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If there is scarcity of food, potato can come to the rescue because of its virtue of high yielding (40-50 t/ha) and is a staple food. It produces more calories per unit area and per unit time than any other major food crops. Potato which is the staple food of Europeans and Americans belong to the highlands of Andean mountainous regions of Peru and Bolivia where it has been cultivated since 6000 years.
 
Origin: Peru, Bolivia. Many wild species occur at Mexico and Central America. Potato was introduced to Europe in 16th century by Spaniards (Salaman, 1966) and in early 17th century to India most probably by Portuguese. There are some suggestions based on linguistic and botanical evidences that potato might have been introduced in India directly from South America across the Pacific Ocean. Earlier potatoes were grown in hilly areas of North and South since British settlers brought the varieties continuously from UK and these were bred for long day temperate conditions of Europe. But in India potatoes are grown in short day-subtropical plains. The seed stocks used to degenerate due to accumulation of viruses and loose their yield potentiality. Seed potatoes were mainly imported from Europe i.e. U.K., Italy and Netherlands and Burma till the beginning of Second World War and the imports gradually reduced.

Disease appears later part of the crop season mostly during blossoming period. The first sign of the disease is the appearance of small brown patches on the leaves mostly on basal leaves which starts from tip or margin of leaves and spread downwards or inward directions.

Potato, Solanum tuberosum L. under the family Solanaceae (Chromosome No. 2n = 4x = 48) is the world’s most important vegetable crop and the fourth most important food crop after rice, wheat and maize. They contain a wealth of health benefits that make them essential as a staple dietary item for much of the world’s population. It is valuable both as a fresh product and as a processed product, and the current trend is for rapid growth in processed forms, mainly chips and French fries. It is now grown in nearly 150 countries. It is extensively cultivated in China, Russia, Ukarine, Poland, Ireland, Great Britain, Germany, Netherlands, France, Spain, South America, India and USA.
Origin, domestication and adaptation in India
Potato is a native of tropical South American region where it grows wild in nature and presents the widest diversity of forms like, tuber shape, size, colour, taste, etc. Cultivated diploid potatoes are believed to have originated in the high plateau region of Peru and Bolivia in South America, more specifically the Lake Titicaca basin in the Peru-Bolivian region (Simmonds, 1976).

ABSTRACT

Biofertilizers can supplement the chemical nutrients and helps in reducing the production expenditure in agriculture. Crop biofertilization with microbial consortia is an important strategy to improve the physical, chemical and biological conditions of the soil. The facultative methylotrophs are capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen, besides it produces phytohormones viz; IAA, GA and cytokinin, vitamin B₁₂, polysaccharides, PHB, and siderophores. The essential nutrients are considered as the most important, among the factors limiting growth and yield of the tomato crop. The application of adequate amount of fertilizers is a pre-requisite for exploiting the genetic potential of tomato variety. Therefore, efficient and economic use of the fertilizer with microbial consortia would help in decreasing the input costs for raising bumper crop.

More number of studies carried out on the effect of facultative methylotrophs in different parts of the world and in India. The results confirmed that the facultative methylotrophs have a greater importance in increasing the growth and yield of various crop plants. Keeping this in view an experiment was conducted to find out the interaction effect of facultative methylotrophs with other bioinoculants viz., Azospirillum, Azotobacter, PSB and VAM (by seedling dip method followed by PPFM phyllosphere spray) on yield of tomato var Ruchi. The results showed that the treatment with above microbial consortia (50.71 t/ha) was found to increase the yield of the tomato crop by 62.73 percent over uninoculated control (18.90 t/ha) and individual treatments.

The hot arid regions of India are spread over 32 million hectares in the states of Rajasthan (61%), Gujarat (20%), Punjab (5%), Haryana (4%), Karnataka (3%) and Andhra Pradesh (7%). The arid regions of western Rajasthan experience an annual rain fall between 100-500 mm with a coefficient of variations varying from 40-70 per cent. Low and erratic rainfall coupled with extreme temperature results in complete or partial crop failure, considerably affects the agricultural economy of the region. High wind velocity causes wind erosion and shifting of sand dunes covers the fertile agricultural land and canals (Rao and Singh,1998). The rise in temperature begins from March onward and attains its peak in May as high as 46°C. The transpiration is low during winters but during summer in months (May & June), it reaches up to 16 mm per day. The annual estimated potential evapotranspiration values ranges from 1600 mm in eastern part and 1800 mm in western part of the region.

