Browsing by Author "Satheeshan, K N"

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Effect of ethrel, 2,4-D and MH on growth, rhizome yield and diosgenin content in costus spec/os us (Koening) smith
(Kerala Agricultural University, 1994) Satheeshan, K N; Mohanakumaran, N
An experiment to study the effect of ethrel, 2,4-D and MH on the growth, rhizome yield and diosgenin content in Costus speciosus was conducted at the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara. Plant height was significantly reduced by ethrel and MM at the levels tried. Ethrel 100 and 200 ppm significantly increased the number of tillers per plant. The length, width and leaf area and internodal length of shoot was significantly reduced by ethrel treatments while total leaf area was higher in plants treated with 2,4-D (10 and 20 ppm). Ethrel 200 ppm recorded maximum yield of green and dry rhizomes. Diosgenin content of the rhizome was found to be the highest in the plants treated with 2,4-D 10 ppm. Shoot/rhizome ratio was significantly reduced by Ml I treatments.
Effect of growth substances on the growth, rhizome yield and diosgenin content in Costus speciosus
(Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1984) Satheeshan, K N; Mohanakumaran, N
An experiment was conducted at the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara to study the influence of ethrel (100, 200 and 300 ppm), 2, 4-D (10, 20 and 30 ppm) and MH (50, 100 and 150 ppm) on the growth, rhizome yield and diosgenin content in Costus speciosus. Plant height was significantly reduced by the three levels of ethrel (100, 200 and 300 ppm) and MH (50, 100 and 150 ppm) more evidently on the 110th and 140th day after planting. Ethrel 100 and 200 ppm and MH 50 ppm significantly increased the number of tillers per plant on the 110th and 140th day. Leaf production per tiller was significantly increased by 2, 4-D 10 ppm on the 80th day and was significantly reduced by ethrel 100 and 200 ppm on the 140th day after planting. The length, width and area of the leaves and the intermodal length of shoot was significantly reduced by ethrel treatments. Individual and total leaf area in general was significantly higher in plants treated with the two lower levels of 2, 4-D (10 and 20 ppm), on the stages observed. Ethrel, at the three levels tried, significantly increased the dry matter content of shoots. The shoot/rhizome ratio was reduced significantly by ethrel and MH. The girth of main rhizome was increased significantly by ethrel 100 and 200 ppm. The number of primary fingers was significantly increased by ethrel 100 and 200 ppm and 2, 4-D 10 and 20 ppm and its length was significantly increased by ethrel 200 ppm. The number of secondary finger was significantly higher in ethrel 100 and 200 ppm and MH 150 ppm treatments. Ethrel 200 ppm recorded the maximum yield of green and dry rhizomes. Significant increase in the yield of green rhizome was also given by ethrel 100 ppm and 2, 4-D 10 and 20 ppm. The diosgenin content of the rhizomes was maximum in 2, 4-D 10 ppm (1.83 per cent), but the yield of diosgenin per ha was maximum in ethrel 200 ppm. Significant increase in diosgenin yield was also obtained in ethrel 100 ppm, 2, 4-D 20 ppm and MH 50 ppm. The greatest return per ha was given by ethrel 200 ppm, followed by ethrel 100 ppm and 2, 4-D 10 ppm.
