The Journal of Horticultural Sciences (ISSN 0973-354X eISSN 2582-4899) is a Global Diamond Open Access Journal - free-to-read and free-to-publish Open Access journal. Published biannually by the Society for Promotion of Horticulture hosted at the ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (ICAR-IIHR), Bengaluru 560089, India. The current year (2025) NAAS rating is 6.2. Expect on average 6 weeks from submission to publication. There are NO PUBLICATION FEES (Article Processing Charges or APCs) to publish with this journal.
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Evaluation of pre-treatments for shelf life extension of minimally processedfenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum L.)
Potential of different pretreatments for shelf life enhancement and nutritional quality maintenance in minimally processed fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) leaves (MPFL) at 8°C storage were evaluated. Pretreatment agents such as calcium propionate, calcium chloride, kinetin, gibberellic acid, 1-methyl cyclo propene, neutral electrolysed water and sodium hypochlorite were used. The results have proven that a five minutes dip in kinetin solution (50 mg L-1) was the best among all tested pretreatments; and it resulted in achieving eight days shelf life compared to four days in control samples. Besides this, better maintenance of total antioxidants (1735 mg ascorbic acid equivalent antioxidant capacity kg-1) and proteins (44 g kg-1), at levels close to that of fresh leaves, could be achieved. Calcium propionate (1.5 g L-1) was identified as the second best treatment. It was also shown that minimally processed fenugreek leaves (MPFL) is a rich source of vitamins B1, B2, E and K. The B vitamins were susceptible to deterioration during storage, while their loss could be minimized with kinetin treatment. Sanitizers like chlorine (100 mg L-1 available chlorine) and neutral electrolysed water (100 and 200 mg L-1) have reduced the shelf life of MPFL indicating their phytotoxicity to FL. The results of the study open up the possibility of using kinetin as an effective pretreatment tool for MPFL in minimal processing industry.
Copyright (c) 2025 Ranjitha Kozhummal, Sudhakar Rao, Mhasizotuo, Vasudeva, Shivashankara K S (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Royal jelly as a novel bio-stimulant for asymbiotic seed germination andprotocorm development in Phalaenopsis
Orchid micropropagation is often limited by slow seed germination and early seedling development. This study evaluated the potential of royal jelly (RJ), a nutrient-rich organic substance, as a growth-promoting additive in the asymbiotic culture of five Phalaenopsis varieties viz., Nottingham, Dubrovnik, Andorra, Memphis, and Bucharest. A factorial experiment was conducted using two peptone concentrations (1/ gL{ 1 and 2/ gL{ 1) combined with four RJ levels (0, 150, 300, and 450/ ppm) in half-strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium. Results demonstrated that RJ significantly enhanced germination and seedling development in a concentration- dependent manner. The variety Nottingham cultured in 2/ gL{ 1 peptone medium supplemented with 300/ ppm RJ achieved the highest germination rate of 96.33%, reduced the time to protocorm formation by 2–3/ days, and increased leaf and root primordia numbers by 15–20% compared with the control. Higher RJ concentrations (450/ ppm) occasionally reduced germination and delayed early growth, indicating an optimal range for supplementation. These findings suggest that RJ can serve as an effective organic bio-stimulant for Phalaenopsis micropropagation, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional synthetic growth regulators. Future studies should isolate active compounds in RJ and assess its scalability across different orchid species.
Copyright (c) 2025 Fatemeh Bidarnamani (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Influence of gamma radiation on morpho-physiological and biochemical traitsof in vitro raised wine grape (Vitis vinifera L.) genotypes
Grapes are a worldwide significant fruit, important for the wine industry, trade, and health benefits. Despite its significance, grape cultivation in India faces numerous biotic and abiotic challenges. Traditional breeding in this crop is very expensive, time-consuming and presents many technical obstacles. Since the plant has reproductive sterility, creating variability for these characteristics is possible only through induced mutation. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of gamma irradiation (0, 5, 15, 20 & 25 Gy) on morpho-physiological and biochemical traits of four in vitro raised wine grape genotypes (Pusa Navrang, H-76-1, Pearl of Csaba and Julesky Muscat). The gamma-irradiated shoot cultures were evaluated under in vitro and ex vitro conditions. All irradiation treatments affected growth traits. However, response was found to be genotypic and dose-dependent. The growth of irradiated cultures was stimulated at dose (5 Gy) less than LD50 dose, whereas, treatment of cultures with a dose higher than 15 Gy, reduced the growth and caused deformation in cultures. Based on plant growth and survival traits, 10 Gy was identified as LD50. Among the genotypes tested, Pusa Navrang exhibited good final recovery (10.43%) at high dose (20 Gy). However, genotype H-76-1 was found to be the most sensitive genotype to the higher dose (>15 Gy) of gamma irradiation. Amount of proline, total phenols and total sugars increased, while chlorophylls and carotenoids decreased irrespective of genotypes in response to gamma irradiation (>15 Gy). The results of present study will be very useful for future improvement of grapevine scion cultivars.
