Poor storage life and rapid postharvest fruit quality deterioration significantly limit the commercial potential of litchi fruits in the export market. To address this challenge, the present study examined the effect of postharvest application of γ‑aminobutyric acid (GABA), a non-protein amino acid known for its role in enhancing and maintaining antioxidant potential, quality, and storage life of fruits, on the quality and storage behavior of litchi fruits. The efficacy of four different concentrations of GABA, i.e., 5 mM, 10 mM, 15 mM, and 20 mM, was tested on litchi fruits stored at ambient conditions. The findings demonstrated that GABA treatment effectively preserved litchi fruit freshness for up to 6 days under ambient storage. The fruits treated with 20 mM GABA recorded the lowest weight loss (5.12

Mango is a perishable fruit with a short postharvest time, and a considerable proportion of harvested mangoes become spoiled due to postharvest decay. Fruits undergo metabolic changes during ripening, which can lead to fast quality deterioration due to their climacteric nature. This study examined the impact of preharvest spraying of calcium chloride (CaCl2) and chitosan to extend the shelf life of mango cv. ‘Mallika’ over control at ambient room temperature. For that, different concentrations of CaCl2 and chitosan were sprayed exogenously 15 and 30 days before scheduled harvesting. The results revealed the positive effect of CaCl2 and chitosan application on fruit quality and shelf life of mango. However, treatment with CaCl2 3

The morphological characterization of mango genotypes plays a significant role to understand their diversity, identifying distinct traits, and providing valuable insights into their classification and breeding. Hence, the experiment was conducted on 25 primary mango genotypes at Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bihar during the years 2020–2021. The results showed that the genotypes G-06 and G-42 had the earliest bud break (4th February). While genotype G-23 had the maximum panicle length (36.75 cm). The genotype G-28 had the maximum canopy volume of 397.42 m3 with the maximum plant spread in both directions (7.35m in north-south and 7.35 m in east-west direction). Based on the above findings, it can be concluded that genotypes G-11, G-12, G-30, G-23, G-28, and G-29 performed better in respect of floral attributes and more canopy volume, which are important factors for maximization of yield.

Agricultural waste recycling is an integral part of integrated nutrient management (INM) which is essential to maintain soil health, yield sustainability and also safe guard the natural resources for a longer period. Coconut plantation generates a huge quantity of waste biomass every year and recycling of those biomass through INM modules could be an eco-friendly approach to meet our needs. Four different waste recycling regimes viz. no recycling, 25% recycling, 50% recycling and 100% recycling with various organic wastes were imposed in a coconut plantation. Soil properties, soil enzymatic activities, organic carbon and available nutrient content were analysed for two consecutive years viz. 2018–2019 and 2019–2020 to assess the plausibility of organic waste recycling in the INM module. Under 100% organic recycling, soil organic carbon content in the surface layer was estimated 5 times higher than the application of a recommended dose of inorganic fertilizers. Available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were lower under the INM schedule reflecting their nutrient storage capacity in organic forms. DTPA extractable Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu content also followed the same pattern. Soil enzymatic activities were improved under the INM schedule (4–47% in DHA, 2–27% in urease, 7–49% in ß-glucosidase, 3–73% in acid phosphatase, 4–71% in alkaline phosphatase and 4–52% in FDA) across all the soil depths. Recycling of organic waste improved the enzyme activities related to nutrient cycling and maintains a favourable soil biological condition for nutrient release. This study opens an avenue for organic farming under coconut plantation in subtropical humid regions.

