Gynoecious inbred improves yield and earliness in cucumber (Cucumis sativus)

Heterosis for yield and yield related traits were studied in 28 F1 hybrids of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) obtained by 8 × 8 diallel (excluding reciprocal) crosses involving eight parents including one gynoecious line (GBS-1). The F1 hybrids developed using gynoecious line as one parent were found to be superior in performance over top parents for various characters are GBS-1 × Pusa Uday for node number of first female flower (-2.61%), days to first female flower anthesis (-3.45 %), number of fruits/ plant (57.49 %) and yield / plant (66.40%) ,whereas GS-4 × Pusa Uday showed better heterosis for fruit length (20.34%), average fruit diameter (17.04 %) and average fruit weight (12.24%). The best three heterotic hybrids identified over the top parent for yield/plant GBS-1 × Pusa Uday (66.40%), GBS-1 × Punjab Naveen (54.44 %) and GS-4 × Pusa Uday (41.29%) and these may be exploited for commercial cultivation

Diversity analysis in snowball cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) using microsatellite markers

A set of 50 microsatellite markers were used for analysis of molecular diversity in 12 parental lines consisting of five Ogura CMS lines and 7 testers of snowball cauliflower (Brassica oleracea vas botrytis L.). Twelve markers were found to be polymorphic and the polymorphic information content (PIC) of the simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers ranged from 0.15 to as high as 0.83. The genetic dissimilarity based on simple matching coefficient for 12 genotypes ranged from 0.06 to 0.61 with an average of 0.36. The principal coordinate analysis based on molecular polymorphism, delineated the genotypes into five different groups. Genotype specific alleles was identified, which can be used as a reference for varietal identification as well as to identify the purity of the hybrid seeds in snowball cauliflower. The present study demonstrates the utility of microsatellite markers for estimating molecular diversity as well as genotype identification in snowball cauliflower

People and plant: Learning with Adi community on ethnomedicinal practices and conservation in Arunachal Pradesh, India

Local plant species have been in use in variety of ethnomedicinal practices from time immemorial among the people of various communities for treating various human diseases. This paper reports about the plant species used by Adi community in curing various human diseases and ailments. A study was conducted during 2008-2009 and further refined in succeeding years with the 12 purposively selected traditional knowledge holders (TKHs) of Adi tribe of East Siang district, Arunachal Pradesh, India. Data were collected using combined approaches of personal interview, participant observations and transect walks. It was observed that with Shannon-Weaver diversity index 2.73, there were 39 local plant species belonging to 25 plant families and used as ethnomedicinal practices by the TKHs. Most of the species (17) were used by Adi TKHs with their green leaf parts followed by root and fruits (5 each) to develop ethnomedicinal formulations for treating a range of diseases and ailments. Out of these, most of the species [(e.g., Leucas   aspera (Willd.) Link.; Plumeria rubra L.; Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don; Solanum  torvum Swartz; Solanum  khasianum C. B. Clarke; Oroxylum  indicum (L.) Benth. ex Kurze; and Tinospora  cordifolia (Thunb.) Miers)] were found in use by Adis against asthma, bronchitis, cough, sinusitis, diabetes, malaria, typhoid and jaundice. The Adi TKHs holders maintain a rich cultural ethics, govern by their own world-view in continuing ethnomedicinal practices, and harvesting the species from various land use systems with the aim to sustain biodiversity and associated practices. The key findings indicated that, plant species used as ethnomedicines for some of the diseases and ailments by the Adi TKHs, can be undertaken for the long-term trial to find some natural remedies against few human diseases, including search of immune enhancer against COVID-19,  provided TKHs of Adi community are partnered in ethically and culturally appropriate manner.

