Bhatt R.m.

Biography

Currently he is a Professor in Department of Plant Physiology at ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research

Research Interest

Based on the phenotyping and other physiological expression, the physiological traits tolerant to water stress and high temperature were identified in tomato, chilli and onion and incorporated in the breeding programme. Cultivars having better osmotic adjustment recorded higher yields under water stress. The differential growth of root and shoot of tomato under water stress was related to osmotic adjustments. Stigma browning and stigma exertion (more than 1mm) found to affect the fertilization of ovary of tomato at high temperature and thus the flower drops. 2. Cell membrane Stability (CMS) test through electrolyte leakage, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were found to be effective physiological factors for evaluating the vegetable crops for tolerance to abiotic stresses. 3) The critical water potential for seed germination in tomato and brinjal ( 0.4 M.Pa) and chilli ( 0.4 M.Pa to 0.6 M.Pa) was worked out and it was found that the water sensitive phase of germination occurred prior to radical growth in these crops. 4) In bell-pepper, a light intensity of 800 to 950 mol m-2 s-1 PAR is suitable for better growth and higher yield and essential to maintain this intensity under protective cultivation and cultivation during summer. 5) In okra, the seeds obtained from middle nodes had higher germination percentage and also the fruits were on these nodes were found to be strong sink for photo assimilates. The seeds collected from these nodes recommended for seed collection in okra. 6) A concentration of 100 ppm was standardized for Indian tomato in improving the fruit set under high temperature conditions. 7. Exogenous application of osmoprotectant (glycinebetaine) has improved the plant growth and performance under water stress in chilli and tomato as indicated by greater photosynthetic rate, dry matter accumulation and its partitioning to reproductive organs under water stress condition in above mentioned crops. 8. Wild species of tomato and brinjal rootstock were found to be useful tool for improving tolerance to high (flooding) and low moisture stress (drought) in tomato. 9. Based on physiological markers, tolerant genotypes/lines to water stress were identified and used as a parents for breeding the drought tolerant hybrid/varieties in chilli. In onion, the genotypic variability to water tolerance indicated that the genotype with small bulb size along with erect leaf orientation performed better under water stress.