Aim of this study to evaluate the comparative efficacy of melatonin and trehalose additives in TFYG extender during cryopreservation of Kankrej bull semen. Total three Kankrej bulls aged between 5 to 6 years were used and semen was collected using artificial vagina method once weekly for eight weeks from each of the bulls. The semen was evaluated for enzymatic leakage at post-dilution, post-equilibration and post-thaw stages of cryopreservation using 2mM Melatonin and 100mM Trehalose concentrations and control without additive. Mean AST and ALT activities were 63.24±1.06 U/L and 22.97±0.71 U/L in 100mM Trehalose group at post-thaw stage, respectively and were significantly (P < 0.05) lower as compared to that of the other groups. Hence, the 100mM Trehalose in TFYG extender for cryopreservation is comparatively better additive in view to preserve semen quality in Kankrej bull.

Kakrol is one of the indigenous, perennial, diocious and wholesome vegetables, which is grown for its nutritive value. Kakrol (Momordica cochinchinensis Roxb) is also known as sweet gourd. The immature tender green fruits, young leaves, flowers and seed are edible. An experiment was conducted to study the effect of growth regulators on quality traits of sweet gourd. The effect of growth regulators on various fruit qualities viz., TSS, reducing sugar, non-reducing sugar, ascorbic acid, riboflavin, moisture and number of seeds though found to be non-significant except total sugar, yet growth regulators brought about marginal improvement in the qualities of fruits. Though kakrol is a potential vegetable crop for the hilly region of Tripura but till now there is very little technical know-how regarding growth regulators on various fruit qualities.

This research work is a synthetic view of present status of vegetable production in India and their effect on human nutrition. Food production is increasing so it is essential to sustain increased production to meet the nutritional standard of people. To enhance the vegetable productivity by using new innovative method and technology is best alternate to sustain the food security. On the basis of earlier research, it has been studied that vegetables gave four to ten time’s higher yield as compared to cereal crop. During 2015-16, it has been observed that total vegetable production in country was 166.6 MT with 9.6 M ha area while average productivity remained 17.4 t/ha. Vegetables constitute about 59% of total horticulture production. During the period (2007-08 to 2015-16), area and production of vegetables increased by 22% and 29% respectively. Vegetable production in the country, have led to increase per capita availability of vegetables from 264 gm/ person/day in 2004-05 to 355 gm/person/day in 2015-16. India has first rank in pea (Pisum sativum) and okra (Abelmoscus esculentus) production while 2nd rank in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), cauliflower (Brassica oleracea) potato (Solanum tuberosum) onion (Allium cepa) and brinjal (Solanum melongena) During 2015-16, total vegetables exported from India was of INR 4,866.91 crores and the major importers of Indian vegetables are UAE, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Netherland, Sri Lanka, Nepal, UK, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, accounting for around 55% of the total vegetable exports. Vegetable production with area under production, total production and productivity of vegetable crops of the country has been gradually increasing from 1991-92 to 2014-15. It is mainly due to an increase in area under production and larger increase in productivity with farmers' positive approach towards vegetable cultivation. During this period, the area under horticulture crops grew by about 2.7 percent per annum, productivity increased by 37 per cent between 2004-05 and 2014- 15. As a result, India has maintained its second rank in the global production of vegetables after china.

An experiment was conducted at the Post Graduate Research Laboratory, ASPEE College of Horticulture and Forestry, N.A.U., Navsari, during the year 2011 to assess the effect of polyethylene packaging and low temperature on the shelf life of bell pepper cv. Indra. The experiment comprised of packing bell pepper fruits in polyethylene bags of three different thickness (200, 300 and 400 gauge), with and without perforations and storing them at a temperature of 8°C and 12°C. Results indicated that packing fruits in unperforated polyethylene bags of 400 gauge thickness and storing them at 8°C was the best post harvest treatment combination for extending shelf life and arresting quality deterioration in bell pepper. Under these conditions, fruits could be stored up to 20 days with significantly the lowest PLW and rate of respiration; highest chlorophyll and carotenoid content and the maximum firmness.

A mechanical hydrogel applicator machine was designed and developed for application of small granules of hydrogel at uniform rate at field level. Hydrogel are the small granules which help to conserve the soil moisture at root zone depth. Laboratory experiment, using Factorial RBD for three metering mechanisms namely star wheel, screw feed and brush feed were conducted to test their performance on sticky belt in terms of uniformity in distribution pattern of hydrogel granules and efficacy in recommended application rate for designing the mechanical hydrogel applicator. These three metering mechanisms were tested for three different hydrogel sizes namely MS 18 (0.85mm), MS 25 (0.60mm) and MS 36 (0.42mm) at three levels; hydrogel mixed with soil, with fertilizer and with sand. The observed average variation rate (in per cent) from recommended application rate for uniform distribution over m2 area for hydrogel mixed sand were 9%, 5%, 17.5% for Star wheel, Screw feed and Brush feed metering mechanisms, respectively. Experiment revealed that screw metering mechanism with hydrogel mixed sand showed an optimum average application rate of 2857g against 3000g (3kg ha-1) which was actually required. Screw metering mechanism was found better in uniform distribution of hydrogel granules and application rate when; compared visually as well as through image analysis method. Various machine performance parameters like depth of hydrogel granules placement, average speed of the machine, specific fuel consumption, average field capacity and field efficiency while working in field were also calculated.

It is very complicated issue to produce the quality vegetables as according to the desire of consumers. To ensure the standard quality of various products, it is important to observe the different factor present in the vegetables like texture, flavor, vitamins and minerals. In changing environment, it is a big challenge to produce good quality vegetables because climatic factors, soil factors and the diversity among organisms play vital role in production of standard quality vegetables. Climatic factors such as change in temperature, concentration of different gases (CO2, methane, chlorofluorocarbon, SO2 etc.) present in air and ultraviolet rays can change the qualitative and quantitative characters of vegetables. The main reason of high rate of CO2 in the atmosphere is burning of fossil fuel for cooking and heating or for industrial use. Edaphic factors such as soil fertility, moisture, PH are most important factors to ensure the quality of vegetables produce as effecting different biochemical (change in colors of fruits, alkaloids etc.) and physiological activities (rate of photosynthesis, transpiration, respiration, ethylene production etc.) at different stages of maturity in the plants. Residue of chemicals (fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides and fungicides etc.) used in vegetable production also affect the quality of vegetable produce. Sometime the consumption of vegetable produced from nitrate fertilizers converted to nitrites in our small intestine and form methaemoglobin. A healthy person consists 0.8% of methaemoglobin but its higher dose may cause death of person. Adverse environment conditions also cause the hormonal balance, deficiency and excess of essential minerals in the vegetable crop which results poor fruit set, improper pollination, crop failures, shortage of yields, reduction in quality and increasing pest and disease problems are common and make the vegetable cultivation unprofitable. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), onions are sensitive to saline soils, while cucumbers, eggplants, peppers, and tomatoes, amongst the main crops of AVRDC (The World Vegetable Center) are moderately sensitive. In modern days, new varieties with improved genotypic character can tolerate to a wider range of climatic conditions (different biotic and abiotic stresses) and also can help to produce best quality vegetables as a result it not only improve human health but also increase farmer’s income.