Centurion women and diverse knowledge systems

413-419The present study based on anthropological participant observations has been conducted on selected centurion women of Gujarat. Forty old women (80 yrs or more) were selected to study diverse indigenous knowledge systems used to cure various human and animals ailments. Personal interview schedule with the set of open-ended questions and focus group discussion with the relatives and family members of these women were adopted as tools to record the data. The study indicates that with passage of age, indigenous knowledge systems get more strengthened and refined. They have developed specific ethnomedicinal practices based on years of experience, which are ecofriendly, with no side effects, cost effective, locally available and provide first hand remedies. In curing the diseases of human and animals, various locally available plant parts are utilized. In spite of availability of modern veterinary services, these women still follow ethnoveterinary medicines to cure their animals; similar cases exist for the healthcare of human being. Even they have developed food packages to cope up the food and nutritional security of their family especially during drought. With regards to conservation of indigenous biodiversity, domestication of local medicinal plants were found to be the mean for sustainable management of natural resources by these women

Community knowledge and sustainable natural resources management: learning from the Monpa of Arunachal Pradesh

Community knowledge and local institutions play a significant role in sustainable comanagement, use and conservation of natural resources. Looking to the importance of these resources, a project, funded by the National Innovation Foundation (NIF), Ahmedabad, India was implemented to document the community knowledge associated with agriculture and natural resources in few selected Monpa tribe dominating villages of West Kameng and Tawang Districts of Arunachal Pradesh, India. Dynamics of various indigenous practices, gender role, culture and informal rural social institutions, cultural edges significantly contribute in managing and using the natural resources sustainably. Experiential learning and location specific knowledge play a pivotal role in ecosystem sustainability. Study also indicates the synergistic relation existing between local knowledge and ecological edges, thereby helping in sustaining livelihood in high altitude. Indigenous resource management systems are not mere traditions but adaptive responses that have evolved over time

Community knowledge and sustainable natural resources management: learning from the Monpa of Arunachal Pradesh

Part of this article was presented as a conference paper at a national conference on “Arunachal Pradesh: Tradition in Transition, linking ecology, economics and ethics” held at North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, India from 13-16 September, 2005.Community knowledge and local institutions play a significant role in sustainable comanagement, use and conservation of natural resources. Looking to the importance of these resources, a project, funded by the National Innovation Foundation (NIF), Ahmedabad, India was implemented to document the community knowledge associated with agriculture and natural resources in few selected Monpa tribe dominating villages of West Kameng and Tawang Districts of Arunachal Pradesh, India. Dynamics of various indigenous practices, gender role, culture and informal rural social institutions, cultural edges significantly contribute in managing and using the natural resources sustainably. Experiential learning and location specific knowledge play a pivotal role in ecosystem sustainability. Study also indicates the synergistic relation existing between local knowledge and ecological edges, thereby helping in sustaining livelihood in high altitude. Indigenous resource management systems are not mere traditions but adaptive responses that have evolved over time

Dynamics of sustainable livestock and natural resources management

619-629The traditional communities derive both their socio-cultural and spiritual identity from land and forest for which a dynamic body of traditional knowledge and many socio-cultural institutions tested over centuries, flexible and collective in nature were evolved to sustain and mange the natural resources. Looking to the importance of this dynamics, an attempt has been made to explore the knowledge and practices pertaining to livestock and natural resources management governed by traditional knowledge and rural social institutions. To achieve the objective, the livestock owners from different ethnoculture from different villages of Dindori and Chhindwara districts, Madhya Pradesh were selected purposively. Various ethnographic tools, conventional methods like personal interview and participatory tools were adopted to explore and interpret the data. A range of locally available plant and other materials are widely used for curing many diseases and ailments of livestock. The indigenous biodiversity including local grasses, shrubs and trees are dynamically associated with local feeds, forages and are over all part of natural resources management of livestock owners. Still more preference is given to rear the local breeds of different livestock on account of their socio-cultural and spiritual compatibility resulting in conservation of biological diversity. Various social (Sajha) and cultural (Pola) institutional arrangements and traditional knowledge codified in local language are adopted to select, purchase, manage and improve the breeds of livestock. The ecological diversities in which pasture lands are categorized in to private and common property and associated with customary rules and culture play a significant role in sustainable use, conservation and management of the natural resources

Management of indigenous sugarcane under rice-wheat based agroecosystem through informal institutions

