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
28 results
Search Results
ThesisItem Open Access EFFECT OF NANOPARTICLES SEED PRIMING AND FOLIAR SPRAY ON GROWTH, SEED YIELD AND QUALITY ATTRIBUTES IN OKRA [ABELMOSCHUS ESCULENTUS (L.) MOENCH](UHF Nauni, 2024-04-24) AKSHAY KUMAR WALIA; Ashok ThakurThe present investigations entitled, “Effect of nanoparticles seed priming and foliar spray on growth, seed yield and quality attributes in okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench]” were carried out at Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (HP) during 2022 to 2023. The first experiment was laid out in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) in laboratory having 74 treatment combinations of four nanoparticles (zinc, magnesium, iron and boron) and their bulk counterparts (at 50, 100 and 150 ppm concentrations and for 18, 24 and 30 hours) with hydropriming for 24 hours and a control. Experimental results showed that the maximum values for seed quality parameters were observed when seed priming was done with ZnO NPs @ 150 ppm for 18 h with maximum germination (93.75%), shoot length, (20.55 cm), root length (12.90 cm), seedling length (32.37 cm), seedling dry weight (261.00 mg), seedling vigor index - I (3033.75), seedling vigor index – II (24.46) and germination after accelerated ageing (86.75 %). In the second experiment, the best performing treatments were compared with hydropriming and control, highest physiological quality was also recorded when priming was done with ZnO NPs @ 150 ppm for 18 h with maximum dehydrogenase activity (0.449), α-amylase activity (11.25 mm), mobilization efficiency (175.37 %), shoot length (13.98 cm), root length (9.30 cm), seedling fresh weight (698.73 mg), seedling dry weight (354.91 mg) and leaf area (7.39 cm2). The third experiment was carried out in the experimental field in randomized block design with 17 treatment and a control. Among the treatment under study, seed priming with ZnO NPs @ 150 ppm for 18 h along with ZnO NPs spray @ 150 ppm at flowering initiation and 50 % flowering was the best performing treatment with maximum values for growth, seed yield and quality parameters with highest emergence percentage (87.50 %), plant height at first and second spray (40.12 cm and 57.18 cm), number of primary branches per plant (8.10), Number of fruits per plant (15.51), fruit length (19.20 cm), number of pods per plant (14.13), seeds per pod (48.52), seed yield (29.64 g/plant, 0.65 kg/plot, 17.97 q/ha) and minimum number of days to pod harvest (96.53 DAS). Moreover, this treatment also recorded maximum values for seed quality of harvested seed viz., seed index (5.03 g), germination (92.62 %), seedling length (31.66 cm), seedling dry weight (256.63 mg), seedling vigor index - I (2932.44), seedling vigor index - II (23.77), germination after accelerated ageing (83.88 %) and minimum electrical conductivity (0.079 dSm-1). The maximum benefit cost ratio was also observed in the same treatment with a ratio of 2.94:1. Hence, it may be inferred from the outcomes of the investigation that seed priming with ZnO NPs @ 150 ppm for 18 h along with ZnO NPs spray @ 150 ppm at flowering initiation and 50 % flowering is an appropriate treatment combination for promoting the growth, seed yield as well as quality attributes in Okra.ThesisItem Open Access EVALUATION OF BARLEY GERMPLASM FOR GROWTH, SEED YIELD AND QUALITY ATTRIBUTES IN THE MID HILLS OF HP(UHF Nauni, 2024-03-04) BHAVNA RAJKUMARI; BS DiltaThe investigation titled, "Evaluation of barley germplasm for growth, seed yield and seed quality attributes in the mid hills of HP" was carried out at Research Farm and Laboratory of the Department of Seed Science and Technology, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (HP) during 2021-22 and 2022-23. It involved analyzing variations among 65 barley genotypes which included various attributes such as plant height, number of tillers per plant, number of spikes per plant, spike length, awn length, seeds or grains per spike days to heading, days to maturity, seed weight per plot, seed weight per plant, seed weight per hectare, growth habit, presence of awns, hullness of seeds, seed germination percentage, seedling length, seedling dry weight, seedling vigour index I, seedling vigour index II, seed moisture content, test weight, total starch content, total phenol