The present investigation was carried out during 2018-19 in the Department of Horticulture (Fruit and Fruit Technology), BAC, Sabour to studies the soil properties and its relation with nut yield under INM practice of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.). Soil pH, EC and available N, P and K content in the soil was recorded maximum under 100% of recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) treatment (control) while decreased gradually with the reduction of RDF in the subsequent treatments. However, the soil organic carbon content was recorded maximum in the treatment having 100% organic recycling (T4) (2.19 times higher than the control). Besides, the treatment consisting of 25-50% organic recycling (T2 and T3) also had significantly higher organic carbon content in the soil. The available micronutrient content (Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu) in the soil was also recorded maximum in 100% RDF treatment (control) with minimum in 100% organic recycling (T4) treatment (14.58, 0.51, 6.69 and 0.95 mg kg-1 soil, respectively). The nut yield was recorded maximum in 100% organic recycling (T4) treatment (5067 nuts ha-1) with non-significant difference in 50% of RDF + 50% N through organic recycling (T3) and 75% of RDF + 25% N through organic recycling (T2) treatment. Hence, it can be concluded although the 100% RDF treatment increases the available N, P and K content in the soil but the treatments with organic amendments (25-100%) are most suitable for sustainable production as all these treatments increased the soil organic carbon content significantly.

The palmyrah palm (Borassus flabellifer L) is a minor tropical fruit which belongs to family Arecaceae. India stands first in the world in terms of its wealth of palmyrah palm with a population nearly 122 million palms. The fruits, fruit sap, young tuberous seedlings of palmyrah palm are used as food. Despite this indisputable utility, with the exception of coconut, arecanut, date and oil palm, somewhat less attention has been given to the improvement of palms as compared to other tree crops. An experiment was conducted at BAU, Sabour during the year 2016-2017 to study the biochemical properties of Palmyrah palm fruit collected from Bhagalpur district. The finding had shown that TSS differed significantly among the different accession of palmyrah fruit and highest TSS was recorded in AC-3 (15.96 oBrix). Maximum acidity was found in AC-3 i.e. 0.97% and minimum in AC-13. Results also revealed significant variation in Total sugar, reducing sugar and non reducing sugar among all the accession of palmyrah fruit. Result revealed that phenols and carotenoids have been found non significant in palmyrah fruit but fruit is good source of carotenoids.

Litchi is considered a crop difficult to propagate through micropropagation and obtaining contamination free cultures is first and foremost requirement of tissue culture. So the present investigation was carried out to standardize the sterilization procedure of nodal segment and leaf explants of Litchi chinensis Sonn. cv. Purbi. Two surface sterilizing agents viz. HgCl2 and NaOCl were used at varying concentrations and durations. In this experiment HgCl2 was found to be better sterilizing agent than NaOCl for both the explants. HgCl2 (0.2 %) for 3 min treatment was found to be the most effective for nodal segment explants that resulted in maximum per cent survival (56.5±1.19%), low percent mortality (13.8±0.18%) and low per cent contamination (33.1±0.51%). While for leaf explants HgCl2 (0.1 %) for 1.0 min yielded best results with highest per cent survival (53.9±1.08), low per cent mortality (14.0±0.21) and low per cent contamination (35.5±0.56).

Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.), is delicious juicy fruit of India having excellent nutritional quality. It has a great potential to earn foreign exchange in the national and international market through export. Slow plant growth and high rate of mortality in initial stage of plant establishment are the major problem of litchi. Increasing photosynthetic activity through exploiting photosynthetic, components are major target. The carotenoid and chlorophyll content are one of the major components that affect the photosynthetic activity of plant. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are beneficial symbiotic soil microorganisms and AM technology can find its potential application in the nursery of horticultural industry. When AM fungi have been successfully applied to many wood fruit tree species, little information is available in litchi. Therefore, the pot experiment was undertaken to study the influence of phosphorus (50 mg and 75 mg), mycorrhiza (G. mosseae and G. coronatum) alone and in combination. The treatment significantly influenced the changes in chlorophyll and carotenoid content in leaves of litchi samplings in nursery stage. After 120 days of inoculation both the species of mycorrhiza alone and in combination with phosphorus application were very effective with the highest level of total chlorophyll content of (2.474 mg/g fr. wt) in case T5 G. mosseae 10 g + Phosphorus 50 mg. Significantly lowest value of chlorophyll was noted in T0 Control (2.090 mg/g fr.wt). Carotenoid content was also measured maximum in T5 G. mosseae 10 g + Phosphorus 50 mg (0.154 mg/g fr. wt.) as compare to T0 Control with (0.065 mg/g fr. wt.). Relative water content (RWC) after 60, 90 and 120 DAI significantly differentiate. Maximum RWC in case T5 G. mosseae 10 g + Phosphorus 50 mg (31.43%) which was statistically equal with G. coronatum 10 g + P 50 mg (31.14%). Significantly influencing specific leaf weight at different date of observations. The performance was maximum found in T5 G. mosseae 10 g + Phosphorus 50 mg (7.28%) as compare to T0 control (4.44%). Significant effect of treatments on leaf parameters of litchi layers pertaining number of leaves per flush and length of flush is maximum with T5 G. mosseae 10 g + Phosphorus 50 mg (5 - 8) and (10.2 cm).

