Browsing by Author "Sobhana, A"

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Bio-colours from ornamentals
(Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, College of Agriculture, Vellanikkara, 2020) Reshma, Shaji; Sobhana, A
Blending of cashew juice with fruit juices and spices for improving nutritional quality and palatability
(2014) Sobhana, A; Ambili, Appukutan; Mredula, Raghavan
Espresso coffee : the science of quality
(College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University, 2020) Sharon, Jacob; Sobhana, A
Evaluation of clonal variation in banana musa spp. (aab group) 'rasthali'
(Department of Fruit Science, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2018) Dhanyasree, K; Sobhana, A
The study entitled ‘Evaluation of clonal variation in banana Musa spp. (AAB group) ‘Rasthali’’ was carried out at Banana Research Station, Kannara during May 2017- July 2018 with the objective to conduct survey in central parts of Kerala and assess the natural variability in Rasthali clones of banana. Clones collected from Palakkad and Thrissur districts along with clones maintained at BRS, Kannara were planted in randomized block design with three replications. The clones were characterized based on IPGRI descriptor for banana. The analysis of variance revealed that significant variation for characters like plant height, plant girth, length of leaf, width of leaf, total leaf area/ plant, length of petiole, number of leaves and functional leaves, duration of vegetative phase, shoot to harvest duration, total crop duration, bunch length, bunch weight, number of hands/ bunch, number of fingers/ hands, fruit weight, fruit length, fruit girth, TSS, total sugars, sugar-acid ratio, fruit peel thickness, pulp-peel ratio and shelf life of ripe fruits at ambient conditions. Plant height, plant girth, total leaf area/ plant at bunch emergence stage and total crop duration were highest for Veneer Poovan and highest yield was obtained for Veneer Poovan, Valiya Poovan and Marthaman. Valiya Poovan recorded greatest fruit length, fruit girth and fruit weight. The quality parameters like TSS, total sugars and sugar- acid ratio were recorded highest in Marthaman whereas fruit peel thickness and shelf life were high in Andhra Poovan and, highest pulp- peel ratio in Veneer Poovan. Highest genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variation were observed for fruit weight. High heritability coupled with genetic gain was observed in all characters except number of hands per bunch, bunch length and bunch weight. The character fruit weight with high value for GCV, PCV and heritability, coupled with genetic gain can be used for direct selection and further breeding programmes. Total crop duration, fruit length, number of fingers per hand, fruit weight, plant girth and fruit girth had showed positive direct effect on bunch weight per plant while, plant height, bunch length and number of hands per bunch showed negative direct effect on bunch weight. Organoleptic evaluation revealed that highest mean score for taste, texture, sweetness, flavour, colour and overall acceptability of fruits was in Marthaman which also recorded high TSS, total sugars, sugar- acid ratio and less acidity. Lowest mean scores for sweetness, flavour, overall acceptability and taste were observed in Cheriya Poovan. Score for colour and texture were minimum in Veneer Poovan. The present study revealed that, based on yield, quality parameters and organoleptic evaluation, Marthaman was the best.