content, crude protein content, β-glucans content, and seed weight. The results showed that all the attributes under investigation showed significance for variation among the barley genotypes. The genotypic coefficient of variation was higher than the phenotypic coefficient of variation, with minimal differences between the two. The seed weight per plot, seed weight per plant, and seed weight per hectare showed high genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variation. Spike length indicated low phenotypic coefficient of variation (12.61%) and moderate genotypic coefficient of variation (19.99%). Awn length, days to heading, days to maturity, germination percentage, seedling length, seedling dry weight, seedling vigour index I, seedling vigour index II, seed moisture content, crude protein content, β-glucans content, and total starch content all exhibited low phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation, respectively. Moderate heritability with high genetic gain was displayed by seed weight, while high heritability with moderate genetic gain was displayed by plant height, number of tillers per plant, number of spikes per plant, grains per spike, seedling length, seedling dry weight, seedling vigour indices I & II, test weight, total starch content and β-glucans content. The genotypic correlation coefficients for nearly all features surpassed the corresponding phenotypic correlation coefficients. The maximum direct positive effect on seed weight was imposed by seedling length (3.072) followed by seedling vigour index II (2.218), number of tillers per plant (0.166), germination percentage (0.148), awn length (0.147), crude protein content (0.142), β-glucans content (0.103), spike length (0.082) and grains per spike (0.037).Seven distinct clusters were identified during cluster analysis using Mahalanobis D2 distance, with maximum intra-cluster distance measured in cluster 1 (255.32), followed by cluster 3 (226.68), cluster 4 (203.31), cluster 6 (183.69), cluster 7 (181.16), cluster 2 (96.05) and cluster 5 (93.68). All in all, thirteen barley genotypes exhibited the best results with regards to the growth, seed yield and quality parameters.ThesisItem Open Access STUDIES ON THE EFFECT OF POLYMER COATING AND MICRONUTRIENTS APPLICATION IN RADISH SEED PRODUCTION(UHF Nauni, 2024-05-24) REVA JARYAL; Ashok K ThakurThe present investigation entitled, “Studies on the effect of polymer coating and micronutrients application in radish seed production” were carried out at Laboratory and Experimental Farm of the Department of Seed Science and Technology, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (HP) during 2021-22 and 2022-23. The first experiment was laid out in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) in Laboratory and in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in the field with 9 treatments (viz. control, polymer seed coating @ 10 ml/kg seed, polymer seed coating @ 10 ml/kg seed + Zinc sulphate (ZnSO4) @ 300 mg/kg seed, polymer seed coating @ 10 ml/kg seed + Copper sulphate (CuSO4) @ 300 mg/kg seed, polymer seed coating @ 10 ml/kg seed + Boric acid @ 300 mg/kg seed , polymer seed coating @ 10 ml/kg seed + Zinc sulphate (ZnSO4) @ 300 mg/kg seed + Copper sulphate (CuSO4) @ 300 mg/kg seed, polymer seed coating @ 10 ml/kg seed + Zinc sulphate (ZnSO4) @ 300 mg/kg seed + Boric acid @ 300 mg/kg seed, polymer seed coating @ 10 ml/kg seed + Copper sulphate (CuSO4) @ 300 mg/kg seed + Boric acid @ 300 mg/kg seed, polymer seed coating @ 10 ml/kg seed + Zinc sulphate (ZnSO4) @ 300 mg/kg seed + Copper sulphate (CuSO4) @ 300 mg/kg seed + Boric acid @ 300 mg/kg seed). Experimental results revealed that treatment- polymer seed coating @ 10 ml/kg seed + Zinc sulphate (ZnSO4) @ 300 mg/kg seed + Copper sulphate (CuSO4) @ 300 mg/kg seed + Boric acid @ 300 mg/kg seed was found superior over all other treatments in terms of germination percentage (90.44 %), seedling length (23.04 cm), seedling dry weight (12.49 mg), seedling vigour index-I and II (2083.85 and 1129.21). This treatment was also found superior over all treatments in terms of field emergence (85.79 %), days to harvest (49.23), number of leaves per plant (13.86), root length (22.68 cm), root diameter (32.77 mm), net root weight (155.24 g) and root yield per plot (8.93 kg) and per hectare (226.70 q). The second experiment was laid out in RCBD (factorial) for field studies and CRD (factorial) for laboratory studies. To carry out the second experiment, radish stecklings (treatment wise) were transplanted under field conditions in 135 plots of size 2.4×1.2 m accommodated sixteen plants at as spacing of 60 × 30 cm. At bolting and 50% flowering radish plants were sprayed with water, ZnSO4 (0.5%), CuSO4 (0.5%), Boric acid (0.3%) and no spray. Data on various growth, flowering, seed yield and quality contributing characters were recorded. From the present investigation, it was concluded that the treatment combination, seed coating with polymer @ 10 ml/kg seed + Zinc sulphate (ZnSO4) @ 300 mg/kg seed + Copper sulphate (CuSO4) @ 300 mg/kg seed + Boric acid @ 300 mg/kg seed and foliar application of boric acid @ 0.3% sprayed at bolting and 50% flowering had exhibited highest values for number of pods per plant (311.13), number of seeds per pod (6.86), seed yield (29.72 g/plant, 475.44 g/plot and 1321.73 kg/ha), 1000 seed weight (17.83 g), germination percentage of freshly harvested seeds (92.83 %), seedling length (23.23 cm), seedling dry weight (12.87 mg), speed of germination (13.51), SVI-I and SVI-II (2156.55 and 1194.32) and maximum benefit: cost ratio (3.85:1) was also noticed. However, maximum plant height (118.45 cm), number of primary branches per plant (15.05) and pod length (6.84 cm) was reported in the plants raised from seed coated with polymer @ 10 ml/kg seed + Zinc sulphate (ZnSO4) @ 300 mg/kg seed + Copper sulphate (CuSO4) @ 300 mg/kg seed + Boric acid @ 300 mg/kg seed and foliar application of ZnSO4 @ 0.5% sprayed at bolting and 50% flowering. Accordingly, it may be inferred from the outcomes of the investigation that seed coating with polymer @ 10 ml/kg seed + Zinc sulphate (ZnSO4) @ 300 mg/kg seed + Copper sulphate (CuSO4) @ 300 mg/kg seed + Boric acid @ 300 mg/kg seed along with foliar application of boric acid @ 0.3% is an appropriate treatment combination for promoting the growth, flowering as well as seed production in radish.ThesisItem Open Access EFFECT OF SEED PRIMING AND FOLIAR APPLICATION OF PACLOBUTRAZOL ON PLANT GROWTH, FLOWERING, QUALITY ATTRIBUTES AND SEED YIELD IN VERBENA(UHF Nauni, 2024-03-24) VINAY; BS DiltaThe present investigation titled, “Effect of seed priming and foliar application of paclobutrazol on plant growth, flowering, quality attributes and seed yield in verbena” was carried out at Research Farm and Laboratory of the Department of Seed Science and Technology, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (HP) during 2021-22 and 2022-23. First experiment was carried out in CRD under protected conditions using cocopeat and sand (3:1, v/v) in protrays, comprising 22 seed priming treatments of GA3, PEG 6000 and hydropriming along with control and evaluated based on the warranted parameters of quality seedlings. One best treatment among each was used for 2nd experiment under field conditions. It was observed that GA3 seed priming treatment T5 (100 ppm for 24 hours), significantly improved the seedling emergence (84.00 %), seedling length (13.61 cm), seedling dry weight (126.67 mg), SVI-I (1143.46) and SVI-II (10639.66). However, among osmopriming with PEG 6000, treatments, T13 (-1.0 MPa for 12 hours) resulted in significantly increase in the seedling emergence (83.00 %), seedling length (13.57 cm), seedling dry weight (124.35 mg), SVI-I (1126.06) and SVI-II (10320.94). Hydropriming for a duration of 24 hours was found best amongst its other durations and resulted in highest seedling emergence (80.88 %), seedling length (10.61 cm), seedling dry weight (119.41 mg), SVI-I (858.09) and SVI-II (9657.98). Therefore, seed priming with GA3 (100 ppm for 24 hours), osmopriming with PEG 6000 (-1.0 MPa for 12 hours) and hydropriming for 24 hours was used for field trial along with control. Second experiment was laid out in RCBD (factorial) for field studies and CRD (factorial) for laboratory studies. In addition to seed priming treatments, foliar application of paclobutrazol (0, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 ppm) was done at 40 days after transplanting of seedlings. Data for various growth, flowering and seed yield contributing characters were recorded along with seed quality parameters of harvested seeds. From the investigation it was concluded that, seed priming with GA3 (@ 100 ppm for 24 hours) + foliar application of paclobutrazol @ 5.0 ppm has improved all the parameters under study by increasing number of branches per plant (51.92), plant spread (29.52 cm), number of flowers per plant (588.92), duration of flowering (74.67), number of capsules per plant (367.22), seed yield (3.01 g per plant and 27.11 g per plot), estimated seed yield per hectare (216.84 kg) and 1000 seed weight (2.091 g) including best quality seeds exhibiting highest germination percentage (83.13 %), seedling length (7.38 cm), seedling dry weight (0.640 mg), SVI-I (614.91), SVI-II (53.21), highest germination after AAT (75.25 %), lowest EC (99.25 μS/cm) and gave highest net return (Rs. 3830999) and B:C ratio (7.57:1) in verbena. Therefore, based on the positive outcomes observed in the investigation, the treatment combination comprising seed priming with GA3 @ 100 ppm for 24 hours and foliar application of paclobutrazol @ 5.0 ppm can be suggested to use after multi-location testing for achieving improved plant growth, flowering and higher yield of quality seeds in verbena under mid hill conditions of HPThesisItem Open Access EFFECT OF EMS AND COLCHICINE TREATED SEEDS ON PLANT GROWTH AND FLOWERING IN MARIGOLD(UHF Nauni, 2024-02-24) PARINITI KUMARI; BS DiltaThe investigation titled, "Effect of EMS and colchicine treated seeds on plant growth and flowering in marigold" was carried out at the Research Farm and Laboratory of the Department of Seed Science and Technology, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (HP) during the years, 2021-22 and 2022-23. The seeds of two cultivars namely, ‘Pusa Bahar’ and ‘Pusa Deep’ of marigold were treated with 14 treatments viz., T1 (control), T2 (hydropriming for 12 hours), T3 (hydropriming for 12 hours + seed soaking in 0.25% EMS for 6 hours), T4 (hydropriming for 12 hours + seed soaking in 0.50 % EMS for 6 hours), T5 (hydropriming for 12 hours + seed soaking in 0.75 % EMS for 6 hours), T6 (hydropriming for 12 hours + seed soaking in 1.00 % EMS for 6 hours), T7 (hydropriming for 12 hours + seed soaking in 1.25 % EMS for 6 hours), T8 (hydropriming for 12 hours + seed soaking in 1.50 % EMS for 6 hours), T9 (hydropriming for 12 hours + seed soaking in 0.025% colchicine for 1.5 hours), T10 (hydropriming for 12 hours + seed soaking in 0.050 % colchicine for 1.5 hours), T11 (hydropriming for 12 hours + seed soaking in 0.075 % colchicine for 1.5 hours), T12 (hydropriming for 12 hours + seed soaking in 0.100% colchicine for 1.5 hours), T13 (hydropriming for 12 hours + seed soaking in 0.125 % colchicine for 1.5 hours) and T14 (hydropriming for 12 hours + seed soaking in 0.150 % colchicine for 1.5 hours). The experiment was laid out in RCBD (factorial) for field studies. Data on various growth and flowering parameters were recorded. The germination percentage, plant height, duration of flowering and peduncle length decreased with the increase in the EMS and colchicine concentrations. Among the EMS treatments, maximum value for plant spread (54.03 cm and 55.21 cm), number of branches (26.01 and 17.76) and number of flower heads per plant (48.85 and 62.40) in both the cultivars (‘Pusa Bahar’ and ‘Pusa Deep’) were recorded in T7. In ‘Pusa Bahar’ and ‘Pusa Deep’, the maximum flower head diameter (4.68 cm and 3.68 cm) and flower head weight (4.66 g and 1.76 g) was recorded in T3. Among the colchicine concentrations, the highest number of branches (29.45 and 18.97), number of flowers per plant (40.56 and 61.39), flower diameter (4.94 cm and 3.97 cm) and flower weight (4.94 g and 1.94 g) was recorded in T12 in both the cultivars. Variations in foliage colours and flower head colour were also observed in T4, T5, T6 T7, T9, T10, T11, T12, T13 and T14. One sectorial chimera was also induced in one flower head in ‘Pusa Deep’ by treatment T14. Accordingly, it is concluded from the outcomes of the investigation that seed treatment with T7 and T12 can be recommended to promote the growth and flowering characters in marigold cultivars, ‘Pusa Bahar’ and ‘Pusa Deep’. In addition, 20 variants (10 each in ‘Pusa Bahar’ and ‘Pusa Deep’) were induced with various treatments and which were identified, selected and evaluated under this investigationThesisItem Open Access EFFECT OF SEED PRIMING TREATMENTS AND FOLIAR APPLICATION OF PACLOBUTRAZOL ON SEED YIELD AND QUALITY IN SALVIA (Salvia splendens Sellow ex Schult.)