Amid rising air pollution and urban disconnection from nature, potted plants enhance urban living by improving aesthetics, reducing indoor pollutants, regulating humidity and supporting mental well-being. With growing freshwater demand for non-essential uses like landscape irrigation, sustainable reuse of domestic wastewater offers an effective alternative, especially for non-edible ornamental plants. This study assessed irrigating four ornamental foliage species-Cissus rhombifolia (grape ivy), Plectranthus amboinicus (Cuban oregano), Crassula ovata (jade plant) and Coleus scutellarioides (coleus)-by evaluating morphological, physio-biochemical and soil properties in a 2-year pot experiment. Kitchen wastewater (KWW) enhanced plant performance across multiple indicators compared to groundwater (GW), with treated wastewater (TWW) showing intermediate benefits. Grape ivy, oregano and jade plant adapted best under KWW, whereas coleus performed best with GW. Enhanced physiological responses under KWW and TWW reflected nutrient-driven stimulation without toxicity, supported by improved soil fertility and safe pollution indices, confirming sustainable reuse for irrigation.

Digital extension platforms have emerged as an important means of strengthening last-mile information delivery in Indian agriculture. Kisan Sarathi, a multimodal and interactive ICT-based advisory system, provides personalised, location-specific recommendations to farmers through Krishi Vigyan Kendras. However, empirical evidence on its effectiveness in enhancing farmers’ knowledge remains limited. The present study conducted during 2024–25, evaluated the contribution of Kisan Sarathi advisories in improving farmers’ knowledge of winter (rabi) crop practices using a Difference-in-Difference (DID) approach. Uttar Pradesh was selected purposively due to its high registration on Kisan Sarathi and extensive area under major rabi crops. A total of 300 farmers were surveyed from three districts selected through a stratified two-stage sampling method, comprising equal numbers of users and non-users. A standardised knowledge test was developed through item collection, expert validation, and item analysis, yielding 17 items that were used for pre- and post-intervention assessments. The DID regression model with cluster-robust standard errors was applied to isolate the causal effect of the advisories. The results showed a significant rise in knowledge scores among Kisan Sarathi users compared to non-users, with the post-intervention experimental group coefficient confirming a strong positive effect. Model diagnostics indicated robustness and moderate explanatory power. The findings demonstrated that Kisan Sarathi substantially enhanced farmers’ knowledge by delivering timely, and needbased advisories. The study concluded that digital extension platforms like Kisan Sarathi can play a significant role in bridging information gaps and improving informed decision-making in agriculture, reinforcing their importance in future extension strategies.

This study aims to elucidate the genetic mechanisms that differentiate genotypes that are resistant and susceptible to citrus canker disease. In this study, the highly susceptible acid lime ALC-35 and resistant lemon variety Kagzi Kalan, being contrasted genotypes for citrus canker (Xanthomonas citri pv. citri) disease, were studied to understand the regulation of defense-related genes (PR1, PAL1, NPR3, NDR1, JAR1, CHI, and EDS1), along with the housekeeping gene GAPC2 at various time points, i.e., 0, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h post-inoculation (hpi) after Xcc inoculation under controlled environmental conditions. Simultaneously, we investigated how Xcc-induced stress is managed in contrasting citrus genotypes at 0, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hpi. Of the different genes, the up-regulation of PAL1, JAR1, NPR3, NDR1, and CHI was registered higher in resistant Kagzi Kalan, while the EDS1 and PR1 genes were up-regulated more in the susceptible ALC-35 citrus genotype. The PAL1 gene was expressed the most at 24 hpi, while most genes, including EDS1, CHI, JAR1, NPR3, NDR1, and PR1, were expressed most at 48 hpi. Out of the various defense-related enzymes studied, the highest activities of peroxidase (POX), phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) were studied in resistant Kagzi Kalan lemon at 48 hpi as compared to susceptible ALC-35 at different time points. The current study clearly revealed how defense genes and associated enzymes contribute to Kagzi Kalan lemon resistance. These genes could be utilized as markers to study canker tolerance in citrus genotypes at the seedling stage.

