Journal of Horticultural Sciences

A. S. Dhatt ¹, Prerna Thakur ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Vegetable Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana -141 004, IN

Abstract

Onion suffers from high inbreeding depression and, as a result, inbreds that are developed lack genotypic and phenotypic uniformity. Gynogenesis has emerged as a potential strategy to address this drawback. Efforts have been made since the 1980s for identifying highly-responsive genotypes and for overall improvement of the protocol for bettering gynogenic frequency in onion. Besides improving media composition, identification of responsive explants and increasing the chromosome efficiency has remained a major area of focus over the years. This article purports to review progress made thus far in the induction of gynogenic haploids in onion, and challenges/opportunities associated with it.

Keywords

Onion, Allium cepa, Gynogenesis, Haploid, Chromosome Doubling.

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M. Kaur ¹, A. S. Dhatt ¹, A. S. Sidhu ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Vegetable Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141004, IN
2 ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hessaraghatta Lake Post, Bengaluru – 560 089, IN

Abstract

The present investigation reports effects of disinfectants on culture contamination, seed germination and seedling growth in eggplant. Mercuric chloride hampers seed germination when seeds are treated with 0.1% solution above 2 min duration and lesser durations are not helpful in controlling in vitro contamination. The highest seed germination (89.97%) was recorded with 50% commercial bleach for 20 min in the genotype BL-3, followed by BR-16 (88.53%), BR-14 (86.19%), BL-5 (86.16%) and BSR-23 (85.57%). However, least number of seeds germinated in BR-18 (10.94%), BSR-25 (13.27%) and BL-7 (18.62%) when disinfected with 75% commercial bleach for 25min. Overall results revealed that 50% commercial bleach concentration (73.76%) was better than 75% (36.85%), and 20 min duration (60.82%) was better than 25 min (49.80%) for seed disinfection. Among the varieties, BL-3 was at the top (68.85%) and BR-18 at the lowest (34.16%) edge for per cent seed germination. Seedling growth (cm) with use of commercial bleach was quite satisfactory compared to disinfection with HgCl₂, where, 50% commercial bleach favored a good stand of plant lets even after 10 days, showing a healthy ischolar_main (3cm), hypocotyl (5cm) and cotyledons (1.5cm).

Keywords

Seed Germination, Seedling Growth, Culture Contamination, Bleach, Mercuric Chloride, Sodium Hypochlorite.

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J. S. Khosa ¹, A. S. Dhatt ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Vegetable Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana - 141 004, IN

Abstract

A study on genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance was carried out in bulb onion for 13 traits using 43 accessions. The range of variation was highest for bolting (0 to 51.30%), followed by days to maturity (110 to 155 days) and bulb weight (44 to 87.03g). Values for phenotypic coefficient of variation were higher than corresponding genotypic coefficient of variation for all the characters studied. Higher heritability estimates were obtained for plant height, leaf length, days to maturity, number of scales per bulb, polar diameter, equatorial diameter and TSS. Bolting, bulb weight, neck-to-bulb ratio and the lachrymatory factor showed moderate heritability, while, lowest values were observed for leaf girth and number of leaves per plant. Genetic advance varied from 0.06 to 21.82 for leaf girth and bolting, respectively.

Keywords

Bulb Onion, Variance, PCV, GCV, Heritability, Genetic Advance.

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Bharat Bhushan ¹, A. S. Sidhu ¹, A. S. Dhatt ¹, Ajay Kumar ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Vegetable Crops, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141 004, IN

Abstract

The experimental material in brinjal (eggplant) comprised 19 parents (15 lines + 4 testers), 60 F₁ crosses and two standard checks (BH-1 and BH-2). This was grown in Randomized Block Design, with three replications. Lines vs. testers showed significance for all characters except plant height, plant spread, number of primary branches, dry matter, total sugars and total phenol. Analysis for parents vs. hybrids showed significance for all the characters except average fruit weight, number of fruits per plant, plant spread and number of primary branches. Analysis of Variance for combining ability revealed mean squares due to lines and testers were significant for all the characters except plant height, plant spread, number of primary branches, total sugars, total phenol and content of anthocyanins. The ratio of variance due to specific combining ability and general combining ability (σ²SCA: σ²GCA) was greater than unity, indicating non-additive genetic control for all traits except plant spread and total phenols. Among the females, Punjab Barsati, PBR-91-1, RCMBL-1-1, BSR-11; and among the males, BB-93-C and U-8-61-3 were best general combiners for yield and yield components. Punjab Barsati was the best combiner for days to 50% flowering, days to first fruit harvest, number of fruits per plant and number of primary branches. The cross JBR-3-16 × PB-64 manifested best SCA effects for days to 50% flowering; PBR-91-1JBSR-98-2 for average fruit weight; BSR-11 × PB-64 for fruit length; BSR-11× U-8-61-3 for fruit girth, and the cross HABL-1 × JBSR-98-2 for yield per plant and per hectare.

Keywords

Brinjal, General Combining Ability, Specific Combining Ability, Additive Gene Action, Crosses.

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