The present investigation was carried out to assessthe components ofseed yield under droughtstress using path coefficient analysis. Twenty two genotypes ofIndian mustard were grown in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications during rabi, 2007-08. Analysis of variance indicated presence of variability in the experimental genotypesforseed yield and other morpho-physiological characters except main shoot length, harvest index, protein content, SLW at 35 days aftersowing (DAS) and seed: husk ratio. Seed yield/plant was positively and significantly correlated at both phenotypic and genotypic levels with days to maturity, plant height, primary branches/plant, secondary branches/plant, siliquae on main shoot, LAI, CGR and biological yield/plant. Seed yield/plant had negative genotypic correlations of moderate strength with transpiration quotient at 35 and 75 DAS indicating its positive relationship with water use efficiency. TheRGRduring 35-75 DAS followed byRGRbetween 75 and 95 DAS exerted the highest direct positive effects on seed yield. Biological yield/plant, SLW at 75 DAS, TDM at 75 and 95 DAS, SCMR at 35 DAS, siliquae on main shoot, days to maturity and siliqua length also had substantial positive direct effects. The characters under study explained about 96.5% and 100% variability in the seed yield at phenotypic and genotypic level, respectively. Dry matter production, early growth and development of the crop are important under drought due to continuous decline in available soil moisture. Since LAI, LGR, CGR, RGR and NAR are the functions of dry matter production and/or leaf area, therefore, selection on the basis of high biological yield and large LAI at 50% flowering should be quite effective in improving seed yield under drought. An increase in LAI might increase radiation load resulting in to high transpiration. Therefore, genotypes having high LAI with erect leaves and low TQ should be accorded priority in the selection programme.
Broomrape (Orobanche aegyptiaca Pers.), an important obligate root parasitic weed in India, has a wide host range including several members of the Solanaceae, Leguminaceae, and Brassicaceae families, among others. Orobanche plants produce thousands of tiny seeds (250 × 300 μm), which can remain viable in the soil for as long as 13 years (3). Rapeseed-mustard (Brassica spp.) is one of the major oilseed crops in India, cultivated on 5.77 million ha with 6.59 million t produced during 2009-2010. Broomrape has been observed in India as a major angiospermic parasitic plant on rapeseed-mustard, tobacco, tomato, and potato. During a field visit to an experimental farm at the Directorate of Rapeseed-Mustard Research, Bharatpur (27°12'N, 77°27'E) in the winter of 2009-2010, symptoms of wilt disease were observed on Orobanche plants, 32.6% of which had wilted completely following root infection. Initial symptoms appeared as a browning of the flowering stalk with wilting. Direct observation of below ground plant parasite tissues revealed a necrosis starting at the radical and advancing to the collar region that shredded later on. Tissue fragments, excised from the internal portions of the diseased tissue, were surface sterilized with 0.1% HgCl2, plated on 2% potato dextrose agar (PDA) adjusted to pH 7.0, and incubated at 22 ± 2°C for 7 days. The colonies that grew on PDA plates produced a bright purple color. Single-spore culturing of the fungus yielded Fusarium solani on the basis of morphological characteristics (2). The Fungal Identification Service, Mycology and Plant Pathology Group, Agharkar Research Institute, Pune, India (Accession No. 2156) confirmed the identity. The pathogenicity of the fungus was tested by inoculating five healthy Orobanche plants that were parasitizing Brassica spp. at the radicle region with 10-ml spore suspensions (2 × 105 conidia/ml of sterile distilled water) derived from 7-day-old cultures of the fungus. Control plants were treated with sterile distilled water. F. solani-inoculated radicles developed typical wilting symptoms within 2 weeks of treatment, while the control as well as the Brassica spp. plants remained healthy. F. solani was reisolated from inoculated wilted plants, thus fulfilling Koch's postulates. To our knowledge, on the basis of the literature, this is the first report from India showing that F. solani infects O. aegyptica on Brassica spp. There are reports of fungi (50 different species) infecting different hosts in Southern Italy, including F. oxysporum and F. solani, which have been found to be pathogenic to O. ramose. The most pathogenic Fusarium isolates significantly increased the number of dead spikes of broomrape (1). Control of Orobanche spp. poses a challenge because of the lack of effective and economic control measures. F. solani thus offers a potentially promising management strategy that should be explored in the future for the control of O. aegyptiaca. References: (1) A. Boari et al. Biol. Control 30:212, 2004. (2) P. E. Nelson et al. Fusarium Species: An Illustrated Manual for Identification. 1st ed. Pennsylvania State University Press, University Park, 1983. (3) M.C. Press et al. Parasitic Plants. Chapman and Hall, London, UK, 1995.
