‘Vegetable Science’ is an official publication of Indian Society of Vegetable Science (ISVS), a society dedicated to promoting the research & development of vegetables. The journal plays a crucial role in disseminating knowledge, sharing innovative ideas and fostering collaboration among scientists, academia and experts working in the realm of vegetable crops. The journal ‘Vegetable Science’ covers all aspects of vegetable research & development. Journal title : Vegetable Science Frequency : 2 issues per year NAAS Score : 5.54 Print ISSN : 0970-6585 Online ISSN : 2455-7552 Publisher : Indian Society of Vegetable Science (ISVS) Language : English
Indian Society of Vegetable Science, ICAR-IIVR, Varanasi-221305, UP
Genetic analysis of sponge gourd for morphometric traits and physical sensory test
A total of 32 sponge‑gourd (Luffa cylindrica L.) genotypes were screened for morphometric traits, yield performance, and sensory aroma. About 26 genotypes displayed medium-long fruits (15–25 cm), and 19 genotypes reached harvest within 55 days, demonstrating notable earliness. Yield showed a strong positive correlation with both fruit number and average fruit weight. Genotype × environment interaction was highly significant for yield, underscoring the importance of stability analysis. Eight genotypes (VRSG‑10, VRSG‑18, VRSG‑171, VRSG‑28, VRSG‑68, VRSG‑69, VRSG‑69‑1, and VRSG‑77) exhibited regression coefficients (b = 0 or 1), indicating stable performance across environments. Moreover, Kashi Shreya, VRSG‑195, VRSG‑7‑17, VRSG‑10, and VRSG‑171 achieved the highest yields per hectare, making them promising candidates for cultivation across major Indian agro‑climatic zones. Cluster analysis grouped the 32 genotypes into eight distinct clusters; notably, VRSG‑7‑17 formed a singleton cluster and possessed a distinctive Basmati‑rice-like aroma in leaves, vines, flowers, fruits, and peel, as confirmed by physical‑sensory evaluation of both raw and cooked material. These findings highlight considerable genetic variability and identify stable, high-yielding, and aromatic lines for future breeding and aroma-targeted improvement programs.
Sponge gourd; Correlation, AMMI Stability Analysis; Physical Sensory Test; Aroma.
Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Effect of NPSZnB fertilizer on yield and horticultural traits of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) varieties in Tanqua Milash District of Tigray, Ethiopia
Tomato is the most significant vegetable for domestic use and commercialization, as well as income generation. However, its production is low due to various constraints like poor soil fertility, pests, abiotic factors and lack of knowledge on agronomic management. Hence, the study was implemented with the objectives of assessing the impact of NPSZnB fertilizer application rates on tomato and ascertaining the economic feasibility in the Gereb-giba small-scale irrigation scheme. Twelve treatments were comprised with diverse fertilizer application rates (150, 200 and 250 kg/ha) in combination with varieties of tomatoes (Melkasholla, Melkasalsa and Roma–VF) using Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications in factorial arrangement. The soil texture of the experimental field was classified as clay loam. The results of the analysis of variance indicate that there is a significant difference in the interaction effects of blended fertilizer with tomato varieties based on their agronomic characters. In terms of maturity, when compared to the other treatments, the contribution of NPSZnB to Melkasholla shows a major function for earliness. The highest total fruit yield production (64.11 t/ha) was found from the combination of the Melkasholla variety with the blended fertilizers of 150 kg/ha, followed by 250 kg/ha (58.73 t/ha). According to the cost-benefit analysis, the treatment applied 200 kg/ha blended fertilizer with the variety Roma-VF is generally the most recommended and economically viable for farmers situated in the Gereb Giba area and other similar agroecologies.
Copyright (c) 2025 Kibrom Fisseha, Birhane Girmay, Gebretnsae Gebregzabhier , Shambel Seyum (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Enhancing shelf-life of minimally processed cut carrots: A comparative study of physical, thermal and chemical approaches
Minimal processing is the fastest-growing avenue of the vegetable processing industry, driven by consumers seeking convenience and freshness. Such products have huge demands in hotels, restaurant and cafes (HoReCa) and supermarkets as they enable quick accessibility and availability of fresh-like and convenience-added safe vegetable produce that may also lead to a reduction in food wastage. Minimally processed carrot is a popular segment; under this study, the cut carrots of different genotypes were subjected to different interventions, viz., physical, chemical, thermal and a combination treatment for minimal processing to enhance the shelf life while ensuring safety and quality of cut carrots stored at refrigerated conditions. Physico-chemical, textural and microbiological analyses were done, which indicated that the combined treatment, consisting of thermal treatment, chitosan coating and UV treatment, proved to be effective interventions in maintaining the safe shelf life of VRCAR-134 and Kashi Krisna cut carrots for four days at 10°C storage.
Copyright (c) 2025 Shreya Panwar, Swati Sharma, B. K. Singh, Hare Krishna, S. K. Singh, Anant Bahadur, Rajesh Kumar (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Estimation of inbreeding depression for fruit yield and related attributes in okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench]
Okra, Inbreeding depression, Hybrid, F2 segregating.
