AAU-Horticulture Research Station, Kahikuchi

MLT -Conducted :

1.Testing of genotypes in tuberose in progress

2.Testing of genotypes in gladiolus Recommended for MLT

3.Testing of new genotypes of gerbera is in progress (Both MLT & OFT)

4. Testing of new genotypes of marigold is in progress (Both MLT & OFT)

5. Testing of new genotypes of Kale is in progress ( Both MLT & OFT)

Technology Generated:·

1. Application of split doses of N:P:K @ 30:25:10 g/m² in gladiolus grown from cormel (> 1.9 & < 2.5 cm diameter) at 45 days and 60 days after sprouting significantly increase the corm weight and corm diameter, resulting in production of flowering grade stock in the same season which otherwise needs two growing seasons.

2.Mnagement of Alternaria blight in marigold by applying three sprays of Tebuconazole 23% EC (0.5ml/l) or Difenoconazole (0.5ml/l) at 10 days interval 

3. Management of Alternaria blight in gerbera by applying four sprays of Pyraclostrobin 20% WG (1g/ l) or Difenoconazole25% EC (0.5 ml/l) at 10 days interval. 

4. Management of leaf spot/ blight of tuberose by applying three spray of Azoxystobin (0.03%) or Difenoconazole (0.05%) at 10 days interval. 

Biodiversity explored : 

Twenty one species of wild ornamentals— namely Gomphocarpus physocarpus (Balloon plant), Botrypus virginianus (Rattlesnake fern), Alysicarpus vaginalis (One-leaf clover), Melampodium divaricatum., Sagittaria montevidensis (Giant arrowhead), Pistia stratiotes (water lettuce),Phgopteris conectilis (Long beech fern),Salix eleagnos (Olive willow), Adiantum lunulatum (Walking maidenhair fern)Convallaria majalis (lily of the valley),Trifolium repens (White clover),Holmskioldia sanguine (Chinese hat plant/cup-and-saucer),Psychotria nervosa (Wild coffee),Smilax anceps (Scrambling vineor Shrub ),Caryota zebrine,Ixora finlaysoniana (white jungle flame),Ochrosia grandiflora,Putranjiva roxburghii, Phyllanthus reticulates and Begonia heracleifolia were collected from Karbi Anglog, Lumpi and Manas Wildlife Sanctuaries of Assam.

Number of patents filed/Published : Nil

Involvement in Competitive Research Projects: Nil

 Intra and Inter Institutional Collaboration:

1. A two months long Internship Programme by four M.Sc.(Botany) students of Girijananda Choudhury University , Azara ,Guwahati-17 has collaborated with AAU-HRS,Kahikuchi and successfully completed

2.A two months long Summer Internship Programme by two B.Sc.(Agri) students of Sisksha 'O" Anusandhan (Deemed to be university) ,Bhubaneswar and College of Arts & Science ,Sikkim Professional University, Budang, West Sikkim collaborated with AAU-HRS,Kahikuchi and successfully completed.

3.Institute Research Skill - Validation & Promotion of Integrated Pest Management in Rice and Horticultural crops in NEH region of India under ICAR-NCIPM, New Delhi , Total project cost 6.0 lakh

 Publication & Citation: Nil

 Development of mobile /computer apps: Nil

Revenue generated: 1.Rs. 3,99,622.00 AICRP on Floriculture (Up to December,2024)

2. Rs.1,35,650.00 (Ready to use potting mixture) (Up to December,2024)

Salient Findings :

(i) Collection, characterization, evaluation and maintenance Tropical orchids

Recommendation: Spathoglottis plicata, Cymbidium aloifolium, Phaius tankervilleae, and Arundina graminifolia are recommended for pot culture based on inflorescence and flowering traits, with Spathoglottis noted for year-round flowering with intense purple colour.

Recommendation: Aerides odoratum, Rhynchostylis retusa, Dendrobium aphyllum, and Dendrobium moschatum are recommended for hanging baskets based on their inflorescence traits.

ii) Collection, evaluation and maintenance of tuberose germplasm:

Recommendation:

Under single type:

Bidhan Sugandhi, Phule Rajani, GK-TC-4, and Bidhan Ujal are found promising to be recommended for their earliness in flowering and other yield attributing traits.

