VEGETABLE CROPS

• Introduction and evaluation of germplasm of economically important fruit crops

• Standardization of vegetative propagation techniques in commercially important fruit crops

• Standardize package of production technology of important fruit crops

• Standardize effective control methods of major fruit insect pest and diseases

• Develop measures to reduce post-harvest losses in major fruit crops

• Manpower development

Varietal Evaluation

Chilli

Out of twenty four, eight lines PBC-091, M. 1-2, PP 9656-15, PBC-390, PP 9656-06, PBC-386, PBC-161 and PBC-369 were found high yielding with 456, 409, 375, 330, 314, 310, 293, and 291g fruit weight per plant, respectively. However, based upon the marketable attributes of green fruit, PP 9656-06, PBC-386, PBC-534, PP 9656-15, PBC-581, M 1-2 and PBC-386 were selected for further evaluation.

Tomato

Twenty three varieties/lines were evaluated. CLN-657-B-GF2, Avinash-2, CL-5915-206 D4-2-5-0 and CLN-657 BG2 -274-0-0-1-5-0 gave good performance with 2.3, 2.2, 2.1 and 1.8g fruit weight/plant, respectively.

Onion

Eight varieties were evaluated for bulb size and yield. Results revealed that .Top Keeper (180g) and Sariab Surkh (175g) were found better in bulb weight. They also gave good performance regularly with dry bulb yield of 51 and 48 t/ha, respectively.

Off-season Onion Production through Sets

The experiment was conducted to examine the effects of three set sizes of onion; 6-10, 10-14, and 14-18 cm diameter on bulb weight, size and yield in cultivar Phulkara. The sets were planted in the field on August 28. Bulb yield significantly increased with increasing set size. Large sets (14-18cm) gave significantly higher bulb yield (66.7 t/ha) compared to small (36.1 t/ha) or medium sets (50.0 t/ha).

Tomato

Nine varieties were evaluated at Hafiz Farooq's Farm at Sehala, Islamabad and Kattha Sugral, Khushab. Punjab Chhuhara (19.5 t/ha), Money Maker (16.8 t/ha), and Pant Bahar (15.0 t/ha) gave good performance at Islamabad while Money Maker, J-15 and Pusa Ruby with average yield of 27, 21.7 and 20.2 t/ha, respectively proved best at Khushab.

Pest Management

Effect of DC-Tran against Fruit Borer

Spraying DC-Tran, Karate alone or in combination both in single or two sprays did not have a significant effect in reducing fruit damage by fruit borer in tomato variety Money Maker.

Screening of Pea for Powdery Mildew

Twenty five pea cultivars received from ICARDA, Syria alongwith one local check (Green Feast) were screened against powdery mildew under natural infection. Cultivar DMR-20 was highly resistant while DMR-4 and DMR-7 were resistant against powdery mildew. Three entries namely 88P050-6-9,88P090-5-21 and 88P890-5-15 were moderately resistant.

Crop Management

Sequential Harvests in Radish

For cultivars, Korean-4, 40-days, Mino Early White Long and Minowase were harvested after intervals of 45, 55 and 65 days. Korean-4 and 40-days gave highest yield of 65.7 and 48 t/ha after 55 days while Mino Early White Long and Minowase proved best yielding 43.3 and 44.7 t/ha when harvested after 65 days.

Seed Production

Approximately 140 kg good quality seed of eight vegetables was produced at NARC, Islamabad. This included radish (cv. Korean 4, 3 kg), peas (cv. Novana, 5 kg, cv. Green Feast, 20 kg); Bottle gourd (cv. local, 20 kg); vegetable marrow (cv. local, 6 kg); muskmelon (cv. Chichawatni, 1.8 kg); long melon (cv. local, 2 kg) and okra (cv. Parabhani Karanti, 70 kg).

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Oyster Mushroom

Eight strains, PO.5, SKI, AA, AK, HK, TR, RN and Opt were tried. The strain PO.5 was the best with maximum radial growth (6.34 cm) followed by RN (5.75 cm), Opt (5.50 cm) and AK (5.25 cm).

