Variation in growth, production and quality attributes of Physalis species under temperate ecosystem. Abstract-Introduction. Diverse fruit crops with a high value reduce the risk of crop failure and offer alternatives to farmers and the market. The scope of profitable production with such quality crops along with environmental concerns make the evaluation of new species desirable. The aim of our study was to determine the most appropriate species of Physalis for small-scale commercial production in the temperate climate of western Himalayan regions. Materials and methods. Four Physalis species, viz., P. peruviana, P. ixocarpa, P. pruinosa and P. nicandroides, were field-grown during 2010-2011 in the experimental field of the Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture, Srinagar, India, to determine the most appropriate species of Physalis suitable for a temperate climate. Results and discussion. All the species tested produced vegetative growth, flowered and fruited; however, they differed significantly. The number of basal shoots was found to be maximum for P. pruinosa (6.37), whereas the maximum number of prickles per shoot was recorded as maximum for P. nicandroides (6.48). The number of points of attachment varied significantly with species, and the maximum was recorded for P. pruinosa and P. ixocarpa (7.16 for each); the maximum size of fully developed leaves (146.8 mm) and overall plant height (168.27 cm) were recorded for P. pruinosa. Physalis pruinosa and P. ixocarpa were found to exhibit vigorous growth under a temperate climate. Significant differences were recorded for fruiting, flowering and yield potential among the Physalis species. The minimum days taken for bud burst were reported for P. nicandroides (23.55) and P. ixocarpa (24.41). Similarly, the minimum days taken to reach maturity were reported for P. peruviana (64.96). The maximum number of fruits per plant (260.23), length of fruit (33.83 mm), average fruit weight (37.19 g), husk weight (0.32 g), fruit husk ratio (121.27), maximum fruit firmness (43.96 Relative Index) and yield (9.96 Relative Index) were recorded for P. pruinosa. Significant variation was recorded in quality attributes. The highest total soluble solids were found for P. nicandroides (8.46°Brix), whereas the minimum total titrable acidity (0.35%) and maximum ascorbic content (38.41 mg•100 g-1) were recorded for P. peruviana. The 'L' value of fruits, showing brightness, was recorded as the highest for P. peruviana (58.97), whereas fruits of all the species showed a negative 'a' value, indicating that none of them produced redness; however, the 'b' value, indicating yellowness, was maximum for P. pruinosa (18.72). Physalis / India / Himalayan region / fruits / morphology / flowering / fruiting / quality / choice of species Variation des caractéristiques de croissance, production et qualité d'espèces de Physalis sous écosystème tempéré. Résumé-Introduction. Diverses cultures fruitières de grande valeur pourraient réduire les risques de maigres récoltes et offrir des solutions aux...

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Variability of health and bioactive compounds in strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) cultivars grown under an Indian temperate ecosystem. Abstract-Introduction. Strawberry is rich in health as well as bioactive compounds, and benefits resulting from the use of natural products rich in bioactive substances are receiving increased interest from the pharmaceutical, food and cosmetic industries. Materials and methods. Twenty-two cultivars of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) grown under a temperate ecosystem were screened for ascorbic acid, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, anthocyanins and antioxidant activities (DPPH and FRAP assays). The phenolic content was measured by Folin-Ciocalteu reagent using gallic acid as the standard. Antioxidant activity was determined in terms of DPPH and FRAP assays and expressed as ascorbic acid equivalent. Total anthocyanins and total flavonoid content were determined using a colorimetric method. Titratable acidity (citric acid) was determined by the titration method. The average data of two years was analyzed using SAS 9.2 software. Results and discussion. Significant differences in the health and bioactive compounds were detected among the cultivars. The range of ascorbic acid of the tested samples was (51.03 to 89.40) mg•100 g-1 fresh weight. Titratable acidity varied between 0.73% and 1.44%; however, total anthocyanins ranged between (28.24 and 43.32) mg cyanidin-3-glucoside Eq•100 g-1 fresh weight. Total phenols varied from (380.10 to 888.10) mg gallic acid Eq•100 g-1 and total flavonoids from (31.26 to 55.16) mg catechin Eq•100 g-1. The total antioxidant activity ranged between (203.13 and 471.10) mg ascorbic acid Eq•100 g-1 fresh weight for DPPH, and between (326.06 and 701.13) mg ascorbic acid Eq•100 g-1 fresh weight for FRAP. Total phenols, DPPH and FRAP showed close association; however, PCA clearly categorized the selected cultivars into two broad groups. All of the diverse cultivars were clustered into two clusters which could be exploited for future qualitative breeding programs based on average cluster distance and can act as gene sources for making health foods. Conclusion. The importance of our findings would be significant for farmers, breeders, consumers and industries concerning food quality, disease prevention and healthcare. India (Jammu and Kashmir) / Fragaria ananassa / temperate zones / fruits / antioxidants / ascorbic acid / phenolic content / anthocyanins Variabilité de composés bioactifs et de santé chez des cultivars de fraisier (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) cultivés dans un écosystème tempéré indien. Inde (Jammu et Cachemire) / Fragaria ananassa / zone tempérée / fruits / antioxydant / acide ascorbique / teneur en phenols / anthocyane

Nitrous-oxide emission and nitrate addition from agriculture to earth’s environment are two main agriculture related anthropogenic causes of environmental degradation that needs greater attention. For addressing the aforesaid issue, new techniques/practices need to be developed and implemented. The present investigation, which was focused on this issue, resulted in developing a new mode of nitrogen (N) placement, i.e. ‘mid rib placement upper to corms in two splits (MRPU-2S)’, that could reduce nitrous oxide N emission by around 70.11% and, nitrate N leaching and runoff by around 68.26 and 67.09%, respectively, over conventional method, in saffron growing soils of northwest Himalayas. Besides plummeting environmental degradation, MRPU-2S further resulted in enhancing saffron yield by 33.33% over conventional method. The findings of the present investigation were used to develop new empirical models for predicting saffron yield, nitrate N leaching and nitrous-oxide N emission. The threshold limits of nitrate N leaching and nitrous oxide N emission have also been reported exclusively in the present study.