Popping expansion volume (PEV) in popcorn (Zea mays L.) is a distinct heritable character and defined as the ratio of the volume after popping to the volume before popping. PEV is quantitatively inherited and 3-4 genes/quantitative trait loci (QTLs) have been implicated. In the present study, we have dissected the quantitative PEV into two component traits, viz., flake volume (FV) and percent unpopped kernels (UPK), and mapped QTLs using SSR markers for all three traits with 194 F3 families derived from a popcorn (A-1-6) x flint corn (V273) cross. Heritability (broad sense) estimates for PEV, FV and UPK based on F3 mean bases were 0.72, 0.54 and 0.68, respectively. The QTL analyses for the three traits based on combined environment data were performed by composite interval mapping using QTL cartographer. Four QTLs were identified for PEV on chromosomes 1, 3, 8 and 10, which together explained 62% of the phenotypic variance (sigma2p). Four QTLs were found on chromosomes 1, 5, 9 and 10 for FV (explaining 44% of sigma2p) and five QTLs for UPK on chromosomes 1, 3, 4, 5 and 9 (explaining 57% of sigma2p). The relative efficiency estimates of marker-based selection in comparison to phenotypic selection for PEV (1.10), FV (1.22) and UPK (1.11) indicated that marker-based selection could be relatively more efficient. The QTL on chromosome 1S for PEV was found to be most significant, where QTLs for hard endosperm starch concentration had been detected earlier.

A field trial was conducted during 2015 and 2016, to study the effect ofgrowth regulators on growth, flowering, yield and fruit quality of strawberry cv. Chandler. The experiment was laid out in completely randomized design with 16 treatments viz.CPPU at 1, 2 and 4 ppm, GA3 at 25, 50 and 75 ppm, Promalin at 2, 4 and 6 ppm, GA4+7 at 5, 10 and15 ppm, NAA at 10, 20 and 30 ppm and control (water spray) and each treatment was replicated thrice. The results revealed that the plants sprayed with 15 ppm GA4+7 two weeks before flowering significantly reported highest plant height (33.43 cm), leaf area (239.70 cm2), number of flowers (31.94), fruit set (87.45 %), number of fruits per plant (29.02), yield (540.01 g/plant), fruit length (53.63 mm) and fruit diameter (37.19 mm) and fruit weight (23.70 g) as compared to control. This treatment resulted in 196.36 % increase in yield and 56.22 %in fruit weight over control. Plants sprayed with 6 ppm promalin also showed significant improvement in vegetative growth, fruit size, yield and fruit quality, which resulted in 137.92 % increase in yield and 51.81 % increase in fruit weight over control. Hence, it is concluded that foliar spray of 15 ppm GA4+7 applied 2 weeks before flowering is beneficial in improving growth, yield and fruit quality of strawberry plants.

In this study, the phenological stages of peach have been described for the first time according to the BBCH scale (Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt and Chemische Industrie) and Baggiolini codes for five cultivars (Pratap, Tropic Snow, Tropic Beauty, Redhaven and July Elberta) in sub-temperate region of India, which markedly differentiates vegetative and reproductive stages occurring in peach. The growing degree days (GDD) are the best indicators for monitoring the different phenological growth stages and were determined from dormancy breaking to fruit harvest when the cultivars reached maturity. Pratap, Tropic Snow and Tropic Beauty were identified as early-season maturing with 814 ± 5.10, 996 ± 8.13 and 1004 ± 8.72 GDD, respectively. While, Redhaven was mid-season cultivar with 1502 ± 16.17 GDD, and July Elberta was the late-season cultivar with 1894 ± 6.00 GDD.Mid-season cultivar Redhaven performed better in India's sub-temperate region, accounting for higher yield (54.87 kg per tree), fruit length: diameter (1.11), TSS (12.26%) and total sugars content (10.26%). The description presented in the paper will act as a tool to provide a consensual unified approach for standardisation of phenological stages in peach and also for various cultural inputs and timely planning of harvesting. Moreover, the BBCH scale will act as a tool to assess the impact of climate change on crop phenology and to evaluate the adaptation of particular peach cultivars to different conditions.

An experiment was conducted during winter to find the effect of girdling, etiolation and auxins i.e. IBA and NAA on rooting of semi- hardwood cuttings of olive cv. Leccino under mist. The experiment comprised of 13 treatments and was combinations of girdling, etiolation and auxins. The results indicated that the best rooting characteristics viz; highest percent rooted cuttings (53.33), number of primary roots (6.58) and secondary roots (8.53) and diameter (0.46 mm) were maximum with cuttings treated with IBA at 5000 ppm, where as the maximum primary root length (5.30 cm) and secondary root length (2.42) was recorded with the treatment girdling + IBA 4000 ppm + NAA 1000 ppm and IBA 4000 ppm, respectively. Regarding the shoot characteristics viz; plant height (14.59 cm) was recorded highest for the treatment IBA@ 4000 ppm which was at par with the treatment IBA @ 5000 ppm (14.26 cm). Highest plant diameter (2.40 mm), numbers of leaves (16.26) and leaf area (36.42 cm2) were highest for the treatment IBA @ 5000 ppm. Survival percentage of cuttings (71.57 %) was also highest in cuttings treated with IBA @ 5000 ppm. It is concluded that IBA at 5000 ppm was found to be the best treatment for propagation of olive through semi- hardwood cuttings during winter.

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