Copyright (c) 2025 Khandebharad V. R., R. A. Patil, S. P. Pole (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Morphological description of spine gourd collections in Bundelkhand region of Central India
This study investigates the qualitative morphological and seed-related characteristics of 31 spine gourd (Momordica dioica) genotypes to assess their genetic diversity. The research focused on 17 distinct traits, observing significant variations that can be used for genotype identification and classification. Among the characteristics analysed, notable variations were observed in leaf margin, shape, and colour, as well as in fruit characteristics such as colour, shape, and spine density. Seed traits, such as colour, shape, and seediness, also showed notable diversity. Shannon’s Diversity Index for 17 morphological traits ranged from 0 to 1.250, with leaf margin showing the highest diversity (H’=1.25) and node colour at the attachment of the leaves showing the least (H’=0.239). A qualitative cluster analysis using the UPGMA algorithm grouped the 31 genotypes into two main clusters: Cluster A (5 genotypes) and Cluster B (26 genotypes). Cluster B was further divided into two subgroups, ‘b1’ and ‘b2’. Subgroup ‘b1’ contained one genotype (RLBKD-16), and ‘b2’ contained the remaining 25 genotypes, which were further subdivided into a cluster of one genotype (RLBKD-32) and another of 24 genotypes. The dendrogram effectively illustrates the genetic relationships and diversity among the genotypes, underscoring the value of these traits for selection in breeding programs. These stable, non-environmentally influenced traits are valuable for effective selection in breeding programs aimed at crop improvement, providing a strong basis for future genetic enhancement efforts in spine gourd.
Spine gourd, Genetic diversity, Qualitative traits, Shannon's Diversity Index, Cluster analysis, Seed traits.
Copyright (c) 2025 Dr. Brij Bihari Sharma (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Genetic variability and selection strategies for yield improvement in water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) under upland field conditions
The present study was conducted during 2023 and 2024 to assess the extent of genetic variation and identify promising genotypes for yield and growth-related traits. Over 25 genotypes, including a variety ‘Kashi Manu’, were evaluated under a randomized block design with three replications. The analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences among genotypes for all the studied traits, indicating substantial genetic variability. Wide ranges were recorded for key parameters such as days to 50% germination (2.39–4.56 days), plant height at 30 DAS (43.50–69.90 cm), stem diameter at 30 DAS (6.54–10.76 mm) and leaf biomass yield per plant per month (0.67–1.68 kg). High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was observed for internodal length, stem diameter (30 DAS) and biomass yield traits, suggesting predominance of additive gene action and effectiveness of direct selection. The genotypes VRWS-32, VRWS-28, VRWS-33, VRWS 41-23 and VRWS 42-23 exhibited superior yield performance, comparable to the check variety. These findings indicate ample genetic potential within the evaluated germplasm and emphasize the scope for selection-based improvement to develop high-yielding, upland-adapted water spinach varieties.
Copyright (c) 2025 Rakesh Kumar Dubey (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Characterization of native eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) germplasm of India for economic traits and variation assessment using SSR markers
Characterization and periodic multiplication of germplasm collections conserved in gene banks are essential for their effective use in crop improvement. In this study, 404 eggplant accessions of Indian origin, conserved at the National Gene Bank, New Delhi, were characterized for nineteen agro-morphological traits of economic importance at ICAR-IIVR, Varanasi, and molecular diversity was evaluated using microsatellite markers. Substantial variability was observed for the number of fruits per plant (1–57.3), fruit weight (6.9–274.0 g), fruit yield (0–1976.2 g), fruit length (4.5–30.5 cm), fruit width (2.3–9.9 cm), and plant height (47.8–112.8 cm). Accessions with desirable traits across different fruit shapes were identified. Agglomerative hierarchical clustering revealed three major clusters based on fruit shape: long, oval/round, and oblong. The first five principal components explained 50% of the observed variance. Leaf length, leaf width, and fruit weight contributed most to Principal Component 1, while fruit curvature, fruit length, fruit shape, and fruit width were key for Principal Component 2. A diverse subset of 81 accessions (20% of the total) representing maximum allelic diversity was identified for practical field maintenance. SSR markers were effective in diversity assessment with an average PIC value of 0.425, and cluster analysis grouped accessions primarily by collection region. Combined morphological and molecular variation assessment supports the effective use of diverse eggplant accessions in future breeding programs.
Copyright (c) 2025 Bhuvaneswari S, Sarvesh Kumar Mishra, Akanksha, Subhash Chandra, Chithra Pandey, Sushil Pandey, Rajesh Kumar, Gyanendra Pratap Singh, Shailesh Kumar Tiwari (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Image-based identification of onion varieties using deep learning techniques
Onion is a crop of immense economic and dietary importance, widely cultivated and traded globally. Accurate identification of onion varieties is critical for pricing, quality assurance, traceability, and consumer preference, yet remains challenging due to high morphological similarity across cultivars. This study is the first reported attempt to classify Indian onion varieties using deep learning applied to bulb images. We evaluated the performance of four pre-trained convolutional neural networks, DenseNet121, InceptionV3, MobileNetV2 and Xception, on a curated image dataset of 10 popular onion varieties. The result showed that DenseNet121 outperformed all models, achieving the highest precision (95.76%), recall (94.92%), F1 score (94.82%) and the lowest mean squared error of 0.94, demonstrating exceptional reliability and accuracy. Its dense connectivity architecture effectively captured subtle features, making it the most suitable for practical applications. InceptionV3 and MobileNetV2 also showed competitive results, with MobileNetV2 offering computational efficiency but facing challenges with certain misclassifications. Xception, despite its efficiency, had the lowest performance metrics, with precision and recall of 91.04% and 88.14%, respectively, and significant misclassification issues. These findings highlight the potential of DenseNet121 for automated onion variety identification and its superiority in addressing the intricate variability within agricultural datasets. These findings demonstrate the potential of deep learning for automating onion variety identification and supporting sorting, grading, and seed chain verification systems. Future work should extend to broader varietal coverage and seasonal datasets for real-world applications.
