Studies on Fruit Development in Pink and White types of Wax Apple (Syzygium samarangense Merr. & Perry) in Goa, India

Fruit development studies were taken up in white and pink types of wax apple trees aging twelve years old at Goa, India. The study was initiated with the onset of flowering in November during the year 2018. After tagging the flowers on anthesis, samples were drawn periodically to record parameters like fruit weight, fruit volume, fruit length and diameter (upper, middle and lower), quality or biochemical parameters like total acids and sugars. Relative growth rate (RGR) was calculated for all parameters and graphs were generated. In both the types, fruit weight, fruit volume, fruit length and diameter increased in a sigmoidal pattern. The quality characters like TSS, total acids and total sugars also showed a sigmoidal pattern of increase whereas the increase in reducing sugars exhibited a double sigmoidal pattern of increase. It was evident from the curves that there was pronounced peak in growth rate between 21 and 28 days after anthesis for fruit weight, fruit volume, fruit length and diameter, in both pink and white types of wax apple

Variability and Genetic Divergence in Vegetable Cowpea Germplasm of Goa

Vegetable cowpea or Yard long bean [Vigna unguiculata var. sesquipedalis L. (Walp)] is a warm season leguminous crops grown especially for vegetable purpose along the west coast of India. In Goa, pole type varieties are preferred over bushy types as they offer multiple harvests with comparatively longer pods. There is wide variability found for different morphological and other traits in the local types cultivated in the state of Goa. Exploration of genetic variability in the available germplasm is a prerequisite for initiation of any successful breeding programme. Twenty nine genotypes of vegetable cowpea including three improved varieties collected from different parts of Goa state were evaluated for twelve quantitative characters including yield. High variability was observed for pod yield/plant, number of pods/plant and pod length. The high variability for pod yield per plant is apparent as the pod yield ranged from 315.25 to 2070.45 g/plant with an average of 827.48 g per plant. Pod yield depends on number of pods per plant, pod length and pod weight. Number of pods per plant ranged from 36.65 to 147.80. Pod weight depends on pod length, number of seeds per pod and hundred seeds weight. Wide variation was observed for all these characters in the present study. The GCV value was maximum for pod yield per plant (g) followed by pod weight (g) and number of pods per plant. Low values of GCV were observed for days to first flowering, days to first harvest and number of seeds per pod. In the present study, the twenty nine genotypes could be grouped into fourteen clusters based on genetic distance. High coefficient of variation was observed for pod yield per plant, pod weight, number of pods per plant and pod length indicating their significant contribution in determining the inter cluster distances

Rapid isolation of high molecular weight DNA from single dry preserved adult beetle of Cryptolaemus montrouzieri for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification

For studying genetic diversity in populations of predatory coccinellid, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant (Coccinellidae: Coleoptera), our attempts to isolate high quality DNA from individual adult beetle using several previously reported protocols and even modifications were quite unsuccessful as the insect size was small and was preserved at -20°C as dry specimen. Here we describe a simple, rapid and efficient method of isolating high-quality intact genomic DNA with reduced protein contamination for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification from a single, dry preserved specimen of adult Cryptolaemus. The procedure features macerating and mixing the single adult specimen of Cryptoalemus with cationic detergent cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) in the homogenization buffer, two chloroform-isoamylalcohol extractions and an alcohol precipitation. RNA contamination was eliminated with RNAse treatment. The purity of DNA was high since the A260/A280 ratio ranged from 1.78 to 1.97. The isolated DNA was used as template for PCR, and the results were evaluated by comparing with different preserved samples.Key words: Rapid isolation, quality DNA, dry preserved specimens, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri

An integrated organic farming system: innovations for farm diversification, sustainability, and livelihood improvement of hill farmers

IntroductionOrganic farming is a promising solution for mitigating environmental burdens related to input-intensive agricultural practices. The major challenge in organic agriculture is the non-availability of large quantities of organic inputs required for crop nutrition and sustaining soil health, which can be resolved by efficient recycling of the available on- and off-farm resources and the integration of the components as per the specific locations.MethodsAn integrated organic farming system (IOFS) model comprising agricultural and horticultural crops, rainwater harvesting units, livestock components, and provisions for nutrient recycling was developed and disseminated in the adopted organic villages Mynsain, Pynthor, and Umden Umbathiang in the Ri-Bhoi District, Meghalaya, India, to improve the income and livelihood of farmers. Harvested rainwater in farm ponds and Jalkunds was used for live-saving irrigation in the winter months and diversified homestead farming activities, such as growing high-value crops and rearing cattle, pigs, and poultry.ResultsMaize, french bean, potato, ginger, tomato, carrot, and chili yields in the IOFS model increased by 20%−30%, 40%−45%, 25%−30%, 33%−40%, 45%−50%, 37%−50%, and 27%−30%, respectively, compared with traditional practices. Some farmers produced vermicompost in vermibeds (made of high-density polyethylene) and cement brick chambers, generating 0.4−1.25 tons per annum. Two individual farmers, Mr. Jrill Makroh and Mrs. Skola Kurbah obtained net returns (without premium price) of Rs. 46,695 ± 418 and Rs. 31,102 ± 501 from their respective 0.27- and 0.21-ha IOFS models, which is equivalent to Rs. 172,944 ± 1,548/ha/year and Rs. 148,105 ± 2,385/ha/year, respectively. The net returns obtained from the IOFS models were significantly higher than those obtained from the farmers' practice of maize-fallow or cultivation of maize followed by vegetable (~30% of the areas). It is expected that, with the certification of organic products, the income and livelihood of the farmers will improve further over the years. While Mr. Jrill Makroh's model supplied 95.1%, 82.0%, and 96.0% of the total N, P2O5, and K2O, respectively, needed by the system, Mrs. Skola Kurbah's model supplied 76.0%, 68.6%, and 85.5% of the total N, P2O5, and K2O, respectively.DiscussionThus, IOFS models should be promoted among hill farmers so that they can efficiently recycle farm resources and increase their productivity, net returns, and livelihood while reducing their dependence on external farm inputs

