Browsing by Author "Suma, B"

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Agrobacterium mediated genetic transformation of ginger (zinbiger officinale rosc.)
(Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2006) Suma, B; Keshavachandran, R
Investigations on genetic transformation in ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) variety Rio-de-Janeiro using Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain EHA 105 harbouring antibiotic resistant selectable marker genes (npt II) and GUS reporter genes were carried out at the Department of Plantation Crops and Spices and Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory, CPBMB, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, Thrissur during the period from 1999 to 2005. Axenic shoot bud cultures of ginger variety Rio-de-Janeiro was raised under in vitro condition to generate explants with reduced contamination for transformation. Half strength MS medium with BA 3 mg l-1 was found to be the best for establishing shoot bud cultures. In order to standardise a regeneration protocol, MS medium supplemented with varying concentration of auxin and cytokinin were tried on different explants. Embryogenic calli were induced from bud explants of ginger supplemented with MS + 1.0 mg l-1 2,4-D + 0.5 mg l-1 BA, followed by plant regeneration on MS medium + BA 3 mg l-1 + 2,4-D 0.5 mg l-1. Bactericidal effect of antibiotics towards different strains of Agrobacterium and sensitivity of ginger tissues to different antibiotics were also studied to standardise the optimum level of antibiotics. Cefotaxime at a concentration of 300 mg l-1 was selected for eliminating the bacteria after co-cultivation. Kanamycin 100 mg l-1 was used to discriminate between transformed and untransformed cells. Agrobacterium strains were collected, recombinants were made and the presence of the construct confirmed in the native strains of Agrobacterium before starting transformation experiments. Agrobacterium strain EHA 105 p35SGUSINT was used for standardising the optimum conditions by comparing the levels of transient GUS expression in inoculated buds. A suitable transformation protocol would include 3 days preculture of explants, bacterial dilution of 1:20 (v/v), infection time of 5 min, co-cultivation of 48 h and post cultivation on callus induction medium with 100 mg l-1 kanamycin + 300 mg l-1 cefotaxime in darkness for 2 weeks and then under 16/8 h photoperiod. Use of acetosyringone in the co-cultivation medium (200 µm) and vir induced Agrobacterium strain (200 µm), increased the efficiency of transformation. Histochemical GUS assays were employed to study and compare the transient GUS expression, stable expression from putative transgenics. Further confirmation was made by PCR assays. The regeneration protocol as well as transformation protocol could be effectively used for further transformation.
Effect of growth retardants on growth, flowering, vase-life and tuber formation of dahlia (Dahlia Variabilis Desf.) propagated through cuttings
(Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1993) Suma, B; Philipose Joshua
A field experiment was conducted at the college of Agriculture, Vellayani during 1990-91 to study the effect of growth retardants on growth, flowring, vase-life and tuber formation of Dahlia (Dahlia variabilis Desf.) propagated through cuttings. Among the chemicals tried Alar markedly retarded the plant height and at the same time significant increase in the number of branches and leaves compared to control and the effect of CCC was not much pronounced. Treatment with Alar and CCC markedly increased the size of leaves compared to control. Chemical CCC was superior to alar with respect to total chlorophyll content. There exists a highly significant increase in internodal length at the highest doses of CCC against its control except at 75th day. Compared to Alar, the plants treated with CCC show a highly significant increase in thickness at node and internode. Treatment with Alar delayed flower bud appearance by 3.9 to 5.9 days while CCC induced earliness in flowering by 8 to 10 days. However there was no significant difference between the chemicals for the number of flowers. Treatment with Alar also improved the size of the flower, increased the number of florets and the flower remained fresh for a longer period on stalk and in vase. Those plants treated with Alar showed an increase in the weight of tuberousroot and maximum tuber production was noticed with Alar 4000ppm.
Effect of weed management on growth and yield of Banana cv. Nendran musa (Aab
(Kerala Agricultural University, 1995) Premalatha, T; Alice Kurian; Suma, B; Radhakrishnan, T C
A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of weed management on growth anil yield of banana cv. Nendran and to identify the critical stages of weeding so as to get maximum returns. Reduction in growth parameters was observed in plots unweeded up to harvest and up to six months after planting compared to frequent monthly weeded plots. Conventional weeding and weeding up to late vegetative phase and bunch maturation phase resulted in more or less similar effect with respect to growth characters, duration and yield. Hence weeding during the first six months is critical for maximum growth and higher yield. Conventional weeding was found to he the most economical practice in banana.