Copyright (c) 2025 Rahul Dev, Sanjay Kumar Singh, Ajay Arora, A K Singh, R Asrey, M Alizadeh, V Dayal (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Assessment of physiological and quality traits of peace lily(Spathiphyllum wallisii) under coloured shade nets
Studies were carried out to evaluate the physiological and quality traits of peace lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii) under different shade nets (50% shading) and control (tree shade). The results showed that plants grown under black-coloured shade nets recorded the maximum total chlorophyll content in leaves (79.02 SPAD units) and photosynthetic rate (1.64 μmol CO₂ m⁻² s⁻¹), while white shade nets promoted early flowering. The number of flowers produced per plant (2.00), flower stalk length (43.23 cm), flower stalk diameter (3.58 mm), spathe length (15.10 cm), spathe width (6.09 cm), and vase life (2.44 days) were highest in plants grown under black-coloured shade nets. Peace lily grown under black shade nets also showed overall better performance in root and foliage quality parameters; therefore, black shade nets can be recommended for commercial cultivation of peace lily.
Copyright (c) 2025 N R Poojashree, T Suseela, A V D Dorajee Rao, P Subbaramamma, R V Sujatha (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Toxicity of selected insecticides to different stages of brown lacewing,Micromus timidus Hagen (Neuroptera: Hemerobiidae)
Brown lacewings belong to the family Hemerobiidae and is the third largest family belonging to order Neuroptera. These are brown, small to medium-sized insects with moniliform antennae and are predators both in larval and adult stages, which feed exclusively on aphids. Investigation was made to study the sensitivity of Micromus timidus Banks to selected insecticides and the experiment was carried out in the Department of Entomology, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru. For the studies, five different insecticides (profenophos 50EC, imidacloprid 17.8SL, lambda-cyhalothrin 5EC, chlorantraniliprole 18.5SC and buprofezin 25SC) and a neem product (azadirachtin 10000 ppm) were selected based on the recommendation for aphid management in pulses. The toxicology studies were carried out by using the Potter spray tower and safety studies were carried out for all the four stages of M. timidus (egg, larva, pupa and adult). Control with water spray was maintained. For the egg and adult stages, imidacloprid 17.8SL at 0.5 mL/L was highly toxic causing 89.74 and 74.07 per cent mortality respectively, followed by profenophos 50EC at 3 mL/L (52.37 and 66.67 per cent mortality). The larval and pupal stages were very sensitive to profenophos 50EC at 3 mL/L causing 100 and 96.29 per cent mortality respectively, followed by imidacloprid 17.8SL at 0.5 mL/L (51.85 and 55.56 per cent mortality respectively). Azadirachtin 10000 ppm was found to be the safest insecticide to all stages of M. timidus, causing less than 20 per cent mortality, which was followed by buprofezin 25EC and chlorantraniliprole 18.5SC.
Copyright (c) 2025 S Bhavana, Vidya Mulimani, N Sumithramma, K Murali Mohan (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Floral biology and pollen germination studies in China aster [Callistephus chinensis (L.) Nees]
An investigation on ‘floral biology and pollen germination in China aster [Callistephus chinensis (L.) Nees.] was carried out during two consecutive years 2020-2022. Results revealed that anthesis was observed in afternoon hours from 2:15 p.m.-3:15 p.m. in China aster genotype Arka Aadya, whereas, in Arka Archana, Arka Kamini and Arka Poornima, it was 10:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Among genotypes, anther dehiscence was observed from forenoon till afternoon. Number of ray florets per flower head ranged from 29.53 (Arka Shashank) to 132.37 (Arka Poornima), while, disc florets per flower head ranged from 128.93 (Arka Shashank) to 238.93 (Arka Poornima). Hundred per cent pollen viability was recorded in Arka Aadya, Arka Archana, Arka Kamini, and Arka Shashank. Seed set was ranged from 24.55% (Arka Poornima) to 54.13% (Arka Kamini). Increased stigma receptivity among the genotypes was observed from bud stage to fully expand floret stage and declined in semi expanded tubular disc stage. Among genotypes, maximum pollen germination was observed in Arka Archana (17.67%) followed by Arka Kamini (14.10 %). Among different media, maximum pollen germination ranged from 5.13% (10% sucrose + 15% PEG +BK medium) to 17.07% (10% sucrose + 15% PEG + BK media). Among interaction effect, maximum pollen germination was recorded in 15% sucrose + 30% PEG +BK medium x Arka Kamini (70.50%) followed by 10% sucrose +15% PEG +BK medium x Arka Archana (44.33%) and 10% sucrose +15% PEG +BK medium x Arka Aadya (44.00%).
Copyright (c) 2025 Chetna Jyoti, R Kumar, S A Nair, H S Yogeesha, T U Barathi, M V Dhananjaya (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Genetic inheritance and identification of molecular markers linked tomale sterility in African marigold (Tagetes erecta L.)
The demand for hybrid varieties of African marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) is on the rise due to the increased productivity and uniformity exhibited by F1 hybrids. To develop hybrids in marigold, male sterile line is essential, as emasculation is complex due to the unique flower structure of marigold. Inheritance of petaloid male sterility was investigated in a seed propagated line across six generations (P1, P2, F1, F2, BC1 and BC2), that confirmed a single dominant gene governing petaloid male sterility over multiple seasons. The marker CPSSR-39 exhibited clear and consistent segregation, following a Mendelian ratio 1:1 in F1 which is in accordance with the genes governing petaloid male sterility. This is the first report of genic petaloid male sterility with a linked marker marking a significant advancement in heterosis breeding of marigold.
