A.K. Sureja

Profiling of Mineral Nutrients and Variability Study in Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) Genotypes

The present investigation was carried out to estimate the extent genetic variability and character association for fruit yield and nine mineral nutrients (sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, copper, zinc and selenium) in 76 genotypes of pumpkin during spring–summer season of the year 2014. The experimental results revealed significant differences among the genotypes for all the traits under study. Based on mean performance, the genotypes DPU-6, DPU-26 and DPU-51-3 were found most promising for different mineral nutrients and fruit yield per plant. Further, high heritability estimates coupled with high genetic gain were observed for all the traits under study, which indicated that these traits are under additive gene effects and are more reliable for effective selection. The correlation coefficients (phenotypic and genotypic) among different minerals along with fruit yield per plant depict that fruit yield per plant has significantly positive association with calcium (0.187 and 0.216) and magnesium (0.149 and 0.155) content. Path coefficient analysis at genotypic level revealed that iron has maximum positive direct effect (0.374) on marketable fruit yield per plant, followed by calcium (0.198) and copper (0.037). Besides, maximum positive indirect effect of manganese (0.331) and copper (0.265) via iron was observed on the fruit yield per plant.

Transferability of sponge gourd EST-SSR markers for genetic diversity assessment of Luffa species

Genetic diversity was studied in 47 Luffa genotypes with 17 EST-SSR primers, which generated 34 alleles, ranging 1–2 loci per primer. Forty seven genotypes were broadly classified into two different clusters. ClusterI comprised of genotypes DRG-98, Utkal Tripti, DRG-6, Sel-102, Pusa Nasdar, Pusa Nutan, Arka Sujat, DRG-73, DRG-61, DRG-42 and DRG-50, while Cluster II consisted of 36 genotypes, respectively. EST-SSR primer C90830_G3was found to be highly informative with PIC value of 0.3750. The variability in the species could be creditedto introgression and selection as a result of long history of cultivation under varied climatic conditions. Thepresent data provide adequate evidence of the applicability of EST-SSR markers for diversity analyses, cultivaridentification and characterization of the Luffa germplasm.

Combining ability for yield and yield related traits and its relationship with gene action in cucumber

Combining ability studies was carried out to estimate general combining ability of 8 parents and specific combining ability of 28 crosses of cucumber for nine quantitative traits in 8 × 8 half-diallel mating design excluding reciprocals. The result revealed that the magnitude of σ2s were higher than the σ2g, predictability ratio (PR) was found to be less than 0.5 and average degree of dominance (ADD) was found to be > 1 for all the traits, indicating predominance of non-additive gene action and scope of heterosis breeding in improvement of different traits. The estimates of gca effects of parents showed that DC-1 was good general combiner for earliness, days to first fruit set, days to first fruit harvest and fruit diameter. For fruit length and average fruit weight, Kalyanpur Green was good general combiner. Pusa Uday showed the highest significant gca effect for number of fruits per plant and total yield per plant and second highest significant gca for average fruit weight. Majority of cross combinations recorded high sca effects and per se performance due to low × low, low × high or high × low parental gca status. The hybrid Pusa Uday × DC-1 exhibited high significant sca effects for days to first female flower opening, days to first fruit set, days to first fruit harvest, average fruit weight, number of fruits per plant and total yield per plant followed by Pusa Uday × Kalyanpur Green, Punjab Naveen × DC-1 for total yield per plant, hence can be further exploited for commercial cultivation after multi-location testing.

Effect of Mixing Pine Needles Litters on Soil Biological Properties and Phosphorus Availability in Soil Amended with Fertilizers and Manures

ABSTRACT Effect of different manures and pine needles application on soil biological properties and phosphorus availability was evaluated in sandy loam soils. Fertilizers nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK); Sesbania aculeata green manure (GM); farm yard manure (FYM); and vermicompost (VC) were applied alone or in combination with pine needles. Microbial biomass carbon, dehydrogenase, and alkaline phosphatase activity increased significantly due to manures and NPK. Pine needles reduced the microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and dehydrogenase activity in FYM and VC but increased in NPK and GM. Acid phosphatase activities were found to be significantly increased by pine needles application in NPK, FYM, VC, and GM as compared to without pine needles counterparts. No significant differences were found in soil solution phosphorus in manure treated soil due to pine needle application, but phosphorus uptake was reduced significantly in these treatments. Pine needles application clearly influenced the soil biological properties without any perceptible effect on nutrient release from the manures.