Indian Institute of Vegetable Research

Fipronil is extensively used for insect pest management in cowpea; however, its residue dynamics under field conditions require a reliable analytical assessment to ensure food safety. In the present study, a sensitive and validated gas chromatography–micro electron capture detector (GC-µECD) method was developed for the determination of fipronil residues in cowpea pods, leaves and soil and its dissipation behaviour was evaluated under field conditions. Field experiments were conducted during the kharif season (2023–24) at ICAR–Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi, India, using cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) variety Kashi Kanchan in a randomised block design with three replications. Fipronil 5 % SC was applied at the recommended dose (50 g a.i. ha-1) and double the recommended dose using a knapsack sprayer. Samples of pods, leaves and soil were collected at different intervals (0, 1, 2, 5, 7 and 10 days) after the final spray. Residues were extracted and cleaned using a modified QuEChERS method and quantified by GC-µECD. The method showed good linearity over the concentration range of 0.01–0.1 µg mL-1, satisfactory recoveries and a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.01 mg kg-1 for all matrices. Fipronil residues dissipated progressively with time, following first-order kinetics and declined below detectable levels within the recommended pre-harvest interval. Therefore, when used at recommended doses, fipronil presents a low risk profile in cowpea cultivation.

The present study was conducted during 2023–24 and 2024–25 to evaluate the field efficacy of new-generation insecticides against major insect pests of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and to assess household-level residue mitigation techniques for safe tomato consumption. Field trials tested chlorantraniliprole, emamectin benzoate, spinosad, and indoxacarb at three dosages. Chlorantraniliprole 18.5% SC at the recommended 1× dose reduced Helicoverpa armigera populations by 59.82% and 51.60% across the two seasons, and aphid populations by 32.20% and 39.09%, achieving tomato yields of 17.40 t ha−1 with a benefit–cost ratio of 2.67:1, which were comparable to the marginally higher yields recorded at higher doses. Higher doses increased pest suppression and yield but reduced beneficial coccinellid beetles. Therefore, the identification of the most suitable insecticide was based on performance at the recommended (1×) dose, where effective pest control was achieved with minimal impact on beneficial arthropods. Among household decontamination methods, a 2% salt solution achieved over 84% residue reduction across all insecticides at the 1× dose, followed by lukewarm water (81.58–85.17%), lemon juice (78.82–81.88%), tamarind solution (78.15–79.55%), and tap water (77.46–79.38%). Residue removal was more effective at recommended doses due to lower initial deposits. Chlorantraniliprole 18.5% SC at the recommended dose showed effective pest control while preserving natural enemies, and simple household washing techniques, particularly salt solutions, significantly reduced residues, ensuring safer tomato consumption.

The soybean–wheat rotation system forms a crucial component of Central India’s rainfed agriculture. Although historically productive and profitable, the system’s sustainability is increasingly threatened by suboptimal nutrient management, and soil degradation under changing climate. This three-year study, conducted on small and semi-medium farms in Central India using a Participatory Technology Development (PTD) approach, aimed to evaluate how diverse nutrient management strategies influence yield, profitability, and resource use efficiency. Four nutrient management strategies were tested on small to semi-medium farms: (T1) Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) using chemical fertilizers, farmyard manure and biofertilizers, (T2) Integrated Nutrient Management using chemical fertilizers, enriched compost and biofertilizers, (T3) Soil test crop response-based fertilization, and (T4) Farmers’ conventional practice. Among the four treatments T2 achieved the highest system productivity (6.63 t ha ⁻ ¹ wheat equivalent), net returns (67,680 INR ha ⁻ ¹), and superior yield stability, under climatic variability. T3 offered moderate productivity while promoting balanced nutrient use and lower input costs. Both T2 and T3 enhanced microbial activity and soil health, while T4 led to nutrient depletion, (especially potassium), and low returns. Furthermore, the timing and distribution of monsoon rainfall significantly impacted performance and yield stability of soybean. This study highlights the critical need for integrated, site-specific, and farmer-centric nutrient management strategies to ensure sustainable productivity, profitability, and soil health under changing climatic conditions.

This study comprehensively evaluates the dissipation dynamics, environmental persistence, dietary exposure, and ecotoxicological risks associated with the application of carbendazim (CBZ) and chlorantraniliprole (CAP) in Solanaceous cropping systems, specifically brinjal (Solanum melongena) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Residue quantification was performed using a highly sensitive and validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method to ensure precise detection at trace levels. Initial concentration of CBZ in brinjal fruit (1.159‒2.110mg/kg) declined substantially over 15days, with 96.68-98.27% dissipation observed. Soil residues of carbendazim showed a comparable reduction of 96.09-97.03%. In tomato fruits, the dissipation ranged from 96.87 to 97.31% and from 95.15 to 95.24% in soil. For CAP, residue levels in brinjal fruits (1.110-2.100mg/kg) dissipated by 96.43-97.30%, while soils demonstrated 95.34-96.82% reduction. Tomato fruits displayed higher dissipation of 98.47-99.53%, and soils showed 98.79-98.98% reduction. Both pesticides followed first-order dissipation kinetics, with calculated half-lives (t1/2) ranging from 1.90 to 3.53days. Probabilistic acute dietary exposure assessments, stratified by rural and urban dietary patterns, revealed that the estimated daily intakes of CBZ and CAP remained well within the acceptable daily intake (ADI) limits established by regulatory agencies, particularly following adherence to the recommended pre-harvest intervals (PHIs). Ecotoxicological risk assessment, based on risk quotient (RQ) values for representative non-target soil organisms, including earthworms and arthropods, demonstrated a transient risk immediately post-application especially under T2, which attenuated to acceptable levels within 15days post-treatment. A computational study was used for chlorantraniliprole and carbendazim. The findings affirm that, when applied in accordance with good agricultural practices (GAPs), both CBZ and CAP pose minimal residual and ecological risk, thereby supporting their continued use in integrated pest management (IPM) frameworks. The findings of this investigation may serve as a valuable reference for the safe and judicious application of chlorantraniliprole (CAP) and carbendazim (CBZ) in brinjal and tomato cultivation.