Improvement of dendrobium through hybridisation and in vitro mutagenesis
(Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2000) Sobhana, A; Rajeevan, P K
Morpho-molecular charaterisation of intergeneric hybrids of ascocentrum
(Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2019) Katare Renuka, Shamrao; Sobhana, A
Morpho-molecular characterisation intergeneric hybrids of Ascocentrum was conducted at the Department of Floriculture and landscaping, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, during 2016-19 with the objective of characterising based on morphological and molecular analysis for commercial exploitation and compatibility assessment. Thirty varieties selected for the morphological characterisation. In quantitative characters Mok. Omayaiy Yellow showed highest plant height, internodal length and leaf breadth throughout the study period. Plant spread, leaf length and leaf area were highest in Kag. Youthong Beauty. Mok. Sayan × Ascda. Doung Porn was observed with highest shoot girth, shoot diameter and number of leaves. Ascda. Yip Sum Wah × V. JVB showed maximum number of roots, Mok. Khaw Phiak Suan × Ascda. Jiraprapa was observed with the highest root length and Mok. Chao Praya Sunset Yellow Spot with the highest root girth. Vasco. Aroonsri Beauty had the least values in all vegetative characters throughout the study period including plant height, spread, internodal length, shoot, leaf and root characters except the number of leaves which was the least in Mok. Khaw Phiak Suan × Ascda. Jiraprapa. Variety Vasco. Aroonsri Beauty also produced the maximum number of florets/spike and had the shortest internodal length. Cluster analysis with 14 different floral characters revealed 12 clusters at 75 per cent similarity. The highest inter-cluster distance was observed in cluster 6 and cluster 10. Cluster 6, which included Ascda. Sirichi Fragrance and Vasco Blue Bay White was found to have the lowest internodal length with the highest value LVII for number of florets per spike, also observed to have lower flower length and flower width. Cluster 10 was found to have the high mean values for spike length, flower length and flower width. In qualitative characters, based on growth habit, two types were found among the varieties viz., hanging and prostrate nature of growth. Leaf texture was found smooth and rigid with entire leaf margin. Leaf apex was acute in Vasco. Aroonsri Beauty and Ascda. Yip Sum Wah × V. JVB and was emarginated in rest of the hybrids. Wide variation was found among the flower colour, colour pattern, nature of petals and lip. Regarding post harvest traits, variety Mok. Omayaiy Yellow recorded highest fresh weight of spike and physiogical loss in weight. Whereas, variety Kag. Youthong Beauty took maximum days to start wilting of a floret. Mok. Chark Kuan Pink was observed to have longest vase life, spike longevity and highest water uptake. In visual evaluation the highest total mean score for the spike to use as a cut flower was observed in Mok. Omayaiy Yellow (54.6 out of 60), while the lowest was observed in Vasco. Blue Bay White. The highest mean score was obtained in Vasco. Pine River Pink (53.83) for plants for the indoor display. In pollen studies Ascda. Sirichi Fragrance and Mok. Sayan × Ascda. Doung Porn showed the highest pollen fertility and germination and these were selected as two male parents for further cross compatibility check. Vasco. Aroonsri Beauty and Kag. Youthong Beauty were found self-incompatible as well as cross incompatible with both the male patents and Vasco. Pine River Blue was found cross incompatible with Mok. Sayan. × Ascda. Doung Porn whereas, the rest of the varieties were found cross-compatible with both the male parents. LVIII Among the 21 SSR primers, ten generated polymorphic patterns. The number of amplicons detected varied from two to seven. The highest number of alleles was found in FJ539054, FJ539061 and JN375718. Primers DQ494847 (3) observed to have less number of amplicons. The PIC value ranged from 0.095 to 0.800.. One unique band was produced by JN375713 and FJ539050 primers in Kag. Samrong and Vasco. Aroonsri Beauty, respectively. The least Jaccard’s similarity value (0.05) was observed between Kag. Samrong and Ascda. Suksamran Sunlight, Ascda. Yip Sum Wah × V. Josephine Van Brero, Vasco. Aroonsri Beauty. The UPGMA clustering algorithm grouped the varieties into two main clusters. The variety Kag. Samrong clustered separately from all other members, whereas, other members were grouped in one cluster. At 50 per cent level of similarity, the hybrids grouped into 13 clusters. Out of 29 ISSR primers used, 20 showed amplification in all hybrids with polymorphic bands. ISSR primer (GACAC) 4 generated 11 amplicons, whereas, ISSR 901 generated 31 amplicons. ISSR primer (GACAC) 4 had lowest PIC value, and UBC810, the highest PIC value (0.926). The least Jaccard’s similarity value (0.03) was observed between Vasco. Blue Bay White and Mok. Khaw Phiak Suan × Ascda. Bicentennial Yellow Spot, which indicates that these hybrids are dissimilar to each other. The highest Jaccard’s similarity value was observed between Mok. Khaw Phiak Suan × Ascda. Bicentennial Yellow Spot and Mok. Chao Praya Sunset Yellow Spot. A UPGMA-based dendrogram separated the 20 hybrids of Ascocentrum orchids into two main clusters, each with 10 members. At 30 per cent level of similarity, all the 20 hybrids grouped into 14 different clusters. Six clusters were observed with two members each.
