No abstract

Climate change is becoming an observed reality. Several researchers around the world have been working for decades to model predicted climatic changes that will occur in the 21st century and forecast the potential impact on the global eco-system. Climate plays a major role in deciding perennial fruit crop’s distribution, phenology, fruit quality, and disease and pest incidents. Physiological and yield attributes of fruits are sensitive to changing global climate as the climatic factors such as temperature rainfall etc. has direct co-relation with the regulatory physiological events of fruit trees. Despite increasing atmospheric CO2, which is needed for plant photosynthetic activity, the future of food production remains uncertain due to global warming and abnormal precipitation. Furthermore, there is a scarcity of information on the practical effects of pests and diseases in a climate change, which may have an effect on food availability in future. Studies suggested not only productivity but also quality of fruits will be impaired under the variable growing climates year to year. Plant diversity loss and area suitability issues would lead to more problems. In the face of such challenges to world fruit production, a plan-based strategic scientific evaluation of such effects, as well as adaptation and mitigation strategies, should be quantified. This review article briefly discusses effect of climate change on various fruit crops as well as approaches to mitigate with these future challenges.

Rambutan (Nephilium lappaceum L.) a potential exotic crop, fetching high value demand in the tropical markets of the world. In India the states like Kerala and Karnataka are pioneer in cultivation of Rambutan. It is a natural habitat of warm and humid climate of South East Asia gradually finding its spread and cultivation across continents of both the spheres, but in order to sustain the demand of this crop, there is an urgent need to find out the best method of propagation. In order to assess and determine a suitable vegetative propagation protocol for true to type plant multiplication in Coorg region of Karnataka, different types of budding and grafting techniques were evaluated in Rambutan. Three different methods of budding (i.e. patch budding, forkert budding and chip budding) was employed, among the three methods patch budding was proven to the best with significantly higher rate of budding success (70.00 %), minimum days taken for sprouting (36.86 days) and with a lower rate of mortality (6.28 %). In a separate concurrent experiment, approach grafting method showed superior results among three different methods (viz. approach grafting, cleft grafting and veneer grafting) studied. It showed maximum rate of graft success (72.86 %), higher number of sprouted bud (4.29) and minimum days taken for sprouting (46.29 days) and also had a very low mortality rate (5.87 %).

Effects of integrated nutrient management (INM) approach on the growth, yield, and quality of sweet orange [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck] cv. Phule Mosambi was investigated. Eleven treatments were imposed in Complete Randomized Design (CRD) for two seasons (2019 and 2020) and among the treatments, T11 [50% RDN + 20kg FYM/tree + 25% N from Castor Cake + 10ml Bio NPK Consortium + Micronutrient foliar spray (1% Grade IV)] recorded the maximum incremental plant height (35.28 cm), plant spread N-S (45.73 cm), plant spread E-W (45.32 cm) and canopy volume (0.061m3). Similarly treatment T11 significantly increased several yield parameters viz., the maximum fruit length (8.11cm), fruit diameter (7.96 cm), fruit weight (241.91 g), fruit volume (251.17 cc), no. of fruits per tree (255.17), yield (61.81 kg per tree and 17.18 t/ha) in pooled data. Amid quality traits, T11 stood significantly superior with respect to total sugar (6.99 %) content; it also showed higher sugar: acid ratio (14.27), ascorbic acid content (40.11 mg/100 ml pulp). Hence this particular treatment can be adopted preferably in sweet orange cultivation at middle Gujarat (India). Bangladesh J. Bot. 52(2): 345-355, 2023 (June)

The term ‘bio-regulator’ has been used to encompass the natural and synthetic compounds that regulate various plant growth and developmental processes. Plant bio-regulators (PBRs) previously called plant growth regulators. Use of PBRs with a unique fact finding support assistance from biotechnology made a new approach of manipulating plant biological activities for enhancing growth, yield, quality, nutritive value and an important tool to reduce biotic and abiotic stress in plants. PBRs like jasmonic acid (JA) and its derivatives act as an omnipresent signaling molecules which mediate plant responses to biotic and abiotic stress. Salicylic acid (SA) and methyl salicylate are endogenous signal molecules, also playing pivotal roles in regulating stress responses. A polyamine is low-molecular weight organic compound having two or more primary amino groups, act as ethylene repressor. Prohexodione calcium is a new generation anti-gibberellin. Along with listed names several other bio-regulators are in vogue to improve plant growth, development, stress resistance, pathogenic defense and productivity. In this review, it’s an attempt to portray existing advanced knowledge about under utilized bio-regulators role and utility in cultivation of fruit crops.