Journal of Horticultural Sciences

S. A. Wani ¹, M. A. A. Siddique ¹, F. U. Khan ¹, Z. A. Qadri ¹, F. A. Khan ², Q. A. H. Dar ¹, S. Ali ¹

Affiliations
1 Division of Floriculture, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar Campus-191121, Srinagar (J&K), IN
2 Division of Post Harvest Technology, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar Campus-191121, Srinagar (J&K), IN

Abstract

Studies were conducted on cut Asiatic Lilium cv. Elite to assess the effectiveness of various floral preservatives as pulsing treatments for delaying senescence and prolonging vase life. Uniform spikes of lilium at bud colour break stage were brought to the laboratory in the morning and placed in 8 different pulsing solutions consisting of sucrose (Suc) 5%, aluminium sulphate (AS) 400 ppm, silver thio-sulphate (STS) 2.0 mM and citric acid (CA) 1000 ppm alone and in combination with sucrose. Distilled water without any chemical served as the control. Among individual treatments, STS 2.0 mM maintained better water relations and flower quality compared to others. STS also showed superiority over other treatments when combined with Suc 5% by providing largest flower size (16.74 cm) with maximum vase life (17.29 days) owing to most-favourable water relations parameters.

Keywords

Lilium, Pulsing Treatment, Vase Life.

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Z. A. Bhat ¹, F. U. Khan ¹

Affiliations
1 Division of Floriculture, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, S.K. University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar – 191 121, IN

Abstract

A study was carried out during 2005 - 2006 at the Division of Floriculture, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, SKUAST-K, Shalimar, to determine the effect of corm size (4.1-4.5, 4.6-5.0 and 5.1-5.5 cm) and spacing (10 x 20, 15 x 20 and 20 x 20 cm) on growth, flowering and corm production in gladiolus cv. White Prosperity. Largersized corms (5.1-5.5 cm) with wider plant spacing (20 x 20 cm) gave the best performance. Number of days taken to spike emergence, plant height, number of leaves plant^-1, spike length, number of florets spike^-1 and diameter of floret were observed to be significantly better with larger-sized corms. Minimum days taken to slipping were also found to be due to larger size of the corms. Number of corms plant^-1, corm weight, diameter of corm, number of cormel plant^-1 and cormels weight plant^-1, in terms of both quality and quantity, showed increasing trend with an increasing corm-size and spacing. Therefore, wider spacing and larger corm size may be recommended for realising better quality and higher production in gladiolus cv. White Prosperity under Kashmir conditions.

Keywords

Gladiolus, Corm Size, Spacing, Vegetative Growth, Flower Quality.

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F. U. Khan ¹, A. Q. Jhon ¹, F. A. Khan ², M. M. Mir ¹

Affiliations
1 Division of Floriculture, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, S.K. University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar Campus, Srinagar-191121 (JandK), IN
2 Plant Physiology Section, Division of Post Harvest Technology, S.K. University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar Campus, Srinagar-191121 (JandK), IN

Abstract

Healthy and uniform bulbs of tulip cv. 'Apeldoorn' were planted in two consecutive growing seasons under polyhouse conditions in FRBD design to study the effect of nutrient management on growth, flowering and bulb production in tulip in the Kashmir valley. Experimental treatments comprised of three levels of nitrogen (0,75 and 150 kg ha^-1) and two levels of phosphorus (0 and 50 kg ha^-1), potassium (0 and 50 kg/ha) and zinc (0 and 5 kg ha^-1). Except for bulb survival, nitrogen @ 75 kg ha^-1 significantly improved all the parameters. However, further increase in dose of nitrogen (150 kg ha^-1) influenced only a few parameters like scape length, wrapper leaf area, vase life and bulblet weight per plant. Application of phosphorus, potassium and zinc also resulted in better growth, flower quality and bulb production. Application of different nutrients caused increased concentration of nutrients in leaf tissue, which resulted in better performance of the plant. Combined application of N, P, K and Zn @ 75, 50, 50 and 5 kg ha^-1, respectively, was found to be the most suitable dose for obtaining better growth, quality flower and bulb production.

