Variability in Hip Characters in Rosa Species

The reddish 'fruit' of rose is commonly known as its hip. Rose hips are formed when the tip of a rose stem swells up after a flower has faded. Species roses, shrub roses, ramblers and other roses that are "close to nature" (R. gallica, R. rugosa) are the most likely to have noticeable hips. Twenty three rose species were evaluated for hip characters. Rose hips were very variable among the species. Average hip length and diameter varies between 0.5 to 2.8 cm and 0.1 to 2.7 cm, respectively. Hip shape viz., sub-globose, urn-shaped, ellipsoid and spindle-shaped were observed among the species. The range for number of hips was found to be 5 to 45 per cluster. Rosa rugosa recorded larger hip size. Majority of the species showed orange and deep red hip color. R. moyesii (blue-green foliage and bright to orange hips), R. glauca (bright scarlet hips), R. pimpinellifolia (tiny, red-black hips) with attractive hips having ornamental value can be utilized in landscaping and for garden purposes

Acclimatization and Field Evaluation of Micropropagated Plants of Chrysanthemum Cv.'Arka Swarna'

Chrysanthemum cv.'Arka Swarna' was micropropagated using shoot-tip and nodal microcuttings on MS medium containing 3% sucrose and 0.25% Phytagel® in the absence of externally supplied plant growth regulators, yielding 90-100% rooted plantlets, or in medium containing 1 μM benzyladenine or kinetin yielding 20-32% plantlets within 2-4 weeks of subculture. The stocks were acclimatized employing sachet technique wherein the rooted plantlets (2.5-4 cm) were planted in polythene bags of 5"×9" filled to one-third height with planting mixture. The closed bags with 1-5 plants were incubated under conditions similar to the in vitro stocks. The plantlets recorded 90-100% establishment within 4 weeks. The ex vitro established plants were evaluated in the field a month later by direct planting , or after one month in a field nursery-bed, along with conventional suckers. While field establishment (80-95%) was not significantly influenced by the treatments, micropropagated plants put through the nursery appeared to be the best among the three treatments in vegetative growth, floral characteristics and flower yield, demonstrating advantage of micropropagation over conventional propagation for shy-suckering chrysanthemums

Evaluation of Post Harvest Quality of some Cultivars of Chrysanthemum

A study was conducted to evaluate the performance of ten chrysanthemum cultivars for better post harvest quality under open field condition at University of Agricultural Sceinces, Bangalore. Flowers were harvested at fully open stage or nearly so. The results showed that the maximum stalk girth (0.32 cm) was recorded in Cv. Cassa and the maximum flower diameter (8.14 cm) was recorded in cv. Ravikiran, Cultivar Cassa recorded the maximum flower weight (3.59 g). Maximum number of ray florets were recorded by cv. Nilima (253.2). The maximum length of ray florets were recorded in cv. Ravikiran (3.96 cm). Maximum fresh weight, final weight and water loss (88.33, 40.63 and 47.67g respectively) from the spray type flowers were recorded in cv. Arka Swarna. Longer vase life of 16 days was also recorded in cv. Arka Swarna. Based on the performance studies it was observed that Arka Swarna, Ravikiran, Red gold, Nilima and Arka Ravi performed better post harvest quality and may be selected for cut flower production

Studies on Genetic Variability, Heritability and Genetic Advance in Chrysanthemum

Studies on genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance were carried out among ten genotypes of chrysanthemum for characters to identify elite genotypes to be used in breeding programme. The results showed high phenotypic and genotypic co-efficient of variation for traits like number of suckers per plant (GCV=90.13; PCV=95.67) and flower disc diameter (GCV=63.19; PCV=66.76). High heritability values were obtained for all the characterister except number of sprays per plant and plant spread. In high heritability estimate coupled with high genetic advance as per cent of mean was observed for number of suckers per plant (174.91), flower disc diameter (123.23) and number of flowers per plant (114.81). It was observed that heritable variability in the breeding materials characters like number of suckers per plant, flower disc diameter, number of flowers per plant, flower weight, yield per plant and number of ray florets could be exploited for improvement through crop breeding programme

Genetic divergence analysis in turf grasses based on morphological traits

Despite of enhancing interest on turfs in India, all the available varieties of turf grasses in the country are being imported and are often poorly adapted to the prevailing climatic conditions. This prompted to begin a collection activity of turfgrass species, with the ultimate goal of identifying promising materials for further development of lawns suitable for various conditions. The present investigation conducted on eight species and four varieties of turf grasses depicted significant differences in all the growth related traits studied. All turf grasses under study exhibited fine leaf texture except Eragrostis curvula (Schrad.) Nees having medium coarse texture, Paspalum notatum Flugge and Argentine bahia having coarse texture and Poa pratensis L. which exhibited medium fine leaf texture. The Agrostis palustris L. exhibited maximum mean performance for shoot density/25 cm2 (277.33), whereas minimum was exhibited by Cynodon dactylon L. var Panama (57.67). The coefficient of variation was minimum for relative water content (GCV = 13.77, PCV = 14.60) and maximum for root length (GCV = 64.70, PCV = 66.46). Heritability estimates for all the traits were generally moderate to high. High heritability was observed for shoot density per 25 cm2 (98.00), whereas moderate heritability was observed for dry root/shoot ratio (64.12). High heritability along with high genetic advance was observed for shoot density per 25cm2 (h2 = 98.00, GA = 142.02) and germination percentage (h2 = 96.50, GA = 48.16)

