Effects of salicylic and benzoic acid on yield and yield components of moisture stressed tomato (solanum lycopersicun l.) at Kadawa Sudan Savannah

Salicylic acid and Benzoic acids are antitranpirants usually used to reduce the rate of moisture loss and increase productivity of irrigated crops. To test antitranspiracy of Salicylic and Benzoic acids, field experiments were conducted during the two successive dry Seasons of 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 at the Agricultural Research Station Farm, Kadawa (11̊ 38ʹ 40.3ʺ N,8̊ 25ʹ3.9ʺ E) 498m elevation above sea level. The aim was to study the effects of antitranspirants and moisture stress on crop growth and development stages of tomato. The treatments consisted of two antitranspirants at four different concentrations of 0, 200, 400 and 600 ppm, and three moisture stress stages, vegetative, flowering and fruit setting. Antitranspirants and moisture stresses were assigned to the main plot and concentrations were used as sub–plot treatment. These were replicated three times and laid out in a split-plot design. The gross plot size was 3.6m x 3.0m (10.8m2) consisting of 6 rows of 3m length, while the net plot size was 1.2m 1.8m (2.16 m2) consisting of 2 inner most rows. Data were taken on tomato growth and yield attributes. Data generated were analysed using statistical analytics software (SAS). The results of the study revealed that application of both Antitranspirants enhanced growth and yield components such as fruit diameter, number of fruits plant1, average fruit weight, marketable fruit yield and total fruit yield of tomato. Significant interactions between and among the factors were also recorded for fruit diameter, number of fruits plant-1 marketable fruit yield and the total fruit yield. Application of 200 and 400 ppm of of Salicylic acid at fruit setting produced the highest total fruit yield (6.66 tha-1) which was statistically similar to 600 ppm of Benzoic (6.10 t ha-1) at flowering while the control had the lowest. Total fruit yield was positively and significantly correlated with number of fruit plant-1 and average fruit weight. Number of fruits plant-1 was found to have the highest direct contribution to the yield. Flowering and fruiting stages were found to be the critical growth stages for moisture stress of tomato. Foliar application of 400 ppm of Salicylic acid at fruit setting stage appeared to promote tomato yield in the study area.

A Potential Application of Endophytic Bacteria in Strawberry Production

Endophytic bacteria could be used as a tool to promote plant growth, enhance abiotic stress tolerance, and inhibit plant pathogen growth. More than 100 bacteria, previously tested to have biocontrol activity against fungal pathogens from our lab, were chosen for pathogen inhibition in vitro with antibiosis assays against strawberry specific pathogens. Three potential endophytic bacteria were tested in the greenhouse for disease reduction and growth performance. Finally, field trials were conducted for fruit yield production. Our results showed that three endophytic bacteria significantly inhibited the growth of the strawberry pathogen Colletotrichum gloeosporioides from antibiosis assays and were identified as Bacillus velezensis strains IALR308, IALR585, and IALR619. Inoculation of these bacteria significantly reduced strawberry disease in greenhouse conditions with pathogen infection. Field trials showed that IALR619 has potential to influence marketable fruit yield when strawberry plants were inoculated twice over the growing season. All three bacteria had the ability to produce auxin and to solubilize phosphate. The antibiotics surfactin and iturin were also detected in IALR585 and IALR619. In conclusion, Bacillus velezensis IALR619 has potential inhibition of strawberry pathogen growth in the greenhouse and possible ability to increase marketable fruit yield in the field.