Onion variety identification, Deep learning, CNN’s, Training, Hyperparameters
Copyright (c) 2025 Amar Jeet Gupta, Supriya Kaldate, Sairam Volaguthala, Bhushan Bibwe, Kalyani Gorrepati, Vijay Mahajan (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Integrated nutrient management strategies for reducing chemical inputs without compromising yield in cauliflower
Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) offers a pathway to reduce synthetic fertilizer use while maintaining or improving crop productivity and soil health. A field experiment conducted during Rabi 2020–21 at the Research Farm, Udai Pratap (Autonomous) College, Varanasi evaluated nine nutrient management treatments combining 50% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) with organic inputs (FYM, vermicompost) and the biofertilizer Azospirillum. Cauliflower cv. Pusa Snowball K-1 grown on a sandy‑loam soil with medium fertility showed that integrated packages substantially improved vegetative growth, accelerated curd initiation and maturity, and increased curd size and weight compared with no-input and inorganic-only controls. The combination T9 (50% RDF + FYM 5 t/ha + vermicompost 1 t/ha + Azospirillum 2.5 kg/ha) produced the greatest plant height (63.48 cm), leaf area (1,343 cm2), largest curd diameter (18.38 cm), highest curd weight (938 g) and maximum yield (341.78 q/ha), and delivered the highest net return and benefit:cost ratio. Treatment T8 (50% RDF + vermicompost 2.5 t/ha + Azospirillum 5 kg/ha) best preserved post‑harvest soil N, P and K, indicating superior residual fertility. Economic analysis demonstrated that selected INM packages can lower chemical input costs and enhance profitability without yield penalties. These results underscore that well‑designed INM strategies, integrating reduced inorganic fertilizers with organic amendments and biofertilizers, can sustainably maintain cauliflower yields, improve soil nutrient status, and increase farm returns, offering a scalable approach for reducing chemical dependence in vegetable production.
Copyright (c) 2025 Chandroday Prakash Tiwari, Dr. Diwaker Singh, Dr. Indivar Prasad, Dr. Aastik Jha, Dr. C. N. Ram, Sashibala (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Screening soil-borne disease resistance in wild and cultivated eggplant accessions for grafting and rootstock breeding
Brinjal (S. melongena L.), a crucial dietary staple in South and Southeast Asia, faces severe yield losses from soil-borne wilt diseases caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melongenae (Fusarium Wilt), Ralstonia solanacearum (Bacterial Wilt), and Sclerotium rolfsii (Southern Blight), with losses up to 81% in India. To address this, 14 Solanum germplasms, including seven wild species and seven cultivated varieties, were screened for resistance to FW, BW, and SB during Kharif 2024 at the ICAR-Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi, India, aiming to identify robust rootstocks for sustainable disease management and also a source for resistance in the rootstock breeding program. Disease severity was evaluated using the disease index at 10, 20, 30, and 40 days after inoculation and quantified cumulatively via the AUDPC under controlled conditions. Among the germplasms, S. torvum exhibited exceptional resistance across all pathogens, recording the lowest disease index at 40 days after inoculation (BW: 9.33%; SB: 53.33%; FW: 32.00%) and AUDPC (BW: 210.0; SB: 500.0; FW: 380.0), highlighting its potential as a superior rootstock. Similarly, S. sisymbrifolium, S. incanum, and accession IC-111056 showed strong resistance, particularly to BW and SB, while cultivars Surya, Solemel, and Zippy were highly susceptible, underscoring their vulnerability. Identifying the susceptibility of Surya through field trials across diverse agro-ecological zones is essential to validate the stability of resistance, as pathogen strains and environmental conditions vary regionally. The present experiment underscores advancements in rootstock breeding, highlighting significant progress in developing bacterial wilt-resistant eggplant through the identification of promising resistant accessions, contributing to global efforts for sustainable cultivation and rootstock breeding program in brinjal.
Copyright (c) 2025 Akanksha, Vijay Bahadur, Sarvesh Kumar Mishra, Atma Nand Tripathi, Anant Bahadur, Shailesh Kumar Tiwari (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Harnessing resistance sources to develop ToLCV-tolerant hybrids of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)
Tomato leaf curl virus disease (ToLCD) is a major constraint in tomato cultivation, and host plant resistance is the best strategy to manage ToLCD. Seven lines reported as field resistant or known to carry Ty genes were crossed with three commercial varieties of Kerala, and the evaluation of seventeen hybrids obtained revealed that the hybrids Vellayani Vijai×EC519806, Akshaya×AVTO1726, Akshaya×EC519806 and Akshaya×AVTO1707 showed high field resistance, while hybrids of EC519806 and Akshaya×AVTO1726 recorded high yield. High glandular to non-glandular trichome density ratio on the abaxial leaf surface was found to be an important factor in determining the tolerance of genotypes under field screening. Markers linked to Ty genes were detected in crosses with AVTO lines, while none of the Ty gene-linked markers were detected in the accession EC519806, which displayed field resistance. Ty 6 was detected in Local Collection (Idukki) and its hybrids. Thus, per se performance, heterosis and disease response of the hybrids in the present study can be utilised for the selection of superior tomato genotypes for future ToLCV resistance breeding programmes.
Molecular marker, Resistance breeding, ToLCV, Tomato hybrids, Trichome density,Ty genes
Copyright (c) 2025 Athira Sebastian, Dr. Deepthy Antony P, Dr. Jiji Joseph, Dr. Vimi Louis, Dr. M. Sangeeta Kutty (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Inventory of insect and arachnid fauna associated with broad bean (Vicia faba L.) in the Gangetic plain of Uttar Pradesh, India
Surveys for the insect and arachnid fauna associated with Broad bean in the Gangetic Plains of Varanasi, Sonebhadra and Deoria districts of Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India were carried out during the rabi seasons of 2023-25. Insects belonging to seven orders were recorded, which were found to be members of either phytophagous orders, viz., Lepidoptera, Hemiptera, Diptera, Coleoptera, and Thysanoptera, or predatory orders, viz., Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, and Dictyoptera, or were pollinators from the orders viz., Hymenoptera, Coleoptera and Diptera. Amongst the pests, serpentine leaf miner (Liriomyza trifolii and Liriomyza sativae) and black bean aphid (Aphis craccivora) were observed as major pests, as their damage was≥10%. The Bihar hairy caterpillar, Spilosoma obliqua, is a polyphagous pest and sporadic in nature. The other pests like tobacco caterpillar (Spodoptera litura), Coreid bug (Cletus sp.), Pentatomid bug (Nezara viridula), White spotted flea beetle (Monolepta signata), red spider mite (Tetranychus sp.), etc., were minor in nature to this winter legume vegetable. During the study, four predatory arthropod orders, viz., (Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Dictyoptera and Araneae) and three pollinating insect orders (Hymenoptera, Coleoptera and Diptera) were also documented. For the first time, an inventory of the insects and arachnids related to this crop from this area is made in this publication.