Copyright (c) 2025 Sumalatha Akkalareddy, D C Lakshmana Reddy, M Arivalagan, V V Bhaskar, Tejaswini Prakash (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Impact of staggered transplanting of pollen parents and repeated pollinationmethods in hybrid seed production of marigold (Tagetes erecta L.)
Marigold is an important commercial flower crop of India and hybrids are in demand. However, the hybrid seeds are being imported due to the limited number of hybrids. Seed production of F1 hybrids needs to be enhanced to reduce the dependency on imported seeds. Therefore, the present study was initiated to work out the strategies for maximizing the hybrid seed production in four hybrid combinations. Seed parents exhibited delayed flowering with an extended duration ranging from 104.89 to 114.50 days, in contrast to the early-flowering pollen parents, which had a shorter flowering duration of 65.39 to 72.28 days. This discrepancy could be effectively addressed by staggered planting of pollen parents at multiple intervals, ensuring consistent pollen availability throughout the active flowering period of the seed parents. Irrespective of the hybrid combinations, repeated pollination for three-time registered higher seed setting percentage (49.56%), more number of seeds (112.79) and higher seed weight (250.67 mg) per flower compared to either one or two time pollinations. The study highlighted the potential for enhanced hybrid seed production through staggered planting of pollen parents combined with repeated pollination, ensuring maximum seed set per flower and optimizing seed yield per unit area of production.
Copyright (c) 2025 R Veeresh Kumar, T U Bharathi, K Hima Bindu, R H Laxman, R Venugopalan, P V R Reddy, Tejaswini Prakash (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Interlinking soil, water and plant health status of mango orchards ofRamanagara and Srinivaspura regions for higher productivity
Interrelationship among soil, water and plant health and its influence on crop productivity of mango was investigated Soil, water and plant samples from mango orchards of Ramanagara and Srinivaspura areas of Karnataka, India were collected and analyzed. Soil quality (SQI), water quality (WQI) and plant health (PHI) indices were calculated adopting scoring procedure and interrelated. Few soils were eficient in organic C, available N, K, S, and Fe. Irrigation water of few samples had slightly higher bicarbonate, Cl- and sodium hazards. Most of the leaf samples had very less N and K contents. Soil quality and plant health status of study area were moderately poor to good and irrigation water quality was medium to very good. There was significant positive correlation existed between SQI and PHI, SQI and yield and PHI and yield. However, WQI did not show any significant relationship with SQI, PHI and yield. These results confirmed that soil health influences plant health and crop productivity. Therefore, maintenance of soil health through good cultivation practices is important to enhance plant health and mango productivity.
Copyright (c) 2025 Rajendiran, S., Kalaivanan, D., Raghupathi, H.B. (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Unveiling the genetic diversity in curry leaf (Murraya koenigii L. Spreng) genetic resources for nutritional traits
Curry leaf (Murraya koenigii L. Spreng), a widely used spice and medicinal crop, rich in essential oils, bioactive compounds, and nutrients. The present study aimed to evaluate 80 curry leaf germplasm ex situ, to explore genetic variability in mineral nutrient content and their interrelationships. The observed ranges of these nutrients on a dry weight basis were, calcium (0.30–5.97%), phosphorus (0.11–0.77%), potassium (0.09–3.52%), magnesium (0.10–0.78%), sulphur (0.06–0.41%), iron (51.7–439.16 ppm), zinc (4.55–42.60 ppm), boron (26.02–143.38 ppm), copper (2.26–47.41 ppm), and manganese (4.12–92.47 ppm). Correlation analysis revealed a positive association of calcium with manganese, copper, and magnesium. Manganese and copper also exhibited a positive correlation with iron, while, zinc was positively correlated with phosphorus and magnesium. Both phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation were high for all traits studied. Furthermore, high heritability, coupled with substantial genetic advance, was observed, indicating the potential for improving these traits through breeding interventions. Principal component analysis demonstrated considerable population divergence in mineral nutrient composition, with calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sulphur, and potassium contributing most to the overall variability. Hierarchical cluster analysis further revealed a significant regional pattern in mineral nutrient concentrations. The highest levels of calcium and iron were found in accessions collected from Karnataka, followed by those from Odisha and Himachal Pradesh.
Copyright (c) 2025 B R Raghu, G Chethankumar, S Rajendiran, K S Nandini, Priyanka Mahadappa (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Effect of nitrogen and potassium inputs on cabbage (Brassica oleracea var.capitata) production and profitability in the terai region of West Bengal
A two years field experiment was conducted during the rabi seasons of 2019-20 and 2020-21 in factorial randomized design with three replications, consisting five levels of nitrogen (kg/ha) (75, 100, 125, 150 and 175) and four levels of potassium (kg/ha) (50, 75, 100 and 125) encompassing twenty treatments combination. The pooled analysis revealed that different doses nitrogen and potassium significantly influenced vegetative growth, yield and quality of cabbage. The combined application of nitrogen (175 kg/ha) + potassium (125 kg/ha) recorded the maximum plant height, stem diameter, head width, head weight, yield per plots and yield per hectare. From the economic analysis, the combined application of nitrogen (175 kg/ha) + potassium (125 kg/ha), and nitrogen (175 kg/ha) and potassium (100 kg/ha) recorded highest B:C ratio (1.95). From the above findings, it can be suggest that the combination of nitrogen (175 kg/ha) + potassium (125 kg/ha) will be profitable to the cabbage growers of West Bengal, India.
