Standardization of packaging material, storage durations and chemical treatments on vase life of soft shield fern Polystichum squarrosum (D. Don)

Polystichum species, native to warm-temperate and montane-tropical environments (including some alpine regions), are terrestrial or rock-dwelling ferns. These plants exhibit dark green, leather-like, and lustrous fronds, which are highly valued in floral arrangements due to their aesthetic elegance and longevity. Polystichum squarrosum is not being cultivated commercially but collected from forests for its use as cut green in the florist industry. Hence the collected material should be handled carefully to utilize every frond. Therefore, the present study aimed to develop suitable post-harvest handling procedures for this valued cut green. A Completely Randomized Design (CRD) Factorial layout with 19 treatment modules (M0 to M18) was employed. Treatment modules included packaging material as poly mesh net bags and packing materials as corrugated fiberboard boxes , two storage durations (3 and 6 days) and chemical treatments [glycerol (4%) and Benzyl adenine (25mg L-1)]. Results revealed that spraying cut fronds with 4% glycerol, wrapping them in cellophane sheets and storing them for three days (M9) resulted in significant improvements in appearance, weight change, vase life and water uptake. Fronds from Season-II (March-April 2020) exhibited excellent performance over Season-I (August-September 2019). The interaction between M9 and Season-II further enhanced the postharvest parameters. The combination of glycerol treatment and cellophane wrapping for three-day storage proved most effective in preserving the quality of cut fronds.

Influence of NPK fertigation and foliar application on flower quality, media physico-chemical properties and foliar nutrient content in carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus) cv. Master

Sixteen different fertilizer treatments were accessed in a completely randomized block design for their effects on cut- flower grades, media physicochemical properties and foliar nutrient content in carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) cv. Master plants grown under naturally ventilated greenhouse conditions at the Research Farm of Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India during 2010 and 2011. Rooted cuttings were planted in a sterilized growing media comprising of soil: FYM: coco peat (2:1:1, v/v). Carnation cultivar Master plants fertilized with treatment comprising of 250 ppm N and K fertigation through urea and MOP + 250 ppm NPK (19:19:19) foliar spray once a week showed significant increase in quality parameters (i.e. percentage of A, B and C - grade flowers based on stem strength) in comparison to the recommended practices. Highest available NPK content in the media (371.03, 37.09, 276.87 kg/ ha) as well as in foliage (2.867, 0.364, 3.954 %) were also recorded with the same treatment

Effect of Foliar Application of Gibberellic Acid on Plant Growth, Flowering and Yield Attributes in Pansy (Viola × wittrockiana Gams.)

An investigation was carried out to study the effect of foliar application GA3 on plant growth and quality attributes in Pansy (Viola × wittrockiana Gams.) during 2019-2020. The field experiment was laid out at randomized complete block design (RCBD). The 18 treatment combinations including 6 doses of GA3 i.e., 50, 100, 150, 200, 250 and 300 ppm were applied at 3 durations i.e., 30, 40 and 50 DAT along with a non-factorial control. Of them, GA3 @ 300 ppm at 40 DAT showed significant increment in plant height (34%), plant spread (32%), number of flowers per plant (25%), number of flowers per plot (25%), size of flowers (35%), flowering duration (25%), seed yield per plant (68%), seed yield per plot ( 68%) and seed yield per hectare ( 68%), number of seeds per capsule (48%), number of capsules per plant (38%) as compared to control checks whereas earliest flowering was observed due to GA3 @ 300 ppm when applied at 30 DAT

Effect of Different Treatment Modules on Seed Yield and Quality in African Marigold (Tagetes erecta L.)

The present investigation was carried out at the experimental farm of Department of Seed Science and Technology, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (HP)-173 230 during 2018 and 2019. The treatment modules comprising different doses of Jeevamrit applied as drench (25ml/m2, 50ml/m2, 75ml/m2 and 100 ml/m2) and as foliar spray (5%, 10%, 15% & 20%) at 15 days interval, alternatively + Brahmastra @ 2.5 % and Neemastra @ 2.5 %  at 7 days interval, alternatively along with RDF, untreated control and an organic module based on Trichoderma viride. The field experiment was conducted in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with 19 treatments replicated thrice. Although, maximum values for number of seeds per capitulum (268.12), seed yield per plant (14.74 g), seed yield per plot (176.90 g), seed yield per hectare (327.59 kg), 1000 seed weight (2.56 g), seed germination (85.13 %), seedling length (12.66 cm), seedling fresh weight (0.55 g), seedling dry weight (7.78 mg), SVI-I (1077.68), SVI-II (662.55) were recorded in M18 (RDF (100% NPK) + FYM @ 5 kg/m2) it was found to be statistically at par with the treatment module M16 (Drenching with Jeevamrit @ 100 ml/m2 + Foliar application of Jeevamrit @ 20 % at 15 days interval, alternatively + Neemastra @ 2.5 % and Brahmastra @ 2.5 % at 7 days intervals, alternatively) which had highest speed of germination (33.36)