Paclobutrazol use in perennial fruit crops and its residual effects: A review

Paclobutrazol (PBZ), a triazole derivative, has been effectively used to induce and manipulate flowering, fruiting and tree vigour in several perennial fruit crops. However its use in mango is quite common. Soil application of paclobutrazol has been efficacious in promoting flowering and increasing yield in many fruit crops. However, there are some conflicting reports on its impact on fruit quality parameters. Besides reducing gibberellins level, PBZ increases cytokinin contents, root activity and C: N ratio, whereas its influence on nutrient uptake lacks consistency. PBZ also affects microbial population and dehydrogenase activity in soil. PBZ has been characterized as an environmentally stable compound in soil and water environments with a half-life of more than a year under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. However, its residue could not be detected above quantifiable level (0.01 ppm) in soils and fruits when applied in optimized rate. The potential of PBZ to contaminate groundwater at optimum concentrations is low however the risk of its exposure to aquatic life is high. PBZ is considered moderately hazardous for human beings with remote chance of being genotoxic and carcinogenic. In view of the above, optimized use of the PBZ to derive maximum benefit with least undesirable impact on food and environmental safety aspects is suggested

Foliar feeding of boron influencing biochemical attributes and enzyme activity in dragon fruit (Selenicereus monacanthus)

Boron plays crucial role in metabolic processes during fruit ripening and in turn ensures better fruit quality. However limited studies have been conducted to assess the influence of boron on fruit quality of dragon fruit. In the present study, the efficacy of boron was investigated on red-fleshed dragon fruit (Selenicereus monacanthus). Four levels of boron (100 mgL-1, 200 mgL-1, 300 mgL-1 and 400 mgL-1) were applied on 7- and 14-day-old flower buds. The highest pollen germinability, seed weight, fruit weight (274.32 ± 36.72g), pulp content (70.80 ± 1.79%) and pulp firmness (2.74 ± 0.18 N) were recorded when B was applied@300 mg L-1 on 7-day old flower bud. The same treatment also manifested higher soluble solid contents (17.42 ± 0.62 °Brix), sugar content, total carbohydrate (15.92 ± 1.12%), protein (1.33±0.11%), ascorbic acid (112.66 ± 4.98 µg/g), betacyanin (32.86±2.52 µg/g), total phenol (95.26 ± 3.72 µg GAE/ 100g), total flavonoid (37.65 ±2.14 mg QE/100g) and anti-oxidative activity (27.71±2.14 mM Fe II/100g). Correlation studies elucidated significant positive influence of pollen germinability on fruit weight, pulp content and pulp firmness. The activities of α-amylase, invertase and sucrose synthase enzymes were significantly upregulated with the application of B 300 mg L-1 on 7-day old flower bud. On the other hand, the activities of cell wall degrading enzymes such as cellulase, polygalacturonase and pectin methyl esterase were reduced with increasing levels of boron. The principal component analysis (PCA) illustrated the maximal proximity of most of the quality attributes with B 300 mgL-1, applied at 7-day old flower bud stage, thus exemplifying it as the best treatment

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Not AvailableGeographical Indication, an exclusive community rights, recognizes crucial roles played by location, climate and human know-how in making the products distinguished on the basis of their unique intrinsic attributes. It acts as an effective tool in protecting and rewarding not only the market potential of elite items but also the traditional knowledge associated with them. Since the enactment of the GI Act, 89 agricultural items have been accorded with GI tags till March 2018 and among them the share of horticultural items is more than 75 percent. Among horticultural crops, maximum GIs have been accorded to fruit crops (36) followed by vegetable crops (11). Plantation crops and spices share 8 GI tags each, whereas flowering plants and medicinal and aromatic plants conferred with 5 and 2 GI tags, respectively. Mango, citrus, banana, chilli, tea, cardamom, jasmine, grapes, pineapple, brinjal, onion and coffee are important horticultural crops with regard to GI tags. The state-wise ownership of GIs in horticultural crops indicates activism of Maharashtra and Karnataka. The efforts made by public and quasi‐public institutions in obtaining GI tags are indeed a significant to protect, exploit market potential and to facilitate better return to legitimate rural producer from origin-linked reputed products as under the TRIPS Agreement unless a geographical indication is protected in the country of its origin there is no obligation under this Agreement for other countries to extend reciprocal protection.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableJackfruit, the largest known edible fruit bearing tree, is one of the important fruit crops of India. It exhibits wide range of diversity with respect to fruit character and bulb quality. It is an important component of homestead garden because of its multifarious uses (dessert, vegetable and pickle) and high nutritive value. In spite of high food value and market potential, jackfruit is one of the poorly researched crops and there is a dearth of information about its phenology. The present study defines phenological stages of jackfruit according to the extended BBCH (Biologische Bundesantalt, Bundessortenamt und Chemische Industrie) scale using three-digit numerical system. Eight principal growth stages, namely bud development (stage 0), shoot development (stage 1), leaf development (stage 3), specialised reproductive shoot development (stage 4), reproductive development (stage 5), flowering (stage 6), fruit development (stage 7) and fruit maturation (stage 8) have been described. A total of 42 secondary growth stages have been described and defined. In this study, bearing and non-bearing footstalks as well as male and female phases have been defined separately. The study will act as an effective tool for providing a consensual unified approach for standardisation of phenophases, as well as for efficient orchard management for ensuring higher yield and fruit quality. The scale may also be effectively used for characterisation and adaptation of germplasm and assessment of climatic impact on crop phenology.Not Availabl