Evaluation of “long pepper” {Piper longum L.) genotypes for growth, flowering and yield
(Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2015) Maheswari R S Nair; Suma, B
Evaluation of ecotypes of long pepper
(Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2008) Riya Joseph; Suma, B
Evaluation of long pepper (Piper longum L) genotypes for growth flowering and yield
(Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2015) Maheswari R S Nair; Suma, B
Long pepper (Piper longum L.) belonging to the family Piperaceae is one among the 14 medicinal plants which has high demand in indigenous drug industry and is also prioritized for cultivation and development by National Medicinal Plant Board. Even though long pepper is well adapted for cultivation as an intercrop in coconut, arecanut and rubber plantations of Kerala, its cultivation is limited due to poor returns from the crop on account of high expenditure on harvesting due to staggered flowering and lack of high yielding varieties with high dry recovery. Germplasm collection of long pepper was initiated at the Department of Plantation Crops and Spices and was further strengthened by KSCSTE funded project and 60 types were assembled. After an initial evaluation, 42 types were selected including check variety ‘Viswam’ for the present study. The present investigations on “Evaluation of “long pepper” (Piper longum L.) genotypes for growth, flowering and yield” was carried out in Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during December 2012 to May 2014. The objectives of the study were to catalogue the germplasm accessions of long pepper, to study the flowering behavior fruit set and quality and to identify superior long pepper genotypes with high yield and quality. The experiment was laid out in completely randomized design, comprised of 42 treatments and six replications. The accessions studied were collected from Western Ghat regions of Kerala and also entries from NBPGR which includes the collections from different regions of Karnataka and Tirunelveli. Characters studied include six qualitative and eighteen quantitative characters including biochemical attributes. Cataloguing of accessions for qualitative characters using IPGRI descriptor for Piper nigrum revealed wide variation among accessions in growth habit, runner shoot production, leaf shape (base, lamina, margin), spike shape and spike colour. Among the forty two accessions studied, it was noticed that thirty eight accessions were found to be female, three found to be male and one non-flowering type. Maximum inflorescence (more than 55 per cent) was produced during June, July and August and minimum (less than 5 per cent) during December and January. In PL 42, PL 53 and PL 57 flowering was extended during May to October. Coefficient of variation for year round flowering ranged from 7.34 per cent to 46.32 per cent. Among accessions, number of primary branches, spike bearing branches per primary branch and leaves per plant ranged from 1.00 to 8.00, 1.00 to 6.71 and 21.67 to 166.0, respectively. The plant height, petiole length, internodal length of spike bearing branches and leaf area ranged from 39.67 cm to 88.33cm, 1.11 cm to 7.56 cm, 1.86 cm to 7.38 cm and 25.98 cm2 to 63.87 cm 2, respectively. The days from planting to emergence and emergence to maturity of spike in female types ranged from 77 to 146 days and 60 to 80 days whereas, male accessions took 135-141 days and 61-64 days, respectively. Number of spikes/spike bearing branch ranged from 1.00 to 3.21 and coefficient of variation observed were 54.81%. Spike length and girth varied from 0.90 cm to 3.10 cm and 3.75 mm to 8.86 mm in female accessions and male accessions from 8.10 cm to 8.18 cm, and 4mm to 4.03 mm respectively. Coefficient of variation for spike length and girth were 7.87 per cent and 6.83 per cent , respectively. Fresh weight per spike recorded highest in PL8 (1.06 g) and dry weight per spike recorded maximum in PL 12(0.20 g). Fresh and dry yield per plant was recorded highest in PL8 which was on par with PL9 along with check variety Viswam. Coefficient of variation observed for fresh and dry yield per plant as 122.45 per cent and 120.44 per cent, respectively. Spike set percent was shown maximum by PL 8 (97.42 per cent) and driage by PL 49 (20.66 per cent). Based on yield parameters, PL 5, PL 8, PL 9, PL 15, PL 23, PL 24 and PL 25 along with check variety were selected as superior accessions. For volatile oil, oleoresin and piperine content, accessions PL 5, PL 8, PL 12 and PL 50 were promising. Cluster analysis among 42 accessions based on qualitative characters and 20 accessions based on quantitative characters were done by using Multivariate Hierrarchial Cluster Analysis using NTSYS software. The dendrogram derived through qualitative characteristics showed degree of similarity varying from 26 to 100 and at 81 per cent similarity long pepper accessions were grouped into seven clusters. Based on quantitative data, the accessions showed only 14 per cent similarity. Since the accessions showed wide variability it can be utilized in future breeding programmes.
Evaluation of selected cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) hybrids bred for quality
(Department of Plantation Crops and Spices,College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2016) Ajmal, P M; Suma, B
Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) is an important beverage crop belonging to the family Malvaceae. The most important economic part of cocoa is the optimally fermented and dried beans, which is the only source of chocolate flavour. Consumers have shown an increased interest for high quality dark chocolate containing a higher percentage of cocoa. Therefore, the quality of cocoa beans has a great importance while considering the market value. The genetic makeup of an individual cocoa genotype influences flavour, quality and intensity of chocolate.Cocoa is mainly classified into three types, namely Criollo, Forastero and Trinitario. The Criollo types provide fine flavour chocolate.