Copyright (c) 2025 S Golay, J C Jana, Adarsh Thapa, S Dutta, M Roy, S Chakraborty (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Optimization of bacoside A3 content in hydroponically cultivated Bacopa monnieri
Bacopa monnieri L. is a popular ayurvedic plant known for its cognitive properties. The active principle in B. monnieri responsible for its brain-stimulating character is a group of saponins, specifically, bacoside A (bacoside A3, bacopaside II, and bacopasaponin C). In this study, the impact of different nutrient formulations-Hoagland & Arnon (1938) (control), GL-L, Higro-Super, and Hoagland & Arnon (1950), and different light conditions viz., white LED lights (WL) & multi-spectral LED lights (ML) on the growth and bacoside A3 content of B. monnieri in a nutrient film technique (NFT) hydroponic system were investigated. The data was analyzed using the ANOVA (p<0.05) and DMRT test. It was found that GLL+ML as a treatment showed the highest number of shoots/plant (51.2±3.6), number of leaves/plant (518±21.2), leaf area (1.28±0.04), fresh weight (28.82±5.7 g/plant), and dry weight (2.2±0.26 g/plant). Conversely, the Higro-Super+ML treatment illustrated the highest bacoside A3 content (3528 mg/kg) along with suitable growth, followed by Hoagland & Arnon (1938) +ML (3204 mg/kg). These research findings shed light on the importance of considering both light spectrum and nutrient availability in optimizing growth conditions for B. monnieri cultivation
Copyright (c) 2025 Mrunal Saste, Vikas Randhe, Sunita Singh, Vishal Warke, Girish Mahajan, Manish Raut, Uday Annapure, Gayatri Karri, Debjani Dasgupta (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Inheritance pattern of leaf and fruit traits in watermelon[Citrullus lanatus (Thunb) Mansf.]
Rare traits can significantly contribute to the development of trait-specific genotypes and may also be effectively used as morphological markers in breeding. Most of the watermelon cultivars or genotypes are having lobbed leaves but YF 5-2-7 exhibiting non-lobed leaves along with yellow fleshed round fruits. The study was conducted during 3 seasons to develop F1, F2 and their evaluation along with parental lines. The breeding line AHW/BR-22 was used as a female parent and crossed with unique yellow fleshed watermelon genotype YF 5-2-7 to produce F1 and F2 generation to study the inheritance of leaf hape, fruit shape and flesh colour. Based on the segregation pattern of progeny, it is concluded that leaf shape and fruit shape did not follow monogenic inheritance, while, monogenic control was observed in flesh colour. This study provides valuable insights into the genetic basis of leaf shape, fruit shape and flesh colour in watermelon, which can have practical applications in breeding programmes, facilitating the development of improved watermelon varieties with desirable and unique traits.
Copyright (c) 2025 B R Choudhary, H Ram, J Rane, S Pandey (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Impact of Aloe vera gel with chitosan and coconut oil coatings onpostharvest nutritional quality and antioxidant enzymes in ‘Mishribhog’mango during storage
The present study sought to assess the effects of Aloe vera gel (AV; 1:1 v/v), 1.5% chitosan solution (CH; w/v), coconut oil (CoO; 1:1 v/v), A. vera gel+1.5% chitosan solution (AV+CH; 1:1 v/v) and Aloe vera gel+coconut oil (AV+CoO; 1:1 v/v) on postharvest quality at 16 days of storage with ambient condition (25±2°C and 80-85% relative humidity). The results revealed that AV+CH coatings considerably reduced weight loss, respiration, and ethylene generation, as well as the decay percentage, when compared to the control. AV+CH also preserve fruit quality signs such as acidity, TSS, pH, fruit firmness, peel color, and ascorbic acid. Furthermore, phenolic content decreased modestly after storage, whereas control fruits displayed rapid oxidation of phenolic and antioxidant activity. PPO activity was significantly decreased in coated fruits, but CAT and POD enzyme activity increased throughout the storage period. The yellowing tendency of coated fruit peels during storage was significantly decreased when compared to control fruits. These findings showed that the AV+CH coating, at the appropriate dose with time, might be helpful in retaining bioactive components and post-harvest quality of ‘Mishribhog’ mango.
