ramchandra

Principal Scientist
Areas of Interest: 

Born in a village Bhagawanpur, Varanasi UP. Completed pre University course, B.Sc.(Ag) & M.Sc. (Ag.) Horticulture from BHU, Varanasi and Ph.D. Horticulture from Kanpur, University, UP. Started my carrier as Scientist after completing ASRB Examination. Presently engaged with PC Cell of AICRP (VC).

 Main interest:

 1.Germplasm Management of Horticultural crops – Fruits, Vegetables, Medicinal & Aromatic plants.

 2.Crop improvement – Pomegranate, Guava, Turmeric & vegetables (Moringa)

3. Coordination & monitoring in AICRP Cell

Major Research Accomplishments: 

1. Developed four guava varieties viz. Megha Guava-1(Progeny of Sour type × Red Fleshed), Megha Saw Priam (Progeny of Sour type × Allahabad Safeda), Megha Khongpheram (Lucknow-49 × Progeny of Pear shaped guava) and Megha Priam Thiang (Progeny selection from Meghalaya) through hybridization having  high yield (11-17 t/ha), rich in vitamin C, Pectin, dietary fiber, sugar and these varieties were recommended for mid-hill regions of North East Region which were  released by Institute Variety Release Committee and proposal has been submitted to SVRC, Meghalaya during March, 2015.

 

2.Developed one turmeric variety namely Megha Turmeric-1 through clonal selection from Lakadong a local variety. It is released by State Variety Release Committee of Meghalaya and recommended for its cultivation in NEH-Region and Uttar Pradesh. It takes 300-315 days for crop maturity. The yield potential of this variety is about 27 t fresh rhizome per ha. It contains 16.37% dry matter, 6.8% curumin and 5.5% essential oil. It is highly tolerant to leaf spot (Colletrotrichum capsici) and leaf blotch (Taphrina maculans) diseases. In addition, 63 genotypes of turmeric and 36 genotypes of ginger collected and evaluated for trait specific characters.

 

3.Developed two Pomegranate varieties viz. Solapur Lal and Solapur Anardana. Solapur Lal is 15 days earlier than Bhagwa and produced more fruits/tree than Bhagwa and Ganesh. The TSS, juice recovery percentage and anthocyanin contents better than Bhagwa and Ganesh. Vitamin C content is better than Bhagwa. The rind thickness is better than Ganesh. The fruit colour is attractive glossy red and aril colour is also red. The incidence of bacterial blight disease is lesser than Bhagwa. It is highly suitable for table purpose. Solapur Anardana is suitable for processing purpose. These varieties were recommended for release by IVRC for Maharashtra.

 

4.A field gene bank of 191 pomegranate germplasm established at NRCP, Solapur, Maharashtra. Gujarat is rich in plant biodiversity particularly for medicinal and aromatic plants. Hence, 212 accessions of 11 genera viz. 32 Aloe, 46 Asparagus, 21Commiphora, 8 Chlorophytum, 34 Ocimum, 12 Phyllanthus, 38 Tinospora, 6 Tribulus, 10 Withania, 3 Evolvulus and 2 Cassia were collected from different places of Gujarat and established a field gene bank for maintenance and characterization at NRC for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Anand, Gujarat.

 

5.Single stem training system is better for canopy architecture in pomegranate. A spacing of 1 x 0.5 m is suitable for stool layering in pomegranate. Curacron (0.4%) or ethrel (0.3%) or dormex (0.5%) were very effective for defoliation in pomegrantate. Wedge grafting on 30th January found optimum time for grafting in pomegranate.

 

Patents, Technology, Methodology, Genetic Stock, Variety, etc.:: 

Varieties:

Barapani, Shillong:

Four guava varieties namely Megha Guava-1, Megha Saw Priam , Megha Khongpheram &  Megha Priam Thiang.

One turmeric variety namely Megha Turmeric-1.

NRC Pomegranate , Sholapur :

Two Pomegranate varieties viz. Solapur Lal and Solapur Anardana

Methodology :

Single stem training system is better for canopy architecture in pomegranate.

Awards/Honours

  1. Awarded  Dr Manmohan Attavar Gold Medal award  in Floriculture for the year 2007 by Horticulture Society, India, New Delhi.

Fellowship: 

Awarded “Horticulture Society of India Fellowship -  2013” by Horticulture Society, India, New Delhi.

Publications: 

Best 5 Publications: Published 2 International and 13 National research papers, 08 Popular articles, 5 Book chapters, 5 Technical bulletins, 22 Abstracts and participated in 22 Seminars/ Symposium and 2 training programmes organized by various ICAR Institutes at different places.

 

Chandra, R., Desai, A.R., Govind, S. and Gupta, P.N. 1997. Metroglyph analysis in turmeric (Curcuma Ionga L.) germplasm in India. Scientia Horticulture.70: 211-222.

Chandra, R., Kumar,D.  and  Aishwath, O.P  2007 Growth, yield and nutrients uptake as influenced by different planting methods in Chlorophytum borivilianum . Indian Journal Agricultural Sciences, 77(9): 558-560.

Chandra, R., Singh, A.K. and Prasad, R.N. 1996 Studies on high yield turmeric selection resistant to leaf spot disease  Indian Journal Horticllture. 53(4): 313-316.

Chandra R, and V.T. Jadhav 2012 Studies on various grafting methods and time in pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) under semi-arid agro-climatic condition of Maharashtra Indian Journal Agricultural Science, 82(11): 990-2.

Chandra R, Anshul Subhashrao lohakare, Dhinesh Babu Karuppannan, Ashis Maity, Nripendra Vikram Singh, Vilas Tejrao Jadhav 2013 Variability studies on physico-chemical properties of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.)  using scoring technique, Fruits , 68(2): 135-146.