Geographical Indications in Horticulture: An Indian perspective

159-166Geographical Indication, an exclusive community rights, recognizes crucial roles played by location, climate and human know-how in making the products distinguished on the basis of their unique intrinsic attributes. It acts as an effective tool in protecting and rewarding not only the market potential of elite items but also the traditional knowledge associated with them. Since the enactment of the GI Act, 89 agricultural items have been accorded with GI tags till March 2018 and among them the share of horticultural items is more than 75 percent. Among horticultural crops, maximum GIs have been accorded to fruit crops (36) followed by vegetable crops (11). Plantation crops and spices share 8 GI tags each, whereas flowering plants and medicinal and aromatic plants conferred with 5 and 2 GI tags, respectively. Mango, citrus, banana, chilli, tea, cardamom, jasmine, grapes, pineapple, brinjal, onion and coffee are important horticultural crops with regard to GI tags. The state-wise ownership of GIs in horticultural crops indicates activism of Maharashtra and Karnataka. The efforts made by public and quasi-public institutions in obtaining GI tags are indeed a significant to protect, exploit market potential and to facilitate better return to legitimate rural producer from origin-linked reputed products as under the TRIPS Agreement unless a geographical indication is protected in the country of its origin there is no obligation under this Agreement for other countries to extend reciprocal protection

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Not AvailableResponse of guava to three levels of winter and summer pruning (30, 50 and 70%) was studied in a trial conducted during 2014-16 on eight-year-old guava plants spaced at 2.5 m × 1.25 m. In general, pruning encouraged shoot emergence, irrespective of time and intensity, however, winter pruning resulted in production of more shoots or laterals (27.02 ± 3.85 shoots/m of branch) as compared to treatments of summer pruning (14.55 ± 3.3). Shoot emergence increased with the severity of pruning. Shoot pruning during winters was found effective in enhancing flowering intensity (38.58 ± 4.25%), fruit set (73.68 ± 0.48%) and fruit yield (6.12 ± 1.13 kg/ plant), whereas, summer pruning did not show significant influence on these parameters. Among three treatments of winter pruning, 70% shoot pruning was the best treatment and recorded the maximum values for flowering intensity (42.83%), fruit set (74.15%) and fruit yield (7.25 kg/plant or 23.2 t/ha). The same treatment recorded the highest cumulative yield of rainy and winter season (8.65 kg/plant or 27.68 t/ha) as well. With respect to fruit quality, all the pruning treatments recorded significant improvement in total soluble solids and vitamin C contents for both rainy and winter season crops over the control. However, differences remained at par among all the pruning treatments. The treatment 70% shoot pruning during summer yielded fruits with maximum TSS and vitamin C content in both the crops i.e., rainy and winter season. Thus, it can be concluded that under hot and humid climate of Odisha, high density guava orchards could be pruned during winters at 70% intensity to realise high yield potential of guava in the region.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableResponse of guava to three levels of winter and summer pruning (30, 50 and 70%) was studied in a trial conducted during 2014-16 on eight-year-old guava plants spaced at 2.5 m × 1.25 m. In general, pruning encouraged shoot emergence, irrespective of time and intensity, however, winter pruning resulted in production of more shoots or laterals (27.02 ± 3.85 shoots/m of branch) as compared to treatments of summer pruning (14.55 ± 3.3). Shoot emergence increased with the severity of pruning. Shoot pruning during winters was found effective in enhancing flowering intensity (38.58 ± 4.25%), fruit set (73.68 ± 0.48%) and fruit yield (6.12 ± 1.13 kg/ plant), whereas, summer pruning did not show significant influence on these parameters. Among three treatments of winter pruning, 70% shoot pruning was the best treatment and recorded the maximum values for flowering intensity (42.83%), fruit set (74.15%) and fruit yield (7.25 kg/plant or 23.2 t/ha). The same treatment recorded the highest cumulative yield of rainy and winter season (8.65 kg/plant or 27.68 t/ha) as well. With respect to fruit quality, all the pruning treatments recorded significant improvement in total soluble solids and vitamin C contents for both rainy and winter season crops over the control. However, differences remained at par among all the pruning treatments. The treatment 70% shoot pruning during summer yielded fruits with maximum TSS and vitamin C content in both the crops i.e., rainy and winter season. Thus, it can be concluded that under hot and humid climate of Odisha, high density guava orchards could be pruned during winters at 70% intensity to realise high yield potential of guava in the region.Not Availabl

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