Influence of growth regulators on setting,retention and weight of fruits in two cultivars of litchi

Investigations were undertaken to explore the possibility of improving setting, retention and weight of fruits in ‘Early Seedless’ and ‘Calcuttia’ cultivars of lichi (Litchi chinensis) by means of growth regulators. Indole acetic acid (IAA) at 20, 40 and 80 mg l^?1, 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) at 2,4 and 8 mg l^?1 and gibberellic acid (GA₃) at 50, 100 and 150 mg l^?1 were sprayed on panicles in the first fortnight of April, when 50–100% flowers had opened. All 3 growth regulators caused a favourable effect on fruit setting, fruit retention and weight of individual fruits, but IAA at 20 mg l^?1 proved the best for enhancing setting, GA₃ at 50 mg l^?1 for increasing retention and GA₃ at 100 mg l^?1 for improving fruit weight. IAA and GA₃ should, therefore, be used in combination. Between the 2 cultivars tested, ‘Calcuttia’ proved superior to ‘Early Seedless’ in fruit setting, fruit retention and weight of individual fruits.     

Polymorphism of BMPR1B,BMP15 and GDF9 fecundity genes in prolific Garole sheep

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Mutation studies in different prolific sheep breeds have shown that the transforming growth factor beta super family ligands viz. the growth differentiation...     

Zur Überwinterung der Blattkäfer Altica caerulescens Baly und Macrima armata Baly (Col., Chrysomelidae) im Kulu-Tal,Nordindien

Hibernation of the beetles, Altica caerulescens Baly and Macrima armata Baly in the Kula Valley, Himachal Pradesh The flea beetle,Altica caerulescens Baly, is a pest of bringjal, tomato, spinach, strawberry and the weedsRumex sp. andImpatiens sp. in India. The beetle,Macrima armata Baly attacks the trees ofAlnus nitida and is also found as a minor pest of radish in Kulu Valley. Both of the beetles are found only in summer. Concerning the overwintering formerly it was supposed thatA. caerulescens hibernates in pupal stage. The autor describes for the first time about the overwintering of the two species in Kulu Valley based on a survey conducted in 1972 to 1975. Altica caerulescens hibernates in adult stage under the bark of willow (Salix alba).Macrima armata adults were found in the winter in cracks of Kosh trees (Alnus nitida).     

Effect of foliar and soil applications of zinc sulphate on zinc uptake,tree size,yield, and fruit quality of mango

To compare the effect of methods (foliar and soil) and rate of application of zinc sulphate on zinc and phosphorus uptake, tree size, yield and fruit quality of mango (Mangifera indica L.) cv. Dusheri, zinc sulphate was applied as a foliar spray application (0.25, 0.50, 1.0%) and soil (0.5, 1.0, 2.0 kg tree^‐1) treatments during the second week of October (during flower bud differentiation period). All the zinc sulphate treatments of soil and foliar spray were effective in increasing the leaf zinc concentrations above recommended adequate level of (>20 mg kg^‐1) whereas control trees maintained low leaf zinc concentrations (13.8 to 13.3 mg kg^‐1). The uptake of foliar‐applied zinc was more rapid than that of soil applied zinc. All the treatments of zinc sulphate except the foliar spray treatment of zinc sulphate (0.25%) significantly increased zinc concentrations in the fruit pulp as compared with those in the control trees. The percent increase in the stem girth of trees was highest with the soil application of zinc sulphate (0.5 kg tree¹) followed by foliar application of zinc sulphate (1.0%) as compared with all other treatments. The percent increase in the tree canopy volume was highest with the foliar application of zinc sulphate (1.0%) followed by soil application of zinc sulphate (1.0 kg tree¹) as compared with control and all other treatments. There was no significant (P<0.05) increase in yield, fruit size and weight, pulp or stone weight with any treatment of zinc sulphate. Total soluble solid (TSS) in the fruit was significantly higher (18.6%) with the treatment of soil application of zinc sulphate (0.5 kg tree¹) as compared with all other treatments of zinc sulphate and the control. Acid and sugar content of the fruit was not significantly affected by the foliar or soil application of zinc sulphate.     

Variability of soil physical quality and erodibility in a water-eroded cropland

Physical degradation of the soil increases its susceptibility to erosion by water action. However, relatively few studies have evaluated the opposite, i.e., the impact of water erosion on soil erodibility. This study was conducted in a corn field in Ohio. Some sites within the field have experienced water-induced soil erosion following heavy rainstorms. Physical characteristics of the soil were compared between eroded (ER) and un-eroded sites (UN). Compared with ER, the soil in UN had lower penetration resistance (4.87 vs. 4.53 MPa), bulk density (1.45 vs. 1.33 Mg m^?3), and sand content (17.4 vs. 14.2%), and higher shear strength (80.1 vs. 125.3 KPa), hydraulic conductivity (3.0 vs. 3.4 cm h^?1), intrinsic permeability (31.9 vs. 36.4 × 10^?10 cm²), and contents of soil organic carbon (36.1 vs. 32.1 g kg^?1), total nitrogen (3.3 vs. 3.1 g kg^?1), clay (25.2 vs. 24.2%), silt (60.5 vs. 58.4%), and very fine sand (3.4 vs. 1.1%). Also Munsell's variables differed between ER and UN (1.24 vs. 0.54 for hue, 4.59 vs. 4.35 for value, and 1.99 vs. 1.79 for chroma, respectively). The erodibility factor (K) was lower in UN than in ER (0.00327 vs. 0.00354 Mg ha h ha^?1 MJ^?1 mm^?1, respectively). Hence, it is suggested the ER sites within the corn field agroecosystem are more susceptible to accelerated erosion as compared with UN sites.