Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is a globally significant oilseed crop, widely cultivated for its high-quality
oil, rich in unsaturated fatty acids, and its dietary fiber content, both of which are recognized for their
substantial contributions to human health and nutrition. In addition, being cultivated as a magnificent
ornamental plant for both indoor and outdoor landscaping. In sunflower, there are issues with decreased
seed germination, field emergence, seed vigor, and yield. Therefore, the present field experiment was
conducted to study the effect of various GA 3 seed priming treatments on growth, flowering, and seed yield
in sunflower carried out during 2020-22. The experiment comprised ten priming treatments, viz. 8
concentrations of GA 3 (25, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 175, 200 ppm) and hydropriming, both for a duration of 12
hours along with an absolute control. The study revealed that seed priming with GA 3 @ 100 ppm for 12
hours resulted in maximum values for field emergence (88.94 %), plant height (131.27 cm), the diameter of
capitulum (18.05 cm), number of total seeds per capitulum (584.83), number of filled seeds per capitulum
(455.55), seed setting percentage (77.89 %), seed yield (29.95 g per plant, 363.91 g per plot and 1213.37 kg
per hectare) and 100 seed weight (5.46 g), as well as minimum days to first flowering (47.50). Hence, it was
concluded that to produce higher yield of quality seeds, the sunflower seeds be primed with GA 3 @ 100 ppm
for 12 hours. The study will help the growers to optimize the seed yield, plant growth and flowering.

A field experiment conducted in Asugre Village, South Garo Hills, in 2022 and 2023.
Assessed the impact of sowing dates and rapeseed varieties on the growth and yield of
Brassica juncea L. using a Factorial Randomized Block Design.The study included four
sowing dates (15th September, 30th September, 15th October, and 30th October) and two
rapeseed varieties (M 27 and TS 38), replicated over two years. Results revealed that sowing
dates significantly influenced yield traits. The 30th September sowing (S2) yielded the
longest siliqua (4.77 cm in 2022 and 4.75 cm in 2023) and the highest number of siliqua per
plant (131.04 in 2022 and 130.93 in 2023). This date also resulted in the highest seed yield
(10.50 q/ha in 2022 and 10.20 q/ha in 2023), followed by the 15th October (S3) and 30th
October (S4) sowing dates. Variety TS 38 outperformed M 27 in key yield characteristics
such as plant height, primary branches, siliqua length, and number of siliqua per plant. TS 38
produced higher seed yields of 1.08 t/ha in 2022 and 1.04 t/ha in 2023, compared to M 27.
The interaction between sowing date and variety showed the best performance when TS 38
was sown on 30th September (V2S2), with the highest siliqua length (5.65 cm in 2022 and
5.63 cm in 2023), number of siliqua per plant (135.66 in 2022 and 135.50 in 2023), and seed
yield (1.17 t/ha in 2022 and 1.13 t/ha in 2023).

Marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) is one of the most important commercial flower crops which is widely cultivated for its loose flower purpose all over India. Although it occupies 1 st position in loose flower cultivation in India as well as in Bihar, but still no technologies or procedures have yet been standardized for increasing its productivity. Hence, the present investigation was carried out to evaluate the effect of pinching technology on growth and flower yield in marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) var. Ladoo Genda for two consecutive years at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Vaishali. Three levels of pinching were done viz., Farmers Practice- no pinching, TO 1 – early and double pinching at 30 and 40 DAT, and TO 2 – late and do ble pinching at 40 and 60 DAT and it was laid out using RBD with three replications. Pinching means removing the terminal growing portion of stem to break the apical dominance which increases the production of more side branches and ultimately enhances the flower yield. A plant generally grows straight up due to apica dominance. No such type of research has been carried out in the state to standardize the horticultural practices for flower farmers' and commercial growth of this flower crop. Therefore, an effort was made to standardize one of such practice in Vaishali district of Bihar. The results revealed significant variations among all the treatments. Early and double pinching at 30 and 40 DAT increases the flower yield per plant (516.49 g) as well as per hectare (33.70 t/ha) as compared to non-pinched plants (383.07 g) per plant and (24.45 t/ha). Therefore, early and double pinching at 30 and 40 DAT can be recommended for the farmers of Vaishali district of Bihar.

