Induced mutation by Ethyl Methane Sulphonate (EMS) has been found to be a very useful technique for crop improvement. Chemical mutagens, such as EMS, have been widely used to induce a variety of practical variations in several fruit crops. Therefore, a study was undertaken to determine the LD50 and the effects of mutagens on growth-related, yield-related, and quality-related observations, as well as the mortality percentage of runners derived from the Winter Dawn variety of strawberry using EMS to create variability for desirable traits. The runners were treated with EMS. The treated runners, along with a control group, were planted for growth in pots under a polytunnel. Based on the probit curve derived from the survival of the treated plant, the LD50 dose for EMS was found to be 3%. The 0.1% and 0.2% EMS doses showed good results in terms of growth, yield, and quality. An increase in the concentration of EMS resulted in a decrease in plant survival rate.

Strawberry, a vegetatively propagated crop, exhibits limited genetic variation, which constrains its adaptability and improvement potential. Gamma-ray radiation is a promising approach for enhancing genetic diversity and improving strawberries. Strawberry runners of the Winter Dawn cultivar were irradiated using 60Co, with doses ranging from 20 Gy to 40 Gy administered at a consistent rate of 1.52 Gy per minute to evaluate mutagenic effects. The survival effects in gamma irradiation-treated runners were recorded at 30 days after transplantation. An LD50 analysis was conducted to assess physiological impacts, and the lethal dose value was found to be 40 Gy, resulting in 50% mortality. Distinct differences in survival rates were observed between treated and untreated runners, with the highest survival rate (88%) at 20 Gy. The 30 Gy dose-treated runners exhibited the highest growth parameters, including crown diameter (14.32 mm), primary root length (29.50 cm), secondary root length (5.5 cm), and number of roots (39.6). Among fruit quality traits, maximum fruit length (39.84 mm), and fruit diameter (27.80 mm) were observed in runners treated with a 30 Gy gamma irradiation dose. Significant variations in survival, growth, and fruit quality were observed across different gamma irradiation doses. These findings provide a foundation for future efforts to develop potential strawberry mutants with improved traits through gamma irradiation. These findings provide a foundation for future efforts to develop potential strawberry mutants with improved traits through gamma irradiation.

Background: Ber is a significant fruit crop in desert regions. The fully ripe ber fruit is rich in calcium, vitamin C, vitamin B and vitamin A, among other nutrients. Spraying plants in mid-October and in last week of December with various treatments, NAA (20 ppm and 30 ppm), GA3 (30 ppm and 40 ppm), salicylic acid (300 ppm), ZnSO4 (0.5%) alone and in combination, along with a control group, each repeated three times. Methods: This study investigated the impact of plant growth regulators (PGRs) and zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) on the biochemical parameters of ber. Field trials were conducted involving foliar applications of PGRs and ZnSO4, both individually and in combination. Spraying was done in two stages, the first in mid-October during the flowering stage and the second in the last week of November during the pealet stage. The experiment employed randomized block design (RBD). Ber fruits were assessed for total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), TSS acid ratio, sugars, vitamin C, total ash content, total protein content, total fat content, total fiber content and total moisture content. Result: Results showed that T10- GA3+ZnSO4+Salicylic acid (40 ppm+0.5%+300 ppm) has given best result followed by T9 (30 ppm+ 0.5%+300 ppm) as compared to control (T0). T10 exhibited highest TSS (14.50a oBrix), minimum acidity (0.32a), TSS acid ratio (45.37b), highest total sugars (7.91a%), reducing sugar (5.10a %), non-reducing sugar (2.81d %), ascorbic acid (101.56ab mg/100 gm), highest ash content (2.38b g/100gm), total protein (3.50a g/100gm), total fat (0.45a g/100 gm) and total fiber content (5.37a g/100 gm) and total moisture content (4.89a%).

The quality of jam is significantly impacted by the storage conditions. The present study addresses the imperative need for a nutritious and low-calorie fruit preserve by focusing on the development of an unconventional low-calorie papaya (Carica papaya L.) jam with enhanced nutritional qualities, and extended shelf-life by substituting sucrose with natural sweeteners Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) and Chia Seed (Salvia hispanica) as a functional ingredient. Incorporating these natural sweeteners and functional ingredients is anticipated to improve the nutritional properties of jam while also addressing health issues linked to traditional high-sugar jams. Through a comprehensive investigation of the formulation, this research aims to elucidate the impact of stevia and chia seed on the product's nutritional value. Various low calorie papaya jam samples were formulated using nineteen different treatments. These jams were stored in pre-sterilized glass jars at ambient temperature. All nutritional aspects of these samples were assessed at two-month intervals over a period of six months. Results revealed that during the storage crude fibre value increased by (5.18 %-5.38 %) and crude fat content (0.78 %-0.82 %). Other end, moisture content dropped by (29.01 %-25.09 %), water activity (aw) (0.73-0.70), ash content (1.65 %-1.57 %), crude protein content (3.65 %-3.55 %), antioxidant activity (30.62 %-27.46 %), total flavonoid content (43.70 %-41.78 %) and total phenolic content (56.43 %-52.55 %), respectively. The nutritional evaluation depicted that the jam sample prepared with stevia @ 10gm/kg + chia seed @ 6.25%/kg + potassium metabisulphite @ 100mg/kg was considered best and demonstrated stability minimum for up to six months of storage, during which this period only minor changes observed in the nutritional characteristics and sensory ratings.

Guava (Psidium guajava L.) is a widely cultivated tropical fruit crop consumed raw and also in the form of processed products. Winters in Punjab show a drop in temperature, which hardens the fruit. Therefore, manipulation of the flowering season is desirable. Hence, the present study aimed to select an adequate combination of plant hormones and branch bending to amplify the quantitative traits in Guava cv. Allahabad Safeda. For combinations, three months for branch bending viz., August, September and October and three plant hormones: Naphthaleneacetic acid, Ethrel, and Gibberellins, with two different concentrations each (NAA@100ppm, NAA@200ppm, Ethrel@200ppm, Ethrel@400ppm, GA3@100ppm, GA3@150ppm were selected. The experimental layout was planned in two two-factor randomized block design (RBD) with twenty-one treatments. In the case of branch bending months, (M1) August branch bending gained ideal values in comparison with (M2) September and (M3) October. Combination of NAA at the rate of 200ppm with August branch bending (T2) gave more pronounced results for almost all vegetative parameters, while amongst plant hormones NAA at 200 ppm (C2) enhanced results for Canopy spread (N-S), canopy spread (E-W), length of internode and days for the emergence of new leaf 0.837m and 0.803m, 14.1cm and 27.33 respectively. Results vividly provide a strong base for selecting a combination of NAA spray at 200ppm concentration and August month for branch bending to uplift morphological traits in guava. Thus, these findings will favour horticulture breeders and farmers in harvesting profitable gains for field parameters by selecting a better combination of PGR and crop regulation measures from the off-season.