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It is used in the control of bacterial leaf spots, blights, and cankers mostly on fruits crops and ornamentals. The Bordeaux mixture, however, can cause burning of leaves or russeting of fruit such as apples when applied in cool, wet weather. The phytotoxicity of Bordeaux is reduced by increasing the ratio of hydrated lime to copper sulfate. Copper is the only ingredient in the Bordeaux mixture that is toxic to pathogens and, sometimes, to plants, whereas the role of lime is primarily that of a “safener.”

Plant viruses cause severe crop losses worldwide. Conventional control strategies, such as cultural methods and biocide applications have limited success at mitigating the impact of plant viruses.

Nematodes are multicellular, unsegmented, bilaterally symmetrical roundworms belonging to pseudocoelomates class of creatures. Many of them are parasites of plants. Different crops species are susceptible to several species of plant parasitic nematodes which limits the yield and quality of the food harvest. Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.), foliar nematodes (Aphelenchoides spp.), root-lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus spp.) reniform nematodes (Rotylenchulus spp.) and other ectoparasitic nematodes are the important nematodes species to infect the crop plants.

The algae associated with the plants belongs to the Order Trentepohliales (Ulvophyceae, Chlorophyta). These are filamentous green algae parasitic to higher plants, generally causing minor diseases characterized by negligible leaf spots, but on certain crops, in moist environments, these algal diseases can cause economic injury to plant leaves, fruits, and stems (Nelson, 2008).

Protozoan parasites are Trypanosomatids of the class Kinetoplastida predominately restricted to invertebrate hosts (i.e. possess a monoxenous lifecycle). However, several genera are pathogenic to humans, animals and plants, and have an invertebrate vector that facilitates their transmission (i.e. possess a dixenous life-cycle).

Seed is a basic input to raise the crop plants. Healthy seeds produces the healthy crop. However, the seed carries different pathogens either externally or sometimes internally in the seed to affect the seed emergence and healthy seedling growth. Therefore, the seed treatment with fungicides/bactericides, based on the infection of the pathogen, is highly essential to counter the attack and infection of these pathogens to the germinating seedlings.

Proper selection of plant health medicines like fungicide, bactericide, antibiotics, algaecide, viricide, nematicide, weedicide, plant harmones and auxins and its application at the correct dose and the proper time are highly essential for the management of plant health. The basic requirement of an application method is that it delivers the chemical to the site where the active compound will prevent the pathogen/pest damaging the plant. 

Plant growth regulators or phytohormones are organic substances produced naturally in higher plants, controlling growth or other physiological functions at a site remote from its place of production and active in minute amounts. Thimmann in1948 proposed the term Phytohormone as these hormones are synthesized in plants (Thimmann, 1963).

Anti-transpirants are usually foliar sprays, although they may sometimes be used more conveniently as dips for immersing the above ground plant parts. Foliar sprays may reduce transpiration in three different ways

The use of flower inducers stimulates flower growth during the resting year so the tree produces annually. Flower inducers can also increase the number of viable blooms during the natural fruit producing year, for an increase in production. These can also be used on varieties that provide a crop every year, to boost harvest.

Fruit drop just before harvest is a serious problem for various crop varieties. The severity of fruit drop is influenced by several factors but plant stress and premature ethylene production is at the basis of true physiological drop. Stress factors such as late season heat, primary and secondary pest infestation, and nutrient imbalance or deficiency, and heavy summer pruning, all can contribute to drop.

Sixteen chemical elements are known to be important for a plant growth, their metabolic activities and survival. These can be divided in to two main groups

Medicines used for controlling insect pests are known as Pesicides which have assumed great importance in today’s high yielding and intensive agricultural system as well as public health programme, all over the world. The term pesticide is an all-inclusive word meaning killer of pests and includes substances used for controlling, preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest.

Pyrethrum is the most widely used botanical insecticide. The active ingredient, pyrethrin, is extracted from a chrysanthemum plant, grown primarily in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Ecuador. Pyrethrum is the powdered, dried flower head of the pyrethrum daisy, Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium.

Nereistoxin (NTX) was originated from a marine annelid worm Lumbriconereis heteropoda and its analogue pesticides (table 51) including cartap, bensultap, thiocyclam and thiobensultap have been commonly used in agriculture, because of their low toxicity and high insecticidal activity.

Slugs and snails occasionally cause serious damage to seedlings, tender, lowgrowing leafy vegetables; or ripening fruit that are on the ground. Feeding damage, hollowed-out areas, can be found anywhere on fruit, but is usually concentrated near the stem. Slugs leave a tell tale slime trail (silvery trail) behind on the surface of fruit or leaves.