In the arid regions of Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and eastern part of arid Gujarat the soils have developed from alluvial and aeolian parent materials. In context to the type of soils light brown sandy soils with dune dominance is 30.6 per cent and associated others 34 per cent area, light brown soils 1.7 per cent, Grey brown soils 13.6 per cent hard pan in 5.9 per cent and seirozems in 1.7 per cent area (Dhir, 1977). Kolarker et al. (1989) reported that in 12 district of Rajasthan sandy soils dominated in 14.3 million ha. These soils are poor in fertility very low organic carbon (0.03-0.1%), light in texture called desert soils (north western) in the order of aridisols. It has undulated topography with the dominance of sand dunes inter-dunal plains. About 80 per cent area falls under rain fed cropping and moth bean, cluster bean, pearl millet, and sesame are the main crops grown during kharif season after the onset of monsoon. Under the vagaries of monsoon and recurrent drought the rain fed cropping becomes a gamble, which creates severe food and fodder scarcity in the region.

ABSTRACT

To study the antagonistic potential of rhizobacteria against the soil borne pathogen Rhizoctonia solani, soil bacteria were isolated from the rice fields of Agricultural Research Station, Mannuthy and screened against R. solani. Out of the 22 rhizosphere bacteria, 10 were found to be antagonistic to R. solani. Seven belonged to the genera Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Clostridium and Sporosarcina and the rest three being unidentified. The bacterial isolates viz., 2B, 4B, 19B (Bacillus sp.), 28B and 10B (Sporosarcina sp.) showed increase in inhibition on extending the period of incubation. Maximum inhibition was expressed by 2B on the third day of inoculation followed by 4B, 10B (Sporosarcina sp.), 7B (Bacillus sp.) and Pseudomonas fluorescens. The bacterial isolate 4B and 7B (Bacillus sp.) and 10B (Sporosarcina sp.) completely prevented the sclerotial production of R. solani whereas 1B (Clostridium sp.), 2B, 19B (Bacillus sp.) and P. fluorescens delayed the sclerotial production. Pot culture studies also confirmed the superiority of these rhizobacteria in controlling the infection by R. solani. The potentiality of these rhizobacterial antagonists can be exploited for the management of soil borne pathogens like R. solani.

1. INTRODUCTION

The terms antioxidants and free radicals are being very effective used nutritionists and other health professionals. Antioxidants are compounds are good for health and free radicals are harmful. In general, antioxidants neutralize free radicals that are generated in the body and prevent damage to cell proteins, lipids and carbohydrates. Antioxidants can be water-soluble or lipid-soluble, thus they exist within the lipid or within the water portion of cells. Antioxidants are substances when present in food or in body at low concentration retards or prevents undesirable oxidation of substrates by free radicals.

Within the human body, millions of processes are occurring at all times. All cells require oxygen to generate energy; higher eukaryotic organisms cannot exist without oxygen. Unfortunately, that same life giving oxygen can create harmful side effects which cause cell damage and lead to chronic disease. Damage caused by free radicals is called oxidation. Oxidative stress is the disturbance in the prooxidant-antioxidant balance in favour of the former, leading to the potential damage.

In tropics, many crops are grown for their edible roots or tubers. Broad group of “tuber crops” encompasses a wide range of starchy food crops, some of which are true botanical roots and some others are stem tubers or corms. In global scenario, they are in a neglected state mainly due to their negative image as poor people’s food. They are highly perishable and are normally consumed locally in fresh or home processed state. It is time to bring out the positive attributes of these important foods and the increased contribution they can make to the nutritional welfare, food security and economic wellbeing of people, especially in developing countries.

Potting and repotting is an essential practice to be done in a nursery to maintain the expected vigour of the plant. When a seedling from a seedbed or plant from a flat bed or raised bed is planted in a pot, it is called potting. The same term is utilized when the bulbs of bulbous plants are planted in a pot. When a plant is transferred from one pot to another pot, it is called repotting. At the time of repotting the plants may be planted in a large pot or in the same sized pot. Repotting is necessary when

1. Plant is grown for a season or a year in the same pot and becomes pot bound resulting in extensive growth of roots in rooting media and there is very little scope for further fresh growth.
2. When a plant is overgrown and requires separation or division.
3. When soil gets depleted of its nutrients.
4. Repotting affords an opportunity to the roots to form a new root growth, as repotted soil contains sufficient amounts of nutrients and good aeration.

