Cluster bean is a multipurpose legume crop grown in arid and semiarid regions for feed, fodder, and vegetable purpose. In the present study, seven genotypes of cluster bean were evaluated to estimate vegetable pod yield and guar gum properties under Coimbatore conditions. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with five replications. Observation on 14 characters viz., plant height (cm), days to first flowering, days to 50% flowering, number of flower cluster per plant, number of pods per cluster, number of pods per plant, pod length (cm), fresh pod weight (g), dry pod weight (g), fresh pod yield per plant (g), dry pod yield per plant (g), seed yield per plant (g), guar gum in seed (%) and protein content in seed (%) were recorded. The results of present investigation showed that CT CBE 002 outperformed all other genotypes studied in terms of plant height (156.34 cm), total number of clusters (16.44.), number of pods per cluster (6.78), number of pods per plant (99.64), seed yield per plant (29.61 g), guar gum percent (30.56 %), and seed protein content (22.13%). Pod weight was found to be the highest in MDU 1(6.62 g). CT CBE 001 was found to have the maximum pod yield per plant (343.12 g) and pod length (15.16 cm) and had the earliest days to first flowering (27.00 days) and days to 50% flowering (39.80 days).

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Aim: The growing concern for environmental safety and the demand for pesticide residue –free food worldwide have evoked interest in pest management through the use of botanicals, which offers a good alternative to manage the insect pests in an eco-friendly manner. This research was carried out to study the efficiency of botanicals on the aphid population in lablab under organic production system. Study Design: The study was carried out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with eight treatments and three replications. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at College Orchard, Department of Vegetable Science, Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore during 2021 - 2022. Methodology:  The study was performed using chilli extract with three concentrations (2.5, 5.0 and 7.5%) and compared with other botanicals such as neem oil, neem seed kernel extract, garlic extract and panchagavya. The aphid population was counted visually before and 1, 3, 5 and 7 days after spraying. Results: The  results showed that after 7 days spraying 95.81 per cent of aphid population was reduced in T3 (7.5% chilli extract) followed by T2 & T1 (5 % & 2.5%) with a population reduction to the level of 95.62 and 91.54 per cent, respectively. This was followed by neem oil with a reduction of 83.50 per cent followed by garlic extract (79.74%), neem extract (76.94%) and panchagavya (62.81%). The inflorescence infestation was also lower in T3 (4.94) which were compared to control. Conclusion:  The application of chilli extract resulted in reduction of aphid population in lablab under organic cultivation. Infloresecence infestation was also recorded minimum in chilli extract treated plots. The chilli extract is non-toxic to humans and does not harm the environment and hence this can be utilized as an alternative to chemical pesticides.

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Colletotrichum species is considered as amajor fungal pathogen that can cause economic damage in commercial chilli production because of its ability to infect fruits both at pre- and post-harvest stages. Results obtained from the Fourier transform near-infrared spectrophotometer in chilli genotypes indicated that, there is a significant difference among the chilli genotypes for both quantitative and qualitative traits. Furthermore, capsaicin and oleoresin contents have a significant linear relationship with resistance to anthracnose at red fruit stage. Incidentally, chilli genotypes that are moderately resistant to anthracnose were significantly superior in capsaicin and oleoresin contents and fruit yield. Hence, capsaicin and oleoresin content can be used as an indirect method to predict anthracnose resistance in chilli breeding.