Heterosis study for development of F1 hybrids in ridge gourd during 2014-2015 for growth and yield related traits. Twenty eight crosses were developed by crossing 8 × 8 line in half diallel. The crosses were evaluated along with parents in Randomized block design (RBD) and data is subjected to statistical diallel analysis. Analysis of variance indicated highly significant differences for growth and yields characters, which suggesting presence of wide genetic variability. Which provided the opportunity to exploit heterosis in ridge gourd; the positive heterosis exhibited for most of growth and yield characters viz., vine length, number of leaves, fruit yield per vine and fruit yield per hectare. The present study showed that the crosses DMRG-36 × DMRG-25, DMRG-25 × Arka Sumeet and DMRG-25 × DMRG-22 were exhibited high heterosis for yield characters.

The research was conducted on Effect of moisture content on physical properties of maize grains (Zea mays L) was investigated in College of Agricultural Engineering during the year 2012-2013. The physical properties of the grain samples were determined at the desired moisture content levels of 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 (% w.b.). The average three axial dimensions, sphericity, surface area, volume, thousand grain weight, true density, porosity and the static coefficient of friction were found to be increased and the bulk density was found to be decreased with increase in moisture content from 12 to 20 (% w.b.); all at an average temperature of 30°C. All these properties followed an increasing trend with the increase in moisture content, each showed a high correlation coefficients.

The DSSAT CROPGRO model was calibrated and validated using field experimental data of two consecutive rabi seasons 2014-15 and 2015-16 at Anand, Gujarat. The genetic coefficients for cultivar GG-1 of chickpea were estimated. Higher R2(0.97) was obtained between measured and simulated for days to anthesis, with percent error (PE) 8.08 % and D-index 0.91. The PE between measured and observed for all the parameters were found below ±10 % error. The model could be used to predict the seed yield accurately under different management conditions. Hence, the CROPGRO model can be used to simulate the phenology and yield of chickpea.

The present investigation was carried out during summer season, 2016 at Horticulture Instructional Farm, S. D. Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar (Gujarat). Experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with ten treatments viz., T1 (Control), T2 (GA3 10 ppm), T3 (GA3 20 ppm), T4 (GA3 30 ppm), T5 (Ethrel 50 ppm), T6 (Ethrel 100 ppm), T7 (Ethrel 150 ppm), T8 (Ethrel 25 ppm), T9 (NAA 50 ppm) and T10 (NAA 100 ppm). The results revealed that, the maximum length of main vine at 60 and 90 DAS (225.07 and 268.21 cm), respectively, and number of leaves per plant at 60 and 90 days after sowing (205.78 and 332.17) and produced the maximum number of male flower (228.56) were recorded with treatment (T4) GA3 30 ppm. Treatment (T7) Ethrel 150 ppm proved to be most effective for produced the minimum number of sub-vine at 60 and 90 DAS (7.78 and 9.22), lower node number at which first female flower appears (5.60), lower node number per plant at main vine (24.11), lower internodal length (9.56 cm), maximum total leaf area per plant (92.39 cm2), number of female flower (45.78) and fruit set percent (66.18), numbers of fruits (28.78), fruit weight (68.00 g/fruit), fruit yield per plant (2.59 kg), fruit yield per plot (18.14 kg) and higher fruit yield per hectare (129.33 q/ha). The lowered sex ratio was recorded in treatment (T6) Ethrel 100 ppm i.e. (1: 4.06).

Potato (Soalnum tuberosum L.) is one of the most important food crop in the world. The microtuber production in different in vitro culture conditions of photo-period and temperature was studied and light conditions of 16 hrs. photoperiod was found to be best. Kufri Chipsona-1 variety found to produce maximum size and weight of micro-tubers in the medium of MS + 5 mgl-1 BA + 250 mgl-1 CCC. The higher concentration of growth retardants (500mgl-1 CCC) found to be less effective comparatively.