Copyright (c) 2025 Jaydeep Halder, Indivar Prasad, R K Dubey, Jyoti Devi, N. Rai (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Morpho-quality response of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) fruits to preharvest iodine applications
Tomato is a nutritionally rich vegetable crop and is valued for its economic importance. It is one of the most widely cultivated vegetable crops globally after the potato. Despite its importance, tomato yield and quality are frequently constrained by hidden micronutrient deficiencies, as reported under diverse soil and agro-climatic conditions. The present investigation was conducted for two consecutive years to evaluate iodine application using two sources, potassium iodide (KI) and potassium iodate (KIO₃), through soil, foliar spray, seed priming, and their combinations. The experiment comprised nine treatments laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Key parameters related to fruit morphology and quality attributes were measured to determine the efficacy. Integrated and foliar applications of KI, particularly T8 (SP+SA+FA) and T4 (FA), significantly enhanced fruit size (polar diameter up to 6.15 cm) and fruit weight per plant (1.89 kg). Quality traits, such as ascorbic acid content (29.40 mg/100 mL), TSS (5.51°Brix) and dry matter content (6.63%) were also markedly improved. Correlation analysis showed strong positive linkages between fruit size traits (polar and equatorial diameter, average fruit weight), yield and key quality attributes (ascorbic acid, TSS and dry matter), with PCA identifying these traits as major contributors to treatment variability. Although structural traits such as locules and seed number showed weaker correlations, the overall findings support the use of foliar KI @ 0.5 mg/l as an efficient, economical and practical approach for improving tomato fruit quality and physiological performance in North-Indian conditions.
Copyright (c) 2025 Babanjeet, Dr Kulbir Singh , Dr SK Jindal, Dilpreet Talwar (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Assessment of heterografts and homografts for compatibility, morpho-phenology and yield performance of tomato scion cv. Kashi Aman
A research study was carried out at Vegetable Research Centre, Maharajpur, Department of Horticulture, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur (M.P.), during the Rabi season of 2023-2024, consisting of six different rootstocks of brinjal and tomato, and cleft grafting with the common scion tomato cv. Kashi Aman. Thus, the treatments encompassed one ungrafted and six grafted variations evaluated for graft compatibility, morpho-phenological and yield attributing characters, including correlation among them. Results revealed significant differences in graft success rates with Tomato cv. Kashi Aman (scion) grafted on Brinjal cv. Jawahar Baigan 20-14 (rootstock) exhibited the highest graft success, i.e., 87.50%. Rootstock-scion interaction between brinjal cv. Jawahar Baigan 20-14 and tomato cv. Kashi Aman had significantly influenced morpho-phenological parameters, producing the highest number of primary branches (15.67), the maximum number of inflorescences per plant (35.87) and the earliest picking of fruits (70.67 DAT). Tomato cv. Kashi Aman grafted on Tomato cv. SPS 1 produced the maximum number of flowers per inflorescence (5.79). Yield parameters showed significant improvement through grafting with Tomato cv. Kashi Aman grafted on Brinjal cv. Jawahar Baigan 20-14 producing the highest number of fruits per plant (35.20), fruit set percentage (78.85%), yield per plant (3.48 kg) and yield per hectare (430.78 q). Graft success positively correlated with vegetative growth and higher fruit yield, while negatively correlated with early flowering and harvesting. Fruit yield was strongly linked to graft success, primary branch numbers, and early flowering and fruiting traits, emphasizing the benefits of using brinjal rootstocks for enhanced growth and yield attributes. Hence, Jawahar Baigan 20-14 could be better utilized as a potential rootstock to enhance the productivity of tomato.
Copyright (c) 2025 Amul Yadav, Dr. Akhilesh Tiwari, Latesh Kumar, Habil Dongre (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Effect of integrated nutrient management on yield, nitrogen use efficiency and economics of sprouting broccoli, and soil health in the Terai region of West Bengal
A two-year field experiment was carried out to study the effect of integrated nutrient management on broccoli cultivation and soil health during the rabi season of 2016-17 and 2017-18, at the Instructional farm of Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Cooch Behar, West Bengal, India. The experiment consisted of ten treatments with three replications laid in a randomized block design (RBD). The treatments consisted of different doses of vermicompost, cowdung manure, chemical fertilizer, vermiwash, and biofertilizer. The results obtained revealed that application of vermicompost 25% + cow dung manure 25% + chemical fertilizer 50%+ vermiwash + biofertilizer (T9) for sprouting broccoli gave the highest yield 17.82 t/ha, B: C ratio 2.08, and physiological nitrogen use efficiency 61.59 kg/kg. The treatment also improved the soil available nutrient content and improved the microbial count compared to the sole application of chemical fertilizer.
Sprouting broccoli, vermicompost, cowdung manure, vermiwash and biofertilizer.
Copyright (c) 2025 Sushmita Subba, Aradhana Sen, J. C. Jana, Shekhar D Khade (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
In-vitro and in-vivo evaluation of different plant-based by-products against Meloidogyne incognita and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in French bean
The present study includes in-vitro evaluation of plant-based products against Meloidogyne incognita and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum under and further integration of the promising treatments with Trichoderma harzianum and fungicide, Carbendazim 50WP, to manage the nematode and fungal disease complex in French bean. During in-vitro studies, for root knot nematode, M. incognita, four doses, i.e., 2.5, 5.0, 10.0 and 15.0% suspension of each plant-based by-products viz., neem cake, mustard cake, garlic extract, and neem leaf extract was tested. In comparison, for S. sclerotiorum three doses, 5.0%, 10.0%, 15.0% suspension of each plant-based by-product was tested. Maximum egg hatch inhibition was observed in neem leaf extract at 15.0% concentration with 83.65% inhibition over the untreated control after 72 hours, followed by mustard cake at 15% after 72 hours (82.52%). Further, maximum juvenile mortality was recorded in mustard cake 15% recording 90.0% mortality, followed by neem cake 15% with 89.67% mortality over control after 72 hours. The LC50 of neem leaf extract for egg hatch inhibition was 743.32 ppm, while for mustard cake it was 854.38 ppm after 72 hours. While for juvenile mortality mustard cake showed LC50 at the concentration of 343.22 ppm after 72 hours. For S. sclerotiorum, maximum percent mycelial inhibition was recorded in neem leaf extract with 70.0% inhibition at 15.0% concentration over control, followed by neem cake with 69.89% inhibition at 15.0%. Among the total 12 treatments tested under in-vivo conditions, the results revealed soil application of mustard cake 2.5 g/kg soil before sowing +foliar spray of carbendazim 50 WP (0.25%) gave maximum reduction in sclerotinia rot disease (58.55%) along with 36.70% reduction in root knot nematode infestation while soil application of MC 2.5 g/kg soil before sowing + T. harzianum 20 g/kg soil 15 DAS recorded minimum root nematode infestation along with 50.97% reduction in sclerotinia rot disease. The results indicate that integration of soil amendments with bio-agent or fungicide can be utilised to develop cost-effective safer alternative to manage root knot nematode and sclerotinia rot disease complex in French bean.
Copyright (c) 2025 Sucherita Bains, Sukhjeet Kaur, Rupeet Gill (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Genetic, biochemical and molecular characterization of exotic tomato lines for key economic traits
This study aimed to characterize 60 newly acquired exotic genotypes to identify superior lines for use as parental material in breeding programs. The genotypes were evaluated under field conditions during 2023-25 for yield components, processing traits, and resistance to tomato leaf curl disease (ToLCD). Gene-specific DNA markers were employed to detect ToLCD resistance genes Ty-2 and Ty-3. Substantial genetic variation was observed among the genotypes for the traits assessed. The genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) ranged from 5.41 to 94.82%, which was lower than the phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV), which ranged from 5.70 to 97.11%. High heritability values (> 60%) combined with high genetic advance as a percentage of the mean (> 20%) suggest that additive gene action is responsible, supporting the effectiveness of selection. Hierarchical clustering using the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) classified the genotypes into four clusters (I-IV), revealing distinct variation among genotypes from the United States and Taiwan. Principal component analysis (PCA) explained a total of 76.56% of the variation, with the first and second principal components accounting for 49.16 and 27.40%, respectively. Field assays for ToLCD resistance identified 11 genotypes as highly resistant (HR), 4 as resistant (R), 5 as moderately resistant (MR), and the remaining 40 genotypes as moderately susceptible to highly susceptible. Genotypes AVTO1174, AVTO1219, AVTO1424, AVTO1707, and AVTO2151 possessed both Ty-2 and Ty-3 genes in homozygous form and exhibited field resistance to ToLCD. The following genotypes, AVTO1174, AVTO1219, AVTO1424, AVTO2101, AVTO1906, AVTO1907, AVTO2149, AVTO2151, AVTO1909, and AVTO1915, are recommended as parental lines for advanced breeding programs.
Copyright (c) 2025 Jagesh Tiwari, Nagendra Rai, Manish Kumar Singh (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
GUS assay in hypocotyl generated callus of chili (Capsicum annuum L.) cultivar Kashi Anmol
Heterosis for morphological and yield contributing traits in tropical carrot (Daucus carota L.)
Carrot (Daucus carota L.) is one of the most important salad vegetable crops globally because of the nutrient richness, palatability and lower pesticide load. Heterosis breeding and hybrids has noteworthy role in boosting the productivity, better crop management and enhanced quality in many crops. Therefore, the field experiments were carried out during 2022-2024 to estimate the heterosis among CMS-based hybrids for growth and yield contributing traits in carrot. The significant differences of mean squares among parents and hybrids for various traits of economic importance indicated the presence of sufficient variation. Overall the hybrid mean of 48 cross-combinations is appreciably higher/desirable than parental mean for days to germination (13.2%), plant weight (41.5%), leaf length (15.0%), leaf weight (37.9%), root weight (42.7%), shoulder diameter (11.1%), core width (-24.2%) and marketable yield (42.5%) clearly indicates the presence of hybrid vigour and prospects for heterosis breeding in carrot. Overall, the superior hybrid-combinations namely VRCARH-23344, VRCARH-27244, VRCARH-23485, VRCARH-21185, VRCARH-212135, VRCARH-21244, VRCARH- 241199 and VRCARH- 214206 have prospects for development of CMS-based potential heterotic hybrids in tropical carrot.
Carrot, Daucus carota, Male sterility, CMS, Heterosis, Hybrid.
