In the present study, pure line seeds of mungbean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) were treated with four doses (0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6% and 0.8% as w/v) of ethyl methane sulphonate (EMS) to analyse the genetic variability and heritability for some prime agro-metrical traits in second mutant (M2) generation. The analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences among the studied characters. The phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was higher than its genotypic counterpart (GCV) for all the studied traits. The highest GCV (0.537) for number of seeds per pods and highest PCV (0.635) for plant height were recorded in 0.4% EMS treatment. The lowest GCV (0.179) and PCV (0.214) were recorded in the control set for number of pods per plant. The highest broad sense heritability estimate (92.33%) was recorded on 0.4% EMS for plant height. The expected genetic advance was high (42.39%) in 0.4% dose for days to flowering. The lowest heritability (38.43) and genetic advance (5.37) were noticed in control for the total seed yield per plant. EMS at 0.4% and 0.6% concentration gave the maximum values of all the genetic parameters. The increased genetic variability in treated population for these traits has a high scope for selection and can be exploited for the further improvement of mungbean.

Fifty three genotypes of Capsicum annuum L. collected from different parts of the West Bengal, India were characterized for 23 characters namely, stem colour, plant growth habit, branching habit, leaf size, leaf shape, leaf margin, leaf colour, leaf pubescence, pigment at node, flower per axil, corolla colour, anther colour, calyx margin, mature fruit colour at intermediate stage, fruit shape, fruit position, fruit adherence to the calyx, fruit shape at pedicel attachment, blossom end fruit shape, ascorbic acid content of the fruit, capsaicin in red fruit and colour value of the ripe fruit. These genotypes upon cataloguing showed distinct variations with respect to vegetative, inflorescence, fruit and quality characters. A wide range of variation was also observed among the genotypes for several morphological, fruit and quality characters. Among the different characters, white corolla colour showed 100 % frequency and higher frequency was also recorded in single flower per axil (86.79 %), number pigmentation at node (83.02 %) and green fruit colour (69.81%) at intermediate stage. Predominance of single descriptor state was found in more than 50 % genotypes for 15 characters. Based on the D2 value 53 genotypes were grouped into 17 clusters and results indicated that Cluster I and Cluster VII comprised with 29 and 9 genotypes respectively. Rest of clusters consisted of one genotype in each case. Variability studies revealed that there was a wide range of variability for all the characters studied. High heritability along with higher genetic advance (as a %age of mean) was found in capsaicin content in fruit, number of fruits per plant, yield per plant and primary branches per plant. These characters may be considered as reliable selection indices as they are possibly governed by additive gene effect. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/sja.v11i1.18387 SAARC J. Agri., 11(1): 91-103 (2013)

Abstract:To study the effect of cutting frequencies and nitrogen levels on growth, green and seed yield and quality of upland water spinach (Ipomoea reptans Poir.) an experiment was undertaken with four cutting frequencies (C 0 = no cutting; C 1 = one cutting at 45 days after sowing (DAS); C 2 = two cutting at 45 and 65 DAS and C 3 = three cutting at 45, 65 and 85 DAS) and five nitrogen levels (N 0 = no application; N 1 = 50 kg/ha; N 2 = 100 kg/ha; N 3 = 150 kg/ha and N 4 = 200 kg/ha). Results revealed that all growth, seed yield and seed quality attributes were found to decrease significantly with higher cutting frequencies, whereas, reverse effects on all physiological attributes, green yield and its quality parameters. On the other hand, nitrogen level (upto 150 kg N/ha) had significant effect and all these parameters. The highest green yield was recorded at three cuttings and 150 kg N/ha individually and also at their interaction (16.34, 12.57 and 17.77 t/ha, respectively). Maximum value of quality parameter like vitamin A (3072.9 µg/100 g) was recorded in one cutting with 150 kg N/hectare, whereas, maximum ascorbic acid was recorded maximum (45.31 mg/100 g) in one cutting without N fertilizer application Maximum net profit of Rs. 114324.00 with B: C ratio of 2.22:1 was obtained with combination of three cuttings and 150 kg N/ha and that may be adopted for its commercial cultivation in medium to upland situation under terai region of West Bengal.

Spices are very important horticultural crops and a variety of spices are used in everyday cooking. Value addition is the highest recognition of the value of the product through processing, packaging and marketing. In other words, it is the process of changing or transforming a product from its original state to a more valuable state. Nowadays, many value-added spices are used and they impart a special taste to food preparations. Value addition has several plus points, viz. the value added products are simple to carry, having longlasting fl avours, with low bacterial contamination, having higher income from food industry, used as preservatives and also in pharmaceutical industry. There are many regulatory agencies which control the quality of spices like ASTA, ESA, BIS, etc. Some prominent value-added products accredited globally are black pepper powder, pepper oleoresin, cardamom oil, curcumin, turmeric oleoresin, bleached ginger, garlic paste, onion powder, coriander oleoresin, etc. Big entrepreneurship v to be developed in large scale, and year round production of the value-added product for meeting the international demand is feasible. New product should be developed from different minor and underutilized spice crops, especially from herbal spices. Integrated approach for development, production and marketing strategies should give the new direction towards the value addition in spice crops. This chapter will summarize the current initiatives about the above with scopes and future direction in India as well as the world.

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