469-477Informal rural social institutions and indigenous knowledge systems as social capitals have often played significant role in conserving, managing and sustaining the indigenous biodiversity. Looking to the importance of informal rural social institutions and farmers’ wisdom in conservation of indigenous biodiversity, an attempt has been made to document the resource-poor farmers’ informal social institutions and common practices for conservation and management of indigenous sugarcane varieties in three randomly selected villages of Azamgarh district, eastern part of Uttar Pradesh. The data were collected from the resource-poor and resource-rich farmers by using the focus group discussions and personal interview methods. The study depicts that farmers have developed an informal institution and a cumulative body of indigenous knowledge based on trial and error to conserve, adapt and manage the indigenous sugarcane varieties. The varieties and adopted approaches are found to be compatible with the socio-economic and biophysical indicators of rice-wheat based agroecosystem. Cultural feasibility and local resources available with farmers are basic attributes in facilitating the chain of cooperation through Sajha-Kolhad to help each other for management of indigenous sugarcane varieties in holistic manner. The informal institution and knowledge involved in managing the indigenous sugarcane varieties were found to be environmentally sound, economically viable, socially justifiable and more humane in nature. With regard to production stability and agronomic and cultural attributes, indigenous sugarcane varieties are more compatible than the improved varieties

Indigenous knowledge and sustainable agricultural resources management under rainfed agro-ecosystem

642-654The paper demonstrates the tribal farmers’ wisdom, perception and their criteria developed for the agricultural resources conservation and survival under the risk prone agro-ecosystem of Dindori district of Madhya Pradesh. The investigation was carried out in seven villages dominated by Gond, Baiga and Pradhan tribes. Conventional and participatory methods were applied to record the data. The result indicates that, despite the increasing commercialization of agriculture, the great majority of the farmers in the area are peasants, or small-scale producers. After centuries of cultural and biological evolution, traditional farmers have developed and inherited complex farming systems, adapted to the risk prone situations. These have helped them to conserve and sustainably manage harsh environments and meet their subsistence need without depending on costly energy based inputs. Agro-ecological and ethno-ecological evidence in vogue among the tribal community increasingly indicates that these systems are productive, sustainable, ecologically sound, and tuned to the social, economic, and cultural features of the local tribe. Some of the cultural adaptations that farmers have developed in the area include: domestication and conservation of diversity of plants and maintenance of a wide genetic resource base. Farmers are competent to make vertical agricultural development through the series of traditional resource conserving practices, variety conservation, weed, pest, nutrient, and water management practices to deal with socio-environmental changes. Scientists involved in agricultural research and development must try to learn, systematize and incorporate the farmers’ practices, before this wealth of practical knowledge is lost forever, given that most traditional farming systems are rapidly disappearing in the face of major social, economic and political changes occurring in developing societies

<i style="">Amta </i>and <i style="">Amti</i> (<i style="">Hibiscus sabdariffa</i> L.)-Cultural and agricultural dynamics of agrobiodiversity conservation

151-157The local farmers possess an immense knowledge of their environment, based on the years of informal wisdom and close observations of the nature. By living in rich and variety of complex ecosystems, they have developed an understanding of the properties of the plants’ use, the functioning of ecosystem, food web, and techniques for their effective management. Equally, people’s knowledge and perceptions towards environment are important elements of cultural identity and biodiversity conservation. Looking to the importance of such knowledge systems, an effort has been made to carryout a research on use and conservation of Amta and Amti in purposively selected tribals’ villages of Madhya Pradesh. Tribal farmers have been found to develop the location specific practices to conserve Amta and Amti. These crops form an integral part of local medicines used for curing many diseases of human and animals, ethnic foods, culture, cropping systems, ecology and overall socioeconomic conditions of the farmers. The calyx and corolla of these crops are frequently used for preparing beverages. The tender leaves and stem are used as vegetable and for preparing chutney. Amta and Amti are significant and integral part of local cropping systems and are mixed with red gram, finger millet, kutki (millet), paddy and local vegetables. A synergistic relationship exists between Amta and Amti and these crops, thereby helping to control insect pest population, conserve natural resources and increase the productivity. The perception of women folk towards the different values related to Amta and Amti were found to be stronger than the male folk and similarly percentage of contribution in conservation of these crops women folk play a major role