Debranching improves morpho - physiological characters, fruit quality and yield of tomato

Farmers are commercially cultivated tomato with different levels of shoot pruning but this production practice has not been defined clearly. The experiment was conducted under sub-tropical condition to assess the effect of different levels of debranching on morpho-physiological, reproductive and yield contributing characters in determinate tomato cultivar cv. Binatomato-5. The debranching levels were: i) control, ii) only mainstem (MS), iii) MS with 2 branches, iv) MS with 3 branches and v) MS with 4 branches. Based on recommended spacing (50 cm × 50 cm), the higher fruit yield plant⁻¹ as well as ruit yield per hectare were observed in more branch bearing plants of the treatment control (MS with 5-6 branches), MS with 3 branches and MS with 4 branches due to production of higher number of fruits plant⁻¹ with being the highest in MS with 3 branches due to increase fruit size. The lowest fruit yield per plant as well as per hectare was observed in uniculm plants due to lower number of fruits per plant. This study suggests that plants that have MS with three branches may be recommended for commercial cultivation of tomato under sub-tropical condition

Variation in morpho-physiological characters and yield components of summer mungbean (Vigna Radiata(L.) wilczke) varieties

Twelve modern summer mungbean cultivars were evaluated to assess morpho-physiological characters, yield attributes and seed yield. Results revealed that high yielding cultivars, in general, showed superiority in morpho-physiological characters and seed yield/plant than the low yielding cultivars. However, in case of unit area basis, result revealed that seed yield/ha was greater in low yielding cultivars than the high yielding ones, yet they produced lower seed yield/plant compared to high yielding ones due to increase number of plants per unit area and these low yielding cultivars also matured 10 - 15 days earlier than high yielders. Among the cultivars, BINAmung-5 produced the highest seed yield/ha (1711 kg/ha) with lower HI (20.0%) and took longer days to maturity (69 days). On the other hand, BARImung-6 showed second highest seed yield (1697 kg/ha) with highest HI (32.6%) and matured earliest, took 60 days after sowing that might be fit the existing cropping pattern in Bangladesh

Varietal Performance and Effect of Planting Method on Yield and Yield Contributing Characteristics of Rice

The experiment was carried out to study the performance of two aman rice varieties (BRRI dhan31 and BRRI dhan41) under different planting methods (line sowing with sprouted seeds by drum seeder, haphazard transplanting and transplanting in line). Both the variety and planting method had significant effect on crop characters plant height, number of total tillers m-2, effective tillers m-2, grains panicle-1, sterile spikelet's panicle-1, total spikelet's panicle-1, grain yield except panicle length and 1000-grain weight. BRRI dhan41 produced the highest grain yield (4.06 t ha-1). Line sowing method with sprouted seeds by drum seeder showed better performance in respect of no. total tillers m-2 (415.81), effective tillers m-2 (401.85) and grain yield (4.80 t ha-1). The highest no. of total tillers m-2 (421.12), effective tillers m-2 (410.65) and grain yield (5.08 t ha-1) were recorded due to effect of the interaction of line sowing method with sprouted seeds by drum seeder and the variety BRRI dhan41

Varietal performance and effect of planting method on yield and yield contributing characteristics of rice

The experiment was carried out to study the performance of two aman rice varieties (BRRI dhan31 and BRRI dhan41) under different planting methods (line sowing with sprouted seeds by drum seeder, haphazard transplanting and transplanting in line). Both the variety and planting method had significant effect on crop characters plant height, number of total tillers m-2, effective tillers m-2, grains panicle-1, sterile spikelets panicle-1, total spikelets panicle-1, grain yield except panicle length and 1000-grain weight. BRRI dhan41 produced the highest grain yield (4.06 t ha-1). Line sowing method with sprouted seeds by drum seeder showed better performance in respect of no. total tillers m-2 (415.81), effective tillers m-2 (401.85) and grain yield (4.80 t ha-1). The highest no. of total tillers m-2 (421.12), effective tillers m-2 (410.65) and grain yield (5.08 t ha-1) were recorded due to effect of the interaction of line sowing method with sprouted seeds by drum seeder and the variety BRRI dhan41

Morphological Characterization and Assessment of Genetic Variability, Character Association, and Divergence in Soybean Mutants

Genetic diversity is important for crop improvement. An experiment was conducted during 2011 to study genetic variability, character association, and genetic diversity among 27 soybean mutants and four mother genotypes. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the mutants and mothers for nine morphological traits. Eighteen mutants performed superiorly to their mothers in respect to seed yield and some morphological traits including yield attributes. Narrow differences between phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation (PCV and GCV) for most of the characters revealed less environmental influence on their expression. High values of heritability and genetic advance with high GCV for branch number, plant height, pod number, and seed weight can be considered as favorable attributes for soybean improvement through phenotypic selection and high expected genetic gain can be achieved. Pod and seed number and maturity period appeared to be the first order traits for higher yield and priority should be given in selection due to their strong associations and high magnitudes of direct effects on yield. Cluster analysis grouped 31 genotypes into five groups at the coefficient value of 235. The mutants/genotypes from cluster I and cluster II could be used for hybridization program with the mutants of clusters IV and V in order to develop high yielding mutant-derived soybean varieties for further improvement

Effect of defoliation on growth, reproductive characters and yield in mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek].