(UHF Nauni, 2024-08-21) ANU SHARMA; BS DiltaThe investigation titled, "Effect of seed priming treatments and foliar application of paclobutrazol on seed yield and quality in salvia (Salvia splendens Sellow ex Schult.)" was carried out at Research Farm and Laboratory of the Department of Seed Science and Technology, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (HP) during 2021-22 and 2022-23. First experiment was carried out in laboratory in completely randomized design (CRD) replicated four times, with 100 seeds per replication. There were twenty seed priming treatments viz. hydro priming for 12 hours, hot water treatments @ 50°C for 10 minutes, 15 minutes and 20 minutes and soaking of seeds in distilled water overnight, priming of seeds in the solutions of GA3 (100 ppm, 150 ppm, 200 ppm, 250 ppm for 12 hours), cow urine (5, 10 , 15 and 20 % for 12 hours), cow dung slurry for 12 hours and 24 hours and bio priming of seeds with Pseudomonas chlororaphis for 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours including untreated control. Amongst them, priming of seeds in cow dung slurry for 24 hours significantly resulted in the increasing of germination percentage (85.38 %), seedling length (5.72 cm), seedling dry weight (2.36 mg), seed vigour index-I (488.44), seed vigour index-II (201.79) and it was followed by cow urine @ 10 % for 12 hours and GA3 @ 150 ppm for 12 hours. However, lowest germination percentage (51.62 %), seedling length (3.42 cm), seedling dry weight (1.48 mg), seed vigour index-I (176.62), seed vigour index-II (76.51) was observed in the treatment of bio priming with Pseudomonas chlororaphis for 96 hours. The second experiment was laid out in RCBD (factorial) for field studies and CRD (factorial) for laboratory studies. To carry out the second experiment, seed priming treatments viz., cow dung slurry for 24 hours, cow urine @ 10% for 12 hours and GA3 @ 150 ppm for 12 hours were selected to raise the stocky and good quality seedlings in pro trays under poly house conditions. Then the salvia seedlings (treatment wise) were transplanted under field conditions in 48 plots of size 1 m × 1 m to raise successful crop. After 40 days of transplanting, the salvia plants were sprayed with paclobutrazol (0, 5, 10 and 20 ppm). Data on various growth, flowering and seed yield and quality contributing characters were recorded. From the present investigation, it was concluded that the treatment combination, seed priming with cow dung slurry for 24 hours and foliar application of paclobutrazol @ 10 ppm after 40 days of transplanting had exhibited highest values for plant spread (42.34 cm), number of branches per plant (12.03), number of spikes per plant (16.83), number of pods per plant (546.03), seed yield (7.36 g/plant, 66.20 g/plot and 496.46 kg/ha), 1000 seed weight (3.805 g), germination percentage of freshly harvested seeds (83.75 %), seedling length (5.80 cm), seedling dry weight (2.22 mg), speed of germination (13.61) as well as lowest EC (0.146 dS/m). However, maximum plant height (46.51 cm), spike length (17.31 cm) and number of florets per spike (60.67) was reported in the plants raised from seed lot primed with cow dung slurry for 24 hours and without application of paclobutrazol. Accordingly, it may be inferred from the outcomes of the investigation that seed priming with cow dung slurry for 24 hours along with the foliar application of paclobutrazol @ 10 ppm is an appropriate treatment combination for promoting the growth, flowering as well as seed production in salvia under mid hill conditions of Himachal PradeshThesisItem Open Access STUDIES ON THE EFFECT OF PLANT DEFENSE ELICITORS ON GROWTH, YIELD AND DISEASE INCIDENCE IN TOMATO (Solanum lycopersicum L.)(UHF Nauni, 2024-03-25) PARANJAY ROHIWALA; Narender K BharatThe present investigation entitled “Studies on the effect of plant defense elicitors on growth, yield and disease incidence in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)” was carried out in the Department of Seed Science and Technology, Dr YSP UHF, Nauni, Solan, H.P. The effect of various plant defense elicitors viz. salicylic acid, methyl jasmonate, β-aminobutyric acid, sodium nitroprusside, hydrogen peroxide, ascorbic acid, polyethylene glycol, calcium chloride and potassium nitrate individually or in combination was studied on tomato seed crop as an alternate to conventional chemicals and fungicides to improve yield, quality