Expression analysis of MADS-box genes in phenotypically distinct carrot cytoplasmic male sterile lines and their maintainers
The utilization of maternally inherited loss of male fertility has facilitated the development of hybrid seeds for commercial production of carrots. The loss of male sterility is due to alterations in floral organs that render the male reproductive organs unfunctional or may cause the complete elimination of a specific floral organ. Although organ alterations have previously been studied in carrot cytoplasmic male sterile lines to characterize them on phenotypic and molecular basis, the role of MADS-box genes in the development of different floral organs has not been emphasized. In this study, the analogous use of stereo microscopy and qRT-PCR enabled the characterization of the role MADS-box genes play during carrot floral organ development. A total of 25 CMS lines were screened to determine the floral organ alterations. Out of which, four phenotypically distinct floral morphotypes were identified in the CMS germplasm, i.e., sepaloid type, brown anther type, miniature leaf type and lance type. Further, these four phenotypically distinct CMS lines were subjected to quantitative expression analysis of eight floral identity MADS-Box genes. The gene expression results confirmed that variation in the expression of floral identity genes is responsible for organ alteration in male sterile flowers of carrot.
Assessment of stability for expression of monoecism in newly developed inbred lines of muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) and their evaluation for horticultural traits
In muskmelon, development of F1 hybrids involving andromonoecious inbred lines as female parents is laborious, costly and time-consuming. Therefore, monoecious lines can potentially exploited to replace maternal andromonoecious lines in hybrid production. However, in muskmelon the linkage of the monoecious trait with oval fruit shape and sourness limited its extensive utilization in hybrid breeding. Thus, the present investigation was carried out to investigate a set of newly generated melon inbred lines for stability monoecious trait and their evaluation for morphological and biochemical characteristics, such as average fruit weight (g), flesh thickness (cm), rind thickness (mm), fruit shape index, total soluble solids (TSS), ascorbic acid, acidity, β-carotene and firmness (kg/cm2). Through assessment of andromonoecy index (AI), eighteen stable monoecious lines have been identified. The monoecious line, Mono-1621/CTS, exhibited the highest β-carotene (2.73mg/100g), while Mono1426/S-1 recorded the highest TSS (14.9 °Brix). Unlike earlier reports, AI showed no correlation with fruit shape index or sourness, suggesting these traits are independent of sex expression in muskmelon. This indicates that stable monoecious lines with low sourness, ideal TSS/TA ratio, and round fruits can be developed using improved genetics and modern breeding tools. Furthermore, identified lines with horticulturally desirable traits can further be utilized in heterosis breeding by selecting suitable parent combinations.
Copyright (c) 2025 Nidhi, Sat Pal Sharma, Neena Chawla, Navraj Kaur Sarao (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Effect of nano-fertilizer-based INM on growth, yield and quality of chow-chow (Sechium edule (Jacq.) Sw.) in Nagaland
A field experiment was conducted in Nagaland University, School of Agricultural Sciences, during two consecutive years, 2022-2023 and 2023-2024, to study the effect of nano-fertilizer-based integrated nutrient management on growth, yield and quality of chow-chow [Sechium edule (Jacq.) Sw.] in Nagaland. Results revealed that the application of different levels of nutrients either alone or in combination significantly increased the growth, yield and quality attributes of chow-chow. The results indicated that the highest growth, yield and quality parameters were observed in treatment [Poultry manure @ 5 t/ha + nano-urea (two sprays @ 0.5%) + microbial consortium] with number of leaves/plant (108.97), number of primary branches (4.21), leaf length (20.15 cm), leaf width (22.30 cm), leaf area (189.08 cm2), vine length (7.01 m), number of fruits/plant (15.65), fruit length (13.89 cm), fruit diameter (8.98 cm), average weight of fruit (482.40 g), yield/plant (7.57 kg), yield/ha (681.40 q), vitamin C (4.99 mg/100 g) and calcium content (13.29 mg/100 g). Thus, nano-fertilizers showed great potential as a key component of INM and can be recommended to the farmers.
Copyright (c) 2025 Dr. Moakala Changkiri, Dr. S.P Kanaujia (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Genetic studies for hybrid development in Indian muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.)
The analysis of general and specific combining ability with the estimation of heterosis was carried out under this study to select suitable parents and their hybrids for commercial use in muskmelon. 28 F1 hybrids were developed from 8 parents by advocating a diallel mating strategy excluding reciprocals. The hybrids, along with parents, were evaluated for two consecutive years to assess general and specific combining ability with heterosis over better and check parent for eleven quantitative traits. The study revealed the effect of both additive and non-additive genetic control over the expression of the traits. Genotypes PMM-13, PMM-16 and PMM-18 were observed as excellent general combiners for yield and also found admirable for earliness, plant architecture and fruit quality. Among 28 F1 hybrids, PMM-32 × PMM-16, PMM-4A × PMM-13 and PMM-18 × Hara Madhu exhibited higher sca effects for fruit yield. Outside yield, these hybrids showed appreciable sca effects in desirable direction for earliness, less seed cavity, fruit mesocarp thickness and total soluble solids. It has been observed in this study that one of the parents of a particular cross having a good GCA resulted higher sca effect. Among all the hybrids, PMM 13 × PMM 18, PMM 18 × Hara Madhu and PMM 13 × PMM 16 were the top three as per heterotic value regarding yield. These crosses also found great in earliness, vegetative and fruit quality traits.
