1. KAUTIR (Kerala Agricultural University Theses Information and Retrieval)
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Item Development of functional cookies enriched with papaya seed poweder.(Department of postharvest management ,College of Agriculture,Vellayani, 2025) Anagha,AThe study entitled “Development of functional cookies enriched with papaya seed powder” was undertaken at the Department of Postharvest Management, College of Agriculture,Vellayani, during 2023–2025, with the objective to standardize the dehydration parameters for papaya seed powder production and its utilization in the development of functional cookies. The fresh papaya seeds collected from the ripe papaya (var.local) were washed, cleaned and subjected to five dehydration methods viz, shade drying, cabinet drying (50 ± 5 °C), oven drying (50 ± 5 °C), freeze drying (freezing temp - 40°C, drying temp -20 °C) and sun drying till it attained a moisture content of 5±1%.The papaya seed powder obtained from various dehydration methods were analysed for yield and biochemical composition. Among the dehydration methods, freeze drying recorded the highest yield (20.51%) with superior nutritional quality of 32.27% carbohydrate, crude fat 26.02%, crude protein 22.70 g 100 g⁻¹, crude fibre 23.97% and whereas, total ash content was highest (1.22%) for shade + sun drying. Hence the freeze dried papaya seed powder was used for the formulation of functional cookies enriched with papaya seed powder. The functional cookies were developed by incorporating freeze dried papaya seed powder substituting the refined wheat flour at different proportions while maintaining constant levels of oats, ragi flour and sugar in the ratio of 20:15:5.The different combinations were, 55% refined wheat flour+5% papaya seed powder, 50% refined wheat flour+10% papaya seed powder, 45% refined wheat flour +15% papaya seed powder, 40% refined wheat flour +20% papaya seed powder and 60% refined wheat flour as control.The developed cookies were evaluated for physical, biochemical and sensory parameters. The addition of papaya seed powder significantly influenced the physical and biochemical properties of cookies. The maximum yield (93.07%), diameter (4.77 mm), thickness (0.97 cm) and spread ratio (4.94) and the highest values for most nutrients, including carbohydrate (46.75%), crude fat (31.45%), crude protein (14.40 g 100 g⁻¹) and crude fibre (17.40%) were recorded highest for cookies prepared with 40% refined wheat flour +20% papaya seed powder + 20% oats +15% ragi flour + 5% sugar. The highest sensory score for colour (8.22), texture (7.74), flavour (8.55), taste (8.97) and overall acceptability (8.36) was observed for cookies developed with 50% refined wheat flour ,10% papaya seed powder, 20% oats ,15% ragi flour and 5% sugar. Hence, cookies prepared with 50% refined wheat flour, 10% papaya seed powder, 20% oats powder,15% ragi flour and 5% sugar was found to be the most acceptable formulation, providing an optimum balance between nutrition and sensory appeal. The developed cookies were packed in laminated polyethylene pouches and were stored under room temperature for two months and nutritional as well as sensory qualities were analysed at monthly intervals. Storage studies showed a gradual decline in biochemical and sensory parameters across all formulations. Cookies formulated with 50% refined wheat flour,10% papaya seed powder, 20% oats ,15% ragi flour and 5% sugar showed decreased carbohydrate content from 36.80% to 26.37% during the second month of storage. Crude fat content were decreased from 30.20% to 24.50% and crude protein value decreased from 9.60g100g-1 to 7.90 g100g-1Whereas, initial crude fibre content of 6.52% were reduced to 5.52%. During the storage, the highest scores for appearance (7.90), colour (7.78), texture (7.42), flavour (7.41), taste (8.07) and overall acceptability (7.71) were consistently recorded in cookies prepared with 50% refined wheat flour+ 10% papaya seed powder+ 20% oats +15% ragi flour+ 5% sugar. The study revealed that freeze dried papaya seed powder exhibited superior nutritional quality, with higher levels of carbohydrates, proteins, fats and fibre. Functional cookies formulated with 50% refined wheat flour, 10% papaya seed powder, 20% oats, 15% ragi flour and 5% sugar resulted in the improved nutritional composition, with better consumer acceptability and a shelf life of two months. Papaya seed, a commonly discarded by-product, demonstrated strong potential as a functional ingredient in the development of health-oriented products, thereby improving nutritional value and promoting waste valorization in the fruit processing sector.Item Diversity of sclerotium rolfsii infecting yams(Department of plant pathology,College of Agriculture,Vellayani, 2025) Neha Anil; Heera GThe study entitled “Diversity of Sclerotium