Browsing by Author "Nalini, P V"

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Flower bud differentiation in pepper (Piper nigrum L.)
(Department of Horticulture (Plantation Crops and Spices), College of Horticulture,Vellanikkara, 1983) Nalini, P V; Mohanakumaran N, N
Studies were undertaken at the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during 1981-82 to collect information on the factors influencing flowering/flower bud differentiation in pepper and on the chronological development of the vegetative and floral buds. Carbon-nitrogen ratio exhibited a favourable influence on the differentiation of flower buds in pepper. Results of the path coefficient analysis and the data on the weather parameters considered together indicated rainfall as the most important factor influencing flower bud differentiation. Receipt of the pre-monsoon showers after a long spell of dry weather seemed to trigger the flower bud differentiation activity in pepper. Microtechniques for histological examination of pepper stem sections were standardised. Killing and fixing the specimens in FAA, dehydration in TBA serious and staining with saffranin gave satisfactory results. Differentiation of vegetative buds alone was observed in the two types of laterals (which bore the crop during the previous season and which did not). Three stages have been identified in the development of vegetative buds. Flower bud differentiation was observed in the shoots arising from the two types of laterals. Maximum flower bud differentiation occurred during June – July. Five stages were identified in the development of flower buds. The process of flower bud differentiation was seen completed within about 20 days of commencement.
Morphological and biochemical characterization of coconut
(Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2006) Sreejith, P V; Nalini, P V
The field experiment entitled ‘Morphological and biochemical characterization of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) germplasm was conducted at Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during the period from 2004 to 2005. The objectives of the study include morphological and biochemical characterization of coconut germplasm available in the college farm and to asses the variability so as to identify the superior types. Based on previous years yield data, forty palms of twenty years old were selected randomly and subjected to cluster analysis for grouping the selected palms. Karl Pearson’s coefficient of correlation and path analysis were also carried out to study the degree of association of different characters. In the present study, the palms under investigation showed high variability for all the 28 characters studied. The cluster analysis of the selected palms showed that C1 and C4 were placed distant by as compared to other clusters. Among the different morphological and biochemical characters studied, cluster C4 recorded superiority over other clusters with respect to yield and yield contributing characters like total nut yield (158 nuts palm-1 year-1), number of bunches produced (12), number of nuts bunch-1(19), stem and leaf characters like stem girth (87cm), number of leaves (37) and petiole length (121cm), followed by cluster C3 with respect to nut yield (129 nuts palm-1 year-1). The study also revealed that cluster C1 was inferior with respect to above characters such as total nut yield (30nuts palm-1 year-1), number bunches produced (6), number of nuts bunch-1(5.67), stem and leaf characters like stem girth(62cm), number of leaves (23) and petiole length (69cm). Cluster C4 included single palm (T22), C3 was comprised of five palms (T9, T10, T20, T21 and T32) and cluster C1 included single palm (T33). Biochemical characters like leaf polyphenol content and APH enzyme activity were more in the cluster C6 during summer season (April, 2005). The activity of GOT enzyme at the onset of rainy season (June, 2005) was more in C4. Characters like number of leaves on the crown showed highly significant positive correlation with nut yield, number of bunches produced year-1 and number of nuts bunch-1. Inflorescence characters like number of inflorescence produced palm-1year-1 showed highly significant positive correlation with nut yield and number of bunches palm-1. Bunch characters like number of bunches palm-1 year-1, length of bunch stalk and nuts bunch-1showed positive correlation with nut yield. Nut weight was positively correlated with copra content. However, the leaf polyphenol content was negatively correlated with nut yield. Female flowers inflorescence-1, duration of female phase, bunch stalk length, petiole length and activities of GOT enzyme during onset of rainy season had recorded positive direct effects on nut yield revealing the role of these characters in selection. Number of female flowers spikelet-1 showed direct negative effect on nut yield and leaf polyphenol content had high negative indirect effect on nut yield through number of female flowers inflorescence-1.
Productivity in relation to branching pattern and pruning in cashew(Anacardium oxidantale)
(Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1997) Nalini, P V; Sreekandan Nair, G
A study was carried out at Cashew Research Station, Anakkayam in the Kerala Agricultural University to investigate the canopy architecture of cashew and to ascertain the optimum degree and frequency of manipulation of canopy for increasing yield. The experiments were carried out during the period from March, 1992 to September, 1995. The study revealed that the resultant canopy of a seedling was massive and like a hemisphere placed above a solid cylinder. The canopy of the grafts of the two varieties used for the study appeared like a cone placed abover a short cylinder. The layers had a small size canopy which was like a hemisphere. Because of the high PWBBRn and spear shaped canopy and high yield efficiency, grafts are found to be much superior to seedlings and layers. For high density intensive management, it is shown that, the use of grafts of high yielding varieties could result in a fold increase in yield. From the experimental evidences and identification of yield components by path analysis, an ideal plant type of cashew is proposed. Experiments on canopy manipulation of cashew revealed that the crop responded very well for pruning. A pruning schedule of removal of 25 per cent of the n5 order of branches at an interval of 3 years was found to increase the yield of the crop considerably. Chlorophyll content is found to have a linear positive correlation with yield and the estimation of the chlorophyll content could be used as one of the tools for screening for high yield in cashew.