Pattern of root activity in bananas under irrigated and rainfed conditions
(Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1985) Sobhana, A; Aravindakhan, M
The experiments were undertaken with an objective to find out the most active root zone of banana var. ‘Nendran’ employing radioactive 32p. These were conducted in the College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, during the year 1983-84. The field experiments were laid out in randomised block design, with three replications and the plants were raised under normal conditions. While taking into consideration the number, length and diameter fresh and dry weights of roots, all these were found to be more for the rainfed crop than the irrigated. This explains the enhanced production of roots under conditions of moisture stress. The radioactivity was injected at four months ago of the plant. The area around each experimental plant was injected with 32p solution with the help of a dispensette. The different lateral distances used for the 32p injection were 20cm, 40cm, 80cm and 120 cm and the different depths were 5cm, 15 cm , 30cm and 60cm. The third leaf was radio assayed and the 32p counts were used for finding out the percentage of active roots at the various treatment sites. The results of radiotracer studies indicated that maximum percentage of active roots was located at a soil zone covering 20cm distance and 30 cm depth from the base of the plant under irrigated condition, at five and six months age of the plant. The rainfed crop had its maximum percentage of active roots at a soil zone of 30cm deep and 40cm away from the plant. As the lateral distances increased from 20cm to 120cm, a reduction was noticed in the percentage activity of roots accordingly, under both irrigated and unirrigated conditions. But the root activity was not significantly different at different depths for the irrigated crop, which was significant for the rainfed crop. Under high moisture stress roots tend to forage into deeper layers of soil for getting the available water. Hence deeper soil zones had more active roots under unirrigated conditions, compared to irrigated crop, which had more surface active roots. An experiment was also organized to study of the translocation of absorbed 32p to various parts of the plant after flowering under irrigated condition. It was observed that male flowers had maximum concentration of 32p followed by female flowers or fruits. Of the various leaves, topmost younger leaves were found to build up more 32p than matured leaves, indicating a translocation to the developing immature leaves.
Performance of african marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) under different growing condition
(Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2016) Nimisha Augustine; Sobhana, A
Product development from tender cashew nut
(Department of post harvest Technology ,College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2020) Sharon Jacob; Sobhana, A
Refinement of management practices for jasmine (jasminum sambac L) in humid tropics
(Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2007) Smisha, I S; Sobhana, A
Studies were conducted at the Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College of Horticulture Vellanikkara, to find out the effect of month of pruning and fertilisers on vegetative and floral characters of J. sambac as well as post harvest trials on extending the keeping quality of flowers. Out of different months of pruning, plants pruned in October showed maximum plant height while those pruned in July showed maximum plant spread. Number of primary and secondary branches were highest in April pruned plants which was on par with July pruned plants. There was no significant difference in the number of productive shoots. Yield was highest for January pruned plants. Hundred flower bud weight and flower bud length were also maximum for these plants. The manurial trial included organic manures, inorganic fertilizers and biofertilisers. Plant height was maximum for treatment containing Azospirillum, phosphobacteria and AMF along with NPK 120:240:240.g/plant per year in the initial months but in later months treatments containing neem cake, groundnut cake and poultry manure showed maximum plant height. Plant spread was highest in treatment containing neem cake 100g, FYM 100g and ground nut cake 100g given at monthly intervals. Productive shoots were also maximum in treatments containing neem cake, groundnut cake and poultry manure. Flower yield was also maximum in treatment containing neem cake, groundnut cake and poultry manure. This was significantly superior to all other treatments. Nutrient analysis revealed that the treatment containing chemical fertilizers had maximum amount of available nitrogen and the treatment containing organic manures had maximum amount of phosphorous in soil. Potassium content was maximum for treatment containing Azospirillum and phosphobacteria. In vegetative stage leaf nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium contents were maximum in treatment containing neem cake, ground nut cake and poultry manure. In flowering stage there was no significant difference among the treatments in the case of nitrogen. Treatment containing neem cake, ground nut cake and poultry manure showed maximum value in the case of phosphorous and potassium. Under post harvest studies packaging treatments containing polythene cover with four per cent perforation showed minimum physiological loss of weight followed by the flowers packed in polythene bag without perforation. Flower buds packed in polythene bag remained fresh up to 36 hours. In chemical treatments aluminium sulphate 25ppm delayed wilting by 42hours in both seasons. This was significantly superior to all other treatments. In chilling treatments time taken to wilt was maximum for flower buds kept at temperature of 200C followed by flower buds kept at temperature of 150C.
