Muneeb Ahmad Wani

In Vitro Propagation of Ornamentals for Maximising Livelihood Security

Ornamental plants are produced primarily for their artistic value, thus the propagation and improvement of quality attributes and the creation of novel variation are important economic goals for floriculturists. Micropropagation, clonal reliability and conservation are important aspects. The advent of in vitro tissue culture technique now allows morphogenetic investigations. The chapter reviews in vitro techniques including type of explants, optimized media, ways of propagation and improvement through research on different ornamentals. This provides a basis for genetic transformation for breeding aims, developing new cultivars, developing disease-resistant plants and overcoming the environmental obstacles.

Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) Approaches in Flower Crops

Floriculture is a branch of horticulture concerning cultivation of flowering and ornamental plants for gardens and floristry. It includes cut flowers, cut greens, bedding plant, houseplants, flowering garden and potted plants etc. The rising living standards and unabated urbanization in the present day the world has led to growing demand of flowers and their products thereby making the floriculture an important commercial trade. Commercial floriculture has higher potential per unit area than the field crops and is therefore evolving as a lucrative business all over the world (Misra and Sudip, 2016). The area and under floriculture in India are about International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 6 Number 3 (2017) pp. 254-265 Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com

Soil Health Indicators of Rhizospheric Soils of Apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) Variety Delicious in Himalayan Kashmir

Rhizospheric soils are rich sources of nutrients, enzymes, proteins, beneficial microbes responsible for sustainable growth of the plants. They supply principal elements to the plant and also promote microbial activity in the soil and improve its structure, aeration, and water holding capacity, which in turn improve the soil capabilities to respond to inputs. This discourse deals with the evaluation of thirty composite soil samples collected from different apple orchards of Baramulla district of Kashmir valley and analyzed for soil characteristics (organic carbon content, total available N, P, K, S; EC, pH, total viable bacterial, fungal and actinomycetes count) which in turn were used as chemical and microbial indicators of rhizospheric soil health of apple orchards in Himalayan Kashmir. It was observed that the soil characteristics were significantly correlated.

Differential cultivar response to chemical preservative treatment for better shelf life in Narcissus (daffodil)

Optimum level of chemical preservatives for maintaining better water relations and longevity of three different daffodil cultivars, California, Pheasants eye and Acetea was evaluated. Chemical preservatives citric acid, aluminium sulphate, silver thiosulphate and calcium chloride each at three different levels 0, 100 and 200 ppm along with carbohydrate source sucrose 4% were applied under completely randomized design. It was observed that sucrose 4%+aluminium sulphate 200 ppm helped the scape to maintain favourable water relation evaluated in terms of water uptake, water loss, water balance, fresh weight changes and improved vase life. Data available were also indicative of the fact that California outnumbered the other two cultivars in maintaining favourable water relation and longevity of cut scapes.