Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, also known as CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University (CSK HPKV), formerly Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, is an agricultural university at Palampur in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It was established on 1 November 1978 as an expansion of the existing College of Agriculture established in May 1966. Hill agriculture is the focus of this university. The university is accredited by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).Capital works investments for the university's land and facilities were provided by state government grants, and grants from the ICAR. In the 2004–05 academic year, approximately 63% of CSK HPKV's annual operating expenditure was funded by HP state government grants, and a further 29% covered by ICAR grants. The remaining funding came from fees collected and other sources.
A comprehensive study was carried out in an effort to evaluate the genetic diversity of the 96 exotic quinoa cultivars in the North-Western Himalayas, using three quality indices (amino acids, saponin and crude protein content) and 27 agro-morphological traits. In comparison to the check variety Himshakti, nine genotypes (EC-896091, EC-896099, EC-896102, EC-896111, EC-896114, EC-896202, EC-896206, EC-896218 and EC-896224, respectively) were significantly superior for seed yield and other yield traits. Molecular analysis using 96 SSR markers revealed 55 polymorphic markers, with an average of 2.3 alleles per primer. PIC values ranged from 0.041 to 0.680 with a mean value of 0.446. Six genetic clusters were formed using the neighbor-joining analysis. The Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCoA) divided the genotypes into five populations, explaining 44.11
Climate change and associated environmental stresses increasingly threaten crop productivity by intensifying pathogen and pest pressure. Plants respond to these challenges through sophisticated defense mechanisms in which secondary metabolites play a central role. Plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) contribute to resistance against biotic stress by inhibiting pathogen growth, deterring herbivores, and modulating defense signaling pathways. Their accumulation and activity are regulated through transcriptional and metabolic reprogramming following pathogen perception. Recent studies have demonstrated that the defensive functions of major PSM classes, including phenolics, terpenoids, and alkaloids, are controlled by complex regulatory networks involving transcription factors, phytohormonal crosstalk, and synergistic metabolite interactions. Advances in metabolomics, transcriptomics, and genome-editing technologies have enhanced understanding of the biosynthetic regulation, spatial-temporal dynamics, and coordinated deployment of PSMs during plant-pathogen interactions. These insights highlight the integration of metabolic pathways with immune signaling processes. Transcription factors function as key regulators integrating stress perception with metabolic and defense responses, thereby modulating growth-defense trade-offs under biotic stress. Despite extensive characterization of PSM, the molecular mechanisms underlying their interactions with pathogens and their roles in resistance activation remain incompletely understood. In view of the environmental limitations of chemical pesticides, plant-derived metabolites offer a promising basis for sustainable disease management. This review synthesizes recent advances in the regulation and function of secondary metabolites in plant immunity, highlighting key knowledge gaps and opportunities for their application in environmentally sound plant protection strategies.
The rapid advancement of technology underscores the urgency of addressing the challenges posed by population growth and the critical need for increased crop production in the near future. With climate change casting a long shadow over agricultural practices, the path forward is becoming increasingly clear. Strategies based on nanotechnology have shown great promise, offering effective solutions that complement and enhance existing approaches to crop production, ensuring sustainability in the face of environmental challenges. The future of agriculture must be reinforced by well‐characterized technological approaches, and nanotechnology stands out as a key solution with immense potential. Plant genetic engineering, the backbone of agriculture, can benefit tremendously from nanoscale innovations, leading to groundbreaking practical outcomes. Nanotechnology is proving its worth by enhancing tolerance to both abiotic and biotic stresses, delivering target molecules in a controlled manner, improving seed priming, and offering more reliable solutions in pesticide and fertilizer applications. However, the successful implementation of nano‐based strategies comes with its own set of challenges, risks, and gaps that must be continuously addressed to drive further improvements. Recently, concerns about nanotechnology residues and their potential impact on human health and environmental safety have been raised. Therefore, a thorough review of the materials and strategies at play is necessary to strengthen the scientific foundation for nanotechnology's application in agriculture.
Broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica Plenck) is gaining recognition as a high-value dietary supplement crop in India, especially in the northwestern part of the Himalayas, where a cool climate favors off-season cultivation. However, the limited genetic diversity in Indian broccoli breeding programs has hindered the development of high-yielding, adaptable varieties with robust stress resistance. This necessitates the exploitation of heterosis to overcome low productivity, address susceptibility to biotic and abiotic stresses, and enhance the overall commercial viability of domestically developed hybrids. This study assessed the heterotic potential and combining ability of newly developed 15 F1 hybrids, derived from three cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) lines and five restorer lines, using a modified line × tester design. The hybrids, along with their parental lines and a commercial check, were evaluated for 14 horticultural traits during rabi, 2022–24 at two distinct locations using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Significant genotypic variation (p ≤ 0.05, p ≤ 0.01) was observed for most traits, and the genetic variance of specific combining ability (σ2SCA) surpassed that of general combining ability (σ2GCA), indicating the predominance of non-additive gene action. Among the parental lines, DPBP-2 and DPBP-6 have emerged as promising general combiners, whereas hybrids DPBH-18, DPBH-22, DPBH-21, DPBH-11, and DPBH-12 have demonstrated high SCA effects and desirable heterosis for head yield. These findings highlight the potential of public-sector broccoli hybrids in boosting productivity in hilly agroecosystems. Nonetheless, challenges such as limited genetic diversity and environmental specificity need to be addressed. Future research should focus on multi-location trials, resistance to biotic stress, and genomic-assisted breeding to achieve greater adaptability. These hybrids lay the groundwork for advancing broccoli development in India using sustainable regional breeding strategies.
The long-term effects of integrated nutrient management (INM) on crop performance and soil health—particularly within sub-humid environments—remain insufficiently explored. This research aimed to quantify the relationship between the soil quality index (SQI) and overall system productivity. The SQI represents a numerical indicator of soil functioning and its biological and chemical integrity, while system productivity reflects the economic yield generated by the cropping system. A long-term experiment initiated in 1972 formed the foundation for this study, which was conducted from 2019 to 2021 and included eleven nutrient management treatments. These comprised the following treatments: inorganic fertilizers alone (100% NPK, 150% NPK, 100% NP, 100% N, and 100% NPK without sulfur); combinations of organic and inorganic inputs (50% NPK + FYM and 100% NPK + FYM); lime with inorganic fertilizers (100% NPK + lime); zinc with inorganics (100% NPK + Zn); hand weeding with inorganics (100% NPK + HW); an unfertilized control. The study was implemented in a maize–wheat rotation under the sub-humid climatic conditions of Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, India. System productivity was estimated using wheat grain equivalent yield, and SQI values were generated from selected soil properties. These indicators—along with the sustainable yield index (SYI)—were applied to assess the effectiveness of each treatment. The results showed that the 100% NPK + FYM combination produced the highest SQI, followed by 100% NPK + lime, whereas the 100% N treatment yielded the lowest value. Overall, the findings highlight the crucial role of adopting sustainable nutrient management practices to maintain soil quality and optimize productivity in sub-humid agricultural systems.