The current study aimed to comparatively evaluate oxalic acid levels in fresh, dried and fermented forms of water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica Forsk.) (var. Kashi Manu). The field trial was conducted at the Experimental Farm of ICAR-IIVR, Varanasi, India, July, 2024 and estimation of oxalic acid was carried out at the Biochemical Laboratory of same research institute. The oxalic acid content was assessed by titrimetric analysis using standardized potassium permanganate (KMnO₄) solution. The results showed significant differences among treatments (p ≤ 0.01). Fresh samples showed the highest oxalic acid concentration (250.24 ± 3.08 g/100 g) whereas, the lowest value was observed in the fermented sample prepared with salt water (FSW; 22.17 ± 0.68 mg/100 g). Drying reduced oxalic acid levels to 107.66 ± 4.86 mg/100 g whereas, fermentation distinctly reduced the concentration in all treatments with reductions of 83-91 % compared to fresh samples. The decline in oxalic acid concentration during fermentation is attributed to enzymatic degradation and microbial decarboxylation processes. This result revealed that traditional fermentation particularly salt water fermentation, serves as an effective approach for reducing anti-nutritional oxalic acid in water spinach, thereby enhancing its nutritional safety and value for human consumption.

Minimal processing is the fastest-growing avenue of the vegetable processing industry, driven by consumers seeking convenience and freshness. Such products have huge demands in hotels, restaurant and cafes (HoReCa) and supermarkets as they enable quick accessibility and availability of fresh-like and convenience-added safe vegetable produce that may also lead to a reduction in food wastage. Minimally processed carrot is a popular segment; under this study, the cut carrots of different genotypes were subjected to different interventions, viz., physical, chemical, thermal and a combination treatment for minimal processing to enhance the shelf life while ensuring safety and quality of cut carrots stored at refrigerated conditions. Physico-chemical, textural and microbiological analyses were done, which indicated that the combined treatment, consisting of thermal treatment, chitosan coating and UV treatment, proved to be effective interventions in maintaining the safe shelf life of VRCAR-134 and Kashi Krisna cut carrots for four days at 10°C storage.

The demand and value for underutilized vegetables, particularly leafy vegetables like basella (Basella alba) and mustard green (Brassica juncea var. rugosa), have been gaining momentum as a source of nutritional substitutes. Information on seed testing protocols, including their dormancy management, are meagre. The seed testing protocols are neither available in ISTA rules, AOSA rules, nor in the IBPGR compendium. In the absence of prescribed seed testing protocols, practical difficulties are faced in the seed quality evaluation and/or by its end users (farmers) when raising a good crop. The presence of seed dormancy is beneficial in arresting seed germination; however, a long period of seed dormancy poses a problem in immediate sowing and its proper evaluation. In view of the above, the present study was conducted to standardize the seed testing protocol in basella and mustard green at ICAR-Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi, India, using 5 genotypes of basella and 4 genotypes of mustard green during 2023 and 2024. The results showed that basella seed germinated best on between paper (BP) at 20 to 25°C. The ninth day and 21st day were found suitable for the first and final count, respectively. As basella seed exhibits physical dormancy, the dormancy management treatments are recommended. Among various dormancy management treatments, presoaking in 1.0% KNO3 for 12 hrs significantly improved the seed germination. Whereas, in the case of mustard green suitable substratum is the top of the paper (TP) and temperatures of 20 to 30°C, are recommended, with the 5th and 7th day as the first and final count and the seeds of mustard green do not possess any dormancy.

Capsicum is an important crop for both fresh consumption and industrial use. This study investigated the genetic loci associated with 11 agronomic traits in Capsicum species using genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS). A collection of 100 diverse Capsicum genotypes was evaluated under field conditions over 2 years. Genotyping was conducted using the Illumina platform. For most traits, the phenotypic coefficient of variance (21.22–56.40) exceeded the genotypic coefficient of variance (18.75–54.75). Hierarchical clustering grouped the genotypes into three clusters. Analysis of GBS data identified 16,745 high-quality SNPs, with the highest number (3202) located on chromosome 3. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis across the 12 chromosomes identified 835 LD blocks. STRUCTURE software predicted three distinct sub-populations (K = 3). GWAS identified 34 SNPs significantly associated with 28 QTL regions. The study identified candidate genes putatively associated with traits such as plant height (Transcription factor MYB4), fruit length (Putative glycine-rich cell wall structural protein 1), fruit width (Pentatricopeptide repeat-containing protein At2g20540), fruit orientation (Bidirectional sugar transporter N3-like), fruit colour (Metallocarboxypeptidase inhibitor), pungency (Probable LRR receptor-like serine/threonine-protein kinase At1g53420), number of fruits per plant (Ankyrin repeat domain-containing protein 13B), fruit weight (Putative F-box protein At5g50220), yield per plant (Photosynthetic NDH subunit of lumenal location 1, chloroplastic), chilli leaf curl virus resistance (Formin-like protein 3), and anthracnose resistance (Acyl-CoA-binding protein). A few candidate genes were validated by qRT-PCR. These findings provide valuable genomic resources and identify candidate genes for key traits relevant to Capsicum breeding.