Breeding and genetic diversity in Chrysanthemum morifolium in India : A review

Genetic diversity of any crop plays a very important role in developing new and novel desired forms through breeding and selection. Knowledge of diversity and its response to natural/human selection through hybridization is necessary for future breeding plan. All the present day colourful varieties of Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat have been developed through complex interspecific crosses among elemental species, open pollination, indiscriminate intervarietal hybridization, spontaneous and induced mutation, selection and management of chimera. In floriculture industry there is always demand and necessity for new varieties. There is an urgent need for developing crop wise database. There is no record of total chrysanthemum varieties developed through classical breeding in different countries. Present article will provide maximum information generated in India on classical and mutation breeding on chrysanthemum along with important publications in chrysanthemum/floriculture by other research institutions/ universities

Microstrip Line Fed Leaky Wave Antenna with Shorting Vias for Wideband Systems

In this work a complex structured shorted vias microstrip leaky wave antenna is designed and analysed. A Leaky wave antenna is a travelling wave structure with complex propagation constant. When shorting vias are loaded in a periodic structure the fundamental resonant mode shows some stop band characteristics and some of the modes will strongly attenuated. Three different types of iterations are examined in this work with and without defected ground structures. The defected ground structure based leaky wave antennas are showing better performance characteristics with respect to efficiency and phase. A micro strip line feeding with impedance of 50 ohms at both ports are providing excellent impedance matching to the conducting path on the microstrip surface. The shorting vias are suppressing certain higher order frequency bands and providing excellent wide band characteristics with low loss

Efficacy of floral preservatives stored at different temperatures and time periods on lushness retention and vaselife of chrysanthemum (Dendranthema × grandiflora) cv. Thai Chen Queen

Different floral preservative treatments consisting of citric acid, 8HQ, sucrose and their combinations stored at different temperatures and duration (time periods) were used to reduce the foliage discoloration and to enhance the vase life of chrysanthemum (Dendranthema × grandiflora Ramat.) cv. Thai Chen Queen, at ICAR-IARI, New Delhi during 2012-14. Experiment was laid out in completely randomized block design with sixteen treatments and three replications. It was observed that all the preservative treatments significantly reduced foliage discoloration and increased the vase life over control (Distilled water). The preservative solution containing 400 ppm 8HQ+400 ppm citric acid+ 3% sucrose +one year old storage at low temperature (T14) resulted in maximum vase life (36.56 days), maximum chlorophyll content with zero wilting and leaf yellowing and reduced leaf browning. Minimum weight loss (9.48%) was recorded in 400ppm 8HQ+400ppm citric acid +3 month old storage at low temperature (T5). However, maximum volume of solution consumed (104.72 ml) was recorded in 400 ppm 8HQ+400 ppm citric acid+3% sucrose+6 month old storage at low temperature (T10), whereas maximum flower diameter (12.37cm) was recorded in 400ppm 8HQ+400 ppm citric acid+3% sucrose+3 month old storage at low temperature (T6)

Induction of dwarfing in bougainvillea cv Mahara by use of growth regulators

Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spectabilis) is a very popular evergreen landscape plant in tropical and subtropical areas. Because of the vigorous growth habit, bougainvillea needs a lot of labor-intensive pruning when being used as a potted plant. PGRs could be alternatives to frequent pruning on bougainvillea to reduce labor costs. But, little research has been carried out on the use of plant growth retardants (PGRs) for controlling the growth and flowering. The present investigations were carried out to study the effect of growth regulators mainly; paclobutrazol, daminozide and maleic hydrazide on bougainvillea cv Mahara to induce dwarfing. The experiment was laid out in completely Randomized Block Design with 11 treatments and four replications. The rooted cuttings of bougainvillea were planted on 7 July 2012 in earthen pot (10” diameter) containing potting media consisting of sand: soil: FYM in a ratio of 1:2:1. The plants were pruned to a uniform height of 10+2 inches on 3rd September 2012. The growth regulators were applied in the form of foliar spray or drench and data was recorded for vegetative and flowering traits. After 14 weeks, it was observed that there was a significant reduction in plant height and plant spread when paclobutrazol was applied in the form of spray or drench. However, application of maleic hydrazide inhibited the plant growth, on the contrary increased plant height and plant spread over control (Distilled water spray) was observed with 5000 ppm Daminozide (B-9) application. Drench application of paclobutrazol @30 ppm resulted in highest flower index as compared to other treatments

Effect of different floral preservatives on reducing foliage discoloration and increasing vase life of chrysanthemum (Dendranthema × grandiflora) cv White Reagan

The experiment was conducted at the Division of Floriculture and Landscaping, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. To enhance the vase life and to reduce the foliage discoloration of chrysanthemum (Dendranthema × grandiflora Ramat.) cv. White Reagan, different floral preservative treatments consisting of cobalt chloride, salicylic acid, sodium nitro prusside, aluminium sulphate, 8- HQC and sucrose were used. Experiment was laid out in completely randomized block design with eleven treatment combinations and each treatment was replicated thrice. It was observed that maximum vase life, solution uptake, increase in flower size and minimum foliage discoloration was observed in flowers held in preservative containing 400 ppm 8-HQC and 1.5% sucrose, which was significantly superior over all other treatments