rolfsii infecting yams” was conducted at Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 2023-2025 with the objectives of cultural, morphological, and molecular characterization; assessment of cross infectivity and genetic variability of Sclerotium rolfsii infecting yams. A survey was conducted in six Agro-Ecological Units (AEUs) of Kerala comprising of districts viz.,Thiruvananthapuram (Vellanad, Aruvikkara, Nedumangad and Neyyatinkkara), Kollam (Kochanjilmoodu and Kottarakara), Alappuzha (Tamarakulam and Cherthala), Kozhikode (Orkkateri, Vadakara, Aroor, Chekkiad, Vattoli and Vattoli North) and Kannur (Chonadam and Thalassery). A total 32 diseased samples were collected from different yams viz Elephant foot yam (EFY), Colocasia, and Dioscorea from 16 distinct locations of the surveyed areas. Of the 32 isolates obtained 25 isolates were collected from EFY, four isolates from Colocasia, and three isolates from Dioscorea. Disease incidence (DI) in the surveyed areas showed a range between10.0% to 60.0%. The pathogenicity tests confirmed virulence of the pathogen, with symptoms manifesting between 3 to 6 days post- inoculation. EFY plants inoculated with the isolates toppled within 12-20 days, whereas Colocasia and Dioscorea plants failed to topple. Isolates IA17 (EFY) collected from Orkatteri (AEU10), IC4 (Colocasia) collected from Chonadam (AEU2) and ID3 (Dioscorea) collected from Cherthala (AEU1), were identified as the most virulent isolates, inducing symptoms within 3-4 days on their original host. Cultural and morphological characterization revealed significant diversity. Mycelial growth rate varied from 1.53 cm/day to 2.46 cm/day. The isolate IA13 with growth rate of 2.46cm/day was identified as fast grower. The fungal isolates exhibited rapid mycelial growth, completing full growth in petri plate(9cm) in 3-5 days, displaying colors ranging from white, pure white, to dull white without any pigmentation. Colony texture varied, from fan-like to thick-centered (IA3, IA7), fluffy (IA8, IA14), and compact (ID2), with regular margins (except IA3, IA7). Days for sclerotial initiation was between 7-14 days while isolates IA15 and ID2 did not produce sclerotia. Sclerotia were smooth, round, light cream to light/dark brown. Meanwhile after two weeks of sclerotial initiation the number of sclerotia ranged between 25 (IC1) to 211 (IA10). The weight of 100 sclerotia varied from 56mg (IC1) to 195mg (IA3), and their size from 0.90 mm (IA12) to 1.99 mm (IC2). Microscopic analysis confirmed the presence of clamp connections, with septal distance ranging from 20.90μm (IA20) to 136.29μm (IA7), and hyphal width from 1.30μm (IA18) to 6.23μm (IA7). The most virulent isolates (IA17, IC1, and ID2) were identified as Agroathelia/Athelia rolfsii (Teleomorph of S. rolfsii) through molecular characterization, using ITS primers and the sequences were submitted to GenBank. Cross-infectivity studies confirmed that all 32 isolates were capable of infecting all three yam host. The symptom development was delayed in cross- inoculated hosts (7–11 days) compared to the original host (3–6 days). Despite the absence of plant toppling symptoms, Colocasia and Dioscorea plants cross-inoculated with isolates (IA1 to IA25) showed more sclerotia with sparse mycelial growth, when compared to the symptoms of original host infection. Lesion sizes ranged from 10 cm2(ID1 x A) to 27.99 cm2 (IC4 x A) on Elephant Foot Yam (EFY), 8 cm2 (IA18 x C) to 32 cm2 (IA22 x C) on Colocasia, and 8 cm2 (IA8 x D) to a maximum of 42 cm2 (IA17 x D) on Dioscorea plants. Genetic diversity analysis using five SSR primers generated 182 scorable bands with polymorphism indicated substantial genotypic heterogeneity. Primers MB-14 and BJ112 exhibited the highest Polymorphism Information Content (PIC value of 0.5). Jaccard's similarity coefficient ranged from 0.00 to 1.00. Critically, pairs of isolates were identified as clones (e.g., IA18/IA19, IC2/IC4) with similarity index of 1.00. At a Jaccard similarity coefficient (JC) of 0.82, the fungal isolates resolved into three major phylogenetic clusters. One distinct cluster was formed by the isolates IA20 (AEU9) and IA21 (AEU9), indicating a high degree of genetic similarity between these two specific isolates. The 16 isolates of EFY formed the second, separate, and larger cluster. The remaining EFY isolates formed a third cluster with colcoasia and dioscorea isolates. Cluster analysis of this cluster indicated significant genotypic overlap between isolates from Elephant foot yam, Colocasia, and Dioscorea, suggesting successful, shared genotypes across different hosts, alongside the presence of highly dissimilar specialized genotypes. This comprehensive analysis confirms genetic diversity in the pathogenic S. rolfsii population infecting yams across Kerala. Virulence assessment were confirmed by the detection of oxalic