Z. A. Bhat

New Generation Growth Regulators—Brassinosteroids and CPPU Improve Bunch and Berry Characteristics in ‘Tas-A-Ganesh’ Grape

The effects of brassinosteroid and N-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-N′-phenylurea either alone or in combination with benzyladenine on bunch parameters viz. bunch weight, berry weight, berry volume, and number of berries per bunch were evaluated on seedless grape variety ‘Tas-A-Ganesh’ (a clone of ‘Thompson Seedless’). The growth regulator treatments were applied by dipping the bunches at either 7 or 15, or both 7 and 15 days after fruit set. The results showed that two dips, i.e., (7th + 15th) days after fruit set were more effective than single dips. The treatments having a combination of either higher or lower concentration of both BR (0.4 ppm) and CPPU (4 ppm) along with brassinosteroid 20 ppm produced maximum bunch weight (371.13 g), berry weight (4.90 g), berry volume (4.22), and number of berries per bunch (90.88).

Standardization of Protocol for Isolation of High Quality Genomic DNA from Polyphenol and Polysaccharide Containing Pyrus Species

High quality DNA is a prerequisite for several molecular biology applications such as PCR, genomic library construction, endonuclease restriction digestion etc. For plant species like pear, having high polysaccharide and polyphenol, the availabble DNA extraction protocols do not yield good quality DNA. Moreover presence of polysaccharides and polyphenols causes browning of tissues and supernatant even after PVP supplementation. For isolating high quality DNA we optimized a simple and rapid protocol by modifying CTAB procedure through inclusion of 0.1N copper acetate in addition to PVP and several other modifications at different steps during extraction. The isolated DNA was free from polysaccharides, polyphenols, RNA and other contaminants. DNA was easily digestible with endonucleases, suitable for SSR based genetic diversity analysis and long term Original Research Article Bhat et al.; IJPSS, 17(1): 1-5, 2017; Article no.IJPSS.33474 2 storage. The average yield of DNA ranged from 0.5 to 1 mg/g of sample. In addition to extraction of DNA, the DNA purification was also accompolished as a part of the protocol and not as a separate one, thus saving the time and labour.

Carry-Over Effect of Paclobutrazol on Vegetative Parameters of Sweet Cherry

Carry-over effects of paclobutrazol on various vegetative parameters of sweet cherry were studied. Paclobutrazol was applied on the basin of the trees as per trunk diameter during early spring and gibberellic acid was sprayed at full bloom. The treatment application was carried out during the first year only to assess carry-over effect during the next year. Trunk cross-sectional area, tree height and spread, tree volume, number of nodes on a linear shoot, and internode length decreased both in the year of treatment application and during the next year when no treatment was applied. Lowest increment in trunk cross-sectional area (3.37 cm),tree height (0.21 m), tree spread (0.17 m), and tree volume (3.33 m3) during the carry-over year were recorded with the maximum concentration of paclobutrazol (0.3 g/cm). Maximum number of nodes (8.67) and shorter intermodal length (2.33 cm) were observed with 0.2 g/cm TD PBZ treatment, both of which are desirable parameters for better fruit set.

Effect of Growth Regulators on Fruit Cracking, Pitting, and Yield of ‘Bigarreau Noir Gross’ (‘Misiri’) Sweet Cherry

Studies were conducted on ‘Bigarreau Noir Gross’ (‘Misiri’) cherry to increase fruit quality by the application of the growth regulators paclobutrazol and gibberellic acid. Application of paclobutrazol at higher levels improved quality traits by reducing pedicel length, bruised fruits, and the incidence of pitting. At 0.3 g/cm trunk diameter, PBZ fruit quality was improved; however, fruit weight was decreased. Fruit yield was improved due to increased flowering and fruit set. Application of gibberellic acid diminished the paclobutrazol effect.