In crop production, some very useful cost effective technologies have been developed for increasing the production of quality fruits and vegetables in the region.
- For the production of quality planting material established root stock and bud wood banks of elite commercial varieties of apple, almond and walnut with virus indexing facility and CITH nursery were got accredited and graded with four stars by NHB.
- In quality planting material and seed production, the institute made a good beginning and contributed about 6.0 lakh rootstocks/budded and grafted plants of elite varieties, 8.50 lakh bud wood, 2148 kgs of quality seeds of vegetable varieties and hybrids, 8.75 lakh vegetable seedlings and 4.5 lakh saffron corms to State Development Departments, farmers and nurseryman.
- Standardized high and medium density orcharding with suitable varieties in apple, almond and apricot;
- Standardized drip irrigation, fertigation, rainwater harvesting and moisture conservation in apple and almond;
- Technology developed for rejuvenation of old apple and almond orchards through pruning, nutrient and pest management;
- Technology developed for production of quality corms of saffron and gladiolus and plug plant production in Fuchsia;
- Identified suitable intercrops, pollinizers and pollinators for higher fruit set and yield and early farm income in almond and apple;
- Floral biology, pollination and pollinizer requirement in Walnut were standardized and are being popularized.
- Low cost efficient vegetative propagation techniques in Walnut through wedge grafting and chip budding under low-cost poly houses and cuttings in apple and pomegranate using PGR were worked and demonstrated.
- Varieties/hybrids and production technologies for protected cultivation of tomato, cucumber, capsicum, strawberry and gladiolus. Protected cultivation of tomato
- Technology for organic baby corn production using vermicompost + biospirillum+ biophos + biopotash standardized and are being popularized. C. Crop Protection.
- Developed integrated management module for control of Fusarium wilt in chilli, Phytophtora fruit rot of tomato corm rot of saffron and IDPM module for protected cultivation of tomato, cucumber and capsicum.
- In apple management of red mites through miticides, scab by fungicide kresoxim methyl and canker by AM fungi (Glomus sp.) were standardized and recommended.
Post Harvest Management and Value Addition
In post harvest management, the following technologies and products developed.
- Maturity indices for important apple varieties were worked out and recommended.
- A low-cost technology for making Osmo -dehydrated products of apricot and cherry including packaging developed.
- Technology standardized for improving shelf life and retention of quality of peach, apple and cherry using semi-permeable film, Aloe vera gel coating and by use of different chemical treatment.
- Technology developed for minimal processing and value addition of exotic vegetables for storage and quality maintenance.
- In apricot and plum, a quality fruit bar was prepared to have excellent texture, colour, aroma, taste, chewing quality, non-sticky attributes with least browning and spoilage which can be stored up to nine months without loss in quality, nutrition and appeal.
- Technology has been standardized for preparation of squash by blending in different ratios of underutilized fruits like Rhododendron+Galgal+Ginger.
- In gerbera, cultivars Dune, Winter Queen, Dana Ellen, Carambola and Kayak were identified for commercial cut flower production on the basis of improved floral attributes, vase life and minimal stem bending incidence.
- In minor fruits, processing technology was developed for making novel value added products of cape gooseberry (jam, jelly, sauces and dehydrated products) and mulberry (jam and jelly)
Source-
- Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture
