Wetland rice in many humid tropical regions of Asia, Africa, and South America are affected by iron toxicity, which mainly occur due to increase in Fe(II) concentration in soil solution resulting from drop of redox potential arising from anaerobic situations in submerged rice fields. The high quantity of ferrous ions in the soil solution upsets the mineral element balance in rice plants and affects its growth. A field experiment was carried out in acidic laterite soil (pH 5.1) having 400 mg kg−1 diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid extractable Fe for developing strategies to combat Fe toxicity and to study Fe, Zn, and Mn nutrition in rice. The treatments included four cultivars and six soil management options. Soil pH increased upon submergence and stabilized at 6.2 in compost treated plots and 6.8 in lime treated plots after eight weeks of flooding. Application of lime resulted significantly higher yields in all the four cultivars over control. Among the cultivars lowest Fe concentration both in grain and straw was recorded in tolerant as compared to susceptible cultivars. The ratio of Fe/Mn in rice plants was highest under control and reduced with Fe toxicity management treatments. It was further observed that Fe/Mn ratio of tolerant cultivars was lower as compared to susceptible cultivars irrespective of amendments. Similar relations were also recorded for Fe/Zn ratio under different Fe toxicity management interventions. Thus, the application of lime and limiting plant nutrients, such as K, Mn, and Zn along with tolerant cultivars could be important components of Fe toxicity management in Fe toxic acid lateritic soils.

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The cashew apple production in India is estimated to be 65 lakh tones per year but less than 10% of it is processed inspite of possessing all nutritional and medicinal properties. Although the nutritional and economic importance of cashew apple has been acknowledged by many researchers, but no systematic research has been taken yet for proper utilization of large quantities of cashew apples which are being wasted every year. The present investigation was therefore, carried out at Cashew Research Station, All India Coordinated Research Project on Cashew, during the year 2017-18 to evaluate the fifteen diverse cashew genotypes for their physico-chemical parameters as well as value addition of cashew apple juice. The experiment was laid out following the statistical design RBD with two replications. The tested cashew genotypes revealed variations with respect to physico-chemical parameters of cashew apple as well as prepared RTS. Cashew genotype, Kankadi revealed superiority for physical parameters such as cashew apple length (9.2cm), cashew apple breadth (both at wider (5.17cm) and narrower point (4.35cm)), specific gravity (1.21), juice recovery (72.91%) and apple to nut ratio (15.41). Cashew apple weight was recorded maximum in genotype VTH-711/4(118.71g). Genotype, Dhana exhibited superiority for total cashew apple yield (19.35kg plant-1), titrable acidity(0.35%) and ascorbic acid content(254.54mg 100g-1) among the tested genotypes. Total soluble solids was recorded maximum in genotype D-19 (15.52 0 brix). Reducing sugar and total sugar was recorded maximum in genotypes, NRCC Sel-2(9.90%) and BPP-8 (10.53%) respectively. Minimum amount of tannin was recorded in genotype Bhubaneswar-1(1.76mg ml-1). The organoleptic evaluation of prepared RTS revealed wide variations and recorded organoleptic values ranged between 3.50 to 5.00 for colour, 3.00 to 5.00 for appearance, 2.00 to 4.80 for flavour, 2.00 to 4.00 for taste, 2.00 to 4.50 for sweetness and 2.00 to 4.25 for overall acceptability on 5 point hedonic scale. The genotype, Bhubaneswar-1 recorded highest score for all the organoleptic parameters such as colour (5.00), appearance (5.00), flavour (4.80), taste (4.00), sweetness (4.50) and overall acceptability (4.25). Thus, the genotype, Bhubaneswar-1 may be commercially exploited for RTS preparation owing to its low tannin and consumer acceptability.

Citrus is a highly priced fruit crop having significant importance in the fruit economy of our country. It is the second fruit crop in India with respect to area and third largest with respect to production after mango and banana. Acid Lime (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle), from the family Rutaceae originated in India and then spread to the Middle East and other tropical and subtropical countries.The major citrus producing countries are Brazil,

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