acid in the most virulent (IA17, IC4, and ID3) and lesser virulent (IA7, IC1, and ID1) isolates from High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis. The study confirmed that oxalic acid (Retention Time 3.2 min), is a key necrotrophic effector, in the culture filtrates of the S. rolfsii (7DAI) isolates from EFY, Colacasia and Dioscorea. Analysis of peak areas revealed a direct correlation between fungal virulence and the production of Oxalic acid. IA17, IC4 and ID3 were identified as the most virulent ones in pathogenicity assays as these isolates exhibited the highest oxalic acid content. Conversely, a lower content of oxalic acid was observed in the IA7, IC1, and ID1 isolates with less virulence. The present study demonstrated that S. rolfsii infecting yam species in Kerala is characterized by high levels of pathogenic, morphological, and genetic diversity.The cross infectivity studies showed polyphagous nature of S. rolfsii affecting yams. The isolates from different yams were clustered into three different clusters indicating variability. The demonstration of broad cross-infectivity and the detection of shared, highly successful genotypes across different hosts necessitates the implementation of integrated disease management strategiesItem Propagation studies in miracle fruit [Synsepalum dulcificum (Schumach. and Thonn.) Daniell(Department of Fruit Science, College of Agriculture, Vellanikkara, 2025) Hana, V AnvarMiracle fruit [Synsepalum dulcificum (Schumach. & Thonn.) Daniell] is an exotic evergreen shrub belonging to the family Sapotaceae, native to West Africa. The fruit is renowned for its unique taste-modifying property attributed to the glycoprotein miraculin, which temporarily converts sour taste into sweet. In addition to this remarkable sensory feature, various parts of the plant possess notable pharmacological properties, including antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticancer, and antihyperuricemic activities, attributed to its rich composition of bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, phenolics, and triterpenoids. These attributes make miracle fruit a promising functional and nutraceutical crop with growing global demand. Despite Kerala’s favourable agro- climatic conditions, the commercial cultivation of miracle fruit remains limited, as its propagation presents considerable challenges affecting large-scale multiplication. Hence, the present study entitled “Propagation Studies in Miracle Fruit [Synsepalum dulcificum (Schumach. & Thonn.) Daniell]” was conducted during 2024–2025 in the Department of Fruit Science, College of Agriculture, Vellanikkara, with the objective of standardizing efficient propagation methods of miracle fruit suitable for Kerala conditions. The research programme comprised two major experiments viz standardization of media for seed propagation and evaluation of vegetative propagation techniques. The first experiment on seed propagation was conducted in CRD with five treatments and three replications, using ten seeds per replication. The media evaluated were: soil (T₁–control), soil + cocopeat + FYM (2:1:1) (T₂), soil + cocopeat + vermicompost (1:1:1) (T₃), sawdust (T₄), and sawdust + vermicompost (1:1) (T₅). Results revealed that seeds sown in T₅ significantly outperformed other treatments, recording the earliest germination (12.00 days), highest germination percentage (53.33%), maximum seedling height (7.51 cm) and seedling weight (0.80 g), 90 DAS. Meanwhile, T₃ was superior in vegetative growth parameters, producing the highest number of branches (3.83, 120 DAS), leaves (4.17, 90 DAS), and stem girth at 10 cm height (0.20 cm, 120 DAS). In contrast, soil + cocopeat + FYM (2:1:1) (T₂) recorded the lowest germination rate, while soil alone (T₁) and sawdust (T₄) required the maximum days for germination and exhibited poor seedling development. The experiment on terminal cuttings was conducted in CRD with eight treatments, three replications, and ten cuttings per replication. Various growth regulators and natural rooting substances were tested to assess their effect on root induction and growth: 400 ppm IBA (T₁), 800 ppm IBA (T₂), 500 ppm NAA (T₃), 1000 ppm NAA (T₄), Rootex (T₅), Aloe vera gel (T₆), dry control (T₇), and wet control (T₈). Results revealed significant variation among treatments in their rooting response. Cuttings treated with 800 ppm IBA (T₂) recorded the maximum number of rooted cuttings (6.66), roots per cutting (2.86), root length (11.96 cm), and survival rate (44.40%) at 120 days after planting. In contrast, dry and wet controls (T₇ and T₈) showed poor rooting performance. However, no sprouting, leaf emergence, or shoot formation was observed in any of the treatments during the experimental period. The air layering experiment was conducted with six different media treatments, arranged in CRD with