The experiment was laid out in the year 2019-2020 at Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour to show the application of different doses of methyl jasmonate on growth and flowering behavior of strawberry cv. Nabila. The plant under treatment T3 (0.6 mM) was found the tallest (21.25 cm), highest leaf area (33.59 cm2), The relative water content in the leaves (55.62%), maximum number of leaves (28.33 per plant) while the all above parameters recorded minimum value under control. Similarly, the highest no. of flowers per plant (37.65 flowers) was found under treatment T3 whereas lowest number under T1 (25.67 flowers). The least no. of days (56.24 days) were found for first flowering under treatment T3 while the plants under T1 required the most days (57.27 days). The plants under T1 took the longest (64.50 days) for their first fruit setting while the T3 took the shortest (60.21 days). Longest harvesting period was found under plants of T3 (80.50 days) while the shortest duration under T1 (60.30 days).

The most important fruit of the Sapindaceae family is Litchi (Litchi chinensis sonn). It originated in China and is widely distributed in the tropics and subtropics (Knight, 1980). Litchi is an important sub-tropical evergreen fruit crop. Therefore, the present investigation entitled “Study of pollen viability and Pollen germination in different cultivars of litchi in sabour, Bhagalpur condition” was carried out during 2017-18 in the Department of Horticulture (Fruit and Fruit Technology), BAC, Sabour,. For this experiment four litchi cultivars viz., Purbi, Bedana, Shahi and China were chosen for the present study. On the basis of data recorded on the pollen viability and germination percentage is maximum in cv. Purbi (87%, and 83.40%) and minimum was observed in cv. China (78%, and 74%).This might be due to genetic composition and environmental factor. The date of fruit-set in different cultivars of litchi under study varied from 13-03-2018 to 25-03-2018. The maximum duration of fruit set was noticed in Purbi (9.8 days) followed by Shahi (8.26 days). Among the four cultivars, fruit set was recorded to be highest in case of Purbi X Bedana (20) followed in Desi X Bedana (17).

Calcareous and alkaline nature of the soil under non-traditional citrus growing track is the major drawback for low yield and poor fruit quality of mosambi with increased granulation problem. Generally, these type of soil hinders the smooth up take of micronutrient to the plants from soil. Hence, the present investigation was design to evaluate the impact of foliar feeding of micronutrients on growth, yield and fruit quality of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck) cv. Mosambi. The observations revealed that treatment combination of Zn @ 0.5%+ Fe @ 0.2% + B @ 0.3% + Cu @ 0.1% followed by B @ 0.3% + Fe @0.2% and Zn @ 0.5% + B @ 0.3% were most effective for improving vegetative growth of sweet orange cv. Mosambi in terms of plant height and trunk girth increment, canopy volume and growth of current season shoot. The commencement of reproductive growth in terms of 50% bloom after bud break as well as full bloom after bud break with maximum flowering and fruit setting was also obtained in in Zn @ 0.5% + Fe @ 0.2% + B @ 0.3% + Cu @ 0.1% spray followed by B @ 0.3% + Fe @0.2% and Zn @ 0.5% + B @ 0.3%. the yield was calculated maximum in the treatment consist of Zn @ 0.5% + Fe @ 0.2% + B @ 0.3% + Cu @ 0.1% (8.06 t acre-1). Further, fruit quality attributes in terms of sugar:acid ratio, sucrose content, carotenoid content and edible: non-edible ratio was recorded maximum with Zn @ 0.5% + Fe @ 0.2% + B @ 0.3% + Cu @ 0.1% spray (41.88, 4.44%, 0.59 mg 100 g-1).Therefore, three foliar spay of Zn @ 0.5%+ Fe @ 0.2% + B @ 0.3% + Cu @ 0.1%from May- July may be recommended to get maximum yield of better quality mosambi fruit under non-conventional citrus growing track having calcareous and alkaline nature of soil.