Keywords

Tulip, Nutrition, Flowering, Bulb Production, Polyhouse.

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M. M. Mir ¹, A. Q. Jhon ², F. U. Khan ², Nelofar ²

Affiliations
1 Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture, Srinagar – 211007, IN
2 Division of Floriculture, SKUAST-K, Shalimar, Srinagar-191121, IN

Abstract

Ten pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cultivars, namely, Kabuli Kandhari, Chawla, Ganesh, Mridula, Jyoti, G-137, Dholka, Bedana, Kandhari and Local Check were evaluated for different physical and chemical characteristics of fruit at the Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture, Srinagar, during 2004. Fruit weight, diameter and volume was significantly higher in cv. Bedana compared to the rest of the cultivars. Cultivar Kandhari recorded significantly less rind thickness when compared to other cultivars. Cultivar Chawla exhibited less cracking per cent followed by Kandhari. Total soluble solids and total sugars were highest in cv. Kandhari whereas less acidity was recorded in cvs. Ganesh and G-137% acidity was lowest in cv. G-137 (0.41) and highest in cv. Bedana (0.81). Highest ascorbic acid content was found in cv. Kabuli Kandhari. The highest anthocyanin content was observed in cv. Ganesh and lowest in cv. Chawla. Juice content was found to be maximum in Bedana. The lowest anar butterfly attack was observed in cv. Bedana. The data revealed overall superior performance of cv. Bedana and Kandhari with regard to physical and chemical characteristics and these can be recommended for commercial cultivation in the Karewa belt of Kashmir valley.

Keywords

Pomegranate, Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Fruit.

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Nelofar ¹, F. U. Khan ¹, A. Q. Jhon ¹, M. M. Mir ¹

Affiliations
1 Division of Floriculture, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar Campus, Srinagar-191121 (Jammu and Kashmir), IN

Abstract

Experiments were conducted during 2002-03 and 2003-04 to study the influence of storage methods and duration on post harvest quality of cut tulip cv. Cassini. Cut tulips cv. Cassini stored either dry or wet at 4°C for 0,2,4,6 and 8 days showed that days to flower opening was the lowest in those kept under wet storage for 6 and 8 days. Flower opening was better with 0.2 and 4 days of dry or wet storage whereas flowers stored dry for 8 days did not open at all. Flower size and vase life decreased with the increase in storage period. Larger flowers were obtained with dry and wet storage of 0 and 2 days whereas higher vase life was obtained with zero days of wet and dry storage and 4 and 6 days of wet storage.

Keywords

Tulip, Storage, Vase Life.

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F. U. Khan ¹, F. A. Malik ¹, F. A. Khan ², Nelofar ¹

Affiliations
1 Division of Floriculture, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar Campus, Srinagar-191121, IN
2 Plant Physiology Section, Division of Post Harvest Technology, IN

Abstract

An experiment on effect of pre-harvest application of GA₃ and PP₃₃₃ as bulb dip and foliar spray on quality and vase life of cut tulip cv. Cassini was carried out. Healthy scapes of uniform size were cut in a slanting manner at bud colour break stage and placed in conical flasks containing distilled water for vase life studies. Bulb dip in GA₃ (100 ppm) followed by foliar spray of GA₃ (100 ppm) significantly improved overall water uptake, prevented water loss and resulted in maximum water balance. The treatment also exhibited the maximum flower diameter (7.40 cm), scape length (16.26 cm) and vase life (9.33 days). However, the lowest water loss to water uptake ratio was recorded with bulb dip plus foliar spray with 200 ppm GA₃. Data indicated that GA₃ (100 ppm) as bulb dip plus foliar spray proved instrumental in maintaining the quality and vase life of cut tulip as compared to other treatments.

Keywords

Cut Tulip, Quality, Vase Life, Gibberellic Acid, Paclobutrazol.

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