three replications and five air layers per replication. The treatments comprised cocopeat (T₁), sawdust (T₂), sphagnum moss (T₃), coirpith compost (T₄), vermicompost (T₅), and a mixture of perlite, vermiculite, and AMF (1:1:1) (T₆). Results revealed significant variation among the media used for air layering, with vermicompost (T₅) showing the earliest root emergence (47.66 days), maximum number of rooted layers (3.00), and highest survival rate (20%) after three months. Both vermicompost (T₅) and perlite + vermiculite + AMF (1:1:1) (T₆) required the minimum duration for separation (182.00 days). The T₆ medium also produced the highest number of adventitious roots (5.33), longest root length (7.36 cm), and most side shoots (2.66). In contrast, sawdust (T₂) and coirpith compost (T₄) performed poorly across all parameters, exhibiting delayed rooting and no survival. The experiment on grafting was laid out in a CRD with two factors viz season (June, July, and August) and method of grafting (softwood, side, and veneer), comprising nine treatment combinations. Each treatment was replicated three times with five grafted plants per replication. Results revealed significant effects of both season and grafting method on the growth and survival of grafted miracle fruit plants. Grafts performed in August (S3) showed superior performance with earliest sprouting (23 days), highest number of leaves (16.16), more branches (4.46), and maximum survival (48.92%), 90 days after grafting, while grafts in June (S1) recorded the longest shoots (2.73 cm). Among the methods, softwood grafting (G1) proved most effective, producing earliest sprouting (19 days), highest leaf (17.33) and branch count (4.81) and maximum survival (55.59%), 90 days after grafting, whereas veneer grafting (G3) performed the poorest. The interaction effect between season and method was also significant. Softwood grafting during August (S₃G₁) resulted in the overall best performance, with maximum leaves (22.83), branches (6.16), and survival (73.44%), whereas side grafting during June (S₁G₂) produced the longest shoots (4.03 cm). In contrast, veneer grafting in June (S₁G₃) recorded the lowest growth and survival. The budding experiment was conducted in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with two factors—season and method of budding. The seasons evaluated were June (S₁), July (S₂), and August (S₃), while the methods included patch budding (B₁) and chip budding (B₂). Although the experiment initially comprised six treatment combinations, chip budding (B₂) failed to sprout or survive in any of the seasons and was therefore excluded from statistical analysis. Consequently, data analysis was carried out using CRD, considering only the patch budding treatments. Significant variations were observed among seasons, with budding performed in June (S₁) showing superior performance in all growth parameters, including the earliest sprouting (57.00 days), highest leaf number (10.80), branch count (2.56), and shoot length (3.26 cm) at 90 days after budding. The highest survival rate (93.33%) was recorded for patch budding in June, which was statistically on par with August (80.00%). Thus, patch budding carried out in June (S₁B₁) proved to be the most effective treatment, resulting in the earliest sprouting, enhanced vegetative growth, and maximum survival percentage under Kerala conditions. Overall, the study revealed that propagation success in miracle fruit varied considerably under Kerala conditions. Seed propagation was limited by the long juvenile phase of seedlings, while cuttings and air layering exhibited poor rooting and survival, making them unsuitable for large-scale multiplication. In contrast, grafting and budding performed well, with patch budding in June emerging as the most successful and reliable method, followed by patch budding and softwood grafting in August, for efficient propagation of miracle fruit under Kerala conditions.Item Characterization of blast pathogen in finger millet and the biochemical and molecular mechanisms of diseas resistance.(Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture,Vellayani, 2025-12-22) Sneha Mohan; Anupama,TVThe study entitled “Characterization of blast pathogen in finger millet and the biochemical and molecular mechanisms of disease resistance” was carried out at the Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, during 2023-2025 with the objective of characterization of blast pathogen in finger millet, varietal screening for resistance and evaluation of biochemical and molecular mechanisms of disease resistance. A field survey was conducted across six agro-ecological units (AEUs) of Kerala viz., AEU 3, AEU 8, AEU 11, AEU 15, AEU 16 and AEU 18 covering the districts of Alappuzha, Thiruvananthapuram, Kasaragod, Palakkad, and Idukki. Ten locations were surveyed, and leaf samples