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Not AvailableThe cucurbit plants belong to family Cucurbitaceae comprises of about 117 genera and 825 species in warmer parts, in which mateera, muskmelon, ridge gourd, bottle gourd, snapmelon, kachri, round melon, sponge gourd, etc. are found in arid regional of Rajasthan. The main pests of cucurbit crops are fruity fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae, leaf eating caterpillar, Diaphania indica; leaf miner, Liriomyza trifolii; white flies, Bemisia tabaci; Hadda beetle, Epilachna viginctioctopunctata; aphids, Aphis gossypii; ash weevil, Myllocerus subfasciatus; flower beetles Mylabris macilenta; Anthicus crinitus and Anthrenus subclaviger and beet worm, Spodoptera exigua. The cucurbitaceous vegetables are loss the yield ranged from 30-100% due to pest attack and its depending upon cucurbit species and the season in different parts of arid region.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableThe cucurbitaceous family has comprised with diverse economically important cucurbits. It primarily comprised of 118 genera and 825 species which being consumed as food worldwide since the domestication of the plants. In India, cucurbits are being grown throughout regions of the country including hot semi-arid and arid zones. With the advent of genomic breakthrough, a large number of genomic and biotechnological interventions have been developed in cucurbitaceous crops. The plenty of molecular markers are available in cucurbits and these markers were deployed to assess the genetic diversity and mapping of the QTLS/genes of interest. The success in development of genomic tools may happens by genome sequencing of mostly important cucurbitaceous crops such as watermelon, cucumber, muskmelon, bottle gourd, pumpkins. Transgenic and non-transgenic plants were developed in various cucurbitaceous crops by employing of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and CRISPR/CAS9 approach, respectively. Thus cucurbitaceous crops have been considerably exploited at molecular level and biotechnological interventions were developed for crop improvement. However, a comprehensive report in cucurbitaceous crops regarding genomic and biotechnological developments is not available in public domain. Therefore, in the present review, we have collected the information related to genomics and biotechnology in cucurbits and emphasized on some successful interventions.Not Availabl

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Haldhar, S.M. 2012. Report of Homoeocerus variabilis (Hemiptera: Coreidae) on khejri (Prosopis cineraria) in Rajasthan, India: incidence and morphometric analysis. Florida Entomologist, 95: 848-853. Haldhar, S.M., and Singh, R.S. 2014. Report of Dictyla cheriani Drake (Hemiptera: Tingidae) on Indian Cherry (Cordia myxa L.) in Rajasthan, India: incidence and morphometric analysis. Indian Journal of Agriculture Sciences, 84: 128–130. Haldhar, S.M., Bhargava, R., Singh, R.S., Krishna, H. and Sharma, S.K. 2015. First Report of Colotis amata (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) on Salvadora persica (Capparales: Salvadoraceae) in Rajasthan, India: Incidence and Morphometric Analysis. Florida Entomologist, 98(2):442-445. Haldhar, S.M., Karuppaiah, V., Sharma, S.K. and Singh, R. S. 2010. Population dynamics of lemon butterfly (Papilio demoleus) in bael (Aegle marmelos) as influenced by abiotic factors in arid region of Rajasthan. Indian Journal of Arid Horticulture, 5 (1-2): 50-52. Haldhar, S.M., Behere, G.T., Bhargava, R., Singh, R.S., Krishna, H., Jat, G.L. and Singh, D. 2016. Observations on the pioneer white butterfly, Belenois aurota (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) in ker (Capparis decidua) plant in arid region of India. Indian Journal of Arid Horticulture, 11:108-112. Jahnavi, M., Ramakrishna Rao, A. and Sarada, G. 2018. Biology and morphology of citrus butterfly Papilio demoleus Linnaeus (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) on acid lime. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies, 6(1): 1556-1561. Lakra, R.A. 2004. Insect pests of fruits of arid and semi arid regions of India. In pest management in horticultural crops (ed. Verma, L. R., Verma, A.K. and Gaudam, D. C.). Vedams Books Pvt. Ltd., Delhi. Pp 544. Madansuri, A.N., Pawar, V.M. and Suryawanshi, D.S. 1979. Width of head capsule of P. demoleus L. Research Bulletin Marathawada Agricultural University, 3(10):130. Narayanamma, V.L., Savithri, P. and Rao R. 2001. Influence of citrus butterfly Papilio demoleus L. Damage on growth parameters of the sweet orange host plant. Indian Journal of Plant Protection, 29:140-141. Pathak, K.N. and Rizvi, P.Q. 2002. Age specific life table of Papilio demoleus on different hosts. Annals of Plant Protection Sciences. 10: 375-376. Radke, S.G. and Kandalkar, H.G. 1989. Observations on the lemon butterfly, Papilio demoleus Linnaeous (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) PKV Research Journal, 13(2):176-177. Ramakrishna Rao, A. 2015. Studies on biology and morphometrics of citrus butterfly Papilio demoleus (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) on sathgudi wweet orange Citrus sinensis Swingle. International Journal of Current Research in Life Sciences, 4 (3): 168-171. Resham, B., Fanindra, P.N. and Butani, D.K. 1986. Insect pests of citrus in Nepal and their control. Pestology, 10(4): 24-27. Samadia, D.K. and Haldhar, S.M. 2017. Breeding strategies and scope of improvement in arid zone fruit crop-plants under abiotic stressed agro-climate: an analysis. Journal of Agriculture and Ecology, 4: 1-13. Sharifi, S. and Zarea, N. 1989. Biology of the citrus Butterfly, P. demoleus (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 63(5):1211-1213. Singh, Y.P. and Gangwar, S.K. 1989. Biology of the lemon butterfly (Papilio demoleus Linn.) on Khasi mandarin and its development on citrus cultivars. Journal of Andaman Science Association, 5(2):151-153. Smith, C.R., Wright, R.I. 2008. Classification, nomenclature and identification of lime swallowtail butterflies: a post-cladistic analysis (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae). Systematics and Biodiversity, 6(2):175-203.Biology and morphomatrics studies of lemon butterfly, Papilio demoleus L. were carried out on bael. Adult female laid eggs singly on the under surface of tender leaves and also on tender twigs. The pooled mean duration of the different stages of lemon butterfly viz., the incubation period of 2.80 days, larval period of 9.23 days, pre-pupal period of 0.99 days, pupal period of 8.11 days, female adult longevity period of 6.95 days and male longevity period of 3.85 days respectively. The average length, width and wing expanse of male butterfly were found to be 27.961 mm, 5.997 mm and 88.518 mm while female butterfly was found to be 29.015 mm, 6.327 mm and 91.072 mm, respectively. The morphometric variations of different life stages of the citrus butterfly have been recorded.Not Availabl

Pest management in dryland horticultural crops: book review

In this book, several such interventions are given in form of various chapters which will be of immense use improving the productivity and profitability of arid and semi-arid horticultural commodities through pests management. In this endeavour, useful information has been generated on identification, damage symptoms and management of the pests in different dryland horticultural crops at various research institutions and SAUs of the country. Intense efforts have therefore, been made to gather information on identification, damage symptoms and management of pests in a systematic way, grouped in different chapters and presented in the form of a book. Accurate identification of the pest, their damage and management is the prerequisites for successful control measures. This publication contains excellent colored photographs depicting salient identification characteristics of pest, their damage on plants under natural condition and management in field conditions so as to update the knowledge of extension agencies and farmers.This book has 37 chapters written by different authors with a focus on the productivity and profitability of arid and semi-arid horticultural commodities through pest’s management

Scope and strategies for genetic improvement in vegetable crop-plants under high temperature and abiotic stressed climate of Rajasthan: A gap analysis

Un-exploited, under-scored and native crop-plants of horticultural significance have enormous potential in providing nutrition rich food and social security to inhabitants of desert and tribal areas of the north-western India. While conducting surveys and explorations for horticultural perspective, and examining distinctness of hot arid, semi-arid and sub-humid climate of Rajasthan from 1994 – 2004, it was concluded that un-availability of apposite crop–genotypes and production techniques are two major constraints which limiting dry-land vegetable promotion. Traditionally, kachri, kakadia, mateera, tinda and guar-phali ensuring native vegetable produce, besides, khejri (Prosopis cineraria) is playing vital role in long-established mixed farming systems of arid farm-lands. In addition, native land-races of kakri, kheera, kundru, kakoda, cowpea, sem-phali and okra are monsoon supported vegetable harvest in the semi-arid and tribal areas of state. Establishment of NRCAH during 1993 at Bikaner supported systematic research on collection, characterization and conservation of native vegetable crop-plants as regional diversity, and further work was intensified on germplasm utilization in particular for high temperature and abiotic stresses tolerant breeding. The crop-genotype studies over 45 vegetables at CIAH demonstrated that there is magnificent scope in obtaining higher marketable and quality yields, provided better and trait-specific genotypes and production site management (HBCPSMA) as integrated concept for vegetable cultivation under hot arid environment. Thus, conserving germplasm, developing genotypes and newer technological advancement in arid vegetables is an advantage towards better nutrition and farmer’s income under dry-land conditions

Breeding strategies and scope of improvement in arid zone fruit crop-plants under abiotic stressed agro-climate: an analysis

