Diversity of Native and Exotic Fruit Genetic Resources in Nepal

Diversity in fruit genetic resources in Nepal is contributed by wild, indigenous and exotic sources. This study was carried out to bring together the available fruit species and cultivars at various stations of Department of Agriculture (DoA), Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC), Agriculture and Forest University (AFU) and private farms until the Fiscal Year 2017/2018. Altogather there were 47 species of fruits from tropical zone of Terai (Tarahara, Janakpur, Sarlahi, Parwanipur and Khajura) to cold temperature zone of high hills (Marpha, Rajikot and Satbanj) across the country. Apple diversity was found at Horticulture Research Station, Rajikot, Jumla and has introduced 25 spur type cultivars. National Citrus Research Programme (NCRP), Dhankuta was citrus most diversity areas and has maintained 130 exotic and indigenous germplasms of citrus species followed by NCFD, Kirtipur. Mango diversity was noted at RARS, Tarahara (16 cultivars), RARS, Parwanipur (25 cultivars), Farm of DoA-Sarlahi (30 cultivars), Farms of DoA-Janakpur (18 cultivars), AFU-Rampur (17 cultivars). Some of the private nurseries like Everything Organic Nursery, Patlekhet, Kavre and International organization like Technology Demonstration Centre of ICIMOD, Godawari, Lalitpur were also found to be a diversity centre of many exotic and indigenous germplasms of fruit species. These indigenous fruit genetic resources were also used to develop varieties such as Sunkagati-1 and Sunkagati-2 and Tehrathum Local of acid lime, Khoku Local of mandarin orange, \u27Malbhog\u27 of banana which were notified by the National Seed Board, SQCC. The unique fruit genetic resources were ‘Pharping Local\u27 (Asian sand pear), ‘Sindhuli Junar\u27 (sweet orange), ‘Dhankuta Local\u27 and ‘Manakamana Local\u27 (mandarin), Local Malbhog (banana), Bhaktapure Lapsi (Nepalese hog plum) etc. which have superior traits than exotic fruits. Unique and wild fruit species were yellow, black and red raspberries  (Rubus ellipticus, R. foliolosus and R. acuminatus respectively), bale (Aegle marmelos), pummelo (Citrus grandis), citron (Citrus medica), sweet lime (Citrus limettoides), butter tree or chiuri (Basia buttyacea), tamarind (Tamarindus indica), black plum  (Syzygium cumini), wild apple (Mallus baccata), rough lemon (Citrus jambhiri), bayberry (Myrica esculanta), edimayal (Pyrus pashia), black and white ebony (Diospyrus malbarica), wild species of olive (Olea ferruginea and O. glandulifera), wild kiwifruit (Actinidia callosa) etc. Most of the diversity studies were based on phenotypic descriptions. We believe that the number of species and genotypes listed in this article would be increased if detail survey is further carried out. Way forward to utilize these valuable genetic resources has also been discussed in this manuscript

Evaluation of Onion Genotypes for Growth and Bulb Yield in Mid Hill of Nepal

Experiments were conducted at Horticulture Research Division (HRD), Khumaltar, Lalitpur; and Horticulture Research Station (HRS), Kimugaun, Dailekh in 2017/18 to evaluate the high yielding open pollinated genotypes of onion in mid hills of both locations.  Five onion genotypes namely AVON-1016, AVON-1027, AVON-1028, AVON-1052, AVON-1074 and AVON-1103 received from Asian Vegetable Research and Development Centre were evaluated with local check variety and recommended variety Red Creole in both locations in randomized complete block design with 4 replications. The main objective of the experiment is to findout the high yielding open pollinated onion genotypes for mid hill condition.The pooled analysis of data over locations showed significant differences on plant height, neck diameter, bulb diameter, weight of bulbs and adjusted bulb yield per hectare.   Introduced genotypes AVON 1027 (38.83 t/ha), AVON 1052 (31.97 t/ha) and AVON 1028 (31.48 t/ha) produced significantly higher yield than recommended and commercially cultivated check variety Red Creole (27.04 t/ha). Therefore the genotype AVON 1027 can be selected as the best genotype for growing in mid hills of Nepa

Modified Atmosphere Packaging of Capsicum for Extending Shelf Life Under Coolbot Condition

Capsicum is one of the high value vegetable crops in Nepal. Its demand in kitchen is increasing due to urbanization and increased awareness on its health benefit. Its commercial cultivation has been started in protected as well as open field conditions. It fetches higher price in market but has very short storage life under ordinary storage condition. An experiment was carried out to evaluate the modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) on extension of shelf-life of capsicum fruit. Fruit were harvested at full mature stage with smooth and shiny appearance from farmer's field grown under protected condition at Chitwan, Nepal. The fruits were brought to postharvest laboratory of National Horticulture Research Centre, pre-cooled for 3-4 hours, cleaned with muslin cloth and packed in 25 micron Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) packaging with different number of pinhole sized perforations viz. without pinholes, eight pinholes, sixteen pinholes, twenty four pinholes and control (without MAP). The study was conducted in completely randomized block design with five treatments and four replications. Fruits were kept at coolbot storage (9.8+2 ºC, 86+5% RH) till 30 days and analyzed for various postharvest physical, chemical and physiological parameters at every 10, 20 and 30 days of storage. The result showed that LDPE packaging influenced on reduction of physiological loss in weight (PLW), spoilage loss, ascorbic acid content, TA, freshness, firmness and shelf life. The modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) without pinholes showed the minimum PWL (1.71%) and the optimum fruit freshness (4.76) but the spoilage loss was the maximum (14%). Among the packaging, MAP with 8 pinholes maintained majority of postharvest quality retention with reduced physiological loss in weight (4.15 %), freshness (4.5) and spoilage loss (2%)

Effect of Wrapping Materials and Maturity Stages on Postharvest Loss Reduction of Papaya

Papaya fruits are vulnerable to high postharvest losses if harvesting and handling techniques are inappropriate. Therefore, an experiment was conducted in two consecutive years, 2019 and 2020, to assess the effects of wrapping materials and maturity stages on postharvest loss reduction of papaya stored at ambient condition. A factorial combination of four wrapping materials (brown paper, white paper, fiber bag, and control) and three maturity stages (MS2; few yellow streaks from base to stalk end of fruits, MS3; 1/2 ripe, and MS4; 3/4 ripe), using a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications was used to carry out this experiment. The papaya fruits were evaluated for transportation weight loss, bruised fruit percent, physiological weight loss, decay percent, total soluble solids, firmness, and shelf life. The result revealed that wrapping materials significantly affected on the transportation weight loss, percent bruised fruit, decay percent, and shelf life. The stage of maturity had a significant effect on TSS and firmness of the fruit. However, the interaction of wrapping materials and maturity stages had a non-significant effect on all the parameters. Out of the four wrapping materials, brown paper wrapped fruits had the lowest bruised fruit (4.1%), the lowest decay (10.8%), and the highest shelf life (11.8 days), while MS2 showed the minimum bruised fruit (15.1%), decay (21.2%), and shelf life (12.8 days). Fruit harvested at MS2 wrapped with brown paper can reduce postharvest loss and improve shelf life of papaya