Plantation crops are a group of commercial crops cultivated extensively over a large area of tropics and subtropics zones. Plantation crops comprise a large number of crops like coconut, areca nut, oil palm, cashew, tea, coffee, rubber, and cocoa. Their total coverage is comparatively less as compared to the other fruit crops and mostly grown by the farmers with smallholdings. These crops play an important role owing to their export potential values, domestic requirements, employment generation, and poverty alleviation, especially in the rural sector. Plantation crops have a unique role in the national economy owing to the source of basic raw materials for a number of industries and form the mainstay of the agrarian economy of the nation and thus considered as the lifeline of many states of India.

Palmyra palm (Borassus flabelliferL ) or commonly called Taad or Tarh is a palm tree of the Sugar palm group.It is an important multipurpose tree of great utility.There is a rich genetic diversity of palmyrah in Bihar, but no database is available regarding Palmyra.Thus a study was undertaken to study the variability in Palmyra for their plant morphological traits and yield parameters. Sample was collected during fruiting season and plants with diverse in nature for tree characteristics and fruit yield.Among 22 genotypes selected in the area surveyed, the great variability was noted with respect to plant height (dwarf and Tall) and yield parameters.The average height of the palms was 15.22m with a variation from 7.10m in PC-7 to 22.50m in PC-12.Trunk girth varied from 137cm (PC-11) to 180 cm (PC-6) and .Bunch number ranged from 7 bunch/tree to 34 bunches/tree in with yield variation from 84 fruit /palm to480 fruits.Grfeat variations in leaf parameters were also observed.

The present experiment was conducted at horticulture garden, Bihar Agricultural university, Sabour Bhagalpur, Bihar during 2014-15 and 2015-16 to find out the Effects of in-situ and ex-situ vermicomposting on morphology, yield and quality attributes of mango (Mangifera indica L.) cv. Amrapali under high density planting. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block design with three treatment replicated thrice with two tree per replication. The treatment consisted as three different doses of vermicompost i.e. In-situ vermicomposting and Vermicompost @ 4.0 kg/tree and Control. The two years pooled data indicated that the highest morphological characters like per cent increase in tree height (25.42%), canopy spreads (N-S 13.82%, E-W 12.54%), canopy volume (13.04%) and physical parameters of fruits like fruit width (6.50cm), weight (169.29g) and volume (167.45cm3), as well as pulp weight (108.17 g/fruit), stone weight (27.21 g/fruit), peel weight (28.28 g/fruit) and bio-chemical compounds of fruits like TSS (21.99 0B), total sugars (17.22%), total carotenoids content (17.65 mg/100g pulp) and ascorbic acid content (35.70 mg/100g pulp) were observed with in-situ vermicomposting (V2). Whereas, fruiting behaviour i.e. highest fruit set (13.96%) and bio-chemical compound i.e. TSS/acidity ratio (132.31), minimum titrable acidity (0.172 %) and yield (9.89 kg/tree) were recorded with the application of vermicompost @ 4.0 kg/tree (V1).