Copyright (c) 2025 Md Atikur Rahman, Mosa. Lajina Begum, Maruf Ahmed, Most. Sadia Arfin, Md Tariqul Islam (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Phenotypic characterization and diversity analysis of single-type tuberose(Agave amica syn. Polianthes tuberosa)
Tuberose is a popular ornamental crop valued for its attractive, fragrant white flowers, which are extensively used as cut and loose flowers, and for extraction of essential oil. The present study was conducted to evaluate the morphological variability among 14 single-type tuberose varieties based on 27 quantitative traits. Among the evaluated genotypes, the variety Arka Prajwal exhibited superior performance in several floral and vegetative traits such as number of leaves (38.43), leaf length (53.61 cm), leaf width (2.40 cm), plant spread (N–S: 99.57 cm; E–W: 99.20 cm), weight of single floret (2.18 g), floret diameter (6.41 cm), floret weight per spike (115.78 g), flower yield (11.58 t/ha), and bulb diameter (3.71 cm). The variety Bidhan Snigdha excelled in traits like rachis length (44.43 cm), floret length (7.36 cm), floret width (5.10 cm), bulb weight per clump (310.23 g), bulblet weight per clump (210.69 g), individual bulb weight (51.84 g), and bulb length (7.22 cm). The varieties Prajwal, Bidhan Snigdha, and GKTC-4 were identified as high loose flower yielders and are recommended for commercial cultivation. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that the first six components (Eigen value >1.0) accounted for 90.48% of the total variation, with PC1 and PC2 contributing 47.97% and 14.42%, respectively. Cluster analysis using Ward’s method supported the PCA results, grouping the genotypes into two major clusters based on morphological traits. This study provides valuable insights for tuberose breeding, varietal improvement, and germplasm conservation programs.
Copyright (c) 2025 Pushpanjali Bhosale, V V Bhagat, Naveen Kumar Prathapani, Tarak Nath Saha, Ganesh B Kadam, Prashant Kawar, Narendra Gajbhiye, D Mahesh Reddy (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Diversity analysis in Hibiscus (Hibiscus spp.) germplasm
There is a wide array of germplasm availability in hibiscus throughout the globe. India, harbours a rich wealth of hibiscus, including H. rosa-sinensis, H. fragilis, H. storckii, H. schizopetalous, etc. These species serve as crucial repositories of genes responsible for various traits, including biotic and abiotic stress tolerance, colour intensity, petal arrangement, and hardiness. Safeguarding these genetic resources is essential for their utilization in future breeding programme. In this study, 19 hibiscus germplasm underwent precise classification based on 23 vegetative and floral characters following distinctness, uniformity, and stability (DUS) test guidelines of Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority, New Delhi, India. Dissimilarity calculations, hierarchical cluster analysis, network plot analysis, and principal component analysis (PCA) were employed to assess the extent of diversity among the germplasm. The highest diversity was observed in variety June’s Joy. The hierarchical cluster analysis grouped the species into four major clusters, validated by linear discriminant analysis. Notably, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis germplasm grouped in the same cluster for flower colour. PCA results mirrored the dendrogram pattern, with June’s Joy standing out distinctly. While, no single morphological trait can singularly differentiate all germplasms, the collection of a comprehensive passport data incorporating various traits is imperative for advancing further studies in hibiscus genetic diversity and breeding programme.
Copyright (c) 2025 Tanushree Koley, Jayoti Majumder, Tapas Kumar Choudhuri (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Fungitoxic effect of crude neem extract against Stemphylium vesicarium andits influence on seed yield and quality of onion
Stemphylium leaf blight, an emerging and economically devastating disease of onion crops, has prompted the search for eco-friendly alternatives due to stringent regulations with regard to synthetic fungicides. This study pioneers the comparative evaluation of Azadirachta indica crude extract against both six commercial fungicides (mancozeb, metiram + pyraclostrobin, difenoconazole, zineb, tebuconazole and kitazine) and two other botanicals (Lantana camara and Pongamia pinnata) under Indian field conditions. In vitro screening was conducted using the poisoned food technique at concentrations ranging from 100 to 2000 ppm, and field trials involved three foliar sprays at 10-day intervals on the onion var. Punjab Naroya. Under in vitro conditions, A. indica displayed >50% mycelial growth inhibition of Stemphylium vesicarium from concentrations as low as 250 ppm, outperforming all botanicals and most fungicides comparable only to triazole fungicides. Field trials demonstrated that A. indica (5%) reduced Stemphylium leaf blight disease severity by over 50%, with seed yield comparable to mancozeb and zineb. Notably, seeds treated with A. indica exhibited higher germination, improved vigour indices, and reduced electrical conductivity, indicating enhanced seed quality and membrane stability. By delivering disease control on par with leading synthetic fungicides without the associated environmental and resistance risks A. indica emerges as a potent, sustainable fungicidal alternative for onion seed production. The findings underscore its role in minimizing pesticide load while safeguarding both yield and seed quality, contributing to quality bulb and seed production.
