Abstract:The present investigation was carried out at Vegetable Research Centre, Pantnagar to estimate the genetic divergence using Mahalanobis D 2 statistics for twelve characters on 35 genotypes of pointed gourd. Cluster analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to identify the most discerning trait responsible for greater variability in the lines and on the basis of mean performance, genotypes were classified into different groups. Five principal components (PC) have been extracted using the mean performance of the genotypes and 83.23 per cent variation is yielded by the first five principal components, among them high mean positive value or higher weight age was obtained was obtained for days to first female flower anthesis and days to first fruit harvest among all the vectors, indicates that these traits are important component of genetic divergence in pointed gourd. Non-hierarchical Euclidean cluster analysis grouped the genotypes into seven clusters and the highest number of genotypes were found in cluster number IV i.e. eleven whereas maximum inter-cluster distance was found between the cluster III and VI i.e. 74.250, it indicates that a wide range of genetic divergence is present between the genotypes present among these two clusters. And as per contribution toward total divergence, traits like fruit yield per hectare and number of fruit per plant contributed 92.64% toward total divergence. The high diversity found in the genotypes showed its great potential for improving qualitative as well as quantitative traits in pointed gourd.

The present investigation was carried out at Vegetable Research Centre, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand during the 2013 and 2014 to evaluate the effectiveness of thiamethoxam, used as seed treatment against the sucking insects of tomato. The seed treatment with thiamethoxam protected tomato seedlings from aphids and thrips at the early season from the onset of seed planting. There was a fast initial effect against the pests then gradually decreased to reach a moderate effect. Data revealed that Thiamethoxam 70% WS @ 4.2 g a.i./kg of seed showed the significant pest reduction followed by Thiamethoxam 70% WS @ 3.85 g a.i./kg of seed. Highest yield was recorded by Thiamethoxam 70% WS @ 4.2 g a.i./kg of seed (28.25 t/ha) closely followed by Thiamethoxam 70% WS @ 3.85 g a.i./kg of seed (25.00 t/ha) as compared to untreated check (20.91t/ha). Percent increase in yield over control was highest (35.10%) in Thiamethoxam 70% WS @ 4.2 g a.i./kg of seed followed by Thiamethoxam 70% WS @ 3.85 g a.i./kg of seed (19.56%). The percent reductions of predators by Thiamethoxam, used as seed treatment, in both the seasons ranged from 1.65-2.58% which was very minimum. Hence, it was concluded that the seed treatment of tomato with Thiamethoxam 70% WS @ 4.20 g a.i/kg of seed reduced the early season insect-pests (aphid and thrips) and had very less effect of natural enemies population as compared to control and also increased the fruit yield significantly than other treatments.

A study was undertaken to investigate the economic feasibility of summer squash cultivation in tarai region of Uttarakhand during winter - spring season of 2013-14 and 2014-15. Among three transplanting dates, summer squash transplanted on 15th January was found to be best with respect to plant growth characters, total yield (373.50 q ha-1), net return (`2,46,542 ha-1) and benefit – cost ratio (2.72). Similarly, out of three low cost protected techniques evaluated along with control, low tunnel with black plastic mulch was observed as best with respect to plant growth characters, total yield (451.67 q ha-1). Whereas, the maximum net return (`2,87,628 ha-1) and benefit - cost ratio (3.58) was obtained in black plastic mulched plots. Out of 12 treatment combinations, summer squash planted on 15th January under black polyethylene mulch is most profitable in terms of getting maximum benefit - cost ratio of 4.41. Hence, the same is recommended for commercial cultivation of summer squash at farmer’s field under tarai condition of Uttarakhand.

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The development of advances in digital technologies, the compact electronic devices plays an important role but the space constraints and irregular surfaces in the device makes it hard to dissipate heat with the help of external medium. They overheat in most of the cases and become a common cause for failure of the device. Phase Change Materials (PCM) release or absorb heat at its melting temperature to its better thermal management. But the PCM have limitations as its brittleness could not occupy the irregular surfaces of compact electronic devices and undergo deformations during operation, a new class of material Flexible PCM (FPCM) developed to endure a certain amount of deformation and make compact contact with irregular surfaces of objects, making them ideal for many smart applications. In this work, the newer thin film FPCM are prepared using Olefin Block Copolymer and paraffin wax at different combinations on mass basis and field emission SEM and XRD characterization of samples are studied and reported. This paper presents selection of optimal PCM and copolymer, preparation of FPCM and detailed analysis of the sample report and electrical device applications. This report provides a basis for implementing and optimizing phase change thermal management techniques in electrical devices. The experimental results shows PCM 45 and 55 wt% co-polymer combination of FPCM having better thermal management in Electrical Applications. Thermal analysis will be studied in future. HIGHLIGHTS Flexible Phase Change Materials (FPCM) prepared and properties are studied Olefin Block Copolymer and paraffin wax at different combinations on mass basis developed and studied FPCM used for Compact Electronic Applications considered as LED Lamb GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT