Influence of different options of intra-varietal pollination on seed productivity and economic values of sweet pepper

The use of intra-varietal crossing is an important element to increase seed yield and improve a variety. The aim of the research was to identify the influence of different options of intra-varietal pollination of sweet pepper on seed productivity and other quantitative traits. It has been established, that re-pollination of sweet pepper within the variety in relation to self-pollination causes a reduction in the offspring of the period before fruit ripening by 3–7 days. For all options of pollination, there was also a significant increase in plant height by 7–8 cm, fruit weight by 7–16 g, the number of fruits on a plant by 2–6 units. Different methods of re-pollination of plants significantly affected fruit productivity, increasing it by 62–106 %, increased seed yield from one fruit by 28 %. Seed productivity of sweet pepper plants increased by 78–163 % when re-pollination was used. Options of using the pollen of different flowers (from 2–5 other plants) showed the greatest effect. This technique is one way to increase the yield of sweet pepper seeds

Impact of changes in climatic conditions on temperate fruit production of Himachal Pradesh

The study examined the impacts of changing climate on productivity of temperate fruit crops viz., plum, pear, peach and apricot in Himachal Pradesh based on climate information and farmers’ perception. Three study sites representing different elevations viz., Shimla, Kullu and Palampur were selected to relate the chill units with temperate fruit productivity. The climate element distribution over the period in each study site revealed an increase in the mean temperature to the tune of 0.050, 0.019 and 0.046 °C per year in Shimla, Palampur and Kullu respectively in the past 3 to 4 decade. The rate of decrease of rainfall per year during winter season was -9.86 mm in Shimla, -11.1 mm in Kullu and -8.6 mm in Palampur leading to a decrease in chill accrual. The chill units calculated using the UTAH model showed a decline of more than 4.97 chill units per year during December month, 0.64 units per year in January and 3.75 units per year in February month in past 26 year period in Shimla district. The decrease of 1.73, 1.84 and 1.65 chill units every year during December, January and February months were observed at Kullu. The decrease of chill units during December to February ranged from -2.8 to -12.8 per year in Palampur were also observed. The significance of the slope of chill units was worked out using Mann-Kendall trend test which indicated no significant trend for the December month for Kullu region and January and February months at Shimla. Significant decreasing trends in chill units for January to February months for Kullu, December month for Shimla and December to February months were observed at Palampur. The indications of changes in climate have also been supported by the farmers’ perception in Kullu, Kangra and Shimla districts accounting a reduction in snowfall with an increase in temperature in past 20 to 30 years affecting the chill accumulation. The temperate fruits pear, peach, plum and apricot showed significant increase in the production at the rate of 0.172, 0.064, 0.018 and 0.018 t/ha per year during the past two and half decade respectively. Thus, the decreasing trends in cumulative chill units due to increase in temperature and reduction in rainfall in all locations varied from sub temperate climate in mid hills to temperate in high hills did not affect the productivity of temperate fruits in Himachal Pradesh and a promising replacement for apple shifting region in the face of climate change.

Precision management of pollination services to blueberry crops

While the cultivated area of pollinator-dependent crops is increasing, pollinator availability is decreasing, leading to problems in many agroecosystems. For this reason, pollinator-dependent crop growers often rent beehives to support their pollination requirements to sustain fruit productivity. However, the efficiency of those pollination systems has not been extensively studied. Here, we compared the effect of “precision” pollination (i.e., application of pesticides coordinated with growers, audit of hives, dietary supplementation and individual distribution of hives) with conventional practices (i.e., pesticides applications without coordination with growers and no audit of hives, low maintenance of hives and hives distributed in large groups) on the mean level of pollination and fruit production and quality in blueberry crops. In nine blueberry fields, we measured bee visitation rate to flowers, fruit set, fruit firmness and fruit weight. On average, precision-pollinated plots had 70% more bee visits to flowers and produced 13% more fruits that were 12% heavier and 12% firmer than those obtained through conventional practices. These results showed that pollination efficiency could be improved if key management related to bee strength, distribution and health care are taken into account. Due to these results, we encourage growers and beekeepers to include precision pollination practices to both increase the productivity of blueberry fields and the wellbeing of honey bees within agroecosystems.

