REGIONAL HORTICULTURAL RESEARCH & TRAINING STATION MASHOBRA District Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) INDIA

Achievements

Displace the site of the pit from the old site of the apple plant, if possible.
Dig the pit (5 ft wide and 3 ft deep) in October and keep it open.
Before filling the pits in December, prepare 1:9 v/v solution of formalin (1 lit of pure formalin in 9 lits water)
Fill the pit with same or changed soil; remove roots, if any, however, treat the pit with formalin solution by spraying with foot sprayer.
Fill the pit up to 6 inch and again spray formalin solution.
Again fill the soil up to 6 inch and spray with formalin.
Repeat the above steps till the whole pit is filled.
The formalin (1:9 v/v) treated pit is now ready.
Raise the pit 2 ft above the ground level with FYM, soil and 1 kg SSP.
Keep the fully prepared treated pit untouched for three weeks and then transplant the apple plant in the center.
After transplantation, drench the plant with a bucket of water to settle the roots and remove air spaces. Add 1 kg super phosphate fertilizer to the growing apple plant at least for the first 4 years.

Monitoring and forecasting techniques for apple scab and apple blotch have been standardized
If leaf fall occurs from 10th September to 20th October in orchards of varied elevations, poor scab development occurs, however leaf fall which occurs between 25th October-15th November, successful over wintering of developmental stages of the scab pathogen (55 to 68 days) takes place and this process is completed between 20th December to 20th January. Rain/ moisture is required to initiate the fertilization at 4oC temperature after leaf fall. Successful fertilization takes 35 to 40 days at an average temperature 8 to 100C for the formation of pseudothecial initials. Asci and ascospores maturation takes 132 to 140 days. Ascospore maturation starts in the first week of March and ceases around 25th May. This annual information has been validated to forecast primary infection in 1st week of March.
Delayed autumn rains/moisture after leaf fall or snow in Feb. forecast delays the primary inoculum/infection. This forecasts the ‘on’ and ‘off ’ scab season.
Based on the pathogen biology and the prevailing weather conditions following forecasting Model, prediction criteria was developed and validated.

Propagated through tubers and seeds, it flowers for 3-4 months in temperate regions starting from mid-April. Does well in light soils and loves generous watering. Hybrid strains belonging to seven series, with each series having a at least 3-4 different colours have been mass multiplied through seeds, cuttings and tuber divisions
Primula
A free flowering plant suited for in-doors, which flowers from Dec.-March in large clusters. Propagated from seeds up to end-July, is cultivated as an annual. Flowering can be prolonged if kept at a temperature of 10- 15oC and all dead flowers removed. Three species namely Primula obconica , Primula acaulis and Primula malacoides are being explored on commercial scale.

Commonly known as Geraniums, flowers grow in umbles from May- November. Ideal plant for pots and hanging baskets requires bright light and moderate watering. 17 cultivars belonging to four different species like Pelargonium x hortorum , Pelargonium peltatum, Pelargonium x domesticum and Pelargonium quercifolium are being used on commercial scale.

Valued for its flowers having range of colours, it blooms though out the winter when tubers are sown during October in pots. Needs well lighted surroundings, light soil and generous watering. 5 new f1 hybrid series namely Halios curly f1 mix, Latinia Fantasia F1 mix, Halios Fantasia F1 mix, Halios standard classic F1 mix and Tianis standard Clasiic F1 mix from Morel & Diffussion of France having 15 different colours have been mass multiplied for distribution among the farmers and interested clients

Along with pots it is also used as a bedding plant in the temperate regions. Flowers from Nov.– April when planted through tubers and seeds during Sept- October. Flowers range from all shades of red, yellow, pink and orange and is commonly known as ‘Buttercup’. Cv. Bloomingdale F1 mix from Sakata seeds, Japan has been mass multiplied through sexual and vegetative means.

Cv. F1 Double Brocade mix from Sakata seeds, Japan having four different double shades has been successfully propagated through seeds which in 5-6 inch plastic pots has flowered in a time span of 5-6 months under protected conditions

Successful seed , leaf and cutting propagation of commercially important landscape plants like Acer japonicum, Cryptomeria, Trachycarpus palm , Cupressus, Juniperus, ligustrum lucidum, ligustrum japonicum , Platanus, Ginkgo biloba, Buxux, Laurus, 4 different species of Euonumus, Aucuba, Exocaeria, Rex Begonia, Peperomia, Pelargonium, Fuchsia, Hydrangea , Gloxinia, Calceolaria, and tuberous Begonia has been done.