An experiment on standardization of micro-irrigation and fertigation methods for Indian mustard [ Brassica juncea (L.) cernj. & Cosson] crop under semi-arid conditions of Rajasthan was undertaken during the winter ( rabi) seasons of 200910 and 201011. The treatments consisted of 5 irrigation systems in main plot, viz. micro-sprin- kler system (MS), micro sprinkler followed by check basin (MS+CB), drip irrigation system, drip system followed by check basin (DS+CB) and check basin (CB) alone. In sub-plots, 4 treatments of N doses, viz. control (0 kg/ha N), 40, 80 and 120 kg N/ha, were taken. Pressurized irrigation through micro-sprinkler, drip system and their combina- tion with check basin method resulted in significantly higher growth attributes like plant height, above-ground dry matter and chlorophyll concentration than check basin alone. Similar trend was observed for biological, seed and oil yields. Other parameters like water-use efficiency and production efficiency were the highest under pressurized irrigation systems. Among the sub-plots, growth parameters and yield attributes improved with increasing dose of nitrogen up to 120 kg/ha. The enhanced yield under 120 kg N/ha also resulted in higher production efficiency and water-use efficiency.
Oilseeds in India accounted for 15.7% of the total arable land during 2017-18. The present paper discusses oilseeds and vegetable oil scenario in India; seed chain, current status of quality seed and strategies for seed production & development to enhance oilseeds output through bridging the vast untapped potential of the available technologies to reduce heavy dependence on oil imports. Of the nine annual oilseeds, groundnut, soybean, rapeseed-mustard and sesame during the last seven years (2012-13 to 2018-19) contributed 89.2-94.4% to acreage and 90.4%-95.0% to production of oilseeds. The area, production and yield of oilseeds attained an overall increase of 131.1%, 510.9% and 164.2%, respectively, from 1950-51 to 2018-19. Of the several programmes initiated to harness the vast exploitable yield reservoir of oilseeds, National Mission on Agricultural Extension and Technology launched during XII plan and Mega seed project during 2005-06, had great impact on enhanced availability of quality seed of newly released varieties and thus production of oilseeds. Considering annual growth of demand for edible oil, population growth and the per capita consumption of about 102.3 m t of oilseeds would be required by 2030. To meet this formidable challenge, the assets such as vibrant crop specific improvement programmes, 187 newly released high yielding varieties, improved crop management technologies, robust and effective seed chain and climate favouring seed production of diverse oilseeds are available in the country.
Brand loyalty is a fundamental concept in marketing, particularly in the "fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG)” industry, where competition is intense and consumer choices abound. Understanding the impact of "brand loyalty” on repeat purchase behavior is crucial for businesses striving to build enduring customer relationships and achieve sustainable growth. Brand loyalty plays an important role in shaping the success of companies as it influences customer retention and sustains long-term profitability. By understanding the underlying mechanisms that drive repeat purchases, companies can develop effective strategies to cultivate brand loyalty and enhance customer satisfaction. The results suggest that various factors, including brand reputation, product quality, price, and promotional activities, significantly affect brand loyalty, leading to increased repeat purchase behavior. Furthermore, "customer satisfaction” and "trust" emerge as critical mediating factors in the relationship between brand loyalty and repeat purchase behavior. The results will enable FMCG companies to comprehend the factors influencing brand loyalty and identify strategies to foster customer loyalty. Additionally, this study can serve as a foundation for future research exploring the dynamics of brand loyalty in different industries or cultural contexts. The study survey was conducted among 220 consumers to know the role of brand loyalty and its impact on repeat purchase behavior of customers in the FMCG context. The study concludes that there is significant impact of brand loyalty on repeat purchase behavior of customers in the FMCG context.
This article gives a note on micro tuber seed production of potato. (Report and Opinion. 2009;1(5):9-11). (ISSN: 1553-9873). Traditional agriculture is not economical for the hill areas of the India because not only the yields low but the crop also takes longer time to mature. It has been observed that there is a drastic improvement and change in the socio-economic status of the hill people particularly in those areas where the pockets and valleys have bean exploited. Production and consumption of vegetables is directly related to the improvement of the socio-economic status of the hill people. Potatoes have better food value and their role in the daily diet of human beings as a protective food is well recognized. Most of the farmers, food processors and scientists prefer to concentrate on production nature than on planning for crop. The same story is repeated with potato cultivation, too. The countrywide efforts have been on to dawn a revolution. This has emerged as one of the major agricultural venture in the nineties. Since good quality seed supply is rationale with the production and demand of the same and the seed production is covered under seed act etc. which does cover planting material initially supplied by the breeder's and followed by on site nursery certification as per technical standard fixed. Since antiquities the traditional farmers of
Effects of high temperature stress during terminal stage on crop growth and genetic parameters were investigated in 18 advanced breeding lines and 4 varieties of Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czernj. & Cosson] under normal (E1) and late sown (E2) conditions. Genotypes BPR 538-10 showed terminal heat tolerance for biological yield/plant, seed yield/plant, total dry matter (60 days after sowing (DAS), crop growth rate (CGR) and relative growth rate (4060 DAS) and heat use efficiency while RH 0216 possessed terminal heat stress tolerance only for biological yield/plant. Terminal heat stress decreased heat use efficiency by 16.1% in BPR-538-10 to 66.3% in BPR-327-1-B. Heat use efficiency had high PCV and moderate GCV under E1.The seed yield/plant exhibited significant and positive association with leaf area index (LAI) at 40 days after sowing (r= 0.434*), CGR during 40–60 DAS (r = 0.592**), total dry matter at 60 DAS (r = 0.590**), and heat use efficiency (0.795**) under high temperature stress. The study suggested that rapid leaf area development resulting in to high total dry matter production is vital for developing suitable varieties against terminal heat stress.