Copyright (c) 2025 H P Niranjan Prasad, Atul Kumar, Jameel Akhtar, Jeetendra Kumar Ranjan, Vijay Dunna, Gyan Prakash Mishra, Shobha Rani, M K Sushma (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Effect of seed soaking and drying on germination, growth andvigour of Macadamia (Macadamia integrifolia Maiden & Betche)
Macadamia nut (Macadamia integrifolia) is among the world’s premium nuts and is gaining popularity in India due to its high market value. However, its germination is poor and slow owing to the presence of a hard seed coat, often delaying emergence for 5–6 months. The present study evaluated the effect of seed soaking and drying treatments on germination and early growth attributes. Seeds soaked for three days followed by oven drying at 40 °C for 18 hours exhibited significantly earlier germination (47 days) and higher germination percentage (88.13%) compared with the control. These treatments also enhanced seedling growth parameters, including plant height (16.16 cm), stem girth (0.47 cm), number of leaves per plant (11.22), fresh weight (10.73 g), dry weight (4.66 g), vigour index-I (1429.11 cm), and vigour index-II (411.40 g). Correlation analysis revealed that initiation of germination was positively associated with the time required for 50% and complete germination. Overall, soaking macadamia seeds for three days followed by oven drying improved germination efficiency, growth performance, and vigour of seedlings, and can be recommended for commercial propagation.
Copyright (c) 2025 B M Muralidhara, Anuradha Sane, G Nayan Deepak, S Rajendiran, G S Madhu, A T Rani, D Deekshith, P M Mithun (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Effects of cold stress and melioration on survival andgrowth winter marigold (Tagetes erecta L.)
The current study examined the impact of cold stress on marigold. The genotype Pusa Bahar during winter cultivation and its melioration using elicitors, and plastic tunnels at various sowing dates. Comparing low plastic tunnels to open field settings, the results demonstrated a considerable gain in plant height (72.08 cm), dry matter accumulation (74.84 g), single flower weight (8.92 g), as well as yield (390.59 g), among other survival, growth, and blooming indices. Furthermore, it was discovered that the best time to sow marigold plants was October 15th. This was demonstrated by the plants’ height (69.49 cm), dry matter accumulation (71.68 g), single flower weight (8.45 g), and yield (381.04 g). Along with this, marigold plants under cold stress showed significantly higher plant height (71.96 cm), dry matter accumulation (74.17 g), single flower weight (8.94 g), and yield (384.82 g) when 200 ppm of chito oligosaccharide was applied, especially when combined with arbuscular mycorrhiza. The viability of low plastic tunnels and the effectiveness of elicitors in boosting marigold plant survival, development, and production, as well as boosting plant resistance to cold stress during winter farming, are demonstrated.
Copyright (c) 2025 Tejaswi Rayavarapu, Prabhat Kumar, K P Singh, M C Singh, R jain, S Panwar, N Singh, B K Tejukumar (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Association of volatile terpenoids and their biosynthetic genes in hightemperature stress tolerance in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)
One of the major limiting factors for the production of tomato is the high temperature stress. Plants are capable of sensing the stress early and produce the terpenoid compounds which may contribute for tolerance or act as a signaling compound to trigger the expression of many tolerant genes. Therefore, the present study was conducted to understand the variability in the production of volatile terpenoid compounds in tolerant (IIHR-2841) and susceptible (IIHR-2914) genotypes and the related gene expression under high temperature stress conditions. Genotypes IIHR-2841 and IIHR-2914 were exposed to high temperature (40±2°C) at early flowering stage using polytunnel. Volatile compounds were extracted and identified using SPME-GC-MS. Higher expression of the terpenoid synthase genes and increased release of terpenoids were observed in the tolerant genotype under stress. Expression of β-Caryophyllene synthase (TPS12) and β-Phyllandrene synthase (TPS20) showed a remarkable 2-fold increase at 9th day of temperature stress in tolerant genotype IIHR-2841 whereas; IIHR-2914 did not show upregulation.
Copyright (c) 2024 Shivashankar K.S., Lokesha A.N., Ravishankar K.V., Geetha G.A., Laxman R.H., Roy T.K., Pavitra K., Shankar A.G., Mayuri S. (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Taxonomic studies and DNA barcoding of sapota bud borer, Eustalodes achrasella (Bradley, 1981) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) from India
The sapota bud borer, Eustalodes achrasella (Bradley, 1981) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), causes significant damage in the commercial sapota orchards leading to economic yield losses. The young larvae damage the foliage and buds by webbing and scraping the tissue, whereas, later stages bore into fruits resulting in severe drying, defoliation and reduced crop yields. The present study investigated the field infestation and damage symptoms caused by E. achrasella in Punjab, India. It also includes illustrations of various life stages of the pest, a detailed taxonomic redescription, and the development of a novel mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I DNA barcode for precise identification of this species.
Copyright (c) 2025 D Nandhini, Sandeep Singh, Rajwinder Kaur Sandhu, P R Shashank (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Determination of lethal dose, effect of EMS and gamma rays on germinationand seedling parameters in Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) var. CO (CR) 4
Mutation breeding is a powerful tool to enrich variation particularly for attributes of economic importance in the crops like coriander where hybridization is difficult due to presence of complex umbels. An experiment was conducted to estimate the lethal dose of the chemical mutagen EMS and physical mutagen gamma rays in Coriander var. CO (CR) 4. Gamma dose ranging from 50 to 300 Gy and EMS treatments from 0.2 to 0.5% were tried to determine LD50 value under both laboratory and field conditions. Fifty per cent lethality had been observed at 200 Gy and 0.3% in gamma ray and EMS treatments, respectively, based on probit analysis. The relationship between mutagenic dose and germination percentage was inversely proportional. In M0 generation, under field condition inverse relationship was observed between dose of mutagen. All the mutagens significantly affected the germination and seedling growth. The study revealed that germination percentage, root length, shoot length and vigour index decreased with increase in dose/concentration of the mutagens. Higher gamma rays and EMS doses had negative effect on the morphological characteristics and growth parameters of the seedlings derived from mutagen treated seeds. Lower treatments of these mutagens have influenced less biological damage and would be suitable for inducing desirable mutations in coriander. Therefore, consistent dose of gamma rays and EMS can be tested in other varieties or lines of coriander to generate variability for novel selection.