Effect of Plant density and Fertilizer Application Rates on Growth, Fruit Yield and Quality of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) in Greenhouse Condition

Plant density and fertilization are key practices for improving the fruit quality and yield of vegetables grown in greenhouses. The experiment was performed to investigate the effects of density and fertilization on the fruit yield and quality, economic efficiency of Solanum lycopersicum L. at Duc Trong district of Lam Dong province. The density (50,000; 33,000; 25.000 plants ha-1) and the fertilizer rates (240N – 100P2O5 – 275K2O; 300N – 125P2O5 – 344K2O; 360N – 150P2O5 – 413K2O kg and 420N – 175P2O5 – 482K2O kg ha-1) were studied in a completely randomised split plot design with three blocks. The fertilizer rate (420N – 175P2O5 – 482K2O kg ha-1) was produced the highest height (562.39 cm), fruit setting rate (69.87%), number of fruit per plant (95.65 fruits), average fruit weight (106.37 g), fruit yield (441.11 tons ha-1) and marketable fruit yield (204.31 tons ha-1). The density (25,000 plants ha-1) gave the highest fruit setting rate (75.35%), number of fruit per plant (94.84 fruits), average fruit weight (113.24 g), individual fruit yield (10.02 kg per plant) and fruit yield (501.17 tons ha-1). The combination of density (25,000 plants ha-1) and fertilizer rate (420N – 175P2O5 – 482K2O kg ha-1) have the highest fruit yield (613.5 tons ha-1), marketable fruit yield (223.91 tons ha-1) and rate of return (2.44). In addition, this combination was the best density and fertilizer level management strategy for greenhouse-grown Lahay 334 tomato cultivar in Lam Dong province, Vietnam.

Variability Parameters of Yield and Quality Attributes in Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia L.)

The experiment of the present research work was conducted during summer season of 2018-19 and 2019-20 at Horticulture Research Farm-I, Department of Horticulture, School of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (A Central University), Vidya-Vihar, Rae Bareli Road, Lucknow (U.P.), India. The analysis of variance clearly reveals significant differences among the genotypes for all characters. The observations recorded on various characters showed that the estimates of phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) were higher than genotypic coefficient variation (GCV) for all characters. The high phenotypic as well as genotypic coefficient of variation were observed in marketable fruit yield per plant (39.36%) followed by average fruit weight (29.73%) and number of branches per plant (27.18%). High estimates of heritability were recorded for different characters viz., average fruit weight (98.6%) followed by total soluble solids (97.8%), total sugars (97.7%) and days to anthesis of first pistillate flowers (97.2%). The parameters which observed were found to be very high estimate value of genetic advance in per cent of mean of (60.14%) average fruit weight (60.14%) followed by titratable acidity (53.73%), number of branches per plant (53.47%), total soluble solids (52.81%) and marketable fruit yield per plant (47.87%).

Bioefficacy, environmental safety and synergistic impacts of biorational formulations against whitefly, leafhopper and blister beetle in organic okra ecosystem

Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Gennadius), leafhopper (Amrasca biguttula biguttula Ishida) and large yellow-banded blister beetle (Mylabris phalerata) cause considerable damage to okra, especially under organic farming. Thus, the present study was carried out to test the bioefficacy and environmental safety of six naturally derived components [indigenous water plant extracts, i.e. chilli (Capsicum annum), garlic (Allium sativum L.) and neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) along with cow urine in three different combinations, one commercial botanical (azadirachtin 0.15%), and two formulated entomopathogenic fungi (Verticillium lecanii and Beauveria bassiana)] on aforesaid pests for two consecutive years at field scale. In addition to this, the eco-toxicological effect of naturally derived components was also studied on natural enemies’ populations, viz. spiders and coccinellids. Quaternary mixture application of chilli, garlic, neem leaf and cow urine (CGNC) at 10% w/v was found effective in reducing leafhoppers (94.6%), whiteflies (95.2%) and blister beetle (94.6%) over control. Okra treated with CGNC produced a higher marketable fruit yield (18.44 mg/ha) than those of other treatments. It was also observed that the application of CGNC had no phytotoxic symptoms on okra plants. Application of CGNC was found safer to the natural enemy's population (spiders and coccinellids). Thus, the study suggests that CGNC can be considered as a potential source for managing the population of whitefly, leafhopper and blister beetle without affecting the ecology of natural enemies and it could be a viable eco-friendly option in organic okra production for ensuring food safety and healthy environment.