The application of insecticide to control a particular crop pest should have options of the pesticides, as some may be less effective than other due to various reasons.

Many chemical and visual lures attract insects and therefore can be used as attractants to monitor or directly catch and reduce insect populations. These attractants are used in ways that do not injure other animals or humans or result in residues on foods or feeds, and can be used in an environmentally sound manner in pest management programs.

A number of plant substances have been considered for use as insect antifeedants or repellents, but apart from some natural mosquito repellents, little commercial success has ensued for plant substances that modify arthropod behavior. Several factors appear to limit the success of botanicals, most notably regulatory barriers and the availability of competing products that are cost-effective and relatively safe compared with their predecessors.

Weeds can be defined as plants which are undesirable, persistent, damaging and interfere with growth of other crop plants thus affecting agriculture, natural resources and economy of the country. These plants influence the produce of farmers in several ways.

Biological control or biocontrol is a method of controlling pests such as insects, mites, weeds and plant diseases using other organisms. It relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or other natural mechanisms, but typically also involves an active human management role. It can be an important component of integrated pest management (IPM) programs.

The United States of America (USA), European Union (EU), Brazil and China are four of the largest agricultural producers and users of agricultural pesticides in the world. Comparing the inclination and ability of different regulatory agencies to ban or eliminate pesticides that have the most potential for harm to humans and the environment can provide a glimpse into the effectiveness of each nation’s pesticide regulatory laws and oversight.

Crop: Plants grown in association, sown (or planted) and also harvested by human being, are collectively known as crop.
Crop plants have some economic values and there is an interaction or competition among the plants.

System is a set of principles or procedures according to which management is done; it is an organized scheme or method. A system is a group of interrelated or interacting elements (crops or livestock) that act according to a set of rules to form a unified whole.

Definition: Agro-forestry is a land use system where woody perennials (or trees) are deliberately grown in conjunction with field crops, horticultural crops and pasture, with the objective of meeting various requirements of the farmers from the farm; it also acts as an insurance against the risk of uncertain / abnormal weather condition

The main objective of cropping system is to utilize the available resources in an efficient manner. There are several indices to evaluate the yield advantage of cropping system and also to compare the efficiency of different cropping system in terms of land use.

Till date, there is no complete agreement on the terms used in cropping system. An attempt was made to standardize the terms and their usage at the symposium on Multiple Cropping held by the American Society of Agronomy, in Knoxville, Tennessee, during August, 1975. Some definitions published in the proceeding (Andrews and Kassam, 1976) which forms the basis for the improvement and additions of definitions made subsequently (Francis, 1989). The terms commonly used in cropping system and their definitions are given in the following paragraphs.

‘Hydroponics’ technique was first developed on commercial scale as early as in 1930 by

A. De. Condole             B. J.D. Hooker

C. W.F. Greicke            D. Hugo De Vries

The response of a plant to the relative length of day and night is called as

A. Photosynthesis      B. Phytochrome

C. Photoperiodism     D. Photo respiration

Plant propagation by means of seed is called ________ propagation.

A. Sexual          B. Parthenocarpy

C. Asexual        D. Apomixis

Organic soils contain _____ % or more of organic matter.

A. 10       B. 15

C. 20      D. 30

The practice of smoking the trees to induce off-season crops in mango is

A. Smudging      B. Bending

C. Ringing         D. Notching

India ranks ___________ in area and production of vegetables in the world.

A. First           B. Second

C. Third         D. Fourth

The scientific horticulture consists of the following divisions. Among them, which division has impact on environment aesthetically and functionally

A. Fruits         B. Flowers

C. Spices       D. Plantations

The products of the plants which are used as food adjuncts to add taste only is called

A. Spices                   B. Medicinal plants

C. Aromatic plants     D. Condiments

Where is the Central Institute for Medicinal & Aromatic Plants situated at?

A. Srinagar        B. Bengaluru

C. Anand           D. Lucknow

The storage life of fresh lemon at 10ºC is

A. 6-10 weeks           B. 10-15 weeks

C. 12-20 weeks        D. 12-16 weeks

———————— is a thornless and seedless selection from Kagzi lime.