showing typical blast symptoms were collected. The symptoms ranged from small brown specks to spindle-shaped lesions with greyish-white centre and yellowish-brown margin, which often coalesced, giving a blighting appearance. Disease incidence and severity were recorded, with the highest incidence (56.33%) and severity (52.60%) observed in Santhanpara region of Idukki district. Correlation analysis revealed a positive relationship between disease parameters and relative humidity, and a negative correlation with maximum temperature. Twelve isolates of the pathogen were obtained from diseased samples, and pathogenicity was confirmed through artificial inoculation on one month old finger millet plants. Cultural and morphological characterization revealed colony colours ranging from greyish-white to black, with flat to raised mycelium and brown to black pigmentation on potato dextrose agar (PDA). The isolates took 13–15 days for full plate coverage (90 mm). Microscopic examination showed hyaline, septate mycelia with two-septate, three- celled, pyriform conidia. Among the isolates, the Vellayani isolate (P4) showed the fastest growth (growth rate of 0.77 cm/day) and highest virulence, producing symptoms within 5 days, with an average of 14.7 lesions per leaf and lesion size of 2.05 × 0.47 cm. Plants inoculated with P4 exhibited the highest disease severity (75.30%), identifying it as the most virulent isolate. Symptom development and sporulation studies with the isolate P4 were conducted and observed that symptoms appeared on 5 days after inoculation (DAI), whereas 135 sporulation began at 10 DAI. Morphological observation showed erect, hyaline conidiophores bearing successively arranged, pale-brown, two-septate, pyriform conidia with a pointed apex and basal hilum. The physiological studies of the pathogen were conducted by growing on different media (PDA, Oatmeal agar, Host extract +2% sucrose agar, Ragi yeast lactose agar and Water agar), temperature (15℃, 20℃, 25℃, 30℃ and 35℃) and light intensity (1000 lux, 2000 lux, 3000 lux, 12 hours darkness and 12 hours light and complete darkness). The results showed highest mycelial growth on PDA medium, at 25 °C, and under complete darkness. Molecular characterization using LSU primers confirmed the identity of the virulent isolate as Pyricularia grisea. The nucleotide sequence was submitted to GenBank under the accession number PX369007. Twenty finger millet accessions (10 indigenous and 10 high-yielding types) were screened against P. grisea. The results revealed that accessions Aduvilanthankudy, Attappady Ragi Millet Mission, Ramapuram, and GPU 28 were resistant; Cherthala South, Pachamutti, Neelikuzhy, Co 15, ATL-1, ML-365, Vakula, Tirumala, and CFMV-1 were moderately resistant; while Kadukumanna, Mattakkavu, Sirukkorai, Palakkini, PPR 1170, and VL 408 were susceptible and KMR 301 was highly susceptible. Aduvilanthankudy recorded the lowest percent disease index (PDI) of 19.24% and a disease score of 1.73, whereas KMR 301 showed the highest susceptibility (PDI 84.73%). Yield assessment revealed that GPU 28 had the highest yield (8.10 g/plant), while Aduvilanthankudy recorded the highest yield among indigenous accessions (7.15 g/plant). Biochemical assays were conducted on resistant (Aduvilanthankudy) and susceptible (KMR 301) accessions at 24, 48, and 72 hours after inoculation (HAI). Defense-related enzymes—peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, and catalase showed significantly higher activity in the resistant accession, with early peaks at 24 HAI. Phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) exhibited delayed but sustained maximum activity at 72 HAI in the resistant plants, indicating their role in defense response. Gene expression analysis using quantitative Real-Time PCR (qRT-PCR) conducted five days after inoculation revealed upregulation of defense-related genes PAL and EIN2 in the resistant accession Aduvilanthankudy, showing relative fold changes of 2.90 and 1.34, respectively, compared to the susceptible KMR 301. The study concludes that the blast pathogen prevalent in Kerala finger millet ecosystems is Pyricularia grisea. The indigenous accession Aduvilanthankudy displayed strong resistance, characterized by early activation of key defense enzymes and higher expression of defense genes. This genotype will be a promising source of resistance for incorporation into breeding programs aimed at developing high-yielding, blast-resistant finger millet accessions adapted to regional climatic conditions and pathogen pressure.Item Cultivation techniques of edible tropical mushroom,Macrocybe sp.