ThesisItem Open Access MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF A Tospovirus INFECTING BELL PEPPER (Capsicum annuum L.)(UHF,NAUNI, 2015) BOHRA, YOGITA; HANDA, ANILABSTRACT Surveys conducted during the present investigations revealed the presence of ringspot disease in bell pepper growing areas of Solan district of Himachal Pradesh with disease incidence ranging between 5 percent to 51percent during the cropping seasons of 2013 and 2014. The causal virus was characterized on the basis of symptomatology, transmission, host range, serology and molecular studies. Infected bell pepper plants exhibited ringspot symptoms of variable sizes on the leaves which coalesced later on covering the entire leaf lamina and in some cases rings turning necrotic were also observed. Infected bell pepper fruits developed pale yellow, red and green ringspots. Symptomatic plants were collected and sap inoculated to healthy bell pepper plants. Samples from Khaltoo and Pandah yielded strong positive reaction when subjected to DAS-ELISA against Tospo (I, II, III) antisera. Transmission studies revealed that virus isolates were transmissible through sap but not through seed. Studies on indicator hosts established Nicotiana tabaccum var. White Burley and Nicotiana glutinosa to be the best indicator hosts for maintaining virus cultures round the year. Studies on the host range revealed that out of six families tested namely Chenopodiaceae, Cruciferae, Cucurbitaceae, Leguminosae, Malvaceae and Solanaceae, only members of family Cruciferae and Malvaceaeremained uninfected on sap inoculation however, other hosts variably produced localized and systemic symptoms. Serological assay of weed hosts revealed that Amaranthus sp. and Datura sp. to be the possible reservoir hosts of the causal virus. Infected tomato fruits growing in the vicinityof infected bell pepper fields however, yielded negative results in DAS-ELISA but RT-PCR based detection revealed clear association of causal virus with tomato. RT-PCR based detection, nucleocapsid (N) gene sequencing and BLASTN analysis of bell pepper virus isolates revealed that the virus associated with ringspot disease of bell pepper in Himachal Pradesh was Capsicum chlorosis virus, a member of genus Tospovirus.ThesisItem Open Access “STUDIES ON EPIDEMIOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT OF POWDERY MILDEW (Oidium mangiferae berthet) IN MANGO”(2015) KAUR, LOVEPREET; SHARMA, I.M.ABSTRACT Powdery mildew of mango, incited by the fungus Pseudoidium anacardii (formerly known as Oidium mangiferae Berthet), is one of the most common, widespread and serious disease throughout the world and causes significant yield losses up to 90 per cent. It is one of the major limiting factors in its cultivation affecting both yield and fruit quality in Himachal Pradesh. Present investigation was undertaken with the objectives to record the prevalence of the disease, study the role of abiotic environmental factors in disease development and to devise suitable disease management practices. Powdery mildew was found to occur in moderate to severe form in different major mango growing areas of Solon, Sirmour, Una and Kangra districts of Himachal Pradesh. The per cent disease index (PDI) varied between 58.52 to 80.14 and 60.23 to 79.62 during the year 2014 and 2015, respectively. The characteristic symptoms appear as white superficial powdery growth on the inflorescence, which turn brown and shed flower leaving behind the bare rachis. Microscopic examination of diseased samples showed barrel to ellipsoid – ovoid, single celled conidia produced in chains of two to four and mycelium was superficial, hyaline and septate. Pathogenicity test revealed the development of typical symptoms after 197 and 260 hrs of incubation on leaves and pedicel, respectively. Disease appeared in the last week of February or first week of March and multiplied at a faster speed between 15 March to 19 April during both the years (2014 and 2015) of observations. Thereafter, it progressed at a slow rate and ceased to develop in the last week of May. Correlation coefficient between mean temperature (0.937) and sunshine hours (0.939) was positive whereas it was negative (-0.564) with RH. Out of 41 cultivars, cv. Totapari showed moderately resistant reaction with the lowest apparent infection rate (0.02 per unit per day) and AUDPC (1.16), whereas rest of the cultivars exhibited moderately susceptible to highly susceptible reaction. In vitro evaluation of fifteen fungicides showed azoxystroblin + difenoconazole, azoxystroblin and tebuconazole were the most effective and inhibited the conidial germination up to an extent of 100, 98.75 and 97.89 per cent, respectively. In the field evaluation, out of nine in vitro effective fungicides, azoxystroblin + difenoconazole (0.04%), tebuconazole (0.05%), azoxystroblin (0.05%) and hexaconazole (0.05%) were the most effective (97.65-99.72PDC) in order in controlling the disease. However, hexaconazole was highly cost effective (CBR=1:56.03). Among the five spray schedules, spray of azoxystroblin + difenoconazole (0.04%) with the first appearance of disease, hexaconazole (0.05%) at fruit set and tebuconazole (0.05%) at pea to marble fruit size stage was most effective (99.97 PDC) and economic (CBR 1:31.3). Two consecutive sprays of dipotassium hydrogen orthophosphate (0.075%) first in January followed by another after 28 days were most effective (99.46 PDC). Further, three sprays of Bacillus subtilis (0.8%) staring with the emergence of panicles followed by another two sprays at an interval of 15 days was found to be the most effective (97.56 PDC) followed by Ampelomyces quisqualis (93.63 PDC).ThesisItem Open Access EPIDEMIOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT OF ALTERNARIA LEAF SPOT OF CABBAGE(2015) THAKUR, SAHIL; KANSAL, SANDEEPABSTRACT Alternaria leaf spot caused by Alternaria brassicicola (Schw.) Wiltsh. is one of the major disease of cabbage in wet temperate areas of Himachal Pradesh. Survey studies conducted in the present investigation revealed that the disease occurred in moderate to severe form in different cabbage growing localities of Shimla, Solan, and Sirmour districts of Himachal Pradesh. Temperature of 20±1°C was found optimum for symptom development and the relative humidity 95±5 percent with 16 h of leaf wetness period favoured the disease development most under controlled conditions. The sporulation of Alternaria brassicicola was observed to be favoured most at temperature 20-30ºC and relative humidity ≥90%. The epidemiological studies conducted under field conditions revealed that wet and humid conditions coupled with moderately low temperature favoured the rapid Alternaria blight disease progression. Survival studies suggested that the survivability was greater in stem debris than in leaf debris and the pathogen recovered in considerable proportion in stem plant debris even after seven months storage period. The in vitro evaluation of fungicides indicated Cabriotop (metiram 55% + pyraclostrubin 5% WG), Indofil Z-78 (zineb 75% WP) and Captaf (captan 50% WP) as potent growth inhibitor of Alternaria brassicicola while amongst the botanicals, garlic and neem extracts were most promising. Amongst the different fungal antagonists evaluated in vitro conditions, Trichoderma harzianum proved most inhibitory to Alternaria brassicicola while testing their antagonistic efficacy through dual culture or through volatile substances. The integrated management studies conducted under field conditions revealed that treatment combination consisting of soil application of Trichoderma harzianum @ 2.5 kg/50kg FYM/ha and mulching with black polythene sheet in combination with four periodic spray of zineb @ 0.2% at 10 day interval proved most efficacious in limiting the Alternaria leaf spot disease and enhancing the yield.