The present investigation was carried out to study the effect of potassium and zinc on Sweet orange (Citrus sinensis Osbeck) cv. “Mosambi” during the year 2018. Eight years old uniformly grown Mosambi Sweet orange plants, grafted on Karna Khatta rootstock and planted at a distance of 3.0 x 2.5m were used in this investigation. The investigation was carried out in high density planting area of Bihar Agricultural College, Sabour, Bhagalpur, under the Department of Fruit & Fruit Technology. Twelve different treatments of K and Zn in a simple randomized block design were used. Various treatments showed significant effect on physiological, vegetative and yield parameters. The maximum leaf area (23.53cm2), total chlorophyll content (3.04mg/g), leaf relative water content (75.82%), specific leaf weight (0.0164g/cm2) were observed in T12 (K2O @500g +Zinc sulphate @200 g) whereas minimum in T1(control). The maximum increase in current season shoot length (13.22cm), canopy spread (64.17cm), trunk girth (1.93cm) and plant height (36.67cm) were also recorded in T12 (500g K2O and 200g ZnSO4) whereas minimum in control. The maximum number of fruits per tree was counted (92.67) in T8.

It was reported that water resources and ground water reduces day by day but its consumption in different sector increases rapidly. In India agriculture is largest water consumer (81%) sector (WRI, 2007) and use of water in an efficient way is demand of time. It has been scientifically recognized that adoption of drip fertigation method is an option for efficient use of water and nutrients through improvement in crop yield per unit volume of water and nutrients used (Bar-Yosef, 1999; Patel and Rajput, 2011). Drip fertigation allows continuous irrigation and fertilizer injection into the root zone. Soil physicochemical properties are important aspects of soil quality that can change with long-term drip irrigation due to physical and chemical stress evidence of soil structural decline, such as increased bulk density under drip irrigation has been reported (Clark, 2004). Moreover, drip irrigation whereby a certain portion of the soil is wetted also causes the spatial variability of soil physical and hydraulic properties. Therefore, evaluation of spatial variability of soil characteristics and the vertical distribution of nutrients in soil under drip fertigation system can act as a very useful tool for the determination of fluctuations in soil behavior, especially its nutrient supplying capacity. Keeping the above facts in mind, the present investigation was carried out to know the soil fertility status under long-term drip fertigation system in coconut under All India Coordinated Research Project on coconut variety Shakhi Gopal Tall with long term drip fertigation system in BAU, Sabour under following treatments viz. T1 = Control, T2 = 25% of the recommended dose of NPK fertilizers (RDF) through drip system, T3 = 50% of the RDF through the drip system, T4 = 75% of the RDF through the drip system, T5 = 100% of the RDF through the drip system, T6 = 100% of the RDF through soil application. The results indicated that bulk density, particle density and pore space of soils were found to have no significant difference among the treatments and across different soil depths. Bulk density, particle density and pore space varied from 1.41 to 1.47 Mg m-3, 2.23 to 2.25 Mg m-3, and 31.9 to 36.6%, respectively, among all soils. Void ratio varied from 0.51 to 0.59 over all the soils. Void ratio and air-filled porosity were not significantly different among the treatments but significant difference was observed across the soil depths. Maximum water holding capacity of soils under different treatments across varying soil depths was not significantly different from each other. Soil pH and EC of all the treatments was not significantly different but decreased significantly with increasing soil depths. All the treatments for CEC and organic carbon content of soils were not found to be significantly different and depth-wise were significantly different. Organic carbon content varied significantly among all the treatments and also across the varying soil depths. Available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content were low, medium and low to medium respectively. All the treatments were significantly different for available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content in soil. Highest content of these three nutrients was found in T5 treatment. Sulphur content in soil was border of medium and all the treatments were at par. All the treatments values were not significantly different for available sulphur content in soil. Total nitrogen and potassium content in all the treatments were significant different but total phosphorus and sulphur content were not significantly different. Iron, manganese, zinc, copper and boron content in all the treatment were not significantly different from each other. Dehydrogenase activity of studied soil was increasing significantly with increasing levels of fertilizer in the treatments and was decreasing significantly across the soil depths. Majority of the physicochemical and biological properties of soil under the different fertigation levels do not differ significantly.

Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) originated from South China, it is sub-tropical evergreen fruit crops, especially grown on the marginal climate of tropics and subtropics. It is delicious juicy fruit of India having excellent nutritional quality, pleasant flavoured, good amount of antioxidant and vitamins C, vitamin B-complex and phytonutrients flavonoids. It has a great potential to earn foreign exchange in the national and international market through export. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) infection is a common association between plant roots and microorganisms. It is responsible for increasing plant nutrient uptake and also increases in macro and micronutrients in leaf. Therefore, the present work has been analyzed macro and micro nutrients from soil and leaf, after 60, 90 and 120 days after inoculation of two bio-inoculants with phosphorus (SSP) including nine treatments with three replications. After 120 days of inoculation both the species of mycorrhizal combination with phosphorus application were very effective. Highest Copper content is (10.99 ppm), Zinc (33.17 ppm), Iron (121.47 ppm) and Manganese (15.33 ppm) was recorded in case T5 (G. mosseae 10 g + Phosphorus 50 mg kg-1 of soil) which is gradually increases. The soil nutrient content gradually decreased with time duration but no- significant difference was found among treatments after 120 days inoculation. After 120 days potting result was found that the Copper content is (1.70 ppm), Zinc (3.07 ppm), Iron (7.80 ppm) and Manganese (4.00 ppm) was recorded in case T5 (G. mosseae 10 g + Phosphorus 50 mg kg-1 of soil).this research was undertaken to find out whether Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) infection and phosphorus affect the micro-nutrient status of soil and leaves in nursery stage.

The age of the vegetative flush, or the degree of dormancy, appears to have a strong influence on the subsequent shoot development of litchi. A dormant period of several months prior to the flowering period appears essential for the production of good panicle, whereas vegetative flushing just prior to floral induction results in poor or no initiation and often vegetative shoots. An experiment was conducted at BAU, Sabour during 216-17 to study the effect of season of flushing on the percent of shoots that flowered with respect to four commercial cultivars viz; Deshi, Purbi, Bedana and Kasba. A perusal study of data on season of flushing and percent shoots flowered revealed that mid season flush produced the maximum percent shoots that flowered as compared to early season of flushing, while percent shoots that flowered was almost nil in case of late season of flushing. The early season of flushing resulted into 42% shoots flowered in case of Purbi followed by Deshi i.e., 39.2%. Among the four cultivars mid season flush of Deshi had the highest percentage of shoots that flowered i.e. 78% followed by Purbi (71%), while the lowest was found in cv. Bedana (32%).

In order to explore the in vitro regeneration potential of strawberry, experiments were conducted on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of cytokinins and auxins alone and in combination for establishment of aseptic cultures, shoot regeneration and multiplication, rooting and acclimatization of plantlets. Two type of explarits viz., runner tip and nodal segment were used for the investigation. Establishment of aseptic cultures is a pre requisite for successful culture. Among several sterilizing agents ethanol (70%) for 30 sec followed by HgCl2 (0.1 %) for 2 min was found to be the best treatment resulting in least contamination and maximum survival (53.3 1.08 percent in runner tip and 53.1 1.08 percent in nodal segments). Phenol exudation was the major problem during establishment which caused death of most of the explants. In our experiment, explants were inoculated in MS medium supplemented with ascorbic acid 200 mg per liter to control browning. Addition of BAP alone or in combination with IAA was found essential during shoot proliferation and multiplication. Among all the treatments, 3.0 mg/L BAP + 0.5 mg/L IAA was found most effective with regard to minimum number of days (16.1 0.29) required for shoot induction and maximum number of shoots (12.8 0.52). Half strength MS media with 1.5 mg/L IAA was found superior over other concentrations of IAA, IBA and NAA for various rooting parameters. During acclimatization, maximum percentage survival (45.2) was recorded when coco peat alone was used as primary hardening after 20 days and combination of coco peat with FYM (1:1 vlv) recorded maximum percent survival (65.0) after 30 days in secondary hardening.