MtNOOT gene enhanced high productivity and economical characteristics of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum)

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) is the main vegetal crop that has tremendous popularity around the world. Medicago truncatula NOOT gene (Mt-NOOT) encodes a BTB/POZ-ankyrin repeat protein of the NONEXPRESSOR OF PR GENES1 (NPR1 family). It was introduced into Lycopersicon esculentum (Tomato) genome. The tomato plants that ectopically expressed Mt-NOOT obtained several favorable traits and fruit quality. Heteroblasty between the transgenic and the non-transgenic tomato leaves and flower architecture were used to distinguish transgenic and wild lines. Transgenic tomato plants accumulated a significant amount of phenolic compounds and plant pigmentations compared to the wild type. On the other hand, transgenic plants acquired a considerable amount of antioxidant such as CuZnSO superoxide dismutase (SOD), tomato Catalase (CAT), and tomato Cell wall-associated peroxidase (TPX1) than the wild type. Antioxidant high content together with the high content of phenolic compounds enabled the transgenic tomato fruits to gain not only edible benefits, but also a significant higher shelf-time, extended to six months more than the wild type stored at 25°C in dark and dry condition. Surprisingly, transgenic tomato fruits did not show any rotten process during long time storage as they did not acquire any contagious microorganism. Total fruit productivity in transgenic tomato was greater than the control with an estimated ratio of 84%.

Cranberry Germination and Emergence Response to Environmental Factors and Seeding Depth

Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) cultivars are clonally propagated. Germination of cranberry seeds produces off-type varieties that are generally characterized by lower fruit productivity and higher vegetative vigor. Over time, the productivity of cranberry beds decreases as off-type frequency increases over time. Improved knowledge of cranberry germination biology would facilitate the use of targeted agronomic practices to reduce the emergence and growth of less productive off-types. The influences of light, temperature regime, pH, and water potential on cranberry seed germination were assessed in a growth chamber, whereas the effect of seeding depth on seedling emergence was evaluated in a greenhouse. Seeds stratified for 6 months at 3 °C were used for these experiments. Cranberry germination was influenced by light quality, with maximum germination reaching 95% after 15 minutes of exposure to red light but decreasing to 89% under far-red light. However, light was not required for inducing germination. Cranberry seeds germinated over a range of alternating diurnal/nocturnal temperatures between 5 and 30 °C, with an average maximum germination of 97% occurring for diurnal temperatures of 20 to 25 °C. The length of emerged seedlings was reduced by an average of 75% for pH 6 to 8 compared with pH 3 to 5. Seedlings that emerged at pH greater than 5 showed increasing chlorotic and necrotic injuries and were not considered viable at pH 7 or 8. Germination at 15 °C was reduced when seeds were subjected to water stress as low as −0.2 MPa, and no germination occurred below −0.4 MPa. Seeds incubated at 25 °C were more tolerant to water stress, with at least 70% maximum germination for osmotic potential (ψS) −0.6 MPa or greater. The average seedling emergence was 91% for seeds left on the soil surface or buried at a maximum depth of 1 cm; however, it was null at a burying depth of 4 cm. These results indicate that germination of cranberry seeds in cultivated beds in the northeastern United States likely occurs during the summer months, when temperatures are optimal and the moisture requirement is supported by irrigation. However, timely application of residual herbicide or sanding (a traditional cranberry agronomic practice) of open areas in cranberry beds could help prevent seed germination and reduce minimizing the onset of off-type varieties.

Economic Analysis of Sweet Orange in Sindhuli District of Nepal

Sweet orange is one of the major fruit grown in mid-hills of Nepal. It ranks 2nd among the citrus fruits in terms of area and production after mandarin. The study depicts the socio economic aspect of sweet orange production in Sindhuli district.Data were collected from 60 randomly selected sweet orange growers from Tinkanya and Baseswor of Golanjor rural municipality using semi-structured interview schedule. Two FGD's was done in those places for the triangulation of household survey.Analysis was done using SPSS and excel. Socio demographic studies revealed that majorly (93.3%), of growers were engaged in sweet orange farming. Most of the growers (98.3%) had agriculture as their major occupation. The average land holdings of the farmers was 0.53 ha in which 0.37 ha of land was occupied for sweet orange cultivation. The average sweet orange production of total sixty households was calculated to be 1981.83 kg/ha. The total cost of Rs. 25797.36/ha was estimated and the gross return from the production was Rs.72634/ha; the benefit cost ratio was found to be 2.81 which supports that sweet orange production is being a profitable farming business. Furthermore, insects attack followed by irrigation problems and difficulty in transportation followed by lack of market price information were the major problems found in the production and marketing of sweet orange respectively. There is a high potentiality of increasing the fruit productivity if the constraints against the sweet orange cultivation are addressed properly and adequately. Int. J. Soc. Sc. Manage. Vol. 8, Issue-3: 396-400