and to manage diseases. Three experiments were conducted; the first experiment was conducted in vitro and different concentrations of plant defense elicitors were screened w.r.t. seed quality attributes of tomato for further studies. After screening, best concentration of each plant elicitor were observed to be SA @150 ppm, MeJA @0.1 mM, BABA @0.25 mM, SNP @100 μM, H2O2 @50 mM, AsA @200 ppm, PEG @20%, KNO3 @0.75 % and CaCl2 @1 %. Further, their combinations were also evaluated for improving seed quality parameters. Combinations of seed priming with AsA @200 ppm + KNO3 @0.75 % and SA @150ppm + KNO3 @0.75 % were found superior in improving germination, speed of germination, seedling length, seedling dry weight, SVI I, SVI II, and reducing the percentage of dead seeds and hard ungerminated seeds. The field experiment was conducted in randomized block design having 10 treatments replicated thrice viz. i) SA 150 ppm + KNO3 0.75 %, ii) MeJA 0.1 mM + KNO3 0.75 %, iii) BABA 0.25 mM + KNO3 0.75 %, iv) SNP 100 μM + KNO3 0.75 %, v) H2O2 50 mM + KNO3 0.75 %, vi) AsA 200 ppm + KNO3 0.75 %, vii) PEG 20% + KNO3 0.75% + Fungicide application viii) Fungicide application, ix) Hydropriming + Fungicide and x) control . These elicitors were applied as seed priming just before sowing, seedling dip before transplanting and two foliar applications at 30 days interval with first at 30 days of transplanting in the field. The experiment was conducted for two cropping seasons and the data on plant growth, fruit yield, seed yield and quality parameters as well as incidence/ severity of important diseases was recorded. The data thus recorded were pooled for statistical analysis. It was found that amongst various treatment combinations, two treatment combinations viz., AsA @200 ppm + KNO3 @0.75 % and SA @150 ppm + KNO3 @0.75 % were found most effective and increased plant height (183.98 cm, 180.87 cm), number of fruits per plant (30.40, 28.57), average fruit weight (69.57 g, 72.96 g), harvest duration (45.29 days, 42.88 days), fruit yield per plot (38.09 kg, 37.60 kg) number of seeds per fruit (105.32, 101.52), seed yield per plot (174.92 g, 169.34 g), 1000 seed weight (3.15 g, 3.11 g), seed germination (92.75 %, 90.63 %), speed of germination (30.86, 28.96), seedling length (19.67 cm, 18.85 cm), seedling dry weight (18.91 mg, 18.59 mg), SVI I (1824.47, 1709.43), SVI II (1753.68, 1685.37), seedling emergence (91.50 %, 88.38 %) and speed of emergence (21.78, 20.96); and reduced severity of alternaria leaf spot (18.50 %, 16.85 %). These treatments also showed higher benefit: cost ratio (4.09, 3.84) than other treatments including fungicide application, respectively. It can be thus concluded that application of AsA @200 ppm + KNO3 @0.75 % or SA @150 ppm + KNO3 @0.75 % as seed priming, seedling dip and foliar spray were found effective treatments in improving plant growth, yield and reducing disease incidence in tomato seed crop.ThesisItem Open Access STUDIES ON THE EFFECT OF DEFENSE PRIMING AND BIOPRIMING ON QUALITY SEED PRODUCTION IN ONION(UHF Nauni, 2024-03-26) ARUSHI PADIYAL; Dr Narender K BharatThe present study entitled “Studies on the effect of defense priming and biopriming on quality seed production in onion” was carried out in the Department of Seed Science and Technology, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (H.P.) during 2021-22 and 2022-23. Three experiments were conducted using onion cv. Palam Lohit. In the initial screening experiment, onion seeds were primed with different concentrations and time durations of plant defense activators, silicon, salt solutions, fungal and bacterial biocontrol agents. Based on germination (%), speed of germination, seedling length (cm) seedling dry weight (mg), SVI-I and SVI-II and seed microflora (%), including Alternaria spp., Fusarium spp., Penicillium spp. and Aspergillus spp., most promising treatment was meticulously selected to proceed to the subsequent stages of the study. In the second experiment, the seeds primed with the best selected treatments from screening studies along with their combinations viz., plant defense activator with salt solution and fungal biocontrol agent with bacterial biocontrol agent were sown in nursery. Total emergence (%), speed of emergence, seedling height were observed highest in the treatment salicylic acid @50ppm+potassium nitrate @ 1.5%/12hours followed