Regulation of growth and flowering in tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa Linn)
(Department of Pomology and Floriculture , College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2000) Muralee Manohar, M; Sobhana, A
A study was undertaken at the College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Thrissur to determine the effect of nutrients and bioregulators on the growth and flowering of tuberose. The treatments in general, significantly influenced all the vegetative characters, duration, most of the spike characters and yield of bulbs and bulblets in one season or the other. Both nitrogen at 30 g m-2 as well as GA3 at 50 and 100 ppm gave maximum plant height in both the seasons. Nitrogen 20 g m-2 and GA3 100 ppm produced maximum number of leaves, followed by ethrel 50 ppm. In number of tillers, nitrogen 30 g m-2 caused a significant increase. Increasing rate of applied nitrogen and GA3 at 100 ppm reduced the days required for the emergence of spike. The effect of GA3 50 ppm and !AA 25 ppm were also found to be significantly superior. Nitrogen 20 and 30 g m" as well as GA3 50 and 100 ppm were superior in increasing the spike length. The longest rachis was obtained with nitrogen at 30 g m-2 and GA3 50 ppm. Among the nutrients, nitrogen and among bioregulators GA3 100 ppm increased the number of florets per spike and the longevity of individual floret on a spike. However, the longevity of the spike in the field was not affected significantly by the treatments. The total crop duration was found to be reduced by nitrogen application, GA3 50 ppm and !AA 25 ppm. Among the bioregulators GA3 50 ppm and among nutrients nitrogen at 20 and 30 g m-2 recorded the maximum fresh weight of spike. Control plot plants took maximum days in vase for opening of each floret, while GA3 100 ppm took minimum days. Higher doses of nitrogen were found to increase the number of days for floret opening. Days for complete opening of florets in vase were shortest and the number of florets opening at a time was the maximum with GA3 100 ppm. Higher doses of nitrogen as well as !AA 25 ppm were able to enhance the vase life, followed by GA3 50 and GA3 100 ppm. Nitrogen and phosphorus at 20 g m? and 15 g m" respectively were responsible for increased weight of bulbs and bulblets per hill. Bioregulators did not influence this character significantly. Nitrogen and potassium content of the leaves increased with increasing levels of respective fertilizers, but application of phosphorus did not influence the leaf phosphorus content.
Spacing and nutrient management for Gomphrena globosa L.
(Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2020) Reshma Shaji; Sobhana, A
Standardisation of shade requirement in dendrobium
(Department Of Pomology And Floriculture, College Of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2001) Sheron Fernandez; Sobhana, A
An experiment was carried out in the Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur, during 2000-2001, to standardize the shade requirement for Dendrobium variety Sonia Born J 0 and Renappa. The effect of different levels of shade on the morphological characters, flower production and quality of flowers were assessed. Results revealed that the different levels of shade significantly influenced the morphological characters of the plant, viz., plant height, shoot production, internodal length, leaf production and leaf area. Maximum plant height was obtained for fifty per cent double level shading. With respect to shoot production, 25 and 35 per cent double levels of shade performed better. The length of the internode was maximum for 50 per cent double level shading. Highest leaf production was noticed in 35 per cent double level shading which was statistically on par with 50 per cent double level of shade. Flower quality and flower production were markedly influenced by shade. Earliness in flowering was observed for those treatments receiving more light condition. Twenty five per cent single level shading was the earliest to flower in the group, while the longevity of the spike on the plant was more in 50 per cent single and double levels of shade. Vase life was significantly high in 25 per cent (15.50 days) and 50 per cent (14.88 days) double levels of shade. Longest spike was obtained in 50 per cent single level shading, while the length of the rachis was maximum in 50 per cent double level shading. Fifty per cent single level shading was distinctly superior to all other treatments with respect to the number of flowers per spike. Maximum spike production was noticed in 25 per cent double level shading. Anthocyanin content in flowers was found maximum under 50 per cent double level shading. Total chlorophyll and its components 'a' and 'b' in the leaf were significantly influenced by the different shade levels. Highest content of chlorophyll 'a' was obtained in 50 per cent double level shading, while chlorophyll 'b' and total were maximum for thirty five per cent double level shading. Dry matter accumulation was maximum under 25 per cent double level shading. Nutrient content within the plant indicated an influential effect of shade. Total nitrogen and phosphorus content were maximum in fifty per cent double level shading. Thirty five per cent single level shade had maximum potassium content. A similar trend was observed in the uptake of nutrients also.