Elevated Temperatures Negatively Affect Olive Productive Cycle and Oil Quality

Climate change, with elevated temperatures throughout the year, affects many stages of the reproductive growth and development of olives as well as oil quality at harvest. Although olive (Olea europaea L.) is well adapted to the environmental conditions of the Mediterranean Basin, agricultural techniques and breeding through selection programs will have to adapt to these climate change, threatening to worsen in the near future. Defining the pathways controlling high fruit productivity and oil quantity and quality, despite elevated temperatures and sub-optimal growing conditions, is important for coping with current and predicted climate changes. As breeding programs aiming to address these crucial changes may take several decades, an urgent need to designate specific olive cultivars that are more resistant to high temperatures emerges.

Pilot Study to Evaluate Performance of Frost-Yuzu Fruit Trees under Protected Cultivation

This study was initiated to observe the performance of yuzu (Citrusjunos Sieb. ex Tanaka) fruit trees when affected by a late freezing in 2018 and to evaluate the recovery of frost-damaged trees during post management under protected cultivation. A—4.9 °C of minimum daily temperature and 40-day drought occurred during dormancy, which then received heavy precipitation between early- and mid-March, with 15 m s−1 more than maximum instantaneous wind speeds frequently observed. This resulted in observed decreases in height, width and volume as well as in fruiting, fruit weight and yield, as well as yield index in 60–90% defoliated yuzu trees, in addition to higher rates of shoot dieback compared to trees that experienced only 0–30% defoliation. Lower performance and recovery rates of trees grown on flat land compared to trees on sloped land were also observed. Tree and net windbreaks did not significantly affect tree vegetative growth and fruit productivity but were found to have lowered shoot mortality in 2018 and 2019. Mulch with an irrigation after freezing or foliar urea application was shown to effectively increase vegetative tree growth and fruit productivity and reduce shoot mortality.

Interaction of irrigation rates and fertilization doses on postharvest quality of papaya ‘Formosa ’

Water deficit is a water-saving strategy that might nevertheless negatively affect fruit quality. In the present study, the papaya quality was evaluated after application of different irrigation rates and nitrogen fertilization doses at harvest and postharvest. The study was conducted on ‘Formosa’ cultivar in semiarid region. The experiment was performed in a completely randomized design in a 2 x 5 x 3 scheme; two storage times (0 and 5 days), five irrigation rates (50, 75, 100, 125, and 150% of crop evapotranspiration), and three nitrogen doses (150, 180, and 210 Kg.ha-1), with four replicates. Total Soluble Solids (TSS), Titratable Acidity (TA), and fruit skin colour (Luminosity - L, intensity of green/red coloration - a*, and intensity of yellow coloration - b*) were evaluated. Reduced irrigation rates and lower nitrogen doses resulted in increased soluble solids and SS/TA ratio. The latter was increased during storage. Irrigation deficit and a lower amount of nitrogen (150 Kg. ha-1) did not reduce papaya quality, even after 5 days of storage in an environment with controlled temperature and humidity. In order to ensure net productivity in rural properties, this water-saving strategy of maintaining the crop under water restriction conditions must take into consideration not only in the curves of papaya quality-related variables, but also fruit productivity curve

Application of biological products in strawberry cultivars to control Botrytis cinerea

The objective of this work was to evaluate three strawberry cultivars in an organic production system combined with the application of biological products via leaf for the control of Botrytis cinerea aiming at increasing fruit productivity and quality. The experimental design was randomized block, in a 5x3 factorial scheme, consisting of four products and three cultivars. The treatments consisted of the biological products Onix (Bacillus methylotrophicus), Quartz (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens), Botector (Aureobasidium pullulans), Prestop (Gliocladium catenatum) and control (water application in the plot) in combination with three strawberry cultivars (Cristal, Monterey and Pircinque). Through the results it was possible to observe the superiority of the cultivar Cristal in the total fruit production when compared to the cultivars Monterey and Pircinque. The biological products Onix, Quartz and Botector provided higher total strawberry production. The recommended cultivar for planting in the southern region of Minas Gerais is Pircinque due to the high levels of soluble solids and total sugars observed. The application of biological products was effective in controlling Botrytis cinerea.