General combining ability of selected black pod disease resistant cocoa(Theobroma cacao L.)hybrids
(Department of Plantation Crops, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2016) Varsha Babu; Suma, B
Cocoa originated in the Amazon riverbasin of South America. The cultivation of cocoa had extended from Mexico to Costa Rica and over the time it had spread to Caribbean and other parts of South America (Wood and Lass» 1985). It was introduced to India during 1979. The generic name Theobronia was derived from two greek words 'Theo' means god and 'hroma' means food, hence known as '"food of god". The beans are the only source for chocolate. Cocoa is affected by many biotic and abiotic stresses. Among the biotic stresses Phytophthora pod rot is the most serious one affecting cocoa, leading to a total of 64% yield loss (Adomako, 2007). Therefore the control of black pod is a major challenge for cultivation of cocoa. The farmers adopt several measures to control the disease of which the use of copper based fungicides is the most predominant one (Tan and Tan, 1990). Although it is reasonably effective, their indiscriminate use poses serious environmental issues. To overcome this situation breeding for resistance to black pod is the most economical, environmental friendly and effective control method (Iwaro et al., 2004). Hence an organized breeding progianmiewas initiated at Cocoa Research Center (CRC), KAU, Vellanikkara during 2005 for the development of varieties resistance to black pod disease and high yield. Twenty five hybrids showing considerable level of resistance after 6 years of screening were selected for the present study. The morphological evaluation ot these hybrids were earned out based on eight qualitative and eight quantitative characters.Variability was observed among the hybrids for all the qualitative characters and quantitative characters. Among the hybrids, hybrid H22 recorded the highest pod weight (724g) and total wet bean weight per pod (176.98g). Tlie husk thickness and number of ilat beans were lowest for hybrid H16 (0.86 cm) and HII (1.40). Self incompatibility was assessed by self pollinating 100 flowers per hybrids. Twenty two hybrids turned to be self incompatible, one self compatible and rest with insufficient number of flowers. Out of 22 self incompatible hybrids eleven were selected for further study based on their yield (No. ol pods/ tree/ year). They were crossed with tester (G.I 5.9) in top cross model and only four yielded fruits. Seedlings were raised in the nursery and observations were recorded in the third month. The analysis of variance of top cross showed significant variation for two characters. The characters like height, diameter, chlorophyll and number of leaves did not express any significant difference. HD2is considered as an indicator of initial vigour and it is found to be directly correlated to the final vigour.The significant value for variance (p Vs c) for HD2 indicated substantial difference between the parents as agroup and their hybrid progenies as another group. This shows that the average hetero.sis is significantly high. Seven hybrids out of selected eleven did not yield any pod on cross pollination, progenies developed from open pollinated pods of these hybrid.s were evaluated to predict the performance of the parent. Progenies expressed high HD2 value. Based on this, these parents can be considered as superior ones. However this has to be confirmed further by crossing them with another tester. Nursery screening for Phytophthora resistance of top cross progeny and open pollinated progeny of all eleven selected hybrids were done at two weeks interval for three months. Lab screening for disease resistance was carried out in semi translucent leaves from all the progenies raised through top cross and open pollinated method along with control for eight days by providing artificial inoculation and percentage of infection was calculated. No disease incidence was noticed in any progenies indicating high GCA for this character. H 17 found to be superior combiner can be evaluated in comparative yield trial. H4, HIS and H8 were selected as superior ones based on the performance of open pollinated progeny which has to be further evaluated with another tester.
Genetic analysis of inbreds, inbred crosses and hybrids of Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.)
(Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2019) Vijayakumar Narayanapur, B; Suma, B
In vitro plant secondary metabolite production: A hotspot for pharmaceutical phytochemicals
(Department of Plantation crops and spices , College of Horticulture , Kerala Agricultural University, 2020) Abhaya, M C; Suma, B
In vitro studies on morphogenesis and plant regeneration in elite clones of cocoa (theobroma cacao L.)
(Department of Plantation Crops and Spices College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2018) Sreelekshmi, S; Suma, B
Morphology and reproductive biology of maramanjal (Coscinium fenestratum (Gaertn.) Colebr)
(Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2015) Mithra H Shenoy; Suma, B
Plant regeneration of Coscinium fenestratum (Gaertn.) colebr. through axenic seed culture and axillary bud culture
(Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2020) Abhaya, M C; Suma, B