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Anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum Linden) belongs to the complex family Araceae, is a slow growing perennial that requires shady, humid conditions as found in tropical forests. The name anthurium is derived from Greek word “anthos” meaning flower and “oura” tail referring to the spadix. Thus, anthurium is also known as “tail flower” (Tajuddin and Prakash 1996). Anthuriums are gaining popularity due to higher returns per unit area and their beautiful and attractive long lasting flowers. Anthurium ranks ninth in the global flower trade and commands a respectable price both for its cut flower and whole plant. Commercial production has focused on two major species viz. A. andraeanum and A. scherzerianum. A. andraeanum is grown mostly for cut flower production, the main production areas being Hawaii, The Netherlands, and some other tropical and subtropical countries. A. scherzerianum is sold as a flowering potted plant, with main production areas located in Europe. In India, the anthurium cut flower industry is still in its infancy. At present anthuriums are mostly grown in some small gardens and nurseries. The important states cultivating anthuriums are Assam, Kerala, Tamilnadu (Salem), Karnataka (Coorg) and Mizoram where the favourable climate exists (Agasimani et al., 2011).

Anthurium is commonly known as anthurium/tail flower/oilcloth flower (Anthurium andraeanum) and flamingo flower/flame plant (Anthurium scherzerianum). The word anthurium is derived from two Greek words viz, anthos meaning flower and aura meaning tail, referring to the spadix. Anthurium plants were growing undisturbed for hundreds of centuries in the rainforests of South America. Samuel Damon, a businessman and politician in the Kingdom of Hawaii brought one species out of hundreds of species of anthurium to Hawaii in 1889 for cultivation in his garden. The plants were introduced by various people in their gardens from Samuel Damon’s garden. It is a tropical ornamental plant valued for its flowers and unusually attractive foliage. In India, it is grown commercially in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Sikkim, West Bengal, Meghalaya and Maharashtra. In India, total anthurium flower production is 3230 tonnes with Assam producing highest anthurium production of 2050 tonnes followed by Meghalaya 740 tonnes (Seemanthini and Chandrashekar, 2018). Major markets in the world for per capita consumption of anthurium flowers are Europe (47.80%), United States of America (21.80%) and Japan (16.80%) (Misra and Misra, 2017). In anthurium, various ploidy levels exist like diploid (Anthurium andraeanum and A. hookeri), triploid (A. scandens) and tetraploid (A. digitatum and A. wallisii). Basic chromosome number varies in different species of Anthurium. Most of the Anthurium species have 2n = 30 chromosomes while in some polyploids, it is 2n = 60. However, a few species have 2n = 20 to 124 chromosomes (Petersen, 1989). In Anthurium andraeanum, somatic chromosome number has been found as 2n = 30 + 2B and this species has high percentage of meiotic abnormalities and karyotype differences suggesting its hybrid origin. Anthurium plants need medium care and reach up to a height of 45-50 cm bearing pale white to yellow coloured flowers with orange to red coloured bracts.

INTRODUCTION

Anthuriums are a perennial herbaceous plant of great beauty and grown either for their showy cut flowers or for their attractive foliage. They are valued for their colourful long lasting spathe and spadix. The cultivars contribute elegance and attractiveness, which are pre-requisites for quality and floral design. It is also known as Flamingo flower or Flamingo lily. What is usually considered the flower is comprised of a colourful, modified leaf (spathe) and hundreds of small, botanical flowers on the pencil like protrusion (spadix) rising from the base of spathe. Anthurium have been cultivated from many decades for cut flower production. Since the mid 1980’s its popularity has increased dramatically and has now become a popular addition to many foliage growers. The economic life span of anthurium is around 6-8 years.

In India the cut flowers of Anthurium andreanum are cultivated for considerable length of time although still in small scale. Commercial viable production should be estimated of approximately 5 ha, which is far below the market demand. The anthurium is getting increasing popularity in the Indian market and therefore, most of the locally produced anthurium is sold in the domestic market against reasonable prices. Its export possibility appears very promising as the flowers are already exported to the Middle East. The development of main flower distribution centre in Dubai offers important possibilities for Indian floriculture.

This chapter introduces Anthurium as an important tropical ornamental crop cultivated for cut flowers, potted plants and landscaping. It examines its origin, distribution, genetics, botanical characteristics and commercial varieties. The chapter discusses greenhouse conditions including temperature, humidity, light, shade, irrigation, nutrition and propagation. It also covers pests, diseases, harvesting, grading, storage and packing. The importance of improved cultivars and controlled environmental conditions in maintaining high-quality flowers is emphasized.

