Central Tuber Crops Research Institute

About: Central Tuber Crops Research Institute is a facility organization based out in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Starch & Fermentation. The organization has 475 authors who have published 587 publications receiving 10285 citations.

Soil-Plant Nutrition of Sweet Potato and Minor Tuber Crops: A Review

Abstract: Among the tropical tuber crops, sweet potato is the most nutritious in terms of macro and micronutrients contained in both the tubers and the green leaves. Owing to these good quality traits, it is valued as a secondary staple in many underdeveloped and developing countries viz ., China, Africa, South America, South East Asia, Oceania etc., Nutrient management is one of the important topics that is intensively researched as it directly contributes to higher productivity and produce quality. Research on soil-plant nutrition undertaken in different sweet potato growing countries, the various soil factors influencing yield as well as quality of tubers, nutrient requirement, crop response to nutrients, nutrient management strategies, index leaf, critical nutrient concentration, nutritional disorders etc., are reviewed in this paper. Minor tuber crops like arrowroot, Chinese potato, yam bean etc., are also important from the nutraceutical point of view, but yet to be explored to unravel the potential of these crops for various medicinal uses. The available literature on minor tuber crops that indicate their positive response to manures and fertilizers are also discussed.

Screening of Rhizobacteria Associated with Cassava for Plant Growth Promotion and Biocontrol Potential

Abstract: Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are beneficial bacteria that colonise plant roots and enhance plant growth by a wide variety of mechanisms. The use of PGPR is steadily increasing in agriculture and offers an attractive way to replace chemical fertilizers, pesticides and supplements. In the present study, rhizobacteria associated with five varieties of cassava, viz., Sree Padmanabha, Sree Vijaya, Sree Jaya, Sree Rekha and Sree Prakash were isolated and screened for their plant growth promotion traits and in vitro biocontrol potential. A total of 41 isolates were selected based on colony morphology and designated as RB1 to RB41. These isolates were screened in vitro for their plant growth promoting traits like production of indole acetic acid (IAA), ammonia (NH3), phosphate solubilisation, hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and antifungal activity. Cowpea seeds were treated with rhizobacteria to assess seed germination and growth of seedlings. A pot experiment was conducted with cassava variety, Sree Vijaya, where stem cuttings were treated with rhizobacteria followed by a soil drench. About 88% of the isolates produced IAA, 83% produced ammonia and 50% solublized P. Only one isolate produced HCN and nine isolates showed antifungal activity against the plant pathogen, Sclerotium rolfsii. Rhizobacterial treatments promoted the germination in cowpea and growth in cassava.The present study suggests that PGPR isolates might have potential in future field applications as plant growth promoters or as biocontrol agents.

Banana (Musa spp.)-an unseen umbrella crop? Insect diversity on Musa spp. in the Indo-Pacific region

Abstract: With the help of life table construction, which derives the net-reproductive rate, mean time of generation and the survivorship curve, one can classify the insects into pest or as non-pest. This pa...

Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) as vector of plant viruses

Abstract: Among the vectors of plant diseases, Bemisia tabaci G. is important in that it transmits more than a hundred viruses that cause economic damage to horticultural crops. Biology and biotypes of the whitefly and its adaptation to the plant and ecosystem, vector–virus relations and interactions, vector–plant interaction, and vector–plant–virus interactions are elucidated. Management of the vector and disease is discussed. Future strategies and research needs in the area of virus–vector interactions and designing management tactics for plant viruses are envisaged.