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Little is known about rate of photosynthesis, transpiration, stomatal conductance, intrinsic water use efficiency, endogenous phytohormones (Gibberellic acid and Indole acetic acid) concomitant with leaf chlorophyll content during flowering and fruiting stages in pomegranate. As a result, a study was conducted to determine the function of various chemicals, such as Nitrobenzene (NB) at 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 ml plant-1, Cycocel (CCC) at 500, 1000, and 1500 ppm plant-1, Uracil 25 and 50 ppm plant-1, CCC1000 ppm + Uracil 25 ppm plant-1, CCC 1500 ppm + Uracil 50 ppm plant-1, along with control at ICAR - Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bengaluru, during the flowering and fruit set stages during two seasons, namely ambe bahar (January-February 2016) and hastha bahar (September-October 2016-17). Applications of Uracil 50 ppm plant-1, Uracil 25 ppm plant-1 and nitrobenzene 1.5 ml plant-1 at flowering stage resulted in highest rate of photosynthesis (16.48 µmol m-2 s-1), transpiration (7.69 mmol m-2 s-1) and stomatal conductance (0.44 mol m-2 s-1). Foliar spray of Nitrobenzene 1.5 ml plant-1, cycocel 1000 ppm plant-1 + Uracil 25 ppm plant-1 in conjunction with application of nitrobenzene 1.0 ml plant-1 registered highest rate of photosynthesis (12.55 µmol m-2 s-1), transpiration (6.19 mmol m-2 s-1) and stomatal conductance (0.19 mol m-2 s-1) at fruit set stage. Application of Uracil 50 ppm plant-1 resulted in higher levels of endogenous IAA content (394.3 ng g-1 FW and 885.3 ng g-1 FW), lower levels of GA3 content (110.7 ng g-1 FW and 144.0 ng g-1 FW), and highest total chlorophyll content (3.14 mg g-1 and 1.99 mg g-1) in the leaves at both flowering and fruit set stages. With application of cycocel 1500 ppm plant-1 at flowering and fruit set stages, highest photosynthetic rate (17.67 µmol m-2 s-1 and 15.71 µmol m-2 s-1), transpiration rate (7.68 mmol m-2 s-1 and 6.13 mmol m-2 s-1) and higher levels of endogenous IAA (946.7 ng g-1 FW and 633.0 ng g-1 FW) were registered respectively. Following application of cycocel 1500 ppm plant-1 and 500 ppm plant-1 at both flowering and fruit set stages, lower endogenous GA3 (163.3 ng g-1 FW and 276.0 ng g-1 FW) were observed. At flowering stage, cycocel 1000 ppm plant-1 + Uracil 25 ppm plant-1 recorded the highest total chlorophyll content (2.35 mg g-1). During flowering period, cycocel 1500 ppm plant-1 application resulted in the highest stomatal conductance (0.57 mol m-2 s-1). Application of cycocel 1500 ppm plant-1 + Uracil 50 ppm plant-1 resulted in the highest stomatal conductance (0.38 mol m-2 s-1) at fruit set stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of different plant growth regulators on flowering, fruiting, yield, and quality of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cv. Bhagwa was studied in a field trial at ICAR - Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bengaluru, during two seasons, namely ambe bahar (January-February) 2016 and hastha bahar (September-October) 2016-17. Nitrobenzene (NB) 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 ml plant-1, Cycocel (CCC) 500, 1000, and 1500 ppm plant-1, Uracil 25 and 50 ppm plant-1, CCC 1000 ppm + Uracil 25 ppm plant-1, CCC 1500 ppm + Uracil 50 ppm plant-1, and Control were among the eleven treatments studied. The application of uracil 50 ppm plant-1 resulted in a higher number of hermaphrodite flowers plant- 1 (264.7), number of fruits plant-1 (154.0), and fruit yield (27.1 kg/plant). Fruit weight (197.6 g), fruit length (6.64 cm), total aril weight (113.63 g), 100 aril weight (27.18 g), fruit juice weight (101.94 g), TSS content (19.96 OB), fruit anthocyanin content (6.46 mg 100 g) and low titrable acidity (0.41 percent) were recorded when CCC 1000 ppm + Uracil 25 ppm plant-1 was applied. During ambe bahar, the highest fruit width (6.90 cm) and volume (162.7 ml) were observed with CCC 1000 ppm and 1500 ppm plant-1, respectively. During hastha bahar, CCC 1500 ppm plant-1 resulted in a higher number of hermaphrodite flowers (287.8), the highest percentage of fruit set (86.10), the highest number of fruits plant-1 (156.66), the highest fruit yield (54.53 kg plant-1), the highest fruit weight (348.32 g), the longest fruit length (8.53 cm), and the largest fruit volume (8.53 cm) (33.93 ml), total aril weight (224.01 g), 100 aril weight (35.09 g), fruit juice weight (119.40 g) and TSS content (16.00 OB). A foliar spray of nitrobenzene 1.5 ml plant-1 compounded the high fruit anthocyanin content (6.47 mg 100g-1). As a result of the research, it can be concluded that CCC 1000 ppm + Uracil 25 ppm plant-1and CCC 1500 ppm plant-1were the most effective treatments for improving floral characters, fruiting, yield, and quality in pomegranate cv. Bhagwa during both seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field trail was conducted at ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru to assess the effect of different chemicals (Nitrobenzene @ 1.0 ml, 1.5 ml and 2.0 ml/litre, Cycocel @ 500 ppm, 1000 ppm and 1500 ppm, Uracil @ 25 ppm and 50 ppm, Cycocel @ 1000 ppm + Uracil @ 25 ppm and Cycocel @ 1500 ppm + Uracil @ 50 ppm) on flower induction, fruiting and yield parameters in tissue cultured plant propagules of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cv. 'Bhagwa' during 2016-17 at ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru. The foliar application of Cycocel @ 1500 ppm gave a significantly increased number of hermaphrodite flowers (287.84) and intermediate flowers (254.14) per plant, thereby increasing the percentage of fruit setting (86.10 %) and number of fruits (156.66) per plant. Thus fruit yield (54.53 kg/plant and 21.81 tonnes/ha), fruit weight (348.32 g), fruit length (8.53 cm) and fruit volume (333.93 ml) increased significantly. Consequently, foliar application of Cycocel @ 1500 ppm led to a significant reduction in number of male flowers (219.70) produced per plant. However, fruit width was non-significant among treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study highlights the importance of herbivore induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) in attracting the cetoniid beetles, Protaetia alboguttata (Vigors) to ripe conspecific damaged Carissa carandas L.fruits. Olfactometer assays revealed that volatiles from damaged fruits are significantly attractive to the adult beetles of P. alboguttata. Gas chromatography electroantenno-detection studies revealed that presence of a-copaene and carvacryl acetate in the damaged C. carandas fruits that might be involved in guiding the adult P. alboguttata beetles to their host plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field experiment on effectiveness of different biorational insecticides against mealybug (Maconellicoccus hirsutus Green) and spiralling whitefly (Aleurodicus disperses Russel) and their safety to natural enemies in guava were carried out at Experimental Farm, Division of Entomology and Nematology, IIHR, Bangalore, India during 2015-16. All the treatments were significantly superior over untreated check. Results indicated that the maximum reduction of mealybug population was recorded in the treatment of organic salt 30 WS @ 5 ml/l (2.32 mealy bugs/three shoots) followed by spinosad 45 SC @ 0.2 ml/l (2.45 mealy bugs/three shoots) after first and second spray respectively. Whereas less population of spiralling whitefly was recorded in spinosad treated plot (2.06 spiralling whiteflies/three leaves). Safety of natural enemy's concern dimethoate 30 EC @1.6 ml/l, azadirachtin 10000 ppm @1 ml/l and Neem soap @ 10 g/l were found to be more harmful to coccinellid beetles and recorded very less beetle population, while Organic salt 30 WS @ 4 ml/l, L. lecanii @ 2 g/l and spinosad 45 SC @ 0.2 ml/l were the safest chemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]