Dry-land horticulture has immense potential in providing nutrition, social security and eco-restoration for the inhabitants of desert or rainfed and tribal land-areas of hot arid and semi-arid regions of the country. Realizing the importance and visionary support, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) had prioritized research with few fruits in 1976 and then AICRP on arid zone fruits was started from 1978 with crop based centers in hot–spot region and this strengthen resulted to giving rise of Central Institute for Arid Horticulture in 1993 as national concern for conservation and use of arid crop-plant diversity and their promotion for horticultural exploitation. During 1985, commercial capacity of ber, pomegranate, aonla, bael, tamarind and custard apple was renowned. Indian sub-continent is one of recognized centre of origin or secondary areas of regional diversity for number of fruit crop-plant which are of native to arid and tribal areas, and not much attended for their potentiality i.e. ber, bordi, jharber, khejri, ker, lasora, gundi, pilu, phalsa, daasra, karonda, aonla, bael, wood apple, custard apple, tamarind, jamun, tendu, chironji, mahua, khirni, Palmyra palm, Indian dates, mulberry, fig and sehjan etc. There is ample scope for these drought tolerant and low input requiring crop-plant and for this there is rich reserve of considerable genetic variability is exists in species from Thar desert and tribal areas of the north-western India, which can yield fruits for fresh consumption, products of horticultural and nutraceutical values. Thus, their systematic exploitation and commercialization can not only provide food security but also ensure economic stability in rural masses in vast arid and semi-arid and/or tribal dominating sub-humid areas

Pest management in dryland horticultural crops: book review

In this book, several such interventions are given in form of various chapters which will be of immense use improving the productivity and profitability of arid and semi-arid horticultural commodities through pests management. In this endeavour, useful information has been generated on identification, damage symptoms and management of the pests in different dryland horticultural crops at various research institutions and SAUs of the country. Intense efforts have therefore, been made to gather information on identification, damage symptoms and management of pests in a systematic way, grouped in different chapters and presented in the form of a book. Accurate identification of the pest, their damage and management is the prerequisites for successful control measures. This publication contains excellent colored photographs depicting salient identification characteristics of pest, their damage on plants under natural condition and management in field conditions so as to update the knowledge of extension agencies and farmers.This book has 37 chapters written by different authors with a focus on the productivity and profitability of arid and semi-arid horticultural commodities through pest’s management

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Not AvailableClimate change has become one of the biggest challenges for the sustainable crop production. Prolonged droughts and desertification are among the issues faced by Indian hot arid zone where the rural poor and smallholders are most heavily affected. People have to survive in these types of conditions; thus their crops need to withstand such harsher calamities viz., drought, high temperatures and poor soils (Kumar et al. 2018). Underutilized fruit crops are gaining increasing interest in the world, in particular cactus pear (Opuntia ficus indica (L) Mill.), lasoda (Cordia myxa), phalsa (Grewia subnaequalis), karonda (Carissa canjesta), mulberry (Morus spp.), ker (Capparis decidua), pilu (Salvadora spp.) etc. because of their unique adaptation characteristics which provide resilience to the harsh ecological conditions.Not Availabl

Mateera, watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) germplasm utilization for improving fruit quality and marketable harvest under hot arid climate of India: approaches and out-put

Cucurbits, a big group of vegetable cultivated extensively in India. It consist wide-range of crops used in culinary, salad, dessert, pickling and processing. Indigenous cucurbits both fresh and dehydrated form ensuring nutritious food to inhabitants of tribal and desert areas. Kachri, kaakdia, mateera, tinda and tumba is grown under rainfed situations and its cultivation is admired with the traditional farming in north-western parts of Rajasthan. Mateera is under-utilized, drought tolerant and native form of watermelon. Its nutrition rich tender and ripen fruits and seed-kernel liked by desert dwellers and sold at high premium. For developing drought and heat tolerant genotypes in mateera, ICAR-CIAH initiated first-time intensive research and wide range of Citrullus germplasm collected, conserved and utilized in crop improvement work from 1994 to 2012. In past, absence of standard varieties in drought tolerant mateera, the arid zone farmers obliged to use heterozygous seed collected from fruits (based on taste) of own fields. This obviously results poor and no-insured quality. On evaluation of the Citrullus germplasm (254 entries) at Bikaner, watermelon genotypes failed to express their potentialities under high temperature and rainfed conditions. Therefore, use of indigenous and generated variability, and promotion of varieties from native germplasm is found to be beneficial. Mateera line AHW-18, AHW-19, AHW-65, AHW-108, AHW-140, AHW-RSS-1 and AHW-BSM-1 are promising for use in breeding or trait-specific selections. The developed mateera varieties i.e. AHW-19 and Thar Manak are early in harvesting, producing better quality fruits and multiple-use, and recommended for cultivation under resource constraints hot arid environment