Loss of foliage in mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] crop through leaf eating insects and diseases is common in tropical and sub-tropical countries where farmers do not protect their crops adequately. Experiments were carried out with eight levels of defoliations (0, 25, 50 and 75% either from top or from base of the canopy, and 100%) to investigate the growth, reproductive characters, and yield attributes in two high and two low yielding mungbean genotypes. Results revealed that degrees of defoliations parallely decreased leaf area and total dry matter (TDM) production irrespective of seasons and genotypes. Defoliation not only reduced source sizes but also decreased total sink (flower) production resulting in lower pod and seed yields. However, basal 25% defoliation did not significantly decrease TDM and seed yield plant-1 indicating the fact that the mungbean plant, in general, can tolerate 25% basal leaf loss of the canopy. Furthermore, the high yielding genotypes showed higher compensatory mechanism of source loss than the low yielders. Exceeding this threshold limit (> 25%) either from the base or from the top of the canopy defoliation significantly reduced TDM and seed yield. Reduction in yield was higher with top defoliation than basal defoliation. Implication of the results in relation to pest management is also discussed

Defoliation and its effect on morphology, biochemical parameters, yield and yield attributes of soybean

Loss of foliage in soybean crop through leaf eating insects and diseases is common in tropical and sub-tropical countries where farmers do not protect their crops adequately. Experiment was performed under sub-tropical condition (24°8' N, 90°0' E) with four levels of defoliations (0, 25, 50 and 75% from base of the canopy). Defoliations were imposed at the visible bud initiation stage to investigate the growth and yield attributes in two popular soybean varieties during January to April 2011. Results revealed that degrees of defoliations simultaneously decreased leaf area and total dry matter (TDM) production irrespective of varieties. Defoliation not only reduced source sizes but also decreased total sink (pod) production resulting in lower seed yields. However, basal 25% defoliation did not decrease TDM, seed weight/plant and seed yield/ha significantly indicating the fact that the soybean plant, in general, can tolerate 25% basal leaf loss of the canopy. Exceeding this threshold limit (>25%) of the canopy defoliation reduced TDM and seed yield significantly. Implication of the results in relation to pest management was also discussed

Effects of flowering behavior and pod maturity synchrony on yield of mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek].

A number of experiments were set up to assess the flower production and flowering pattern in synchrony with pod maturity and seed yield in twelve mungbean genotypes. Synchrony of pod maturity was measured based on percentage of mature pods at first harvest, where; synchrony (>90% mature pods), partial synchrony (80-90% mature pods) and asynchrony (<80% mature pods). Results revealed that genotypes that produced maximal opened flowers within 10-15 days, and ceased flowering within 15-20 days after first flowering (DAF), have synchrony in pod maturity. Additionally, seed yield was strongly correlated with the number of opened flowers and number of produced mature pods. Four genotypes showed synchrony in pod maturity which accompanied with cessation of flower production at 10-15 DAF, but produced lower yields due to fewer opened flowers. In contrast, the remaining genotypes showed partial synchrony or asynchrony in pod maturity due to longer flowering durations, with higher number of opened flowers and seed yield. These results indicate that synchrony in pod maturity and seed yield in mungbean is inversely related

Effectiveness of different phytohormones on grain filling and yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.) under drought stress

Drought is a major limiting factor affecting rice yield and productivity all over the world, including Malaysia. To induce drought resistance, there is an increasing interest in using different phytohormones for field crop production considering its efficiency, feasibility, cost and labour-effectiveness. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate effectiveness of five different phytohormone treatments as Vita-Grow Plus (commercial phytohormones product), epibrassinolide, spermine, pyroligneous acid and without any of those or control including three times of application (single spray at 35 days after sowing, DAS; double spray at 35 and 55 DAS and triple spray at 35, 55 and 85 DAS) on growth and yield parameters of rice (Oryza sativa L.). Drought stress was exposed by regulating irrigation schedule. It was observed that all applied growth regulators have more or less progressive effect on rice growth and productivity. Both epibrassinolide and spermine application caused highest grain filling and spermine application highest (66.4%) grain yield. Considering yield components and grain yield, double spray of phytohormones was best. Therefore, two times spray (35 and 55 DAS) of spermine could be suggested for rice cultivation in the drought affected areas of Malaysia or other areas in the tropical region with similar ecologies

Evaluation and selection of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) mutants for higher seed yield

A field experiment was conducted to investigate some morpho-physiological characters, yield attributes and yield of three rapeseed mutants along with mother variety. Results revealed that LAI and AGR increased till 65 days after sowing (DAS) followed by a decline at later growth stages whereas RGR decreased with age of the plants. Two plant characters such as LAI and AGR contributed to the superior TDM production. Results indicated that a high yielding rapeseed genotype should possess larger LAI, higher TDM production ability, superior AGR at all growth stages, superior biochemical parameters which result in superior yield components and seed yield