Evaluation of promising accession of papaya (Carica papaya L.) cultivation in north Kerala
(Department of Fruit Science, College of Agriculture, Padannakkad, 2020) Akhil, P; Satheeshan, K N
Papaya (Carica papaya L.), is an important fruit crop cultivated in the tropical and subtropical regions due to its versatile uses, high palatability, nutritional and health benefits. Even though India is a major producer of papaya in the world, in Kerala, it is yet to assume the status of a commercial fruit crop. Lack of availability of varieties/types adapted to climatic conditions in Kerala and dependency on private breeders for seeds are the challenges for its commercial cultivation. However, there is a growing interest among farmer’s in Kerala to take up its cultivation in an orchard scale recently due to its ease of growing and economic potential. In this context, the present investigation on evaluation of selected papaya cultivars/types/varieties is proposed with an objective to find out genotypes suitable for cultivation in Northern zone of Kerala. The study entitled “Evaluation of promising accessions of papaya (Carica papaya L.) for cultivation in North Kerala” was conducted at the Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College of Agriculture, Padannakkad, Kasaragod and Regional Agricultural Research Station, Pilicode during the period from 2017 to 2019. The experiment was laid out in RBD with 12 treatments and 3 replication. The treatments included six promising papaya genotypes selected from the Kasaragod district, one accession already found to be promising from the KAU main campus, Vellanikkara., four released varieties namely Pusa Nanha, Arka Prabhath, CO-8, CO-2 and Red lady (F1 hybrid) from private breeder company. Among the accessions/varieties, Pusa Nanha (1.70 m), Acc. 6 (1.84 m) and Red lady (1.88 m) were shorter in terms of plant height. Flowering and fruiting occurred at the lowest height in Pusa Nanha followed by Acc. 6, which is a positive character for easy harvesting of fruits. Maximum fruit weight was recorded in PusaNanha(1866.67g), Acc.5 (1766.67g), Acc. 4 (1346.67 g). Highest number of fruits was recorded in KAU Acc. 1 (20.67), Acc.6 (20.27) and Acc.4 (19.40). Fruit yield per plant was highest in Acc.5 (26.93kg), Acc.4 (26.23kg) and Acc.6 (23.50kg), PusaNanha (22.47kg). Shelf life of fruits at ambient conditions was maximum in Acc.6(8.70) which was on par with Acc.2 (8.53) and Arka Prabhath (8.23). Among the 12 papaya accessions/varieties evaluated for organoleptic analysis, the most preferred taste and overall acceptance was recorded by Acc.6 followed by Red lady. When value added to papaya jam, best taste, flavour and overall acceptance was recorded in Red lady followed by Acc. 6. Biochemical analysis revealed that the highest fibre content was observed in Acc.6 (1.27%) followed by CO 8 (1.19) and Acc.2 (1.11%) which were on par with Acc.6. The maximum per cent of reducing sugar was recorded by Red lady (9.46 %) which was on par with CO 8 (9.45 %), Acc. 2 (9.39 %), KAU Acc. 1 (9.32%), Acc. 6 (9.32 %) and Arka Prabhath (9.13 %). Total sugar content was maximum in Red lady (10.12 %) which was on par with Acc.6 (10.10%), CO 8 (9.95%), Arka Prabhath (9.75%) and KAU Acc. 1 (9.71%). The highest carotenoid content was observed in CO 8 (3.18 mg/ 100g) which was on par with Arka Prabhath (3.14 mg/ 100g) followed by Acc. 6 (2.87 mg/100g) and Red lady (2.50 mg/100g). The lycopene content was maximum in CO 8 (1.72 mg/ 100g)which was on par with Red lady(1.62 mg/ 100g) followed by Arka Prabhath (1.36mg/ 100g), and Acc. 6 (1.12 mg/ 100g) which were on par. Highest ascorbic acid content was observed in Acc.4 (93.37 mg/ 100g). In this study, six accessions, five varieties and one promising accession reported earlier from the main campus, Vellanikkara, KAU were evaluated and the study revealed that Acc. 6 (local genotype collected from Kasaragod) as the most promising compared to all other genotypes for higher yield with consumer preference for cultivation in North Kerala. This accession was found to be better with respect to short stature (1.84 m), number of fruits (20.27), yield (23.50 kg) , Organoleptic test (Score-8.52) and good shelf life (8.70 days) and nutritional qualities such as high fibre content, carotenoid content and lycopene content.
Regulation of growth and flowering in Heliconia spp.
(Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College of Agriculture, Padannakkad, 2016) Kokila, K R; Satheeshan, K N