PG Thesis
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Item Characterization and value addition of male buds of banana cultivars(Department of Post Harvest Technology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2019) Thanzeela Hoorlin, K A; Meagle Joseph, PIndia is the largest producer of banana in the world and Kerala is rich with wide array of banana varieties. The banana plant in whole is useful for its fruits, peel, fibre, corm, male bud and pseudo stem. Banana inflorescence also known as navels is removed in commercial banana cultivation, by a practice called denavelling, for quality assurance of fruits. These male buds loaded with lots of nutrients are used as vegetable and also for the preparation of nutraceuticals. The stages of harvest after bunch emergence influence the quality of the male bud. Hence the study was carried out in the Department of Post-Harvest Technology, during 2017-2019,with the objectives to characterize the male buds of banana cultivars and to standardize their harvesting stage, packaging and storage methods and minimal processing techniques . Palayankodan, Grand naine, Njalipoovan and Nendran varieties of banana were selected for the first experiment. They were harvested at 15, 20 and 25 days after full bunch emergence (DAB) and characterized based on physico-morphological and biochemical parameters. Palayankodan and Grand naine had the highest bud weight, length and diameter when harvested at 20 DAB and Nendran at 25 DAB. The recovery and firmness was found to be highest when harvested at 25 DAB in Palayankodan and at 15 DAB in Grand naine and Nendran. However, Njalipoovan had the highest value for all the four parameters (275 g weight, 19.8 cm length, 20.4 cm diameter, 87.2 % recovery) when harvested at 15 DAB. Considering the biochemical parameters, in all the four varieties the desirable constituents like carbohydrate, protein, dietary fibre, potassium etc. were found to be highest when harvested at 15 DAB. When subjected to organoleptic evaluation, Palayankodan had the overall consumer acceptance and highest total score under all the three stages of harvest. Also due to its popularity and easy availability, Palayankodan variety was selected for the packaging and storage studies. In the second experiment, banana male buds were given different packaging treatments (wrapping in shrink film, cling film and perforated polyethylene cover) and stored under ambient, cold storage and refrigerated conditions. Physico chemical changes and organoleptic quality were observed. The studies revealed that banana male buds packed in polyethylene cover of 150 gauge and stored under refrigerated condition had the highest shelf life (43 days) and lower physiological loss in weight along with biochemical parameters like ascorbic acid (11.9 mg/ 100g) and total phenols (0.648 mg/ 100 g). Also it had scored highest in organoleptic evaluation with a total of 36.07. Third experiment consisted of standardizing minimal processing techniques for banana male bud. An attempt was made by adopting different pre-treatments (0.2 % ascorbic acid, 0.2 % citric acid, 0.2 % turmeric + salt) and packaging methods ( paper plate overwrapped with cling film, polystyrene trays overwrapped with cling film, polyethylene punnets) to enhance the shelf life and to improve the market value of sliced banana buds. Minimal processed buds with 0.2 % citric acid pretreatment packed in polystyrene trays had a shelf life of one week and microbial load within the permissible limit along with better retention of ascorbic acid (6.81 mg/ 100g) and total phenols (0.276 mg/ 100 g). The present study found that the harvesting stage of buds in Palayankodan and Grand naine was 20 days after full bunch emergence and in Njalipoovan and Nendran it was 15 and 25 days after full bunch emergence respectively. The buds of all four varieties are nutrient rich and organoleptically acceptable with mean rank scores above 6. Packaging in perforated polyethylene cover and storage under refrigerated condition increases the shelf life of whole male bud with retention of desirable qualities. Also 0.2% citric acid pretreatment and packaging in polystyrene trays enhance the market value of minimal processed buds.Item Development, packaging and storage of intermediate moisture jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus L.)(Department of Processing Technology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2016) Divya, S L; Saji GomezItem Optimization of process variables for osmo-air dehydrated nendran banana (Musa spp.)(Department of Procesing Technology, College of Horticulture, Vellayani, 2015) Keerthishree, M; Geetha Lekshmi, P RItem Fertigation for precision farming in tomato (Solanum Iycopersicum L.)