Purpose- Burnt porous clay or cement or plastic pots are commonly used for various purposes in horticulture. The pots are used in propagation or plants, cultivation of ornamental plants and flowering annuals. Growing of plants in pots in referred as pot-culture. In pot-culture, operations such as potting, shifting and filling of pots are very important. Potting refers to planting of plants in pots containing soil mixture, while shifting means removal of plants from pots and planting them again in the same or different pot. Plants growing for more than one year in the same pot need shifting. The time for potting and shifting of plants is monsoon season (July to Sept.) and during spring (Feb-March).

Materials and Equipments-Flower pots, crocks (broken pieces of pots), potting mixture, khurpi and watering can (with fine nozzle).

1. EXPERIMENT 1 : INDUSTRIAL USES OF IMPORTANT CHEMICALS

Wide hybridization (interspecific/intergeneric) is basically attemped to introduce new genetic variability from wild or distantly related species into cultivated ones or to synthesize new plant type/s like Triticale and Raphanobrassica. Majority of the commercial crop plants are usually deficient for one or the other desirable traits which are usually available in their wild relatives. However, crossability between commercial varieties and their wild relatives is very limited which is naturally imposed by certain genetically controlled reproductive barriers. These reproductive barrier/s usually operate either at pre or post fertilization stage/s in plant species (Stebbins1958). Since a species is constituted of individuals who share a common gene pool, reproduce among themselves only / exchange genes and share a common habitat. Hence at natural level gene flow remains strictly confined only among members of a particular species otherwise among the members of unrelated species a genetic barrier exists to create reproductive isolation. Therefore, wide crossing basically requires the overcoming of such barriers whch are imposed by temporal and spatial isolation of parents. The reproductive isolation consists of premating and post mating isolation mechanisms like habitat isolation or geographical isolation, sexual isolation and mechanical barrier depending upon incompatibility or mismatching of ganitalia (animals). Sexual isolation in animal kingdom is usually enforced by type of sexual displays and mating calls which are attractivce only to particular members of a species , however other potential intermating species also do exist in the same habitat or locality at that particular period of time.

Flower is symbol of beauty and by nature attracts every human being. It is a gift of nature to humanity. Flowers symbolize the quintessence of human spirit. In India, losses are estimated to be more than 30-35%. It is due to the lack of knowledge of postharvest management of cut flowers. Several factors at pre harvest stage including genetic or inherent, climatic or environmental and management harvest factors like stage, method, time of harvesting and postharvest factors such as watering, rehydration, precooling, storage environment, packaging techniques and microorganisms influence the postharvest quality and longevity of cut flowers.

Preharvest factors

1. Genetic or inherent makeup: Postharvest lasting quality of flower species and cultivars vary considerably due to differences in their genetic make up. It is therefore desirable to grow cultivars, which possess long vaselife. 

1. INTRODUCTION

Since vedic times, importance of fermented milk and its products was known but the major attention to probiotic and its health related benefits was gained after Eli Metchnikoff’s publication entitled “The prolongation of life” in 1908. Due to the awareness of the role of nutrition in health and well-being, improved knowledge of diet-related diseases, consumer demand for probiotic and prebiotic products has been increased in recent years. The link between diet and health is flourishing the market for health-embracing population and opens an opportunity for Food and Dairy Industries meet the demand of this market. Probiotics, constituting live micro organisms, have been incorporated into drinks, food products, supplements (tablets, capsules and freeze–dried preparations) and prebiotic products. Milk, milk based products, fruits and vegetables are rich in functional food components such as minerals, vitamins, dietary fibers, and antioxidants (phytochemicals). Application of probiotic bacteria in such products further enhances the nutritional value of the food product. Probiotic juices produced from fruits and vegetables have also been in consideration in recent years. The food market is being getting captured by pro- and prebiotic food products day-by-day. Even the agro-industrial by-products such as whey, wheat straw, rice straw, sugarcane bagasse, etc. are being explored for the economical and cost effective production of prebiotic molecules. Thus, this chapter gives a comprehensive overview of pro- and prebiotics and their market potential.

INTRODUCTION

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the major food crops whichrecorded total globalproduction of 388.1million metrictonnes(mt) in 2017-18. Out of the major staple food crops, potato production (388.1mt) is exceeded only by maize (1077.98 mt), wheat (761.88 mt) and rice (494.88 mt) (FAOSTAT, 2017). According to the three years (2012-2014)averages,globally, India ranks 3^rdin area and 2^ndin terms of production nextto China. Thenutritional quality, high productivity and acquiescence for inclusion in intensive cropping systems of this shortduration crop reflects its great potentialin modern agriculture to feed theexponentiallyrisingpopulationin the developingcountries. But, theintensive cultivation of potato crops urges increased use of fertilizers, pesticides and other chemicals leading to high input costs with plateauingyields. Blanket dose of fertilizers as well as imbalance use of nutrientsnot only increases the cost of farm inputs but also degrades soil condition and causes severe environment pollution. Indiscriminate use of insecticide as well as fungicide is verycommon in potato crop which contaminate the environment and deteriorate product quality. Therefore, the chemical inputs need to be optimised based on actual requirement of the crops for sustainable crop production. Furthermore, potato production is associated witha high tillagepractices, number of tillage operation would depend on soiltype, previous crop etc.