(Cultivation techniques of edible tropical mushroom,Macrocybe sp., 2025-12-04) Sona jaisonThe genus Macrocybe, belonging to the family Callistosporiaceae within the phylum Basidiomycota, represents a distinct group of large agaric mushrooms characterized by their exceptionally massive fruiting bodies, which commonly occur in clusters on decaying organic substrates. The name Macrocybe is derived from two Greek words “makros” (long) and “kube” (head), which denotes the remarkable size of its sporophores. To date, eight species have been reported within this genus, among which Macrocybe gigantea is the most extensively studied. It is also the most widely distributed species, particularly across the tropical and subtropical regions. Members of Macrocybe are well known for their edibility, fleshy texture, and appealing flavour, which emphasize their potential for commercial cultivation and nutritional utilisation. Hence, the present study was undertaken to standardise the techniques for in vitro culturing, spawn production, and cultivation of Macrocybe species under Kerala conditions. Mushroom samples morphologically resembling Macrocybe, were collected during the summer showers of 2024 from three distinct locations across Kerala viz., Malappuram (MAL-1), Thrissur (MEL-1), and Kottayam (KTM-1) districts. Tissue isolation was carried out on potato dextrose agar medium under aseptic conditions. A white, cottony mycelial growth was observed around the inoculated tissue after 14 days of incubation from the sample MAL-1, whereas white, fluffy growth appeared within 8 days from the sample MEL-1. However, the sample collected from Kottayam (KTM-1) failed to establish under in vitro. Molecular characterisation was performed to confirm the identity of the isolates, revealing that sample MAL-1 corresponded to Calocybe indica, while sample MEL-1 was identified as Macrocybe gigantea. The confirmed M. gigantea isolate (MEL-1) was subsequently maintained on potato sorghum dextrose agar slants at 4 ± 1°C and utilized for further experimental studies. In vitro experiments were conducted to standardise the culture medium and its components for optimizing the mycelial growth of M. gigantea under both solid and liquid conditions. Among the different media tested, potato sorghum dextrose medium supported the most vigorous mycelial growth, and sucrose was identified as the most effective carbon source. The experiments on standardisation of pH and temperature revealed pH of 5 and temperature 30 ± 2 °C to be optimum for in vitro culturing of M. gigantea. Upon standardisation of light conditions, incubation under blue light and complete darkness were found to produce maximum growth with dense mycelia. In vivo experiment was conducted to standardise suitable substrate for spawning, bedding and casing material for the cultivation of M. gigantea under Kerala conditions. Sorghum was proved to be the most effective spawn substrate among the different grains tested, showing mycelial initiation within six days and completing the spawn run in 9.67 days with thick and fluffy growth. Paddy straw was identified as the best bedding substrate, supporting the fastest crop cycle with 10.67 days for spawn run, 10 days for pinhead initiation, and 13 days for the first harvest after pinhead formation, completing a full crop cycle in 33.66 days. The sporophores produced on paddy straw were healthy and well-developed, with an average stipe length of 11.33 cm and a pileus diameter of 9.89 cm. Paddy straw also recorded the highest biological efficiency (51.95%) and the maximum benefit–cost ratio (4.08). Among the casing materials tested, vermicompost applied at 5 cm thickness proved to be the most suitable, requiring only 8.3 days for case run, 19.33 days for pinhead initiation, and 30 days for the first harvest after casing. It produced well-developed sporophores with an average stipe length of 10.7 cm and a pileus diameter of 9.7 cm, achieving the highest biological efficiency (58.86%). The proximate composition analysis of M. gigantea revealed 27.30 per cent protein, 4.15 per cent fat, 6.5 per cent carbohydrate, 2.66 per cent crude fibre, and 7.95 per cent ash on a dry weight basis, with a moisture content of 87.50 per cent on a wet weight basis. The post-harvest shelf life of fresh mushroom sporophores was found to be greatly influenced by the type of packaging material and storage conditions. At room temperature, sporophores stored in non-perforated polypropylene covers remained free from spoilage for 6.3 days, whereas those stored under refrigerated conditions in perforated polypropylene covers exhibited an extended shelf life up to 16 days. Organoleptic evaluation conducted in comparison with Agaricus sp. revealed that M. gigantea possessed superior sensory qualities in terms of colour, taste, flavour, appearance, and texture. Overall, M. gigantea emerges as a high-yielding and highly palatable species, destined to be a valuable new addition to the basket of cultivated mushrooms.Item Postharvest quality management of avocado (persea ameicana mill ) C V.Arka Supreme(Department of Postharvest Management, College of Agriculture, Vellanikkara, 2025-12-02) Miyandra Martin; Anu Mary MarkoseAvocado (Persea americana Mill) is a subtropical climacteric fruit originating from south-central Mexico and Guatemala that has gained global popularity owing to its rich nutritional composition. The fruit is valued for its high energy content, healthy monounsaturated fats that support heart health and is a good source of protein, potassium, and various vitamins. Despite its value, avocados are highly perishable due to their climacteric nature, characterised by a surge in ethylene production immediately after harvest, leading to rapid ripening and spoilage, within 5-6 days of storage, resulting in significant economic losses. The present study, entitled ‘Postharvest quality management of avocado (Persea americana Mill) cv. Arka Supreme’ was carried out at the Department of Postharvest Management, College of Agriculture, Vellanikkara, during 2023-2025 to standardise the postharvest treatments for delayed ripening and shelf life extension in avocado by the application of ethylene inhibitors and maintenance of optimum storage temperatures. The first experiment evaluated the efficacy of various ethylene inhibitors, including Salicylic acid (SA), Sodium nitroprusside (SNP), and 1- Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) at different concentrations. The control fruits were spoiled and discarded after 6 days. SA and SNP treatments extended shelf life to 12 days, while 1-MCP treatments were superior, extending the shelf life to 15 days. Although statistical comparisons were made up to the 12th day (other treatments became unmarketable) fruits treated with 500 ppb 1-MCP remained marketable up to 15 days with highest quality attributes like lowest respiration rate (395.99 mg CO2 kg-1 h-1), ethylene production rate (88.95 μL kg-1 h-1), and physiological loss in weight (9.64 %) while maintaining the highest fruit firmness (1.86 kg cm-2), titratable acidity (0.2 %), total sugars (1.13 %), and moisture content (75.37 %) with the slowest increase in total soluble solids (7.15 °Brix) and oil content (9.91 %). Treated fruits also exhibited the highest retention of total phenolic content (75.51 mg 100 g-1), total flavonoids (32.87 mg 100 g-1), antioxidant activity (IC50 value 4.08), and peroxidase (POD) activity (1.9 U mL-1) with the lowest polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity (3.16 U mL-1). The highest total score (60.9) in sensory evaluation also confirms 500 ppb 1-MCP as the most effective treatment. In the second experiment, the best treatment from the first experiment (500 ppb 1-MCP) was utilised to assess the effect of storage temperature on the quality and shelf life of avocado. The fruits stored under ambient temperature (30 ± 2 ℃) were discarded due to spoilage by the second week itself. Refrigerated storage (4-7 ℃) extended shelf life to 21 days, but caused severe chilling injury, negatively impacting quality. Cold storage (10 ± 2 ℃) was found to be the most effective in extending shelf life up to 37 days, retaining quality attributes like the lowest respiration rate (292.93 mg CO2 kg-1 h-1), ethylene production rate (27.25 μL kg-1 h-1), physiological loss in weight (7.57 %) and highest fruit firmness (1.98 kg cm-2). Total soluble solids (7.1 °Brix) and oil content (9.14 %) increased slowly, reaching peak values only by the 5th week. The treatment was also superior in retaining quality, with the highest titratable acidity (0.29 %), total sugars (1.21 %), moisture content (76.38 %), total phenolic content (78.52 mg 100 g-1), and total flavonoids (34.28 mg 100 g-1). It also maintained the highest antioxidant activity (IC50 value 4.09), peroxidase (POD) activity (1.97 U mL-1) and the lowest polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity (3.09 U mL-1) along with the highest organoleptic score of 58.0 by the end of the 5th week. Pearson’s correlation analysis revealed strong relationships between ethylene production and other quality attributes of avocado. Ethylene evolution showed positive correlations with oil content, respiration rate, total soluble solids, and antioxidant activity, and negative correlations with firmness, titratable acidity, sugars, flavonoids, and moisture, indicating its key role in fruit ripening dynamics. The present study demonstrated that the combination of 1-MCP (500 ppb) and cold storage (10 ± 2 ℃) preserved the fruit’s physiological and biochemical quality by delaying the climacteric surge, successfully extending its shelf life from 6 days to 37 days. This research offers an effective strategy to mitigate postharvest losses and thereby promote a more stable and sustainable avocado supply chain.Item High temperature stress on grain phytic acid and mineral bioavaility in rice(Department of plant physiology, College of Agriculture,Vellayani, 