The experiment was conducted using 24 parental lines, which included four female
lines crossed with twenty elite, diverse, and proven restorer lines to develop 80
experimental hybrids during the kharif season of 2019. The objective was to screen for cold
and blast resistance during the rabi season of 2019-20, along with susceptible and resistant
checks. Pooled data from cold screening showed that, out of 104 lines, 20 lines exhibited
strong tolerance (ST), 76 lines showed tolerance (T), and 8 lines displayed moderate
tolerance. None of the lines, except the susceptible checks, recorded sensitive or highly
sensitive reactions. Out of 104 entries screened for blast, 73 entries were identified as
resistant (R), 21 lines as moderately resistant (MR), and 10 lines as susceptible. The checks
TN1 was found to be highly susceptible, while US 314 was resistant (IRRI-SES, 2013).
Based on cold and blast scoring data, among the 20 restorer lines, 10 lines showed
tolerance to cold and resistance to leaf blast. Ten restorer lines, namely RNR 26085, ZGY
1, RNR 2354, RNR 28359, RNR 28411, RNR 21571, IR 72, JGL 35126, JGL 35047, and
JGL 34551, were selected and further utilized for combining ability, heterosis, and stability
studies.

The yield of blackgram was realized ranged from 500 to 700 kg ha -1 which is low compared to the
potential yield under irrigated conditions. Since there is a huge scope to increase the yield under this
situation by creating awareness on latest technologies, Department of Agronomy, Agricultural College
and Research Institute, Killikulam, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University intervened by conducting Front
Line Demonstrations (FLDs) with latest technologies as a full package. The package included improved
practices viz. varieties and technologies for crop establishment, weed, nutrient, pest and disease
management and moisture stress mitigation in blackgram. A total of 50 FLDs under 40 hectares were
conducted in Nanguneri blocks of Nanguneri Taluk, Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu during 2019-20
under TNIAMP- (Tamil Nadu Irrigated Agriculture Modernization Project) in Pachaiyar Sub Basin. The
yield obtained in individual farmer’s holding revealed that, in blackgram, a maximum grain yield of 832
kg ha -1 was obtained with latest technologies at Nanguneri Block of Tirunelveli district which is 19.5%
higher than farmer’s practice (696 kg ha -1 ). In terms of monetary advantage, 28.0% higher net return was
realized. It is inferred that, the increase in awareness level on varieties, time of sowing, seed rate, seed
treatment, herbicide application, foliar spray, moisture stress mitigation and pest and disease
management contributed to higher yields and income. The above results confirm that the adoption of
scientifically improved technologies over farmers practice will improve the productivity of pulses in the
state as well as in country which can help in minimize the pulse production and consumption gaps.

An investigation on ” The economics of dahlia (Dahlia variabilis L.) cultivation in the low hill conditions of Himachal Pradesh,” was conducted at RHRTS Dhaulakuan, Himachal Pradesh, from 2021 to 2023. This study intended to observe the impact of planting dates on the benefit-cost ratio of five Dahlia cultivars. Trial was conducted in a Randomized Block Design (Factorial) to study three planting dates for each cultivar, consequential in 15 treatment combinations. The economic analysis evaluated expenses related to cultivation, total income, profits after deductions and the ratio of benefits to expenditures. The ‘Matungini’ crop, transplanted on October 15th, presented the superlative yield of cut flower stems and tubers, subsequent in significant gross income. Net profits were diverse despite steady input costs with ‘Matungini’ reaching the peak on October 15th. The benefit-cost ratio reached a value of 2.83. The results highlight the economic significance of choosing suitable cultivars and planting dates to enhance Dahlia cultivation in low hill areas.

Aim: This study aimed to assess the effects of foliar application of micronutrients and PGR’s on the growth, cropping, and fruit quality of Kinnow mandarin.
Methodology: The study was carried out on 4-year-old Kinnow plants, planted at a spacing of 2×2m at the experimental farm of the Department of Fruit Science, COHF, Neri, during the year 2020-2021. In this experiment, individual PGR’s (2,4-D, GA3, NAA @ 20 ppm), micronutrients (NAA @ 20 ppm, ZnSO4 @ 0.4 %, FeSO4 @ 0.4 %, Boric acid @ 0.25 %) and their combinations comprising each PGR along with all the micronutrients were applied as treatments in two foliar sprays during June and August.
Results: Observational studies on vegetative and reproductive parameters under different foliar treatments of growth regulators indicated that the application of 2,4-D @ 20 ppm along with the essential micronutrients (ZnSO4 @ 0.4 %, FeSO4 @ 0.4 % andBoric acid @ 0.25 %) showed the best overall characteristics.
Interpretation: The combined application of plant growth regulators and micronutrients is essential to reduce fruit drop, enhance fruit quality and achieve optimal harvest of Kinnow mandarin under High-density plantation.