Copyright (c) 2025 Chitra Rajagopal, A Thanga Hemavathy (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Exploring the spectrum of variability and identifying donor genotypes fordrought stress tolerance in brinjal (Solanum melongena L.)
Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) is a nutritionally and commercially important crop and its productivity is hampered by drought stress. Screening and identification of stage specific donor genotypes possibly will be the strategy to improve the productivity. This study assessed the germination and seedling stage drought stress tolerance of 105 brinjal genotypes with polyethylene glycol (PEG). Two PEG concentrations viz., -2 and -6 bars along with water as control were used as treatments. The correlation and linear regression analysis indicated that total seedling length (TSL) and seedling vigor (SV) had highest correlation to drought stress. Stress tolerant genotypes namely Rayadurga Local, Arka Harshitha, Bethapudi local, Arka Avinash and IIHR-586 and Niranjan Bhata, had high and consistent individual and combined mean membership function value (MMFVC) signifying their higher moisture stress tolerance at seedling stage. Field evaluation of the contrasting genotypes showed that the genotypes with higher MMFVC had lower drought susceptibility index (DSI) indicating higher tolerance to drought stress. The findings from the field experiment are in line with the results of the laboratory study, indicating that genotypes with higher MMFVC values exhibit lower DSI values, and vice versa. This consistent pattern further strengthens the reliability of utilizing MMFVC as a preliminary screening method for identifying genotypes with promising stress tolerance capabilities
Copyright (c) 2025 M D Prathibha, S G Harsha, T H Singh, K S Shivashankara, R H Laxman (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Etiology of mango fruit blackening causedby sooty blotch fungal complex in Eastern India
New kind of superficial blackening caused by sooty blotch fungi was first noticed on mango (Mangifera indica L.) fruits in Odisha, Eastern India during late summers of 2015 and 2016. It emerged as a new threat to quality mango production since it affects the market value of the fruits drastically and its export potential. Hundred mango fruits from orchards in two locations were arbitrarily sampled and colonies of each mycelial type were counted on each mango fruits which revealed ramose type of mycelial colonies was more predominant. Representative colonies were isolated; cultures were purified and proved for its pathogenicity. Genetic identity was assigned through ITS-rDNA sequence analysis which revealed the association of four fungal genera such as Pseudocercospora sp., Pallidocercospora sp., Zasmidium sp. and Passalora sp. with sooty blotch of mango. Scanning electron microscopy studies confirmed the damage of waxy layer of fruits which led to shriveling of infected fruits in storage which highlights the significance of producing mangoes free from sooty blotch disease. Further investigations are required, particularly related to host-pathogen-weather interaction and spatiotemporal distribution across the major mango growing regions of India. This study established the association of sooty blotch fungal complex on mango for the first time in India.
Copyright (c) 2025 Gangeetha Ganesan, Debasis Biswal, Hari Shankar Singh, Minakshi Panda, Supriya Sahu, Madhuri Pattanaik, Srinivas Petikam, Sakthivel Krishnan (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
A comprehensive survey on the occurrence of Polerovirus (Solemoviridae) causing yellowing disease on cucurbitaceous crops in Tamil Nadu, India
A roving survey was conducted in and around Coimbatore, Dindigul, and Tiruchirappalli districts of Tamil Nadu, where commercially field-grown bitter gourd, ridge gourd, pumpkin, sponge gourd, snake gourd, and bottle gourd were observed to exhibit virus symptoms such as yellowing with interveinal chlorosis, downward rolling, and mottling of leaves along with stunted plant growth. Sampling of symptomatic leaves from infected fields revealed an average yellowing disease incidence of 54.42% among the different cucurbitaceous crops. Molecular assay through reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) using universal and specific primer pairs of Polerovirus performed with the collected symptomatic leaf samples confirmed the association of Polerovirus. In addition, samples tested through dot immune binding assay (DIBA) using polyclonal antibody of Cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus (CABYV) also tested positive. The results revealed that 81% and 100% of symptomatic samples were detected with Poleroviruses through RT-PCR and DIBA assays, respectively. The amplified DNA fragments of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) gene and coat protein (CP) gene of Polerovirus associated with bitter gourd were cloned using the pGEM-T vector and sequenced in both orientations. Nucleotide sequencing analysis of the RdRp and CP genes confirmed the association of Cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus (CABYV), a Polerovirus belonging to the family Solemoviridae, sharing an identity of 96.34% and 100%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of the RdRp genomic region of CABYV showed clustering with various isolates from the Asian continent, whereas the CP genomic region exhibited minimal variation within the amplified region, grouping into a single cluster with isolates from Asia, North America, Europe, and South America. These results confirm the alarming occurrence of Polerovirus causing yellowing disease in cucurbitaceous crops in Tamil Nadu.