In the present study, interspecific hybrids between pummelo (Citrus maxima Merr.) and sweet orange (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck cv. Mosambi) were developed, and 16 newly developed hybrids, along with their parental genotypes, were evaluated. New interspecific hybrids exhibited wide variations for the fruit quality traits and unique fruit properties. The fruit weight, length, width, peel thickness, core diameter, seed number, juice volume and juice content in new citrus hybrids varied from 296.73 to 562.45 g, 81.07-114.27 mm, 83.03-109.78 mm, 4.01-9.14 mm, 6.31-24.61 mm, 10-64.83, 75.67-197.50 mL and 22.91-48.24 % (w/w), respectively. The total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), TSS/TA ratio, BrimA (Brix minus acid index), reducing sugars, nonreducing sugar, and total sugar content in new hybrids ranged from 8.80 to 11.72 degrees Brix, 0.77-1.81 %, 5.74-12.28, 4.81-8.29, 2.88-4.99 %, 2.88-4.79 %, and 5.77-8.97 %, respectively. Additionally, the hybrids were also evaluated for peel color and sensory properties. Interspecific hybrids exhibited transgressive segregation for the studied physicochemical fruit quality traits. Heritability estimates revealed the underlying genetics of fruit quality traits based on the studied genotypes. Multivariate analysis, Pearson's correlation, and hierarchical clustering revealed key trait differentiation and associations among the hybrids. The hybridization between pummelo and sweet orange has successfully generated promising citrus hybrids. Among the new hybrids, SCSH-11-15/12, SCSH-11-9/13, SCSH-13-17/12, SCSH-9-10/12, and SCSH-17-19/13 were found to be promising based on fruit quality traits, sensory properties, and comparison with their parents, conducted over two seasons. The findings provide valuable insights for the citrus scion improvement program, aimed at enhancing fruit quality to exploit new hybrids for commercial cultivation.

Light and temperature act as key environmental signals that synergistically influence plant growth and development. Strategically manipulating photothermal regimes offers remarkable potential to optimize plant architecture and flowering. The study was carried out during 2023–24 and 2024–25 at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi to evaluate the photomorphogenic and thermomorphogenic responses in Chrysanthemum morifolium cv. Zembla. Plants were subjected to different monochromatic light treatments (W, R, B, RB, and FL) under 15 h of long-day photoperiod across five temperature regimes (24/20°C, 22/2°C, 20/20°C, 18/20°C, and 16/20°C). The research revealed significantly distinctive responses across different morphophysiological and flowering parameters. Morphological results revealed that red light (R, LD15) at 24/20°C significantly increased plant height (92.97 cm) and internodal length (2.73 cm), while, blue light (B, LD15) at 24/20°C enhanced vegetative growth, attributed by maximum leaf number (35.82), leaf area (379.87 cm²), total plant dry weight (10.80 g), and enhanced physiological mechanisms including relative growth rate (0.046 g/g/day) and crop growth rate (2.030 g/m²/day). For flowering responses, blue light accelerated bud induction across all temperatures, with plants under B, LD15 achieving anthesis earlier than alternative spectral treatments. Sub-optimal temperature (16/20°C) under blue light accelerated the induction of visible bud formation and flowering, whereas optimal temperature conditions (24/20°C) under blue light resulted in superior capitulum development characterized by maximum floral diameter (9.97 cm). The synergistic interaction between light and temperature proved to effective for modulating chrysanthemum growth and development, providing valuable insights for optimizing environmentally controlled cultivation practices.