Anthuriums are tropical flowering plants with attractive foliage. These flowers are bewitchingly beautiful with attractive form and long lasting characters making it a favourite choice for flower arrangement and for bouquet making.  Anthurium is a large neotropical genus of 600-800 species belonging to family Araceae. Two flowering species in this genus Anthurium andreanum and Anthurium scherzerianum are extremely fascinating and commercially important.  The flowers of anthurium are popular with flower arrangers because of their bold effect and lasting qualities (Bhatt and Desai, 1989 and Singh, 1995). Together with some of its many hybrids, A. andreanum today forms the basis of a substantial cut flower industry chiefly in Hawaii, where much research is done in its hybridization and cut flower.

Thrips – Chaetanaphorothrips  orchidii, Thripidae: Thysanoptera

It is a polyphagous feeder that attacks other ornamentals, herbs, fruits, vegetables, grasses, and weeds, but shows preference for Anthurium species. It is a widely distributed species infesting green houses and out door landscapes.

Both adult and immature thrips start feeding within unopened Anthurium spathe. Damage appears as white streaks on the upper and lower surface of the spathe, resulting in deformed spathe and bronzing of the injured tissue with age. In severe cases, spathe  fails to open and the foliage may be deformed with streaming and bronzing and thereby reduced plant growth.

Introduction

Anthurium is a perennial herbaceous plant of great beauty and grown either for its showy cut flower or for attractive foliage. They are valued for their colourful long lasting spathe and spadix. It is also known as Flamingo flower or Flamingo lily. In India the cut flowers of Anthurium andreanum are cultivated for considerable length of time. Its commercial cultivation is concentrated in North-eastern states and Kerala. The anthurium is getting increasing popularity in the Indian market and therefore, most of the locally produced anthurium is sold in the domestic market against reasonable prices. Its export possibility appears very promising as the flowers are already exported to the Middle East. The development of main flower distribution center in Dubai offers important possibilities for Indian floriculture.

Anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum Linden) belongs to the complex family Araceae, is a slow growing perennial that requires shady, humid conditions as found in tropical forests. The name anthurium is derived from Greek word “anthos” meaning flower and “oura” tail referring to the spadix. Thus, anthurium is also known as “tail flower” (Tajuddin and Prakash 1996). Anthuriums are gaining popularity due to higher returns per unit area and their beautiful and attractive long lasting flowers. Anthurium ranks ninth in the global flower trade and commands a respectable price both for its cut flower and whole plant. Commercial production has focused on two major species viz. A. andraeanum and A. scherzerianum. A. andraeanum is grown mostly for cut flower production, the main production areas being Hawaii, The Netherlands, and some other tropical and subtropical countries. A. scherzerianum is sold as a flowering potted plant, with main production areas located in Europe. In India, the anthurium cut flower industry is still in its infancy. At present anthuriums are mostly grown in some small gardens and nurseries. The important states cultivating anthuriums are Assam, Kerala, Tamilnadu (Salem), Karnataka (Coorg) and Mizoram where the favourable climate exists (Agasimani et al., 2011).

ORIGIN AND DISTRIBUTION

Anthurium andreanum Linden Ex Andre is named after a French Horticulturist Edouard Francois Andre (1840-1911) who discovered it in 1876 and described it for the first time. The genus includes around 1000 species (Croat, 1980). Most of them are tropical herbs originating from warm areas of Central and South America (Gantait et al., 2008). The distribution of this genus extends from northern Mexico and the Greater Antilles to southern Brazil, northern Argentina, and Paraguay (Croat and Sheffer, 1983). Most anthurium species are native of tropical rain forests and are primarily epiphytic in nature. Thus, in their natural habitat, they receive ample, frequent water with good drainage. In Brazil, it is noted the occurrence of around 130 native species (Gonçalves, 2003).

In Malaysia, anthurium is mostly grown in Pahang (Cameron highlands), Selangor, Perak and Johor mainly for cut flower production. The Netherlands is the chief supplier of the anthurium in the European market. Hawaii covers 60% export share of Japan and the rest of the west coast of the USA. The Caribbean produces the anthurium for the east coast of United States and Canada. Mauritius is one of the important producer of anthurium and it exports to Japan and Italy. While some eastern countries like Taiwan, Philippines, China and Thailand mainly produce for their local market. In India, anthurium is commercially grown in Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Maharashtra and north east India. Kerala is identified as the most desirable place for growing anthurium (Singh, 2006).

Abstract: Anthurium, popularly known as aristocrat of the plant world, is admired for its unique ornamental value. The Netherlands remains the world’s largest grower and primary source of new colours and cultivars to the international market; while Hawaii remains the epicenter for published research on various aspects of anthurium genetics, propagation and improvement. Flower breeders have created numerous genotypes during the millennia of breeding this crop, which has enabled its establishment as pot plant and cut flower industry. Continued breeding and improvement of anthurium focus on floral fragrance, disease resistance, new flower shapes/ colours and improved floral longevity. Wonderful results achieved through interspecific hybridization, multiway crosses, polyploidy breeding and molecular genetic techniques have been discussed. Cultivars are almost exclusively asexually propagated. Anthuriums are cross pollinating perennial shrubs and progeny can segregate widely for traits due to heterozygosity. Long life cycle of plants, slow seed formation and maturation, slow suckering often pose significant challenges to breeders. Biotechnology has created a new horizon in anthurium breeding. Increasing knowledge of the inheritance of traits and molecular genetics techniques are valuable tools aiding modern anthurium breeders. Future crop idiotype is proposed to continue transformation of this monocot aroid crop during the next millennium.

