Vegetable cultivation in Mizoram: status, issues and sustainable approaches.

Vegetable cultivation in Mizoram: status, issues and sustainable approaches.

Singh B K, Ramakrishna Y, Verma V K and Singh S B

 Indian Journal of Hill Farming 26 (1): 1-7, 2013

E-mail: bksinghkushinagar@yahoo.co.in

Abstract

The terrains of Lushai hills (Mizoram) are endowed with rich genetic bio-diversity of various vegetables (Sechium edule, Cucurbita moschata, Benincasa hispida, Cucumis sativus, Momordica spp., Trichosanthes spp.,  Phaseolus vulgaris, Vigna unguiculata, Dolichus purpureous, Vigna umbellata, Parkia roxburghii, Psophocarpous tetragonolobus, Brassica juncea var. rugosa, Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra, Cyphomandra betacea, Zingiber officinale, Curcuma spp., Colocasia spp., Solanum melongena, Solanum gilo, Solanum macrocarpon, Capsicum annum, Capsicum frutescens and Capsicum chinense) which could be used to improve yield potential, quality and tolerance to stresses. Moreover, the use of hybrids/ high yielding varieties, access to knowledge and technologies, interactive demonstrations, better input delivery systems, good communication, and proper utilization of available resources would be very useful in enhancing the vegetables’ productivity, and ensuring the food and nutritional security to the tribal community.

Genetic variability, inheritance and correlation for mineral contents in cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.).

Genetic variability, inheritance and correlation for mineral contents in cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.).

Singh B K, Sharma S R and Singh B

Journal of Horticultural Research 21 (1): 91-97, 2013

E-mail: bksinghkushinagar@yahoo.co.in

Abstract

Brassica vegetables are important sources of dietary minerals. However, information on the inher-itance and correlation for content of mineral elements such as iron, zinc, copper, manganese, potassium, and calcium in cabbage, which is essential if the quality of this vegetable is to be improved through breeding, is not available. Therefore, the experiment was set up with seventy-one cabbage genotypes including cultivars, germplasm, and F1 hybrids, grown in field. Mineral composition of the genotypes tested differed highly significantly indicating the presence of adequate amount of variability. A high heritability (>80%) accompanied by high genetic advance as percentage of mean (>40%) for uptake and accumulation of Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn and Ca indicates the predominance of additive gene, which could be improved by hybridization followed by selection breeding approach. Nevertheless, heterosis breeding would be an imperative in increasing the K content in cabbage heads as indicated by non-additive gene action for K accumulation having high heritability (>80%) and low genetic advance as percentage of mean (<30%). Moreover, both additive and non-additive genes were responsible for individual head weight. A positive correlation for Fe, Zn and Mn contents with other minerals will help in simultaneous selection of mineral elements. Nevertheless, major yield contributing ‘head weight’ was negatively correlated with minerals content and emphasized the selection of smaller head size to maintain the higher mineral content in tissues of cabbage heads. Hence, assessing the heritability, inheritance and correlation for minerals would be useful in the developing mineral-rich and productive genotypes.

Hermaphrodite inbreds with better combining ability improve antioxidant properties in ridge gourd [Luffa acutangula (Roxb.) L.].

Hermaphrodite inbreds with better combining ability improve antioxidant properties in ridge gourd [Luffa acutangula (Roxb.) L.].

Karmakar P, Munshi A D, Behera T K, Kumar R, Kaur C and Singh B K

Euphytica 191 (1): 75-84, 2013

E-mail: bksinghkushinagar@yahoo.co.in

Abstract

An experiment was conducted with the objectives to evaluate the breeding potential of hermaphrodite lines and to suggest suitable breeding approaches following half-diallel mating design for genetic improvement of antioxidant content and activity in ridge gourd [Luffa acutangula (Roxb.) L.] fruits. Twenty-eight genotypes, including seven parental lines and 21 crosses, were grown in randomized block design with three replications for fruit sample collection. The highly significant mean squares due to parents, hybrids and parents vs. hybrids; and GCA and SCA for yield and antioxidants (ascorbic acid, total carotenoids, total phenolics, DPPH-RSA, ABTS-RSA and CUPRAC assay) indicate the existence of abundant genetic variation. The per se performance and combining ability of hermaphrodite parents (Satputia Long and Satputia Small) and hybrids of  “monoecious × hermaphrodite” cross were found to be superior for antioxidants along with yield potential. The cross combinations with superior per se performance coupled with high SCA estimates and having at least one hermaphrodite parent would be useful for concentrating desirable alleles to improve the antioxidants and yield simultaneously. Thus, hermaphrodite lines in combination with monoecious counterpart have enormous potential to breed “genotypes for higher antioxidants” without compromising yield in ridge gourd.

Genetic combining ability for concentration of mineral elements in cabbage head (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.)

Genetic combining ability for concentration of mineral elements in cabbage head (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.)

B K Singh, S R Sharma, and B Singh

Euphytica 184: 265-273, 2012

E-mail: bksinghkushinagar@yahoo.co.in

Abstract

Brassica vegetables are important source of dietary nutrition. However, information on the genetic combining ability of mineral elements such as iron, zinc, copper, manganese, potassium and calcium or their types of genetic effects (i.e. additive or non-additive) is scarce but important as it influences the selection of parents and breeding approaches to be adopted for improvement of nutritional quality of cabbage. Therefore, an attempt was made to estimate combining ability in a line × tester (5 × 11) mating design for minerals. Significant mean square for line × tester interaction was observed for all minerals under study indicating the prevalence of non-additive variance; while less than unity value of σ²_gca /σ²_sca ratio for iron, zinc, manganese, potassium and calcium accumulation indicate predominance of non-additive gene action. The parents 83-2, Pride of Asia, Pusa Mukta, Red Cabbage and MR-1 were found good general combiners for four mineral elements. The general combining ability effects of the parents for various minerals revealed that none of the parents excelled for all the minerals suggesting the need for multiple crossing approaches. The cross 83-1 × AC-1019 (Poor × Poor general combiner) exhibits desirable significant specific combining ability effects for all six minerals might be due to presence of high magnitude of non-additive especially complementary epistatic effects which can be utilize for commercial exploitation of heterosis. This study shows clearly that specific combining ability is more important than general combining ability for predicting hybrid combinations for high mineral content in cabbage head.

Improvement of faba bean (Vicia faba L.).

Faba bean (Vicia faba L.): A potential leguminous crop of India (Eds. AK Singh and BP Bhatt). Jain Brother Publishing House, New Delhi, pp 119-140.

Exploring underutilized chow-chow in Mizoram

B K Singh, K A Pathak and S V Ngachan

Indian Horticulture 57 (5): 3-5, 2012

E-mail: bksinghkushinagar@yahoo.co.in

Abstract

The chow-chow, a member of Cucurbitaceous family, is most popular vegetables in Mizoram. It is cultivated for its fruits, tender shoots, young leaves and tuberous roots. These economic parts are widely available in markets for almost 10 months in a year. The high nutritional and low-calorific value of chow-chow fruits make it suitable for hospital diets where the fruits can be used to supplement potatoes for diabetic patients. Mostly it is being cultivated on hilly terrain and vines are trained on permanent bower system, and even the hills having >100 % slope, where cultivation is not possible, is also under chow-chow cultivation. Its cultivation promotes permanent agriculture, reduces runoff and soil erosion, and conserves the natural resources. Chow-chow is a promising vegetable crop. It has good potential in Mizoram. The attractive fruits of chow-chow are waiting for their commercial exploitation for socio-economic upliftment of the people.

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Effect of transplanting dates on plant growth, yield and quality traits of cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.) cultivars

B K Singh, K A Pathak, K A Sharma and Manju Thapa

Indian Journal of Hill Farming 23 (2): 1-5, 2010

E-mail: bksinghkushinagar@yahoo.co.in

Abstract

A field experiment was under taken with objective to examine the effects of different transplanting time on growth, yield and quality of various cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.) varieties and hybrids in mild-tropical climate of Mizoram. All the parameters under study were significantly affected by both cultivars and transplanting dates. Maximum yield potential of various cultivars was realised by transplanting of cabbage seedlings on 1^st December. The most compact head was observed for INDAM-1299 followed by Golden Acre, NS-160, KGMR-1 and lowest in Ryozeki. The head compactness is very important parameter which is directly associated with the transportability, marketability, shelf-life and consumers’ preference. The cultivars KGMR-1 and Golden Acre (both bred by IARI Regional Station, Katrain, Himachal Pradesh) showed better head yield potential, while KGMR-1 and Ryozeki produced higher plant biomass which could be use during summer and rainy seasons especially for leaf production.

Key words: Cabbage, cultivars, date of transplanting, yield, Mizoram