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Not AvailableIn Training Manual of ICAR sponsored 10 days short course on “Agro-Ecotoursim: An emerging enterprise for agricultural diversification” (31st October to 9th November 2016).Not Availabl

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Not AvailableTo contribute to the conservation and management of diversity in different Jasminum species, extensive and continuous surveys were conducted for collection of Jasminum species in a repeatable and systematic matter under the context of conserving precious jasmine germplasm resources of Goa. Characterization of jasmine germplasm accessions were done according to descriptions which are categorized into four groups viz., General plant growth, leaf, flower bud, flowering and flower characteristics. Significant differences were noticed among accessions for various morphological, flowering and floral-quality traits. Results revealed that among the accessions evaluated, J-6 had the longest leaf length(12.5cm) and width(5.93cm). Maximum flower bud diameter(1.14cm) was noticed in accession J-8 whereas shortest(0.264cm) was noticed in J-5. Maximum and minimum bud lengths were recorded in J-8(4.7cm) and J-7(1.84cm) respectively. Flower diameter was recorded the maximum(6.68cm) in J-6 while it was minimum in J-5(1.9cm). Flowers of J-10 had maximum no.of petals/flower (43) whereas lowest(5.0) was found in J-1. Flowers of J-14 had longest corolla tube length(2.70cm) while it was shortest(0.864cm) in J-10. Local jasmine accessions exhibited an incredible range of diversity for various morphological and floral quality traits studied. Thus there is a great scope to exploit the genetic diversity present in local germplasm of jasmines in Goa.Not Availabl

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Not AvailablePopularity of traditional flowers like Crossandra and Jasmines has come down in Goa due to the advent of modern cut flowers advent and impact of Western culture. Hence a study was conducted to collect and conserve traditional loose flower crops of Goa at ICAR-CCARI. Extensive and systematic surveys were conducted in all talukas of Goa for collection of different Jasminum and Crossandra species. Materials used for the study consisted of crossandra accessions viz.,C-1(Big dark orange),C-2(Ratan-aboli),C-3(light-orange),C-4(bright-yellow) and C-5(dark-orange) and fourteen Jasminum accessions belonging to J.sambac, J.auriculatum, J.grandiflorum and J.multiflorum. Significant variation was noticed among the accessions of these loose flower crops for various morphological and floral-quality traits. Plant height,leaf length and width,no.of branches/plant,length and diameter of flower,flower stalk length, no.of flowers/month and weight of individual flower in crossandra varied from 25.87cm to 67.49cm, 9.43cm to 11.10cm, 3.03cm to 4.19cm, and 3.00 to 6.24,3.13cm to 4.67cm, 2.14cm to 4.29cm, 1.91cm to 2.43cm, 90.23 to 153 and 0.02g to 0.11g respectively. Plant height,bud and flower fresh weight,bud diameter and length,bud stalk length,corolla tube length,flower diameter,no.of petals/flower,length and width of petals and flower stalk length in jasmine accessions ranged from 66cm(J-7) to 143cm(J-5),0.052g(J-5) to 0.563g(J-1),0.05g(J-5) to 1.37g(J-10),1.14cm(J-8) to 0.264cm(J-5),2.54cm(J-6) to 0.85cm(J-5) and 2.30cm(J-14) to 1.08cm(J-8), 2.70cm (J-14) to 0.864cm(J-10), 6.68cm(J-6) to 1.96cm(J-5), 43( J-10) to 5.0(J-1), 0.96(J-5) to 3.50(J-6),0.32cm(J-5) to 1.74cm(J-4) and 2.80cm(J-14) to 1.10cm(J-10) respectively. Hence accessions of these underutilised flower crops exhibited an implausible diversity with potential floricultural traits.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableInstruction Material Series No.: 2Not Availabl