This may be defined as the factor present in feeds/ fodders or trees leaves and impair some aspects of animal metabolism, produce adverse biological effect in animal production. These are referred mostly as toxic factors because of the deleterious effects they produce when taken by the animals. The term ‘toxic factor’ however, is misleading because there is an implication that the substances are lethal beyond certain level of intake.

An anti-nutritional factor is a substance which, when present in human or animal foods, reduces growth. Examples are phytate, protease inhibitors (notably soybean trypsin inhibitor) and excessive dietary fiber.

Anti-Nutritional Factors

    ·    Protease inhibitors inhibit the activity of trypsin, chemotropism and other proteases. They are found in legumes such as beans and peas, but also in cereals, potatoes, and other products. Their presence results in impaired growth and poor food utilization.

Introduction

The biological systems on the earth are in a dynamic equilibrium. In this attempt to live comfortably man disturbs this equilibrium in many, one of which is the cultivation of crop plants to meet his requirements for food, clothing and shelter. Intensive and extensive n of crop plants provides not only better crops but also better ties for pests and diseases to attack these crops. The greater loss due to the pests and diseases, the greater the attempt to these damages. Bacteria are one of the important disease since time immemorial. Bacteria are found in every ble habitat. They are unicellular, but display a variety of ‘cal forms.

The present investigation on the botanicals  has been aimed at preparation of different types of aqueous extracts of locally available medicinal plants viz., Datura stramonium (Datura), Ricinus Castor), Vitex trifolia (Nirgudi) and Nerium indicum (Kanher); the study concentration and stability of these extracts at room temperature; and evaluation of their anti-bacterial activities. This study will be helpful to preserve and increase the pest management potency and efficiency of plant derived products.

1. Introduction Ayurvedic texts like Charak Samhita and Sushruta Samhita, have described millets as the staple food useful in managing diabetes mellitus (Sachan Kumar, 2004). Based on the experience of eating these millets for time immemorial, there exists also a strong traditional knowledge about health benefits associated with them. For example, as per an adage in the state of Karnataka, India: “Those who eat rice will grow as a light weight; their body being just like that of a bird; those who eat Jowar will become as strong as a wolf but those who eat Ragi (millets) will be the strongest of them all, plus they would be free from illness (‘nirogi’ in Sanskrit)”! Certain studies from literature refer nutraceutical character of millets, especially, Kodo and Kutki, which in our opinion should help mankind in eradicating malnutrition and hunger while ensuring sustainable supply of food.

Overpopulation in humans and street dogs to some extent is a global problem of significant magnitude, with grave implications for the future. The overpopulation of dogs and cats is becoming an increasing concern in most countries of the world. As the global human population explodes so to do the staggering numbers of many best friends. Not only does this overpopulation cause millions of deaths each year and immeasurable levels of suffering in unwanted animals, these animals can cause significant risks to human health.

Stray animals particularly dogs are source of dreaded diseases like rabies and other zoonoses, resulting in thousands of deaths annually. The management of wild and domestic animal population is step towards controlling the situation and fertility control techniques play a role in this. However, such technology is still in its infancy is yet to be used on a large scale.

Advancements made in immunology and improved methods for the isolation of antigens specific reproductive system have paved the way for the development of antifertility vaccines in the past two decades. These vaccines are generally based on their ability block an indispensable step in the reproductive process.

Introduction

In man’s continued effort to enhance food production, new high yielding crop varieties and new techniques for crop and field management are being constantly evolved resulting in a parallel increase in disease occurrence which calls for their efficient management. Of the various management strategies available for disease management, the chemical strategies have so far dominated our thinking. Over emphasis on chemical control of plant diseases has caused serious imbalances in the agro-ecosystem^1-2.

The shift to exploration of non-chemical strategies is likely to correct the imbalance in our approach and subsequently improve the understanding of Integrated Disease Management (IDM). IDM is defined as ‘a disease management system that utilizes all suitable techniques in a compatible manner to reduce and maintain pest pathogen population at levels below those causing economic injury.’ Fungi are the important group of pathogens.