Button Mushroom

Various grains, i.e., sorghum, millet, wheat, barley, oat, rice, maize, sunflower, gram, soybean and rye were evaluated for the mycelial growth. The fungal growth was significant on the grains of rye with growth of 10.00 cm after 21 days. Similar response was observed in sorghum (9.16 cm).

Spawn Preparation

Substrate of different crops i.e. sorghum, millet, wheat, rice, maize, sunflower and soybean were evaluated to test the growth of A. bisporus. Substrate of wheat gave maximum mycelial growth (8.0 cm) after 21 days while lowest fungal growth (4.0 cm) was observed in millet, maize and soybean.

Varietal Evaluation

Peas

Six varieties/lines Climax Improved, P.F.400, 04 P978, 03 P978, 02 P978 and 01 P978 were evaluated for green pod yield, Climax Improved and P.F.400 were found high yielding with 6.3 and 5.8 t/ha green pod, respectively.

Cabbage

Two varieties/lines were evaluated for head yield. GA was found promising with head yield 10.7 t/ha.

Varietal Evaluation

Tomato

Two varieties Pusa Rubi Early and Pusa Ruby Late were screened for high yield on single plant selection basis. Plants having high yield (3.6 and 2.3 kg/plant) maturing early and late, respectively were selected. The seed was extracted and stored for the next year.

Turnip

Three varieties, Red Globe, Purple Top and Local Red were evaluated for earliness and high yield. Red Globe matured earlier (50 days) and gave highest yield of 29.1 kg/15 m² followed by purple top (22.4 kg).

Okra

Single plant selection in okra variety Green Polo was conducted for high yielding and early maturing character. Plants having high yield (252 g/plant) or maturing early were selected.

Muskmelon

Three varieties, Sanghar, Chichawatani and one local variety were evaluated for high yield. Variety Sanghar matured earlier (67 days) and gave highest fruit yield (13.8 t/ha).

Crop Management

Fertilizer Trial in Turnip and Onion

Maximum yield of 15.1 kg/15 m² was recorded where 69 kg N, 36 kg P and 36 kg K/acre was applied and lowest of 7.7 kg/15m² was recorded in control.

Maximum bulb yield of 17 t/ha was obtained when 46 kg N, 23 kg P and 23 kg K per acre were applied and lowest of 3.2 t/ha was recorded in control.

Spacing Trial on Okra

Maximum pod yield (8.9 t/ha) was recorded where plants were spaced 10 cm apart compared to control treatment (5.5 t/ha).

Varietal Evaluation

Tomato

Eight varieties/lines were evaluated for high yield performance. Variety 0596-0104 gave maximum yield of 22.7 t/ha followed by Roma-VF (21.5 t/ha).

Peas

Five varieties/lines were evaluated. Maximum fresh yield (11.7 t/ha) was obtained from Swat Local followed by 01-978-1.

Chillies

Eight varieties were evaluated. Variety 1021-96 proved best with high green fruit yield of 8.61 t/ha compared to local check Swat Local (6.9 t/ha).

Multiple Cropping

High return of Rs. 74550/ha was earned in pea plus methi combination followed by pea plus cauliflower (Rs. 70650).

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• Introduction and evaluation of germplasm of economically important fruit crops

• Standardization of vegetative propagation techniques in commercially important fruit crops

• Standardize package of production technology of important fruit crops

• Standardize effective control methods of major fruit insect pest and diseases

• Develop measures to reduce post-harvest losses in major fruit crops

• Manpower development

Litchi

Propagation of litchi plants is done through layering which is a time consuming and less efficient method. For rapid multiplication of true to type, disease free plants, experiment was conducted in green house using rooting hormones. Best results were obtained with indole butyric acid (IBA) @ 10,000 ppm. Rooting was 74.61%.

