Editor’s Exordium
Interdependence in Horticultural Research

“The ultimate goal of farming is not growing crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings”
(Masanobu Fukuoka, The One-Straw Revolution, 1975)

Call it “Zen and the Art of Farming” or a “Little Green Book”, Masanobu Fukuoka’s manifesto
about farming, eating and the limits of human knowledge presents a radical and ever-current challenge
to the global systems we rely on for our food. At the same time, it is an inspiring, philosophical and
spiritual memoir of a man whose innovative system of cultivating the earth reflects a deep faith in the
wholeness and balance of the natural world. It is a relevant pick-up whether you are a guerilla gardener
or a kitchen gardener.

In fruits, Gajanana et al have presented an economic analysis marketing of pink flesh guava and
its post harvest losses all along the chain from producer to the consumer, while identifying the maximum
window for exercising critical care before product disposal to the consumer. Muralidhara and Gowda
have identified the best stage of rootstocks of Coorg Mandarin (Citrus reticulate Blanco) for rapid
multiplication of the quality planting material, through soft wood grafting, a new way in Citrus.
Srivastava et al have studied significant correlations between growth, yield and quality of apple in
relation to trunk cross sectional area under espalier architecture. Same but expanded group has also
noticed strong correlations in additional attributes in plum under North West Himalayan region, at
least in the variety Santa Rosa. Shivashankara et al, while decoding the possible causes for the poor
fruit set due to low pollen viability, have undertaken metabolic profiling and chemical compositional
analysis in mango applying liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) in Totapuri, Amrapali
and Alphonso and other cultivars. Yippiee! They have deduced that certain phytohormones, free sugars
and amino acids indeed are efficient biochemical markers of pollen viability and possibly better yields.
Srivastava et al, have evaluated the performance of sweet cherry cultivars in terms of correlational
trunk cross sectional area with growth and productivity traits. Kanupriya et al have reported the rare
occurance of seed polyembryony in langsat (Lansium parasiticum) in a tropical tree plantation in
Tamil Nadu; polyembryony is a desirable trait for clonal propagation of perennial plus trees.

In vegetable crops, Singh et al have evaluated extant germplasm accessions and varieties of
brinjal and wild Solanaceous lines and identified promising accessions tolerant to the bacterial wilt
caused by Ralstonia solanacearum, which perhaps, is one of the most intriguing and phenocomplex
pathogens today. Varalakshmi et al, while breeding ridge gourd (Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb.) for heterosis
and combining ability, have recorded superior cross combinations for best SCA and GCA effects.
Nasiya-Beegum and Subramanian, using trichome morphology of 48 accessions in cowpea, have

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deduced the ever complex trait of insect resistance, to the infestation by spotted pod borer, Maruca
vitrata. Dalamu et al have addressed the nutritional improvement and heritability aspects of red skinned
potatoes of Eastern India through genetic diversity in terms of iron and zinc levels.

In flower crops, Radhika and Tejaswini have developed a digital repository and retrieval system
for rose germplasm management including a web-enabled interface, useful for rose researchers. A rosy
touch indeed! Nataraj et al have investigated the performance of Anthurium (A. anderanum Lindl)
cultivars under hill zones of Karnataka and suggested cultivars with very good vase life and high
benefit: cost ratio.

IN THIS ISSUE, articles on the three main crops, fruits (7), vegetables (4) and flower (2), represent
various facets of the horticultural technologies, including crop improvement (1), field aspects (5),
insect pests (1), diseases (1), post harvest losses (1), nutrition (1), biochemistry (1), basic plant biology
(1) and bioinformatics (1).

In the midst of the milieu of a torrent of current developments like artificial intelligence, climate
resilience, GMO ambience and chemical independence, in agriculture and horticulture, it is with a
little indulgence that we consider the opulence and essence of Fukuoka’s wisdom and intelligence in
our routine research superintendence without any magniloquence! That will be a real tribute to the
One-Straw Revolution Man indeed.

Sayonara.

Vageeshbabu S. Hanur
 Editor in Chief

Journal of Horticultural Sciences

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Vol. 14(1) : i-ii, 2019