Heterosis, Combining ability, Muskmelon, GCA, SCA, Diallel analysis
Copyright (c) 2025 Dr. Mani Lohani, MANGALDEEP SARKAR, Dr. D. K. Singh (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Soil and foliar application of zinc for improving nutritional quality in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)
In order to investigate the response of application of zinc sulphate on the quality of potato tubers, a field experiment was conducted during rabi season 2023-24 in a field at the Zonal Agricultural Research Station, Chhindwara, under Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur (M.P.). The experiment consists of 7 treatments with RDF and different doses of zinc fertilizer at 25 and 50 DAP. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The results indicated that treatment T7 [2.5 kg Zinc/ha from zinc sulphate, at the time of planting + foliar application of zinc sulphate @ 2 g/L (400 ppm Zn) at 25 and 50 DAP] give maximum total soluble solids (6.37 ◦Brix), starch (30.96%), total sugar (5.50%), reducing sugar (0.92%), non- reducing sugar (4.58%), dry matter of tubers (75.48 g/plant) and Zn content of potato tuber (24.79 mg/kg) as compare to other treatments. Based on the present investigation, it can be concluded that soil with foliar application of zinc sulphate improved potato tuber quality under the present agro-climatic conditions as a biofortified crop.
Copyright (c) 2025 Rashmi Bhumarkar, B.P. Bisen, Latesh Kumar (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Gummy stem blight of bottle gourd: Pathogen identification, host screening, and management strategies
Gummy stem blight, caused by Stagonosporopsis cucurbitacearum (syn. Phoma cucurbitacearum; teleomorph - Didymella bryoniae), is becoming a major problem for the cultivation and seed production of bottle gourd, including almost all gourds and melons. During May-June, 2021-2024, severe disease incidence of gummy stem blight occurred on bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria; Family: Cucurbitaceae) at Indian Council of Agricultural Research – Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Its infection is noted on green and ripe fruits and has become considered a serious threat for bottle gourd cultivation and its seed production. Initially, typical symptoms of gummy stem blight appeared as circular dark brown-tan spots at the margin of the leaves and water-soaked areas on the stem near the soil line, including defoliation, wilting, and death of plant vines. The pathogen was isolated from diseased stems and leaves of bottle gourd (var. Kashi Ganga). The pathogen produced white aerial mycelial growth with an undulated colony with cylindrical non-septate to monoseptate conidia. 14-day-old plants of bottle gourd were inoculated by spraying a conidial suspension (2.3 × 106 cfu/mL) of pathogen isolate to test pathogenicity. Based on the detailed cultural, morphological, pathological, microscopic characteristics and pathogenicity test, the causal pathogen was identified as S. cucurbitacearum. Twelve cultigens of cucurbits were screened against gummy stem blight pathogen under net-house conditions. On the basis of disease reaction among tested cultigens namely summer fit, cucumber- Cucumis hardwickii and bitter gourd (IC-21250044) were found highly resistant. The treatments comprises spot application of Trichoderma asperellum + Bacillus subtillis (CRB-7) @ 10 gram per pit at the time of planting and soil drenching @1% in the root zone near collar region at the time of each earthing recorded highest in vivo seed germination (84%), lowest gummy stem blight percent disease severity index (7.0) and maximum yields (31.66 tonnes/ha) with highest BC ratio (1: 2.73) in comparison to control.
Bottle gourd. Disease management. Gummy stem blight. Pathogenicity. Stagonosporopsis cucurbitacearum.
Copyright (c) 2025 Atma Nand Tripathi (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Genotype × environment interaction and molecular marker analyses reveal stable tomato lines for yield components, TSS and tomato leaf curl disease resistance
The objective of this study was to analyze genotype-by-environment interactions (GEI) related to yield as well as its component traits, and resistance against tomato leaf curl disease (ToLCD) using GGE biplot analysis. Based on prior research, selected tomato genotypes were evaluated for horticultural traits such as average fruit weight, yield, total soluble solids (TSS) and ToLCD resistance (natural hot-spot conditions) over five consecutive years (2020-2025). Additionally, molecular markers were employed to identify the presence of ToLCD resistance genes (Ty-2 and Ty-3) in these genotypes. Field screenings categorized the genotypes into highly resistant, resistant, and moderately resistant groups. GEI analysis was conducted using GGE biplot techniques, with the R ‘metan’ package utilized for various visualizations, including mean vs. stability view and MGIDI analysis. Overall, 15 superior genotypes were identified based on average fruit weight, fruit yield, TSS and ToLCD resistance such as VRT-19, VRT-34, VRT-50, VRT-51, ToDVAR-5, ToLCV-32, H-88-78-1, H-88-78-2, jointless tomatoes VRJT-24, VRJT-32, VRJT-41-2, VRJT-37, VRJT-94; orange color tomato KB-17 and KB-3-1. These genotypes can be used in breeding to introgress yield-related traits and ToLCD resistance.
Genotype-by-environment interaction, Tomato, ToLCD resistance, Molecular markers, MGIDI.
Copyright (c) 2025 Jagesh Kumar Tiwari, Nagendra Rai, Manish K. Singh, Gaurav Mishra, Rajat Singh, Priyanka Sharma, Yagyat Singh, YS Reddy, AN Tripathi (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Gene cloning: Applications in vegetable crops
Gene cloning is a revolutionary technique in agricultural biotechnology, particularly in vegetable farming, enabling precise genetic modifications to enhance crop traits such as pest resistance, disease tolerance, and nutritional improvement. The process involves inserting DNA fragments into vectors, which replicate within bacterial hosts. This facilitates large-scale gene duplication. Unlike PCR, gene cloning allows for the replication of longer DNA sequences, making it essential for studying gene functions. The first step involves isolating a target gene, typically from a cDNA library, to overcome the challenges of large plant genomes and introns. The Ti plasmid from Agrobacterium tumefaciens is widely used in plant genetic engineering, though modified binary vector systems improve its efficiency. Essential enzymes like restriction endonucleases, DNA ligases and polymerases facilitate DNA manipulation. Escherichia coli is the preferred host for cloning due to its ease of cultivation and rapid growth, while yeast and plant cell cultures serve as alternatives for eukaryotic gene expression. Different transformation methods are being used to introduce recombinant DNA into host cells. Successful transformants are identified through antibiotic selection, blue-white screening, PCR and DNA sequencing. Gene cloning has significant applications in vegetable science, enabling the development of stress-resistant, nutritionally enhanced crops, thereby contributing to sustainable agriculture and food security.