(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, vellayani, 2016) Amala, J; Elizabeth K SyriacThe investigation entitled “Fertigation for precision farming in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)” was carried out at College of Agriculture, Vellayani during the period 2015-2016 to standardize a fertigation schedule for precision farming in tomato and to assess the impact of precision farming practices on growth and yield and also to work out the economics. The field experiment was conducted during the summer season of 2015 (February to June) in farmer’s field at Pirappancode, Thiruvananthapuram district. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with eight treatment combinations and two controls, with four replications. Four levels of nutrients (l1- 75 per cent RD of N and K, l2- 100 per cent RD of N and K, l3- 125 per cent RD of N and K, l4- 150 per cent RD of N and K) constituted the main plot treatments and two fertigation intervals (i1- fertigation once in four days, i2- fertigation once in eight days) constituted the sub plot treatments. The two control treatments were, control 1 (KAU ad hoc POP for precision farming) and Control 2 (KAU POP for conventional farming). The hybrid tomato Lakshmi grafted on wild brinjal was used for the study. Among different nutrient levels, l3 (125 per cent RD of N and K) recorded the highest DMP (219.42 g plant-1), number of fruits plant-1(33.67), fruit set percentage (62.77) , fruit yield (1.54 kg plant-1 and 42.36 t ha-1) and was significantly superior to other nutrient levels tested. Fertigation at four days interval (i1) recorded the highest LAI, DMP (224.21 g plant-1), number of fruits plant-1 (35.53), fruit set percentage (60.74) and fruit yield (1.61 kg plant-1 and 44.25 t ha-1) and was significantly superior to i2 (fertigation at eight days interval). Moisture studies indicated that both WUE and water productivity significantly varied with nutrient levels and fertigation intervals. The highest WUE (40.62 kg ha mm-1) and water productivity (5.26 kg ha mm-1) were observed at 125 per cent RD of N and K. Fertigation at four days interval (i1) registered significantly higher WUE and water productivity than i2. Application of 125 per cent RD of N and K (l3) recorded the highest root weight of 10.27 g and the highest root volume of 26.58 cm3 and was statistically on par with 150 and 100 per cent RD of N and K. The treatment i1 was significantly superior to i2 for all root characteristics. Uptake of N, P and K varied significantly with nutrient levels and fertigation intervals. The treatment l3 recorded the highest N, P and K uptake and it was statistically on par with l4. Fertigation at four days interval (i1) was significantly superior to i2, in nutrient uptake. Among different interactions, 125 per cent RD of N and K at 4 days interval (l3i1) registered the highest DMP (245.28 g plant-1) and was statistically on par with 150 per cent RD of N and K at four days interval (l4i1). Also, l3i1 recorded the highest fruit yield (1.92 kg plant-1 and 52.70 t ha-1) and number of pickings (7.33) and was significantly superior to other interactions studied. Economics of the study showed that l3i1 (125 per cent RD of N and K at four days interval) registered the highest net income of ₹ 6,61,515 ha-1 and B:C ratio of 2.69 and it was significantly superior to all other interactions. KAU ad hoc POP for precision farming (Control 1) was significantly superior to KAU POP for conventional farming (Control 2), for all growth attributes, yield attributes and yield. The treatment combination 125 per cent RD of N and K given as fertigation at four days interval (l3i1) was superior to control 1 and control 2 with respect to yield attributes, yield and economics. Based on the results of the present field investigation, it can be concluded that application of 125 per cent RD of N and K (93.75 kg N and 31.25 kg K ha-1) as urea and muriate of potash respectively, in 30 splits through fertigation at four days interval along with basal application of FYM @ 25 t ha-1 and P @ 40 kg ha-1 as rock phosphate is the best schedule for hybrid tomato under precision farming.Item Development of osmo dehydrated red banana(musa spp)(Department of post harvest technology, college of agriculture, Vellayani, 2019) Archana, A K; Geetha Lekshmi, P RItem Feasibility of puza zero energy cool chamber as low cost on-farm storage structure under Kerala condition(Department of post harvest technology, college of agriculture, Vellayani, 2019) Lekshmi, S G; Mini, CItem Quality evaluation of lotus rhizome and its suitability for product development(Department of Community Science, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2019) Sruthi, A; Sreeja Thomachan PanjikkaranItem Nutrient management for pineapple (Ananas cosmosus L.)cv. Amritha(Department of Fruit