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Epicotyl grafting is considered as the most efficient grafting technique in mango (Mangifera indica L.) and it is also well documented for timely seedling production of desired varieties. Therefore, the present study was perceived to assess the success and survival rate of epicotyl grafting. The study was conducted using a container-based setup and involved two factors: three varieties (Langra, Sindhri, and Chaunsa) and four different rootstock ages (20, 30, 40, and 50 days). The experiment was carried out in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 36 treatment combinations distributed equally in three replications. The findings revealed that all the studied traits were significantly affected by varieties and rootstock ages. It was further noted that Chaunsa variety showed best results for most of the studied traits except days to bud break and first flush while 50 days old rootstock demonstrated satisfying results for most of the parameters followed by 40 days old rootstock while the lowest results for all the traits were found in 20 days old rootstock except days to bud break and first flush. It is concluded that well established rootstock of 50 days and Chaunsa variety were found best for epicotyl grafting in mango. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ipil Ipil (Leucaena leucocephala) often called the lead tree, is a resilient and fast-growing plant native to Mexico and Central America. It's highly valued for its versatility, serving as animal fodder, a renewable source of timber, and for its ability to enhance soil fertility through nitrogen fixation. This species, with its distinctive foliage and flowers, plays a crucial role in sustainable agriculture an experiment was conducted during the year 2020 to examine the comparative effect of hydro and halopriming on seed germination and seedling growth of Ipil Ipil. The seeds of Ipil Ipil were primed in various solutions for 30 hours. The seeds were soaked in priming solutions viz. distilled water, lukewarm water and in NaCl solution @ 1% and 2%. The unprimed seeds were taken control. The results revealed that all the observed parameters studied in the present study were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by various seed priming treatments. The results of seed priming depict that seed germination (90.00%), germination index (0.43), germination time (5.22 days) and seedling vigor index (1498.0) were observed better in response to the lukewarm water. While the seeds primed with NaCl @ 1% had better results for fresh biomass of shoot (5.58 g), root (1.44 g), dry biomass of shoot (1.57 g) and root (0.29 g). Quality index of the seedlings and sturdiness quotient had better result from NaCl treatment. The quality of the seedlings was measured in terms of sturdiness quotient, quality index of the seedlings and leakage of the electrolytes. The sturdiness quotient (0.98), quality index of the seedling (24.85) was also better in response to the NaCl seed priming @ 1%. The only leakage of the electrolytes had no significant of seed priming. In conclusion, lukewarm water significantly impacted seed germination, while NaCl @ 1% mainly influenced seedling growth parameters. This study emphasizes the crucial role of seed priming in enhancing Ipil Ipil seedling quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the quality rootstock which impart better stionic establishment of the mango seedlings, we studied the comparative effect of scion and rootstock using three mango scion varieties (Sindhri, Chaunsa and Neelum) grafted on three rootstocks i.e. Ratam, Pado and Sindhri. Parameters including seed germination (%), seedling height (cm), leaves seedling rootstock-1, seedling vigor index (SVI), fresh biomass of shoot and roots (g), dry biomass of shoot and roots (g), chlorophyll content (rg), rootstock diameter (mm), scion diameter (mm), stionic ratio, leaves graft-1 and sturdiness quotient were studied. Results showed the best seed germination (88.33%), seedling vigor index (5158.74), and sturdiness quotient (3.89) in Pado rootstock. However maximum fresh biomass of shoot (20.67 g), fresh biomass of roots (16.2 g), dry biomass of shoot (12.65 g), dry biomass of roots (8.33 g) and scion diameter of the rootstocks were observed in Sindhri rootstocks. Regarding grafting data, the best stionic ratio (0.93) was observed from the scion and rootstock combination of Neelum and Pado rootstock. It was concluded that Pado rootstock performed better in terms of seedling rootstock and for successful stionic establishment of the mango seedlings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The non-availability of productive seedling rootstocks in nurseries and its dissemination within the area has been one of main constraints for collapse of the mango industry. In this regard container based experiment was conducted in 2015-2016. The seeds of mango fruits were obtained and divided into two lots i.e. corticated and decorticated followed by seed priming. The distilled water for hydropriming, gibberellic acid (GA3) for hormonal and solo plant (NPK fertilizer) for nutripriming was used for seed priming. The unprimed seeds were treated as control. The soil had EC of (0.38 dSm-1), pH (7.46), organic matter (0.89%), nitrogen (0.053 mg kg-1), phosphorus (5.61 mg kg-1), potassium (209 mg kg-1), calcium (2713 mg kg-1) and magnesium (1243 mg kg-1). The data reveals that maximum mean seed germination (77.42%) was observed in 18.50 days in response to the hormonal primed seeds. Further hormonal primed seeds produced better results for germination index (11.65%), seedling vigor index (833.1), seedling height (33.82 cm) and stem diameter (9.66 mm) and chlorophyll content (48.18 rg) while leaf nitrogen (1.16%), phosphorus (0.14%), potassium (0.61%), calcium (1.89%) and magnesium (0.27%) content was observed maximum in response to the nutripriming. To compare corticated and decorticated seeds, decorticated seeds produced better results for seed germination (76.81%), germination index (11.97), seedling vigor index (3462.9), nitrogen (1.11%), phosphorus (0.14%), potassium (0.58%), calcium (1.81%) and magnesium (0.26%). It is concluded that decorticated seeds when primed with GA3 produced better results for germination and seedling growth while nutrient content was well above or close the critical limits in nutriprimed seeds. This study suggests that the priming of the decorticated mango seeds is suitable to produce productive seedling rootstocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low soil P levels pose major limitation in realizing optimal growth and development of grain legumes and yet the suitable P levels of common chickpea cultivars (i.e. Black gram and Benazir) are not on the record. Effect of various P application levels (0, 25, 50 and 75 kg P2O5 ha-1) on two chickpea cultivars was evaluated in a field study using randomized complete block design. All the treatments received recommended dose of N and K2O (each at 30 kg ha-1) in the form of urea and SOP, respectively. Application of P resulted in significant increase in plant height (102.4 cm), number of branches (31.1 plant-1) and grain yield (1058 kg ha-1), shoot P (0.49%), P uptake (5.18 kg ha-1) and protein content (17.4%) over control. Increasing the P levels from 50 to 75 kg P2O5 ha-1 did not have any significant effect on number of branches (30.4 to 31.1 plant-1). As for cultivars, a significant effect was observed for grain yield (p<0.06) and P uptake (p<0.001) and the differences were prominent when the P level was increased from 50 to 75 kg P2O5 ha-1. The P in shoot (0.50%) and plant uptake (5.71 kg ha-1) were significantly affected by the interaction between P fertilizer and the cultivars in Benazir at the P level of 75 kg P2O5 ha-1. The shoot P content gave a positive relationship with grain yield (R² 0.67) and protein content (R2 0.73) and grain yield with P uptake (R2 0.89). Growth, yield, shoot P, P uptake and protein content of chickpea cultivars enhanced with phosphorus levels with highest at 75 kg P2O5 ha-1. Chickpea cultivar Benazir responded better with regard to grain yield and P uptake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thirty four local Ber varieties were evaluated at Horticultural Research Institute AARI, Faisalabad, Horticultural Research Station Bahawalpur (Punjab) and Jujube Research Station, Tandojam (Sindh). Traits viz. total period of blooming (dates), peak period of blooming (dates), total period of fruit set (dates), peak period of fruit set (dates), total period of fruit harvest (dates), peak period of fruit harvest (dates), total flowering days, peak flowering days, total fruit setting days, peak frui t setting days, total harvesting days and peak harvesting days were studied. The results revealed significant differences in parameters studied except total period of blooming under Tandojam, Sindh conditions. Varieties were classified as early, mid and late season for both provinces. Local varieties had potential for further manipulation in terms of variety improvement to attract growers for extensive ber cultivations under changing global climatic scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research was conducted at the Institute of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Crop Production, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Sindh, Pakistan during the year 2015 to study physico-chemical and sensorial qualities of value added banana products. In this regard unripe fruits of Cavendish variety of banana were collected from local banana orchard of Tandojam and processed for making banana flour. Banana flour was used to make different products viz. dough, chapati and banana kheer. Chappati was also explored by adding rice and basin flour. Unripe banana fruit, banana flour and their products were analysed for pH, titratable acidity, moisture (%), TSS (Brix) and vitamin C. The results showed that physico-chemical and sensorial qualities of banana flour and their products were significantly affected by value added banana products. Maximum pH (7.68) and TSS (26.30 brix) were recorded from banana kheer. However, ash (0.8260) and vitamin C (18.35) remained highest in chapatti that was made by adding banana and rice flours. However, results of vitamin C (18.3) in chapatti were nonsignificant with those obtained from unripe banana fruit (17.54) and banana kheer (15.79). Unripe banana fruits had maximum moisture (72.08%) in comparison to banana products. Minimum pH (6.79) and titratable acidity (0.02) were observed in unripe banana fruit, while banana flour had minimum moisture (7.47%) and ash (0.2363%). Minimum vitamin C (12.83) and TSS (5.30) were observed in chapati and banana and basin flour, respectively. It is clear from the results that processing of banana for value added products altered the physico-chemical qualities of banana flour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]