The mentioned experiment was carried out at the Horticulture Nursery of the college of agriculture, Gwalior, during the rabi_seasons of 2019-20 and 2020-21 with the same treatments and the same site. The experiment was laid down in factorial randomized block design with two factors viz., Seedling age and bio fertilizers combinations along with 15 treatment combinations and three replications. The factor one have three levels viz.,S-1 6 weeks, S27 weeks and S38 weeks whereas second factor BF1- un-inoculated (control), BF2- Azotobecter BF3- Azotobecter+ PSB, BF4-Consortia (Azotobecter+ PSB + KMB) and BF5- Arka Microbial Consortium(Azotobecter+ PSB + ZSB). Under the observations, the 7 weeks old seedlings were performed well for low physical weight loss, bulb sprouting, and bulb rotting under different stages of the storage condition. The BF5- Arka Microbial Consortium(Azotobecter+ PSB + ZSB) has observed superior for the same observations like low physical weight loss, bulb sprouting, and bulb rotting under different stages.

The heart was triangular with convex anterior border and concave posterior border. The average weight of the heart was 182.58 ± 15.59 gm. Circumference of the heart was 18.87 ± 0.78 cm. The distance between right and left longitudinal grooves was 10.40 ± 0.36 cm anteriorly and 7.70 ± 0.33 cm posteriorly. Right and left longitudinal grooves did not reach the apex of the heart. The latero-medial width of the heart was 5.08 ± 0.12 cm whereas the antero-posterior width at coronary groove was 6.29 ± 0.41cm. The wall thickness was 0.33 ± 0.03 cm for left atrium and 0.38 ± 0.09 cm for the right atrium. Inter-ventricular septum was 1.31 ± 0.08 cm thick. Diameter of cranial vena cava (1.58 ± 0.06 cm) was slightly greater than the caudal vena cava (1.40 ± 0.06 cm). The circumference of pulmonary artery was 4.65 ± 0.51 cm with wall thickness of 0.30 ± 0.02 cm. Aorta had a circumference of 5.85 ± 0.14 cm, diameter of 1.88 ± 0.10 cm and wall thickness of 0.40 ± 0.03 cm. Descending part of aorta had a larger diameter than the ascending part. The circumference of ascending part and descending part was in approximation. Various biometrical parameters of the heart were analyzed statistically to observe the correlation between these parameters. The parameters that showed significant correlation (P<0.01 and 0.05) (both positive as well as negative) were analyzed for regression which was used to predict the value of dependent variable (unknown) from independent (known) variables.

Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba) possesses a notable historical significance in the realm of traditional medicine, particularly within the context of Chinese therapeutic methodologies, where it is esteemed for its multifaceted health benefits. Jujubum (Z. mauritiana L.) serves as a vital nutritional food source characterized by an extensive nutritional composition, demonstrating heightened levels of carbohydrates and proteins across various cultivars, thereby affirming its importance as a nutritious aliment. The current review is aimed at investigating the nutritional composition and health advantages associated with jujube, alongside the potential hazards related to pesticide residues found in the fruit. Findings suggest that most pesticide residues are within acceptable limits; however, ongoing monitoring and improved processing methods are vital for consumer health protection. Despite these results, the overall health risks associated with fruit consumption seem manageable, yet cumulative pesticide exposure risks necessitate enhanced agricultural practices and robust regulatory measures. Moreover, while most detected pesticides in the fruit are within acceptable levels, continuous monitoring and the implementation of strict oversight are essential for consumer safety, with an emphasis on educating consumers about its nutritional advantages. Research into jujube’s chemical composition and pesticide residue presence indicates significant deficiencies, particularly the absence of long-term studies examining changes over time. Consequently, this review is dedicated to exploring jujube’s nutritional composition and health benefits, alongside pesticide residue risks, providing valuable insights for producers, processors, and consumers.