Differences in Susceptibility to Phomopsis Blight of Seven Eggplant Cultivars with Different Fruit Types

Phomopsis blight caused by Diaporthe vexans is a serious disease on fall eggplant crops in the southeastern United States. The objective was to compare seven eggplant cultivars, representing seven horticultural fruit types, for susceptibility to D. vexans. Eggplant transplanted in April 2018 and 2019 was cut back in late summer and harvested in September and October. Leaf disease incidence was lower on Rosa Bianca (Italian type) and Gretel (white) both years than on other cultivars, except Millionaire (Japanese) in 2018 (P ≤ 0.01). Leaf AUDPC based on severity and percentage defoliation were greater on Black Beauty (globe type) than Patio Baby (Indian), Millionaire (Japanese), Rosa Bianca (Italian), and Gretel (white). Cankered stem length was greater on Black Beauty and Fairy Tale than on Gretel. Hansel (Chinese) and Gretel produced the most healthy, unblemished marketable fruit; Patio Baby, Millionaire, and Fairy Tale had a moderate number; and Black Beauty and Rosa Bianca produced the fewest fruit. Percentage fruit rot both years was greater (P ≤ 0.01) on Black Beauty than Hansel, Gretel, Patio Baby, and Rosa Bianca. Several eggplant cultivars, such as Hansel and Gretel, are less susceptible to Phomopsis fruit rot than Black Beauty and produce more marketable fruit than several other specialty eggplant cultivars.

Performance of ‘Galia’ melon grown under different soil cation ratios

The northeast region of Brazil stands out in the production and export of melon. In this region, where this crop is mostly grown, part of the soil is of limestone origin, as is the irrigation water used. Over successive cultivations, these conditions can lead to soil alkalinization due to the accumulation of basic cations of the exchange complex, such as Ca, Mg, K and Na, in soils that are already rich in bases, thus influencing nutrient availability and, consequently, crop yield. On this basis, this study was developed to identify the cation ratios (K:Mg:Ca) of the soil that best correlate with attributes indicative of ‘Gália’ melon production. Two experiments were carried out in two consecutive years (2017 and 2018), in a randomized-block design with five treatments and five replicates. Treatments consisted of the following cation ratios (K:Mg:Ca) for experiment I, whose soil had a K content of 0.40 cmolc dm-3: T1 (1:3:34), T2 (1:3:21), T3 (1:3:9), T4 (1:0.8:9) and T5 (1:11:34); and experiment II, where the soil had 0.56 cmolc dm-3 of K: T1 (1:1.6:29.8), T2 (1:1.4:13.3), T3 (1:1.4:8.5), T4 (1:0.5:8.5) and T5 (1:4.8:29.8). The following traits were evaluated: chemical analyses of the soil during the flowering phase and at the end of the cycle, nutrient concentration in the diagnostic leaf during the fruiting phase, total yield, marketable yield, average total weight, average marketable weight, total number of fruits and number of marketable fruits per plant. The cation ratios influenced the average total and marketable fruit weights only in experiment I, but not yield. Therefore, when associated with irrigation water from the Açu sandstone aquifer and fertigation, the high absolute K and medium to high Mg contents are sufficient to meet the K and Mg nutrient requirements, dispensing with correction of the cation ratio.

Foliar application of micronutrients enhances growth, yield and quality of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.)

The investigation was carried out At Navsari Agricultural University, Waghai during 2018-19 to evaluate the effect of foliar application of Zn and Fe on growth, yield and quality of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) cv. Winter Dawn. The ZnSO4,7H2O and FeSO4,7H2O were used as a source for Zn and Fe, respectively and applied as foliar sprays individually (0.2 % and 0.4%) as well as in combination to the strawberry plants at 30, 60 and 75 days after planting of uniform runners. The plants which received no spraying were treated as control. The results indicated that foliar spraying of 0.4 % ZnSO4,7H2O + 0.2 %FeSO4,7H2O significantly increased the plant spread, number of leaves, number of crowns, leaf area, length of petiole, number of runners, number of flowers, number of fruits, fruit weight, marketable fruit percentage, marketable and total fruit yield over control plants. However, fruits with significantly the highest total soluble solid, acidity and anthocyanin content were recorded with the foliar application of 0.4 % ZnSO4,7H2O + 0.4 % FeSO4,7H2O. However, the micronutrient treatments failed to influence any significant effect on days taken to 50.0 % flowering, fruit firmness and acidity content of the strawberry fruits. All the parameters were recorded minimum in plants which received no spraying.

Evaluation of Synthetic Insecticides for the Management of Helicoverpa Armigera Mill in Tomato Production

This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of synthetic insecticides in managing Helicoverpa armigera Mill in tomato production. The experiment was conducted during the major and minor tomato growing seasons at the Sekyere Kumawu and Asante Akim North districts in Ghana. The experimental design was a 3 x 5 factorial randomized complete block with four replications. Four insect pest control regimes were evaluated for their effectiveness in controlling the tomato fruit borer. Three tomato varieties were used in this experiment. The results showed that, significantly, higher marketable fruit yields were obtained on the sprayed plots than the control plots. In general, the variety “pectomec” suffered the highest yield loss on the water sprayed field, followed by UC 82 and lastly, power rhino, although all the varieties suffered losses greater than 50%. This shows that none of the varieties used for this study is completely resistant to Helicoverpa armigera. Yields were generally higher in the major season (March-July) than in the minor season (September-December) for pectomec and power rhino. The best insecticides are Oxymatrin (2.4%), Lambda-cyhalothrin (2.5%) and Dimethoate (400g/l) +Cypermethrin (36g/l) in descending order. Contrarily, UC 82 had low yields in the major season than in the minor season. The study recommends that Helicoverpa armigera Mill should be controlled with pesticides to improve yields of tomato.

Harvest of Southern Highbush Blueberry with a Modified, Over-the-Row Mechanical Harvester: Use of Soft-Catch Surfaces to Minimize Impact Bruising

Harvest of fresh market, southern highbush blueberries (SHB) is labor intensive and costly, leading to a demand for alternative harvest methods. Recent research has shown potential for mechanically harvesting blueberries with minimal bruising by using a modified over-the-row (OTR) harvester. For two harvests, SHB cultivars Optimus and Vireo were either hand-harvested (HH) or mechanically harvested (MH) by two commercial harvesters, one unmodified with standard hard-catch surfaces (HCS) or by the other modified with soft-catch surfaces (SCS). For Harvest 1, fruit from all harvest methods were hand-sorted into the following categories: blue fruit (marketable), red fruit, green fruit and culls. Samples from each cultivar and treatment were then held at 24 °C overnight, and the following day firmness and impact bruise severity were determined. Harvest 2 had identical harvest treatments; however, the fruit were sorted on a commercial packing line prior to packing in clamshells (n = 16). A subsample was held overnight as in Harvest 1 for bruise severity rating, while the remaining fruit were stored at 1 °C for 14 days (d). Although percent marketable fruit was more affected by cultivar than harvest method, determination of bruise severity revealed the benefit of harvest with SCS over HCS for both cultivars. The former had 16–26% severe bruising, compared to 27–40% for the latter; HH had 1–4%. During storage, HH fruit remained firmer than HCS and SCS, which were similar. After 14 d, firmness for “Optimus” was 239 N (HH), 157 N (HCS and SCS) and for “Vireo” it was 189 (HH), 155 N (HCS and SCS). Fruit weight loss increased during storage (1.1–4.4%), but there was no difference due to catch plate surface. SSC, TTA and Ratio were not affected by catch surface type or storage period within cultivar. Using modifications such as “soft” catch surfaces on currently available OTR harvesters reduces impact bruise damage; however, impacts incurred during commercial packing operations can negate this effect. MH for fresh market blueberries may provide an economical alternative for blueberry growers; however, with current technology, the fruit should be utilized within a week of harvest.