Informatics Publishing Limited

S. Karthikeyan ¹, M. Jawaharlal ², D. Dhinesh ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore T.N., IN
2 Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore T.N., IN

Abstract

The experiment on the optimization of planting stage and pinching level in carnation was carried out with the different stages of day's old ischolar_mained cuttings and pinching level. The experimental combinations of the study with different days of ischolar_mained cuttings and single pinching at three different nodal point resulted in the optimizing the days and pinching level in carnation. This will directly have an impact on the ultimate productivity of the crop. The treatment T8 with 30 day old ischolar_mained cuttings + single pinch at the 5th node proved to be the best in terms of number of flowers per plant (6.00, 8.30 and 5.40) and flower yield per sq.m. area (216.00, 298.80 and 194.40). The vegetative characters plant height, number of leaves per plant and laterals per plant, internodal length, quality characters viz., length and girth of flower stalk, flower yield parameters and physiological characters all of which tends to increase in the overall production and quality of flower.

Keywords

Carnation, Planting Stage, Single Pinching, Nodal Level

Full Text

     

M. Jawaharlal ¹, M. Visalakshi ¹, S. Cintu ¹, M. Ganga ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore – 641003, IN

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, during 2009-2010 to standardize processing techniques for dried flower production. Foliage of silver oak (Grevillea robusta), thuja (Thuja orientalis) and camellia (Camellia reticulata) was best preserved by glycerinization; leaves were soft and pliable, with lowest moisture and highest overall acceptability. In the case of fully-opened flowers in button-type chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum grandiflorum), gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii) and plumeria (Plumeria alba), a combination of sand and silica gel, and microwave-oven embedded method was found to be suitable for drying, with high overall acceptability. Dried pods of jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia) and castanospermum (Castanospermum australe) were fully bleached by soaking overnight in 10% sodium hydroxide and subsequent treatment with 2% sodium hydroxide + 2.5% sodium silicate + 35% hydrogen peroxide. Bleached pods were given dye treatments where acrylic dyes showed good dyeing consistency, light fastness, wash fastness and rubbing fastness.

Keywords

Dry Flowers, Glycerinization, Desiccants, Bleaching, Dyeing.

Full Text

   

M. Jawaharlal ¹, S. P. Thamaraiselvi ¹, M. Ganga ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, Horticultural College and Research Institute, TamilNadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore – 641 003, IN

Abstract

A study was conducted to standardize packaging technology for export of jasmine flowers. Experiments were laid out in FCRD in three replications, with 12 chemical treatments, and packing with unit packing boxes and thermocol boxes under gel-ice cold condition. Effects of various chemical treatments and their interaction with packaging were studied and observations were recorded on visual quality (freshness index, flower-opening index, colour retention index and fragrance score) of flowers and physiological parameters associated with post harvest quality of flowers. Export suitability of the package was also studied and Cost:Benefit ratio (CBR) worked out. Chemical treatment of flowers with 4% boric acid, packing in aluminum-foil lined boxes and further packaging in thermocol boxes under gel-ice cold condition was found to be significantly superior to Control, and recorded a shelf life of 42.88h. This package also recorded maximum freshness index (70 to 90%), minimum flower-opening index (10.5 to 50%) and maximum colour retention index (77.77 to 88.88%) of flowers. CBR was 1:2.5.

Keywords

Jasmine Flowers, J. sambac, Chemical Treatment, Packing, Packaging, Export Suitability.