Science, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2019) Pooja Shree, S; Ajith Kumar, KAmritha, is the pineapple hybrid released from the Pineapple Research Centre, Vellanikkara, under KAU. The present study entitled “Nutrient management for pineapple (Ananas comosus L.) cv. Amritha” was conducted for standardizing the optimum nutrient doses for ensuring high productivity. When grown under the existing POP recommendation of KAU the fruit weight was varying from 0.5 - 1 kg per plant. Therefore, there is a need to develop optimum nutrient doses for ensuring higher productivity of pineapple cv. Amritha. Experiment was conducted with six treatments viz., T1 - POP recommendation of KAU (8:4:8 N, P2O5, K2O g plant⁻¹), T2 - Modified based on soil test results (9.39:11.45:11.36 N, P2O5, K2O g plant⁻¹), T3 - 25 per cent higher than the modified POP based on soil test results (11.7:14.31:14.31 N, P2O5, K2O g plant⁻¹), T4 - 50 per cent higher than the modified POP based on soil test results (14.08: 17.17: 17.03 N, P2O5, K2O g plant⁻¹), T5 - 75 per cent higher than the modified POP based on soil test results (16.4:20.03:19.13 N, P2O5, K2O g plant⁻¹), and T6 - adhoc organic POP. Length of ‘D’ leaf showed significant difference among the treatments after eight months of planting. T6 recorded the maximum length of ‘D’ leaf (44.3 cm) and was on par with T1 (41.1 cm) and T5 (40.9 cm). This was continued in ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth months after planting. Significant difference was observed in ‘D’ leaf area among the treatments after nine months of planting. T6 recorded the maximum ‘D’ leaf area at tenth (113.77 cm2), eleventh (128.70 cm2) and twelfth (155.20 cm2) months after planting and was significantly superior over other treatments. Application of different levels of nutrients had no significant effect on plant height, number of leaves per plant, breadth of ‘D’ leaf, leaf area index and leaf production rate. Treatments, T5 and T6 took 6 ¹/₂ months after planting to attain physiological maturity whereas, other treatments attained physiological maturity at a period of seven months after planting. Days for initiation of flowering was minimum in T5 (39.2 days) and was significantly different from other treatments. In case of days for 50 per cent flowering, T5 recorded the minimum value (47.2 days) and was on par with T4 (49.4 days). Significant difference was observed among the treatments for fruit weight and was highest in T5 (0.985 kg). The maximum length, girth and breadth of fruit was recorded in T5 (14.15 cm), (30.79 cm) and (30.33 cm) respectively. In case of length/breadth ratio T5 (0.48) recorded the highest value which was on par with T6 (0.46). Higher taper ratio values were recorded by T3 (1.041) and T2 (1.040). With respect to the yield per hectare, maximum value (51.99 t/ha) was recorded by T5 which was significantly superior. T5 recorded the highest peel weight (105.74 g), pulp weight (0.402 kg) and crown weight (118.54 g). The minimum peel/pulp ratio was observed in T5 (0.26). There was no significant difference among treatments for days for fruit maturity, harvest index, root:shoot ratio, crop duration and shelf life. On evaluating the quality parameters of fruits, TSS was found to be highest in T5 (15.30 ˚Brix) and was on par with T4 (14.60 ˚Brix). In case of other parameters like titratable acidity, total sugars, reducing sugars, non reducing sugars, sugar/acid ratio, fibre content and ascorbic acid content, the treatments were found to be non significant. The overall sensory score was found to be highest in T6 (69.18) and was followed by T5 (64.12). The highest B:C ratio was calculated for T5 (4.59). Analysis of soil after the harvest of the crop revealed that the values for soil pH, soil EC, organic carbon, available N, P and K were found to be elevated. N, P and K content in the plant and fruit had no significant difference. In the present study early flowering was observed in T5 (75 per cent higher than the modified POP based on soil test results) which in turn resulted in early fruit set and harvesting in the treatment. Highest fruit weight T5 (0.98 kg) and yield per hectare (51.99 t/ha) was also recorded in T5 (75 per cent higher than the modified POP based on soil test results). On sensory evaluation, Adhoc organic POP (T6) was found to be superior and was followed by T5.Item Physiological and molecular analysles of flowering responses in amaranthus (amaranthus spp.) and cowpea (vigna spp.) under elevated CO2 environment(Department of Plant Physiology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2018) Ghade Rameshwar Pandurang; Manju, R VItem Nutrient standardization in banana (Musa AAB. POPOULU)(Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College of Agriculture , Vellayani, 2019) Sruti S Nair; Bindu, B