No abstract

An experiment was conducted to assess the effect of varieties and planting time on kharif onion production under low hill conditions of Himachal Pradesh at Research Farm of the Institute of Biotechnology and Environmental Science (Dr. Y.S. Parmar, University of Horticulture and Forestry), Neri, Hamirpur for two consecutive seasons (2011 & 2012). The farm is located at an altitude of 620 m above mean sea level with average mean maximum and minimum temperature levels of 31.30 C and 12.40 C, respectively and is a representative site of low hill region of Himachal Pradesh. Four cultivars of onion viz. N-53, Nasik Red, Agrifound Dark Red (AFDR) and Agrifound Light Red (AFLR) were transplanted on six dates at ten days interval starting from 5th July to 25th August. The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design with three replications for each treatment. Healthy seedlings were transplanted on raised beds at a spacing of 15 x 10 cm in plots of 3.0 x 3.0 m2. Recommended cultural practices were followed during investigation to raise the crop successfully. All the observations pertaining to traits viz. plant height (cm), neck thickness (cm), bulb diameter (cm), bulb weight (g), days for harvesting, and yield (q/ha) were taken by randomly selecting twenty healthy plants from each plot. Standard package and practices were followed for raising the crop as per the recommendations of the University. The maximum bulb diameter (5.50 cm was ()ng to bulb diameter showed that all the variables had significant effect on bulb diameter. the ing 2011 ) and highest bulb weight(64.37 g) among cultivars was noticed in cultivar Agrifound Dark Red. There was a significant effect of both by varieties and transplanting dates. The highest average yield (229.03 q/ha) was observed in cultivar AFDR. The highest bulb yield (197.54 q/ha) among transplanting dates was noted on third transplanting date D3 (25th July). Therefore it can be summarized that cultivar Agrifound Dark Red is the best suited cultivar for kharif onion production in lower Shivalik hills of Himachal Pradesh and it should be transplanted around 25th July for maximization of bulb yield.

Registration of 'Multistar' Alfalfa 'Multistar' alfalfa (Medicago saliva L.) (Reg. no. CV-193, P1 593650) was developed by FFR Cooperative and released in 1992. The cultivar was tested experimentally as A9004. Multistar is a 146-clone synthetic cultivar with parental clones selected for resistance to one or more of the following: bacterial wilt [caused by Clavibacter michiganense subsp. insidiosum (McCulloch) Davis et al. 1984], fusarium wilt [caused by Fusarium oxysponim Schlechtend.:Fr. f. sp. medicaginis (J.L. Weimer) W.C. Snyder & H.N. Hans.], phytophthora root rot [caused by Phytophthora sojae M.J. Kaufmann & J.W. Gerdemann; syn. P. medicaginis (Drechs.) E.M. Hans. & Maxwell], spotted alfalfa aphid [Therioaphis maculata (Buckton)], and tolerance to potato leafhopper yellowing [caused by Empoascafabae (Harris)]. Parent clones trace predominately to the cultivars Legend, Chief, Verta+, Edge, and Summit, with minor contributions from Salute, WL-316,5432, and 5444. Germplasm sources of Multistar include 5%M.falcata, 5% Ladak, 26% M. varia, 4% Turkistan, 53% Flemish, and 7% Chilean. Fall dormancy of Multistar is similar to that of 'Ranger'. Multistar is highly resistant to anthracnose (Race 1) (caused by Colletotrichum trifolii Bain & Essary), bacterial wilt, fusarium wilt, and phytophthora root rot and resistant to verticillium wilt (caused by Verticillium albo-atrum Reinke & Berthier), spotted alfalfa aphid, and stem nematode [Ditylenchus dipsaci (Kuhn) Filipjev]. Multistar has been tested and is adapted for use from the Upper Midwest through the mid-South production areas. Flower color is approximately 95% purple, 5% variegated, and a trace of cream, yellow, and white. About 54% of the plants exhibit some level of multifoliolate expression in the autumn regrowth. Seed increase is limited to one generation of breeder (Syn 1), two generations of foundation (Syn 2 or 3), and three generations of certified (Syn 2, 3, or 4) classes. Foundation seed production is limited to the northwestern USA. A maximum of 1, 3, and 5 harvest years is permitted on stands producing breeder, foundation, and certified seed, respectively. Multistar was favorably reviewed by the National Alfalfa Variety Review Board in 1993. Application was not made for U.S. plant variety protection.

To assess the prevalence and severity of bacterial leaf spot on bottle gourd and pumpkin, a survey was conducted in Hamirpur, Una and Bilaspur districts of sub tropical zone of Himachal Pradesh, India during the years 2018 and 2019. Data were recorded in terms of disease severity and fruit rot incidence. The associated pathogen from bottle gourd and pumpkin was isolated on nutrient sodium chloride agar medium and identified on the basis of morphological, biochemical and pathogenicity tests on bottle gourd and pumpkin seedlings. Disease was found to be prevalent at all the locations surveyed exhibiting a mean disease severity from 24.70 to 87.55 and 5.30 to 52.92 per cent in bottle gourd and pumpkin, respectively. Fruits of bottle gourd were recorded to be affected badly exhibiting a mean fruit rot incidence of 10.23 to 95.32 to per cent, while, no fruit rot incidence was recorded in pumpkin fruits. The colonies of the isolated bacterium were mucoid, circular, smooth textured and yellow in colour having a diameter of 2-4 mm. The pathogen was found to be Gram–ve and tested positive for esculin hydrolysis as well as protein digestion test. During pathogenicity tests, incubation period of 2 and 4 days was recorded on bottle gourd and pumpkin, respectively. Based on these studies, the identity of the pathogen was confirmed to be Xanthomonas cucurbitae(ex Bryan) Vauterin et al.

No abstract