Full Text

   

R. Chitra ¹, K. Rajamani ², M. Jawaharlal ²

Affiliations
1 Agricultural Research Station, TNAU, Bhavanisagar, Tamil Nadu, IN
2 Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641 003, IN

Abstract

Glory lily (Gloriosa superba L.) is one of the major medicinal plants of India cultivated for its seeds which are exported to developed countries for pharmaceutical use. Identifying germplasm is an important component for efficient and effective management of plant genetic resources. Variability for qualitative and quantitative traits was investigated in 18 genotypes of G. superba collected from different regions of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. For qualitative traits, these genotypes were subjected to diversity analysis based on NBPGR descriptors. Fourteen qualitative and twenty quantitative traits of G. superba were evaluated to assess morphological variations among the genotypes collected. In qualitative traits, a large number of genotypes of the 18 clustered together, at 77% similarity in two clusters. Dendrogram constructed on the basis of twenty quantitative traits for the same set of genotypes did not reveal any clear pattern in grouping, and the genotypes were grouped into seven different clusters. Cluster analysis based on qualitative and quantitative traits revealed a different group of genotypes for each of the data-set. This clearly indicated that less variation existed between genotypes with respect to morphological traits. These easily observable morphological traits are useful tools for preliminary evaluation, because, they offer a fast and reliable approach for assessing extent of diversity in G. superba genotypes.

Keywords

Gloriosa superba, Morphological Traits, Cluster Analysis.

Full Text

   

S. Karthikeyan ¹, M. Jawaharlal ²

Affiliations
1 Horticultural Research Station, Ooty (T.N.), IN
2 Horticultural College and Research Institute for Women, Trichy (T.N.), IN

Abstract

Carnation cultivation is being carried out under protected environmental conditions in the hilly regions of Tamil Nadu. Farmyard manure, vermicompost, cocopeat constituted the media components in the consortium. The components were added based on the ratio of carbon-nitrogen level, as two levels with 20 kg and 30 kg of consortia for 1 sq.m of area. The media consortia components were added as per the treatment schedules after bed preparation. The biofertilizers Azospirillum, phosphobacteria, VAM and biocontrol agents Trichoderma viridae, Pseudomonas fluorescens were added each @ 20 g/m² at bimonthly intervals except control. The beds added with consortia at the ratio of 10:1:1 (30 kg of consortia) with 25 kg of farmyard manure, 2.5 kg of vermicompost, 2.5 kg of cocopeat with biofertilizers Azospirillum, phosphobacteria, VAM and biocontrol agents Trichoderma viridae, Pseudomonas fluorescens @ 20 g/m2 at bimonthly intervals proved best in terms of yield and quality when compared to control. Yield of carnation flowers increased with 249.48, 352.80, 201.60 flowers/m² over control with 180.00, 234.00, 180.00 flowers/m² during I^st, II^nd and III^rd flush of flowering and stalk length with 77.30 73.20, 71.50 cm over control with 60.00, 58.50, 54.00 cm during I^st, II^nd and III^rd flush of flowering. The media consortia helps in retaining the soil compactness with respect to soil moisture, aeration porosity and the plant growth promoting organisms helps in mobilizing the nutrients and crop stand till the cropping period.

Keywords

Carnation, Growing Media Consortia, Biofertilizers, Biocontrol Agents.

Full Text

     

P. Ranchana ¹, M. Kannan ², M. Jawaharlal ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore (T.N), IN
2 Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore (T.N), IN

Abstract

Genetic variability studies in tuberose were carried out among 5 varieties for 12 characters at Botanical gardens, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore during the year 2011-2013. In genotypic and phenotypic levels, weight of florets per spike exhibited positive relationship with yield of florets per plot (4 × 1 m) (0.965) and number of spikes per m² (0.534). Positive and significant association was also observed for number of spikes/ m² with yield of florets per plot (4 × 1 m) (0.565). The maximum positive direct effect on number of spikes per m² was contributed by weight of florets per spike (0.6378) followed by number of leaves per plant (0.5782), flowering duration (0.3756), rachis length (0.2779), days taken for sprouting of bulb (0.2580), length of the floret (0.2277) and days to spike emergence (0.0213). Hence, the characters viz., weight of florets per spike, number of leaves per plant, flowering duration, rachis length, days taken for sprouting of bulb, length of the floret and days to spike emergence had significant positive correlation co-efficients and positive direct effects on yield which formed reliable indices for selection of genotypes for yield.

Keywords

Tuberose, Double Types, Correlation, Path Analysis.

Full Text