Light and temperature are critical environmental cues that co-ordinately regulate plant developmental trajectories, metabolic processes, and flowering in horticultural systems. The present study examined the morphophysiological and biochemical responses of Chrysanthemum morifolium cv. Zembla to sole-source monochromatic light spectra across diverse temperature regimes. The present study revealed distinctive photomorphogenic and thermomorphogenic adaptations, with blue light under long-day (B, LD15) conditions at 24/20 °C temperature conditions significantly promoted enhanced vegetative growth, increasing leaf area, dry biomass, and photosynthetic performance, accompanied by the highest chlorophyll and protein accumulation. Despite chrysanthemum's classification as a short-day species, plants exposed to distinct monochromatic light spectra during long photoperiods exhibited successful floral induction. Temperature-dependent variations were evident across all measured parameters, where cooler regimes (16/20 °C) induced early bud initiation, elevated osmolyte (TSS and proline) accumulation, and enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities, indicating activation of stress-adaptive mechanisms. Flower quality, particularly capitulum diameter, was superior under B, LD15 at 24/20 °C, highlighting the synergistic effects of optimal temperature and spectral composition. Gene expression analysis revealed coordinated upregulation of CmPHYA, CmCRY1, and CmFTL under blue and red-blue light, concurrent with suppressed CmAFT expression, demonstrating florigen–antiflorigen balance as a key determinant of flowering. These findings elucidate the complex interaction between light and thermal cues in regulating chrysanthemum development via coordinated adjustments in photosynthetic efficiency, redox homeostasis and the florigen/anti-florigen network. The study provides a mechanistic framework for strategic application of monochromatic blue light under controlled temperature conditions can substantially enhance vegetative growth, flower quality and improve physiological and biochemical quality parameters, offering a refined approach for commercial production.

In the present study, a total of 44 Indian walnut germplasms were evaluated for nut and kernel morphometric traits to characterize the seedling selections and study the genetic variability among the accessions. A wide range of variability for nut and kernel quantitative traits was observed. Nut length, nut diameter, nut weight, shell thickness, and the thickness of the dividing membrane, ranged from 30.42-50.04 mm, 28.93-47.87 mm, 8.74-21.68 g, 1.40-2.73 mm, and 0.16-1.42 mm, respectively. The kernel percentage among the studied Indian walnut germplasm ranged from 30.43 to 61.42%. The Bhushan genotype excelled with a shell whiteness index of 51.60, kernel size (similar to CITH-W-1), kernel weight of 12.99 g, and a kernel content of 61.42%. Overall, twelve selections, namely, Bhushan, PAD 1-23, CITH-W-6, CITH-W-8, CITH-W-12, CITH-W-16, CITH-W-17, CITH-W-22, Pusa Khor, W-1, W-2, and Gumma Selection-3, were identified as the most promising genetic resources for the crop improvement programmes.

The aim of the present study was to characterize 58 onion genotypes based on morphological and biochemical traits. Genotypes comprised of landraces, open-pollinated varieties, hybrids and breeding materials. Thirteen quantitative, nine qualitative and four biochemical traits were analyzed. Significant variability was observed in the evaluated morphological and biochemical traits. Pusa White Flat (PWF) was highest yielder and maximum TSS was recorded in 106BS2 (15.30 +/- 3.03 degrees B). Arka Kalyan had highest dry matter (15.70 +/- 0.57%), Red Creole3 had highest pyruvic acid (6.32 +/- 0.17 mu mol/ ml) and total phenolic content was recorded highest (36.96 +/- 2.00 mg/g FW) in Juni. Genotypes with waxy leaves and firm skin were also identified. Significant correlations between marketable yield and morphological traits were observed. Highly significant correlation between TSS and dry matter (r = 0.45), pyruvic acid and dry matter (r = 0.35) and significant and negative correlation between TSS and TPC (total phenolic content) (r = -0.32) was observed. The finding of this study were important to assess the genetic diversity of indigenous and exotic material and also to know about the correlation of desired traits which will be helpful in devising efficient strategies for trait introgression, breeding new germplasm resources and selecting diverse parents for heterosis breeding programme in short day tropical onion.