2025-11-28) Lishli,D; Beena,RThe study entitled “High temperature stress on grain phytic acid and mineral bioavailability in rice (Oryza sativa L.)” was conducted at the Department of Plant Physiology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, during 2023–2025. The present study examined the influence of high temperature stress (36 ± 2°C) imposed during the reproductive stage on grain phytic acid accumulation, mineral bioavailability, physiological performance, and yield traits in eleven rice genotypes differing in pericarp colour and stress tolerance. The experiment was conducted during the Rabi 2024 season using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with two temperature regimes (ambient and high temperature) and three replications. The plants were maintained under normal conditions until panicle initiation and after which they were exposed to high temperature condition in a polyhouse. Morphophysiological, biochemical, and molecular parameters, including the expression of the SPDT (SULTR-like Phosphorus Distribution Transporter) gene, were analysed to elucidate the molecular basis of genotypic variation in phytic acid content. High temperature stress significantly affected physiological, biochemical, and yield parameters, though the extent of response varied among genotypes. Exposure to elevated temperatures resulted in a 7–18 % reduction in plant height, a 21–51 % decrease in leaf area, and a 15–32 % decline in chlorophyll content. Yield related traits were also adversely affected, with spikelet fertility declining by 2–15 % and grain yield decreasing by 18–50 % due to elevated temperature. Pigmented rice genotypes such as Kalabath and Assam Black maintained higher chlorophyll retention, membrane stability, and yield indicating strong thermotolerance. In contrast, white pericarp genotypes such as Khira, White Jasmine, and Jeerakasala exhibited substantial reductions in photosynthetic efficiency and spikelet fertility, resulting in greater yield losses. Jyothi and Urunikaima demonstrated moderate tolerance, with intermediate stability under stress Under heat stress, a significant biochemical response was evident, reflected by a 2–34 % increase in grain phytic acid compared to plants grown under ambient conditions. This increase reflects a temperature-induced shift in phosphorus metabolism that helps stabilize internal phosphorus reserves. However, it was accompanied by a 20–30% reduction in bioavailable iron and zinc, demonstrating a strong negative correlation between phytic acid accumulation and mineral bioavailability. Molecular analysis revealed that the SPDT gene, responsible for phosphorus transport to grains, was upregulated under stress, thereby promoting enhanced phytic acid biosynthesis. Bran colour exerted a strong influence on stress response and nutrient balance. Pigmented genotypes, particularly those with black and red pericarps, exhibited only a 10–15% reduction in antioxidant activity compared with 25–30% in white rice. Their higher levels of phenolics, anthocyanins, and flavonoids likely mitigated oxidative injury, preserving grain integrity and mineral stability. Conversely, white genotypes, lacking such antioxidant protection, experienced a stronger rise in phytic acid and greater yield decline. In conclusion, high temperature stress during the reproductive stage significantly influenced grain phytic acid content, mineral bioavailability, and yield parameters in rice, with the magnitude and nature of these effects varying among genotypes of different bran colours. The results demonstrate that the increase in phytic acid under heat stress is a protective yet nutritionally disadvantageous response associated with altered phosphorus metabolism and reduced mineral availability. The observed inverse relationship between phytic acid accumulation and mineral bioavailability underscores the importance of developing rice genotypes with optimized phosphorus transport and enhanced thermotolerance. The study thus fulfilled its objective by identifying pigmented genotypes such as Kalabath and Assam Black as promising donor lines combining superior antioxidant potential, balanced phytic acid regulation, and stable mineral bioavailability, providing valuable resources for breeding climate-resilient and nutritionally enriched rice cultivars.Item Farmers perception towards electronic- national agriculture market (e-NAM) platform with reference toAPMC market,Haryana(College of Co-operation,Banking &Management, vellanikkara, 2023) Piyush PaulItem Financial performance of Dindigul central co-operative bank,Tamilnadu(vellanikkara College of Co-operation,Banking &Management,Vellanikkara, 2023) Raja Priyadharshini,SItem Workers satisfaction towards welfare measures At palm fibre,Alappuzha(College of Co-Operation,Banking and Management,Vellanikkara, 2023) Jain,Amrutha