Copyright (c) 2025 Anusha KR, Monisha Thangavel, Jaspreet Kaur, Babanjeet (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Interspecific grafting compatibility studies between tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) grafted on eggplant (Solanum melongena) and its wild relatives
Tomato grafting has proven to overcome the biotic and abiotic stresses as well as improve growth, yield, fruit quality. However, in India the graft compatibility between eggplant rootstocks and tomato varieties has not been explored extensively. The total 18 grafting combinations were developed by using three different (including two breeding lines) varieties of tomato as a scion and varieties of brinjal including two wild species i.e., ST05 and SG06. Tomato var. EC97, EC98 and DOrg and Brinjal varieties and its wild species i.e., SM01, SM02, SM03, SM04, ST05 and SG06 were used as root stock for this study. The experiment was laid out Randomized Block Design (RBD) with 18 treatments and 3 replications and data were analyzed statistically. The results revealed that the plants are compatible with the grafting through cleft grafting method viz., graft success rate (95.71%), days taken to sprouting (10.60 days), number of leaves (27.12), plant height (32.99 cm), stem diameter (0.45 cm), root length (21.59 cm), root fresh weight (16.23 g) and root dry weight (10.51 g) for the graft combination SM01 x DOrg. The 2nd graft combination which exhibited highest graft success rate (93.03%) was SM01x EC98. The highest root length was recoded in graft combination SM01 x EC97 (22.85 cm) followed by ST05 x DOrg and SM01 x EC98. Better root growth as root fresh weight was recorded in graft combination ST05 x EC97 (18.39 g) followed by SM01 x EC98 and ST05 x DOrg (17.65 g and 17.05 g, respectively) but root dry weight was recorded maximum in graft combinations i.e., ST05 x DOrg (13.20g) followed by ST05 x EC98 and SM01 x EC97 (12.59 and 12.23 g, respectively). Further studies are required for the selection of best rootstocks that support vigorous growth of the scions under interspecific grafting for improved graft compatibility and plant growth.
Tomato, Brinjal, S. torvum, S. gilo, Graft compatibility.
Copyright (c) 2025 Pradeep Kr. Yadav, Ankur Agarwal, Harendra Kumar, Shiva Kumar, Om Prakash, Basant Ballabh, Devakanta Pahad Singh (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Enzymatic and biochemical aspects of anthracnose resistance in chili (Capsicum annuum L.) genotypes
Chili (Capsicum annuum L.) genotypes and hybrids resistant to anthracnose disease are not yet commercially available, and under favorable environmental conditions, the crop suffers significant yield and economic losses. In this study, six chili genotypes and 15 hybrids were screened for their resistance to anthracnose disease. Various plant disease resistance-related parameters were assessed, and the genotypes Bidhan Chili 4, Chinese Bona, and Pant C 1, along with the hybrids Pant C 1 × Bidhan Chili 4, Bidhan Chili 4 × Chili 38-Ragi, and Chinese Bona × Chili 38-Ragi, exhibited resistance to anthracnose disease. To gain a deeper understanding of chili defense mechanisms, biochemical changes in key defense enzymes—such as polyphenol oxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POX), and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL)—as well as protein and phenol content in fruits (both before and after inoculation) were analyzed. The results showed that resistant genotypes and hybrids exhibited higher activity levels of PPO, POX, and PAL, along with increased protein and phenol content, compared to susceptible ones. These elevated biochemical responses in Colletotrichum capsici-inoculated fruits suggest that these mechanisms play a crucial role in enhancing host resistance against anthracnose disease.
Chili, Colletotrichum, Disease severity, Biochemical, Enzyme assay.
Copyright (c) 2025 Solanki Bal, Arup Chattopadhyay, Asit Kumar Mandal (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Characterization of primary genepool for enation leaf curl disease resistance and morpho-horticultural traits in okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench]
The present investigation was planned to examine genetic parameters such as GCV, PCV, heritability and GA, along with correlations, diversity, path coefficients and PCA from data on 100 okra genotypes. High GCV and PCV were observed for ELCV (CI), NEB, LA (0) and YPP (g), NH, IL (cm) and NFPP, whereas moderate GCV and PCV were observed for FFN, BA (0), and FL (cm). High heritability coupled with high GAM was observed for almost all the characters studied, except FL (cm), PH (cm), AFW, DFF and DFH show low heritability with low GAM. The YPP, NEB, ELCV (CI), LA (0), NH and IL (cm) showed high genetic advance that helped in effective and reliable selection through these characters for okra improvement. DFF was significantly positively correlated with D50F and DFH. While the negative association with ELCV (CI) was positively correlated with BA (0.397), it was negatively correlated with FL (-0.308), NFPP (-0.627) and NH (-0.535). YPP resulted in a significant positive correlation with AFW, NFPP and NH (0.867) but has a negative correlation with ELCV (CI). The NFPP had a maximum direct effect on AFW (g) followed by FFN and NH and the residual effect of the path analysis was low (0.008), suggesting the inclusion of maximum yield influencing characters in the present study and identified as key traits for developing high fruit yielding genotypes in okra for future breeding program. The genotypes were divided into eight clusters using squared Euclidean distance. The results revealed the presence of considerable genetic diversity in the first three principal components contributed to 53.2% of total variability during the study.
Diversity, ELCV, Genetic variability and PCA
Copyright (c) 2025 Brijesh Kumar Maurya , P. Karmakar, D. P. Singh, Rajeev Kumar, B. K. Singh, Vidya Sagar, C. L. Maurya, Rajiv, P. K. Singh, S. K. Biswas, Nagendra Rai (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0