by T. harzianum+P. fluorescens/8hours and lowest incidence of diseases like damping off (%) and virus (%) was recorded in the treatment in T. harzianum+P. fluorescens/8hours salicylic acid @50ppm+potassium nitrate @ 1.5%/12hours. In the third experiment, uniform seedlings from best performing treatment in the nursery were transplanted in the field and observed for plant height, bulb weight, bulb equatorial and polar diameter, bulb yield per plot, per hectare and days to bulb harvesting along with the incidence of diseases like purple blotch, downy mildew, stemphylium blight, bacterial soft rot, fusarium basal rot, virus etc. in the bulb crop. The bulbs were harvested, stored, and replanted for seed crop in the next season and subjected to three foliar applications of the respective priming treatments, at bolting stage, flower initiation stage and seed development stage and observed for the parameters like days to 50% flowering, days to seed harvesting, number of seeds per umbel, seed yield per plant, per plot and per hectare recorded highest in the treatment salicylic acid @50ppm+potassium nitrate @ 1.5%/12hours+3FS followed by T. harzianum+P. fluorescens/8hours+3FS; along with the per cent disease control of diseases like purple blotch, downy mildew, stemphylium blight, botrytis rot and virus recorded lowest in the treatment T. harzianum+P. fluorescens/8hours+3FS followed by salicylic acid @50ppm+potassium nitrate @ 1.5%/12hours+3FS. The seeds were harvested and assessed for seed quality parameters and seed microflora Thus, it can be concluded that priming of onion seeds with salicylic acid @ 50ppm + potassium nitrate @ 1.5% for 12hours or T. harzianum+ P. fluorescens for 8hours before sowing in nursery and applying three foliar sprays at bolting stage, flower initiation stage and seed development stage enhanced plant growth, bulb and seed yield parameters, reduced the incidence /severity of diseases like purple blotch, downy mildew, stemphylium blight, botrytis rot and virus etc. along with enhancing the seed quality parameters and reducing seed microflora (%) of the harvested seeds, and being economical, thus, making these practices recommendable for onion cultivation.ThesisItem Open Access EFFECT OF ETHEPHON APPLICATION ON SEX REGULATION, GROWTH, SEED YIELD AND QUALITY ATTRIBUTES IN BITTER GOURD(UHF,NAUNI, 2022-03-24) SHIVANI SHARMA; Dr. Manish KumarThe present investigations entitled “Effect of ethephon application on sex regulation, growth, seed yield and quality attributes in bitter gourd” were carried out in the Department of Seed Science and Technology, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (HP) during the year2022 and 2023 using bitter gourd cv. Solan Hara. The experiment was laid in Randomized Complete Block Design with one additional treatment for both field and laboratory conditions having three replications each. Various ethephon concentrations (50 ppm, 100ppm, 150ppm, 200ppm, 250ppm, 300ppm) were applied at three stages(4 True leaf stage, 4 True leaf stage + 15 days after first spray, 4 True leaf stage + 15 days after first spray + 15 days after second spray) with one additional treatment (standard practice: no ethephon application).The results revealed that between factorial treatment (treatment combinations) and non-factorial treatment (additional treatment), factorial treatment were found superior. Among treatment combinations, ethephon application @ 300ppm at 4 true leaf stage + 15 days after first spray + 15 days after second spray results in higher node bearing first male flower (number), lower node bearing first female flower (number), minimum internodal length (cm), maximum days to first male flower, minimum days to first female flower, minimum number of male flowers, maximum number of female flowers, narrower sex ratio, maximum number of fruits per plant, total number of seeds per fruit, fruit length at the time of seed maturity (cm), fruit weight at the time of seed maturity (g), minimum days to fruit ripening, maximum seed yield (g) per plant, (g) per plot, (q) per hectare, maximum 100 seed weight (g), germination percentage, seedling length (cm), seedling dry weight (mg), seedling vigour index- I, seedling vigour index-II. Therefore, this treatment combination can be recommended for inducing femaleness as well as quality seed production of bitter gourd cv. Solan Hara in Himachal Pradesh.
