Development of priming technology for enhanced planting value of seeds in kabuli chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

The continuous rise in global population demands more food production under limited land resources accompanied by climate change. More oversupply of quality seeds to meet ever-growing food demand is a highly challenging task. Seeds with low vigour level limit the growth and yield of crops at varied field conditions. Hence, an experiment was conducted to develop a technique for the fast and homogeneous growth of kabuli chickpea seeds. The priming treatments evaluated in the present study enhanced the various seed quality parameters of kabuli chickpea significantly when compared to control. Hydro-priming for 4 hours (at 20°C) and air drying for 72 hours showed better results compared to rest of the treatments both in fresh seeds which recorded higher first count (66.38%), germination (92.50%) root length (11.85 cm), shoot length (6.16), mean seedling length (18.01), dry seedling weight (747 mg), seedling vigour index-I (1665), higher speed of emergence (0.3992) and old seeds with higher first count (61.88%), germination (74.13%) root length (8.15 cm), shoot length (5.85 cm), mean seedling length (14.00 cm), seedling dry weight (611 mg), seedling vigour index-I (1056), higher speed of emergence (0.3814). The aged seeds have recorded 29 % increase in germination percentage in contrast to 8 percent increases in fresh seeds. Kabuli chickpea seeds could be subjected to hydropriming, an affordable, alternative, and eco-friendly technique for improving seed and seedling vigour of kabuli chickpea

Effect of Organic Cultivation of Capsicum annuum L. on Soil Microbial Properties under Open-Field and Shade-House Conditions

Two bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) varieties, viz., California Wonder and Gangavati Local, were raised under nine completely organic nutrient sources, along with recommended package of practices, and, under completely inorganic nutrient sources. Irrespective of the variety and growing environment, there was substantial increase in total bacterial count (22.97% and 24.98%), population of fungi (20.23% and 20.23%), actinomycetes (36.89% and 36.83%) and mycorrhiza (44.63% and 29.40%) in open-field and shade-house conditions, respectively, in all the nutrient combinations where organic sources were used, compared to the inorganic treatment. All organic nutrient sources used were found to be similar in their effect on soil microbes

Influence of Different Portions of Vine and Plant Growth Regulators on Growth Parameters of Sweet Potato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.]

A field experiment was conducted to study the potentiality of different portions of vine and plant growth regulators on growth performance of sweet potato during 2019 and 2020 at vegetable block, College of Horticulture, Munirabad (Koppal), located in the northern dry zone of Karnataka. The experiment was laid out in a Factorial Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with thirteen treatments. Among the two factors, the first factor was different portions of vine for planting consisting basal portion (P1), middle portion (P2) and top portion (P3) and the second factor was plant growth regulators consisting CCC @ 500 ppm (G1), CCC @1000 ppm (G2), Ethrel @ 150 ppm (G3) and Ethrel @ 300 ppm (G4). The control treatments were basal portion of vine (C1), middle portion of vine (C2) and top portion of vine(C3) all without application of growth regulator. Among the different portions of vine used for planting, the top portion of vine recorded significantly higher vine length, Vine inter nodal length, Number of branches per plant and Leaf area. Application of CCC @ 500 ppm was recorded significantly higher growth attributes. The interaction effect of top portion of vine with CCC @ 500 ppm (P3G1) was found to be significantly superior with respect to growth parameters of sweet potato

Estimation of Phytochemicals in Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) Accessions under Northern Transition Zone of Karnataka, India

The present investigation was carried out for the estimation of phytochemicals in chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) accessions at Horticultural Research and Extension Centre, Devihosur, Haveri under northern transition zone of Karnataka. Fifty chilli genotypes collected from different sources were screened for quality components like ascorbic acid, chlorophyll, and phenols. The analysis of variance revealed that the quality components varied significantly among the genotypes. The ascorbic acid content in green chilli and chlorophyll content in leaves varied from 40.73 to 191.15 mg/100 g and 0.26 to 1.80mg/100 g, respectively. Whereas, the phenols in leaves varied between 3.86 to 12.15 mg/100g. The maximum amount of ascorbic acid, chlorophyll, and phenol content were observed in the accessions IC-572470, EC-399572 and Ujwala. respectively, which can be further utilized as potential parenting materials for quality improvement programme in chilli