Browsing by Author "Mukesh Kumar"

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    Influence of variety and season in the inflorescence sap production in Cocos nucifera L.
    (2013-04) Samsudeen, K.; Niral, V.; Jerard, B.A.; Mukesh Kumar; Sugatha, P.; Hebbar, K.B.
    The unfermented inflorescence sap of coconut is nutritionally rich and is being popularized as a natural health drink. The present work was initiated to understand the influence of variety and season on the inflorescence sap production and its quality in selected varieties of coconut. Three varieties of coconut viz., West Coast tall (WCT), Laccadive Ordinary Tall (LCT) and Chawghat Orange Dwarf (COD) and one hybrid CODxWCT (Chandra Sankara) grown at CPCRI, Kasaragod were selected for the study during 2010 and 2011. The work was undertaken for four seasons viz., monsoon, post monsoon, winter and summer. The study revealed that tall varieties are better than dwarf varieties for sap production. Average sap production of 960 ml and 880 ml respectively, in WCT and DxT hybrids was the best among the varieties tested. Sap production in COD was very low and not suitable for tapping. Total sugar content in WCT (11.44 g 100 ml–1) was the highest among the varieties tested. DxT had high reducing sugar content (0.37 g 100 ml–1). The study also revealed that the best time for tapping is from the middle of monsoon to the beginning of winter season. Tapping should be avoided during summer months under rainfed conditions. The information generated is useful to the farmers for tapping of coconut palm by regulating the time of tapping, identifying suitable varieties and providing irrigation to increase sap production.
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    Response of coconut seedlings to elevated CO2 and high temperature in drought and high nutrient conditions
    (2013) Hebbar, K.B.; Sheena, T.L.; Shwetha Kumari, K.; Padmanabhan, S.; Balasimha, D.; Mukesh Kumar; George V. Thomas
    The interaction effect of climate change variables elevated CO2 and elevated temperature (ET) with drought and nutrients on growth and development of coconut seedlings was studied in an open top chamber (OTC) at Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI), Kasaragod. Seedlings were exposed to ambient (normal CO2 and temperature), elevated CO2 (550 and 700 ppm), ET (3 °C above ambient) and ET + elevated CO2 (550 ppm CO2 + 3 °C). In each OTC, a set of seedlings were subjected to drought (50% FC) and another set was maintained at 150 per cent recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF). Seedlings in elevated CO2 treatments accumulated significantly higher biomass. It was 1.13 and 1.98 kg seedling-1 with 550 and 700 ppm CO2 respectively as against 1.10 in ambient treatment. It was the least in ET treatment (0.91). The stomatal conductance (gs) and transpiration (Tr) of plants grown under elevated CO2 was reduced without affecting the photosynthesis. As a consequence, the whole plant WUE of coconut seedlings grown under elevated CO2 was high both under control and drought condition. The WUE significantly reduced both in high temperature and drought stressed plants. Elevated CO2 to certain extent compensated for water stress and high temperature induced reduction in growth of coconut.
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