Copyright (c) 2025 B S Bharath, K Nagendran, N Boopathi, K Sivagnanapzham, S Harish, P S Shanmugam, S Praneetha, Karthikeyan Gandhi (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Screening cultivated and wild genotypes of water melon Citrullus lanatus (Thumb) to identify resistance against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. niveum race 2
The present experiment was carried out to screen 341 Citrullus sp. accessions for identification of resistant genotypes against Fon race 2. The accessions were screened across two consecutive experiments conducted during the late-rainy season of 2017. Spore suspension of Fon race 2 was inoculated following the standard pipette method at 14-day seedling stage. An accession showing a mean survival of > 67% at 28 days post-inoculation (DPI) was categorized as resistant and the remaining accessions were categorized as susceptible. A total of 30 accessions were found resistant. Of them, eight accessions possessed a mean survival of > 90% at 28 DPI and were categorized as highly resistant. All these highly resistant accessions belong to C. lanatus with moderate fruit quality traits. Therefore, these genotypes could be used for watermelon improvement programs in the future that aim to incorporate resistance to Fon race 2 into the crop’s elite and commercial market segments without incurring linkage drag.
Copyright (c) 2025 Saheb Pal, Sreenivasarao Eguru, R N Thontadarya, Sriram Subbaraman (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Studies on genetic divergence for yield and quality traits in chilli (Capsicum annuum L.)
A study was conducted to assess the genetic divergence of twenty-five chilli genotypes for fifteen parameters by adopting Mahalanobis D2 statistics using Tocher’s method. The genotypes were grouped into six clusters irrespective of their geographical divergence, indicating wide diversity among them. Cluster II was the largest with nine genotypes followed by Cluster I with eight genotypes, cluster III with four genotypes, cluster IV with two genotypes, and Clusters V and VI had only one genotype each. The maximum inter-cluster distance was observed between clusters V and VI followed by clusters IV and V and clusters III and IV. This indicates that hybridization between the genotypes belonging to clusters V and VI will be more rewarding for getting superior progenies in terms of yield and quality.
Copyright (c) 2025 Sai Timma Rao Koka, H Sharma, R K Dogra (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Unraveling the impact of soil nutrients on papaya black spot disease caused byAsperisporium caricae (Speg.) Maubl
The study was conducted to correlate soil nutrient factors and papaya black spot disease severity on leaves and fruits of the papaya plant cv. Taiwan Red Lady. The results revealed that there was a positive correlation coefficient i.e. increase in black spot severity) for soil pH, available nitrogen, available phosphorus, exchangeable calcium and magnesium and hot water extractable boron with black spot of leaf severities, whereas, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, available potassium, available sulfur, DTPA extractable zinc, DTPA extractable manganese, iron and copper were negatively correlated with black spot severity on leaves. Further, black spot severity on fruits were positively correlated with soil pH, available N, available P, exchangeable Ca and Mg, DTPA extractable Cu, and negatively correlated with EC, OC, available K and S, DTPA extractable Zn, Mn and Fe, and hot water extractable B. Hence, the available nitrogen and exchangeable magnesium concentrations in soil significantly influence the papaya black spot disease severity but the difference in black spot severity due to changes in the concentration of nutrients other than these two analyzed in the experiment was nonsignificant.
Copyright (c) 2025 Y Swathi Shetty, V B Sanath Kumar, N Kiran Kumar, K R Ashoka, Pooja Patel (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Bio-efficacy of Annona formulation for the management ofAphis gossypii on vegetable crops
Field experiments were conducted to optimize the dose and assess the efficacy of an Annona formulation against Aphis gossypii Glover on vegetable crops such as cucumber, bitter gourd, okra and dolichos. Based on LC50 values, different doses of the Annona formulation were evaluated specifically on bitter gourd and cucumber. The dose optimization study determined that a concentration of 3.5 ml/L of water of the Annona formulation effectively managed A. gossypii under field conditions. Subsequently, the efficacy of this dosage was further evaluated in field trials against A. gossypii in comparison with other botanicals and insecticides. The Annona formulation at 3.5 ml/L of water demonstrated significant effectiveness, reducing aphid populations by 97% compared to alternative botanicals and insecticides. This study suggests that the developed Annona formulation could serve as a promising eco-friendly approach for managing aphids on vegetable crops.
Copyright (c) 2025 N R Prasanna Kumar, Keshav Rao Vala, N Jyothi, S Saroja, Shivarama Bhat (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Field efficacy of Semia biostimulant on the growth and yield of Pechay(Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis)
A field efficacy trial was conducted to assess the effect of Semia biostimulant on pechay in the farmer’s field. Variables such as plant height, leaf length, leaf width, number of leaves, root length, and root biomass have increased by as much as 2.46, 2.47, 8.08, 3.61, 17.52, and 56.93%, respectively, relative to inorganic fertilizer treatment alone. In terms of its feasibility in pechay production, 3 L/ha foliar spray of Semia biostimulant in addition to inorganic fertilization is recommended to increase yield by 32.12%.
Copyright (c) 2025 Joel Adorada, Arlan Adorada, Jessamyn Recuenco-Adorada (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0