Precision agriculture is yet to be popularized for taking its enormous advantages. In laser land levelling and micro irrigation/ fertigation it must have made its prominence but others it is with research institutes where research is focussed on the spatial variability of production environments, development of efficient and suitable data management systems, efficiency of various types of image analyses and optical sensing, efficiency of sensors and related technologies, designs of precision agriculture equipment, optimal inputs and service uses, and their spatial allocations, potentials of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), nanotechnologies and several others.The adoptions of precision-agriculture technologies have, so far, mostly been limited to parts of developed countries. Major contributions to the profitability of precision agriculture is reduced costs of plant protection inputs and higher output revenues.

1.1 INTRODUCTION

The share of agriculture in GDP is sharp declining. Its share which was 55.1 per cent in 1950-51 came down to 21.6 per cent in 2003-04 and it further reduced down standing barely at 14.6 per cent in 2009-10. Horticulture acconts for 29 per cent share in gross GDP obtained from agriculture sector from about 13.08 per cent area put forth under horticultural plantations (Anon., 2010). To achieve the targetted growth rate of 4 per cent in agriculture, horticulture has to grow at the accelerated growth rate above 7 per cent. As a result of R&D initiatives made, there has been considerable increase in horticultural produce which is acclaimed as golden revoution. Horticulture sector has emerged as the frontier area in dealing with the situation of livelihood security and the employment generation. However, looking to the pressure arising from rising population and erratic climatic variation, more attention is required towards the development of technology driven horticulture. Precision farming is being viewed as a promise in this regard.

Precision farming is the process by which exact or accurate results of farming can be obtained. It is a management strategy that relies upon detailed, site specific information to precisely manage production inputs.

Maximisation of quality yield by managing site variable specific management practices is the basic of precision farming. More emphasis needs to be given to make the farming sustainable. In order to make precision farming a reality the following area needs due consideration.

Precision farming manages spatial and temporal variability within fields through targeted, data-driven interventions. Onion is particularly suited to precision management because its productivity and quality are sensitive to moisture, nutrients, environmental stress, pests and diseases. This chapter describes applications of GIS, GPS, variable-rate technology, IoT, cloud platforms, drones, remote sensing, multispectral imaging, smart sensors, artificial intelligence, automated systems and crop-response models. These technologies support soil assessment, field preparation, irrigation, fertilization, crop monitoring, stress detection, protection, yield estimation, harvesting and storage. Their potential to reduce input waste and improve profitability is considered alongside constraints involving investment costs, technical knowledge, connectivity, accessibility and data privacy.

Introduction

• Agriculture with its allied activities is the largest sector in India with 70% dependency of its rural households for their livelihood and 82% of farmers in the country are small and marginal.
• Agriculture sector alone contributes about 14.5% towards gross domestic product (GDP) of India.
• Food grain production has experienced a considerable jump from about 51 million tonne during 1950 to 291.95 million tonne in 2019-20 as per second advance estimates. The production of horticulture products has doubled over the past quarter century and the value of global trade in horticulture crops now exceeds that of cereals. For the first time, horticulture production surpassed food production in India during 2013-14 and continues to excel currently.
• India is characteristically a country of small agricultural farms, where approximately 80% of total land holdings in the country are less than 2 ha (5 acres) with 30% irrigated land only.
• India produces wide variety of agricultural products because of its varied agro-climatic regions but low farm productivity is major concern, which is around 33% of the best agricultural farms world over. Indian farmers can get more remuneration from the same piece of land with fewer inputs, once the productivity gets increased.

Introduction

An revolutionary method of agricultural management, precision agriculture (or precision farming) optimises each step of the farming process using data-driven tactics and cutting-edge technology. By adapting agricultural methods to the unique requirements of each field—or even just a tiny portion of a field—precision agriculture aims to increase efficiency, decrease resource waste, and boost crop yields. To accurately monitor and control aspects including soil conditions, crop health, and environmental variables, this technique integrates technologies like as GPS technology, remote sensing, IoT devices, and data analytics.