Avocado

Experiment on vegetative propagation through cuttings under mist conditions was conducted on avocado. IBA and napthelene acetic acid (NAA) were used IBA (5000 ppm) enhanced callusing. For root formation, GA3 will be used as foliar spray during next season.

Guava

Vegetative propagation technique for bulk multiplication of selected guava plants has been standardized. Two best types one red guava (Hawaiian cultivar) and other white sweet selection were multiplied through tip cuttings. Over one thousand true to type plants are ready to be sold to the interested growers during spring 1999.

Self rooted true to type guava plants were planted under field conditions for evaluation. After two years growth, maximum height was 10.6 feet with 121 fruits per plant.

Pear

In a fruit evaluation trial on five exotic and three local cultivars of pear cultivar Leconte gave better production whereas cultivars Dr. Julius was outstanding in fruit quality and early maturity.

Citrus

Studies were conducted on physio chemical analysis and processing of four spanish sweet citrus cultivars. On the basis of fruit quality and earliness the cultivar Sulistina was found promising. Squash quality of this cultivar was also excellent.

Peach

In a trial to observe the storability of peach fruit for prolonged market availability, mature fruit of four peach cultivars, were stored at 0° , 6° , 10° and 21° C. The cultivar Florda King was found stable uptill 8 weeks at 6° C.

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DISSEMINATION OF FRUIT PLANTS

Plants of selected fruit varieties (olive, peach, guava, loquat, grapes and citrus etc.) were sold to the interested growers at approved rates worth Rs. 48,885 during the report year.

1. Evaulation of grape varieties under Islamabad conditions

2. Performance of low chilling apple varietiess on dwarf Vs standard rootstock.

3. Evaluation of seven peach and three nectarine varieties under Islamabad conditions.

4. Evaluation of pear (Pyrus communis L) germplasm under Islamabad conditions.

5. Effect of timing of NPK fertilizer application on the growth and yield of citurs (cv. Salustiana).

6. Performance of ten guava selection in relation to fruit colour and variability.

7. Evaluation of exotic peach and nectarine germplasm under agro climatical condition of Islamabad.

8. Effect of growth regualtors and seasonal variation on rooting in Litchi (Litchi chinensis) cuttings.

9. Propagation of Avocado (Persea americana Mill) cv. "Fuerte" through cuttings with the use of growth regulators in                greenhouse under mist.

10 Effect of temperature and chemical treatments on seed germination of wild olive (Olea cuspidate wall)

11. In vitro establishment, regeneration and gene transfer studies in commercial cultivars of mango (Mangifera indica L).

12. Effect of pruning on vegetative growth and fruiting in grapes King’s Ruby and Flame seedless.

TECHNOLOGY GENERATED / RESEARCH ACHIEVEMENTS TO-DATE

Following Fruit Varieties Were Identified For Islamabad And Adjoining Pothwar Areas:

Mandarin          Feutrell's Early

Oranges           Blood Red, Musambi, Sukri, Salustiana

Lemons            Eureka Lemon, Chinees Lemon

Lime                Sweet Lime

Peach              Florda King, Early Grand, Florda Prince, Maravilha

Grapes            Flame Seedless, King' Ruby

Apple              Anna, En-Schimmer, Dorset Gold

Plum                Santa Rosa, Beauty, Ozark Gold

Strawberry       Toro, Chandler, Cruz

Pear                 Dr. Julius, Narc-1

Olive                Uslu,Gemlik, Nucella Del Belice, Biancolilla, Pendolino, Leccino

Guava

Propagated through shoot tip cuttings using 3000 ppm Indole Butaric Acid (IBA) under mist (65% rooting success)

Peach

Propagated through semi hardwood and hardwood cuttings using Indole Butaric Acid (IBA) @ 3000 ppm under mist. (90% rooting success).

Olive

Propagated through softwood/tip cutting using 3000 ppm Indole Butaric Acid (IBA) under mist (85% rooting success)

Top-working technique of cultivated varieties on old tree was standardized to change the unproductive variety with cultivar having desirable characteristics.