A. Pramalini            B. Vikram

C. Chakradhar        D. Jai devi

I. Scope and Importance of Horticulture
• The total Geographical area of India is 328.73 ha which stands seventh position in the world.
• India’s population is about 138.5 crores as on November 5, 2020 (UN data) which stands second in the world after China.
• Population depends on agriculture is around 55-70%.
• The term Horticulture derived from two Latin words, Hortus - Garden, Cultura - Cultivation.
• Protected enclosures are used to grow vegetables, flowers and ornamental plants etc

I. Importance of Growth and Development
• Growth is an irreversible increase in size and evaluated by mass length and height, surface area or volume.
• Growth is produced by cell division in meristem.
• Root and shoot of vascular cambium are meristematic.
• Apical meristem of root and shoot is developed during embryo development.
• Plant growth is determinate (leaves, flowers, fruits) or indeterminate (root, stem).
• Monocarpic species flowers only once and die.
• Polycarpic species after flowering return to vegetative and flower at once before drying.
• Monocarpic annuals – monocarpic species lives for only one year/one season. Eg. Marigold, cosmos etc.

1. Propagation
• Multiplication of plants is termed as propagation.
• Aim to achieve increase in number and preserve essential characteristics of mother plant.
• Most of the horticultural crops are propagated through vegetative means.
• Two types of propagation
• Sexual propagation - through seeds which is formed by sexual reproduction
• Asexual propagation - through vegetative parts or organs of a plant.

1.1. Establishment of orchard
• A long term investment and deserves a very critical planning.
1.1.1. Location and site
• Well established fruit growing region, because one could get benefit of experience of other growers.
• Market should be close to the area with assured demand.
• Climate should be suitable to grow the chosen fruit crops; free from cyclones, frost, hailstorms and strong hot winds.
• Adequate and good quality water supply should be available round the year.

1.1. Origin and distribution
• South East Asia, with the greatest number of species found in Borneo, Java, Sumatra, and Malay Peninsula.
1.2. Varieties
• Neelum, Bangalora, Alphonso, Rumani, Banganapalli, Kalepad, Peter, PKM 1, PKM 2, Senthura, Jahangir, Mulgoa, Himayuddin, Paiyur 1, Mallika, Amrapali, Salem Bangalora, Arka Anmol, Arka Aruna, Arka Neelkiran, Arka Puneeth, Sindhu, Ratna and Arka Suprabath

The word data means facts or information, specifically collected by the researcher through observation or measurement from which meaningful conclusions are drawn. Data may be of qualitative or quantitative types:
Qualitative data are descriptive/qualitative in nature and can be statistically analyzed only after processing and after having them classified into some appropriate categories.
Quantitative data are expressed in the form of numerals and are amenable to statistical analysis readily.
Primary data are those which are collected afresh and for the first time, specifically for the designated study.

Demonstrations
Demonstration means showing by doing. The basic principle of Demonstration is learning by seeing and doing. The concept of demonstration was given by Dr. Seeman A. Knapp. Farmers like to see how a new idea works, both purposes can be achieved by means of a farm demonstration. A good, practical demonstration is an invaluable method in extension work. The demonstration is a particularly powerful method to use with farmers who do not read easily. There are two principal types of demonstration used by extension agents - method demonstration and result demonstration.

Identification of key communicators
For effective introduction of innovations and transfer of technology among farmers, effective communication is the prime need. An extension worker passes his information more effectively if he communicates with farmers/livestock owners through local leaders and key communicators.
Leader:  Is a person who effectively influences a group to cooperate in setting and achieving the goal.
Leadership: Leadership is a process by which an individual influence, guide and direct the thought, feelings and impressions in desired way.
Key communicators: Key communicator is a person who has maximum information about his society and vicinity area on different aspects.

“Audio-Visual aids are those instructional devices that may be used by a communicator in order to facilitate better understanding on the parts of learner by involving their many senses, particularly those relating to seeing and hearing”.
As a potential link between research institutions and livestock owners the extension agent must have good skills in effectively communicating with various stakeholders which include policy makers, researchers, input suppliers, market agents, credit institutions etc.

Overhead Projector
Principles of Over Head Projector (OHP)
A projector, which projects the image over the head of an instructor on the screen, is called OHP. It worked on the principle of indirect projection. With the use of lens of short focal length and two mirrors the picture is reflected on the screen. The drawing, diagram, letter (may be in colour or in black and white) etc. are made on transparent sheet and are put on the glass platform of the OHP, through which strong light is passed. The rays of light are converged by a lens and reflected by a mirror held at an angle of 45°.

Radio script should be prepared in such a way that listener should feel that somebody is talking with him in a friendly manner and with informal style. For this purpose:
1. Collect the material from your experience.
2. Keep the purpose of the script and audience in mind.
3. Decide the method of presentation of information.
4. Considering the time available for the talk, the script should be prepared.
5. Generally we talk two words per seconds and 8 to 10 lines are required per minute having 5-6 words per sentences.
6. Time for talk is always limited hence select one idea at a time never include maximum technical information in the script.
7. Arrange the information in the sequences.
8. Include supporting and illustrated facts.