In continuation of our work on natural pest management agents the present investigation aims at the preparation of different types of aqueous extracts of locally available four Indian medicinal plants viz., Datura stramonium Linn (Datura), Ricinus communis Linn. (Castor), Vitex trifolia Linn. (Nirgudi) and Nerium indicum Mill. (Kanher); study of stability of these extracts at room temperature; and evaluation of their anti-fungal potencies. This study will help to preserve and increase the pest management potency and efficacy of natural products.

1. Introduction

Medicinal plants continue to be an important therapeutic aid for alleviating the ailments of humankind. The search for eternal health and longevity for remedies to relive pain and discomfort drove early man to explore his immediate natural surroundings to the use of many plants, animal products and minerals etc for the development of a variety of therapeutic agents. Today, there is a renewed interest in traditional medicine and an increasing demand for more drugs from plants sources. This revival of interest in plant derived drugs is mainly due to the current widespread belief that “green medicine” is safe and more dependable than the costly synthetic drugs, many of which have adverse side effects.

Vitex negundo or Five-Leaved Chaste Tree is commonly known as Nirgundi in India. It is a large aromatic shrub belonging to the Verbenaceae family of plants. It is distributed throughout the greater part of India up to an altitude of 1500 m in the outer Himalayas. It is a gregarious shrub that is found abundant along the banks or rivers, in moist situations, open waste lands and near the deciduous forests. It is widely planted as a hedge plant along the roads and between the roads.

A. Answer the following question

1.    What is ANF?

Ans: The substances that are naturally present in the feed which by themselves or by their metabolic products interfere with the feed utilization (FCR), reduce production and affect the health of the animal are called anti-nutritional factors.

2.    How does lectin cause agglutination?

Ans: Lectins have the affinityfor certain sugar molecules. Hence, it combines with the glycoprotein components of RBC and there bycausing agglutination of the RBC.

3.    Why ruminants are more resistant to gossypol toxicity?

Ans: It is due to formationof stablecomplexeswith soluble protein in rumen which are resistant to enzymatic breakdown.

4.    Why ruminants of Hawaii and Indonesia are not susceptible to mimosine toxicity?

Ans: Ruminants of Hawaii and Indonesia possess ruminal bacteria which can rapidly degrade 3-hydroxy-4(1H)-pyridone (3,4 DHP) and thus are not susceptible to mimosine toxicity.

5.    How saponin form stable foam?

Millets have immense potential of providing nutritional security worldwide and play a pivotal role in food and nutrition economy. The nutritional aspects of millets are comparatively superior from the widely consumed cereals across the globe. With the presence of various essential macro nutrients millets are also enriched with the goodness of micro nutrients as minerals, vitamins and possess various bioactive compounds that portray several health benefits. The nutritional attributes of the millets are accompanied with several antinutritional factors such as tannins, phytates, saponins, trypsin and amylase inhibitors etc. that limit the bioavailability of the essential nutrients and minerals in these wonder grains upon consumption.

A broad class of polypeptides and proteins occur in plants and other life forms, which inhibit the action of proteolytic enzymes and are known therefore as proteinase inhibitors and this includes those which specifically inhibit the important digestive enzyme trypsin. Others inhibit a related enzyme chymotrypsin. The subject of proteinase inhibitors was reviewed by Ryan (1981). The occurrence of these inhibitors has nutritional implications for human and animal feeding as they are found in many important food plants eaten both raw and cooked. The first known plant proteinase inhibitor was the trypsin inhibitor crystallized from soybeans (Kunitz, 1945). Other proteinase inhibitors have since been described in a variety of plants, especially the Graminae, Leguminosae and Solanaceae families. The exact physiological function of proteinase inhibitors in plants is thought to be in plant protection by inhibiting digestive enzymes of invading insect pests or pathogens (Ryan, 1981).

In India, people are mostly vegetarian, depending largely on cereals and pulses, as their staple foods, which provide the main source of dietary proteins and calories. The proteins from pulses are known to be inferior quality, due to the deficiency of sulphur containing amino acids as well as due to other factors like digestibility, availability of amino acids, anti-nutritional factors, etc. The anti-nutritional factors present in this type of food, including their contents of enzyme inhibitors, lectins, flatulence factors, tannins, phytic acid and saponins. Anti-nutritional factors can cause detrimental effects to humans and animal growth and performance by impairing intake, uptake, or utilization of other food and feed components, or by causing discomfort and stress to humans and animals. The anti-nutritional factors mainly occur in pulses and grain legumes and foods and feed material prepared from grain legumes and pulses.

Substance which, from nutritional point of view, interferes with normal growth, reproduction or health when consumed regularly in amount existing in a normal component of diet should be considered as harmful and toxic. A significant part of human population relies on legumes as staple food for subsistence, particularly in combination with cereals. They are unique foods because their rich nutrient content including starch, protein, dietary fibre, oligosaccharides, phytochemicals (especially the isoflavones in soybean) and minerals. Their nutritional contents contribute to many health benefits to human.