Under double type:

 Phule Rajat and Bidhan Rajani H-19 are promising to be recommended for similar traits.

iii) Collection, evaluation and maintenance of gerbera germplasm

 HRSG-OWC is found promising in terms of number of sucker production ,flowering duration and other yield attributing traits and now under MLT and OFT

(iv) Survey, collection and evaluation of native ornamentals for commercial cultivation:

Four species of wild ornamentals—namely Gomphocarpus physocarpus (Balloon plant), Botrypus virginianus (Rattlesnake fern), Alysicarpus vaginalis (One-leaf clover), and Melampodium divaricatum—are collected from Manas Wildlife Sanctuary

(v) Collection, evaluation and maintenance of bougainvillea

Bougainvillea genotypes exhibit a variety of growth forms including upright, climbing, spreading, drooping, and dwarf. This information aids in selecting the appropriate bougainvillea genotypes for specific purposes in gardening, landscaping, or pot culture, ensuring desired aesthetic and functional results.

Suitable for Pot Culture: Genotypes like HRS-BV-16 and HRS-BV-15 are best for compact growth in pots due to their smaller height and spread.

Suitable as Shrubs: HRS-BV-18 and HRS-BV-11 are suitable for creating smaller shrub-like plants

Suitable as Climbers/Arches: For large-scale applications such as boundary plantations and arches, genotypes like HRS-BV-19 are ideal due to their considerable height and spread. 

B. CROP IMPROVEMENT

(i) Testing of genotypes in gladiolus: Arka Ranjini, Arka Amar, Pusa Monmohak,Pratap Glad and DFR-GH-3 are found promising in terms of earliness in flowering and other flower yield attributing traits and recommended for MLT

(ii)Testing of new genotypes of African marigold for loose flower : Earliness in visibility of flower buds and other yield attributing traits are found promising in Arka Abhi , Arka Subha and Arka Bhanu and all are recommended for MLT and OFT

(iii) Testing of new genotypes of ornamental Kale for cut flower and pot culture

 Genotype Ktok-2 and KtDH -57 are found significantly promising in respect of earliness in head formation, plant height , plant spread and diameter of central colour portion and recommended for MLT. and OFT

C .PLANT PROTECTION 

Management of Alternaria leaf blight/leaf spot in Chrysanthemum

Spraying of azoxystrobin 18.2% SC + difenoconazole 11.4% w/w SC @ 1.0 ml/l and Tebuconazole 50% WG @ 0.5ml/l + trifloxystrobin 25% WG @ 0.5ml/l. significantly reduced infection of leaf blight/leaf spot in chrysanthemum.

D.POST HARVEST TECHNOLOGY

 Studies on anti-oxidant potential of value-added products from Hibiscus rosa sinensis

Total Phenol Content: Green tea alone has the highest total phenol content at 125.32 µg of GAE/mg and infusion of green tea and fresh hibiscus petals at a 1:1 ratio (T5), which has 104.49 µg of GAE/mg. Over the time of storage, there is a gradual decrease in phenol content.

Anthocyanin Content: Freshly prepared hibiscus tea have the highest anthocyanin content at 128.12 mg cyn-glu eq.-100g^-1 FW and the content decreased over a prolong storage in both infused and non-infused teas.

Antioxidant Activity: The highest antioxidant activity is observed in green tea alone at 92.47%, followed by the green tea and hibiscus infusion at 86.09%. 

Overall Acceptability: The highest organoleptic scores of 4.5 are achieved by both freshly prepared hibiscus tea and the green tea and hibiscus infusion , indicating high overall acceptability for these teas.

Any Others: .1. Successfully organized 31 st Annual group Meeting of AICRP on Floriculture from 23rd to 26th January,2024 at AAU-HRS, Kahikuchi

2. Successfully organized QRT meeting for seven centers of AICRP on Floriculture in July ,2024

Training/extension activities conducted: 

Three numbers of on campus training programme under NEH to urban and rural women on Rooftop Garden ,Flower arrangement and Preparation of incense stick from flower waste were organized during, 2024 where 105 female farmers from Kamrup (Metro & Rural) attended the programme.