eChapters

7.1. Storage

• Helpful in checking market glut, providing wide selection of fruits, vegetables and flowers to consumer through most part of year i.e. especially during off season.

• Helps in orderly marketing and increases profit to producers/farmers.

• Done to maintain freshness, quality, reduce spoilage and extend their usefulness.

• Huge post-harvest losses due to lack of proper storage facilities.

• Basic principle of storage - to reduce rate of physiological processes like respiration, transpiration, ripening and other biochemical changes.

• Proper storage aims to control disease infection and preserve best quality for consumers.

• Chemical used to extend the shelf life and quality of produce

• Different steps involved in post-harvest processing of horticultural produces are depicted in Fig. 1.

Fig. 1. Flow chart on post-harvest processing of horticultural produces.

6.1. Pre sorting

• Done to eliminate injured, decayed and unwanted produce before cooling and handling.

6.2. Pre cooling

• Removal of field heat after harvest at 32°C for 1 h.

6.2.1. Advantages

• Reduces rate of respiration and ripening, moisture, bruise damage during transits, production of ethylene and growth of spoilage organisms

• Eases load on cooling system (Refrigeration) of transport or storage chamber

4.1. Fruit ripening

• Genetically programmed stage of development overlapping with senescence.

• Ripe when attains full flavour and aroma

• Optimum ripening condition for fruits• Conditions for controlled ripening of fruits at RH of 85-90%

5.1.1. Climacteric fruits

• Apple, apricot, avocado, banana, ber, cherimoya, fig, guava, kiwifruit, mango, melons, pear, peach, plum, persimmon, papaya, tomato, sapota and passion fruit

5.1.2. Non climacteric fruits

• Carambola, cherries, citrus, grape, litchi, loquat, olive, pineapple, pomegranate and strawberry

Difference between climacteric and non-climacteric fruits

4.1. Quality of post-harvest product

• Post-harvest quality - market, edible, transport, table, nutritional, internal and appearance qualities

• Consumers consider good quality in relation to colour, flavour and nutrition.

• Final manifestation of inter relation between commodity and its environment.

• Genetic characteristics and physiological status of commodity determine typical post-harvest behaviour and quality of the produce

• Temperature, RH, water potential, light, cultural practices and pest management techniques determine the quality.

4.2. Pre-harvest factors

4.2.1. Related to plants

• Crops: Quality varies from crop to crop E.g. jackfruit, bael, potato, onion, pumpkin, garlic etc. having good quality in relation to shelf life

3.1. Maturity

• During process of maturation, fruit receives regular supply of food material from plant.

• When mature, abscission or corky layer forms at stern end stops inflow.

• Afterwards, fruit depends on own reserves, carbohydrates dehydrated and sugars accumulate until sugar acid ratio form.

• In addition, typical flavour and characteristic colour also develop.

• Stage of maturity at the time of picking influence storage life and quality of fruit

• Fruits harvested over mature or full ripe are easily susceptible to microbial and physiological spoilage and storage life reduction.

• Necessary to pick up fruits or vegetables at correct stage of maturity to facilitate proper ripening, distant transportation and maximum storage life.

• Principles of harvest maturity

? Harvested commodity should have its peak acceptable quality when it reaches the consumer.

? Produce should develop an acceptable flavour or appearance.

? Produce should have optimum size and shape required by the market.

2.1. Structure of fruits and vegetables

2.1.1. Fruit

• Fruit is a part of a flowering plant that derives from specific tissues of the flower, mainly one or more ovaries (Fig. 1). Plant product with aromatic flavors, which are either naturally sweet or normally sweetened before eating.

2.1.2. Vegetables

• It exhibits wide verity of plant structure like edible seeds, roots, stems, leaves, bulbs (Fig. 2), tubers and non-sweet fruits of herbaceous plants.

• Vegetables are grouped into 3 main categories

? Seeds and pods-contain natural wax coating. Eg. Many legumes

? Bulbs, roots and tubers with no coating, but tuber has suberisation

? Flowers, buds, stems and leaves having low shelf life

12.1. Origin and distribution

• Native of Australia and Malaysia.

• Introduced by British people in Nilgiri hills of Tamil Nadu for fuel and timber.

• Commercially grown in Seychelles, Java, South Africa, Guatemala, Congo and Brazil.

• Eucalyptus tereticornis - Commercial species

• Major growing states - UP, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka.

12.2. Economic importance

• Known as spotted gum tree.

• Source of citronellol, hydroxycitronellal and menthol.

• Contains 0.5-4% essential oil; rich in citronella.

• Essential oil - Therapeutic and ayurvedic benefits.

• Used in soaps, mouth wash liquids, massage oils, air fresheners and bug repellents

6.1. Origin and distribution

• Grows wild in temperate Himalayas.

• Common in Kashmir Valley, Shimla and Nainital Hills.

• Commercially cultivated in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh

6.2. Economic importance

• Sweet worm wood or annual worm wood

• Chemical constituents - Artimisinin

• Commonly used in garlands, bouquets and religious offerings in most part of the country.

• Leaves and flowers contain essential oil valued for its exquisite and delicate aroma and is used in high grade perfumes and cosmetics.

.1. Origin and distribution

• Native of the Cape Province in South Africa.

• Grown in India, South Africa, Belgium, China, Congo, Egypt, France, Madagascar, Morocco, Reunion Islands, Spain, former USSR countries.

• Commercially cultivated mainly in Nilgiris and Kodaikanal hills of Tamil Nadu, and in and around Bangalore in Karnataka.

5.2. Economic importance

• Very profound and strong rose like odour.

• Also known as rose geranium.

• Chief constituent of oil - geraniol and citronellol.

4.1. Origin and distribution

• Indigenous to Indian sub-continent.

• Native of Tropical Asia and introduced into tropics of both hemispheres.

4.2. Economic importance

• Economic part-roots up to 30-40 cm, cooling properties

• Maj or constituents - vetivone, vetiverols and vetivernate; obtained by steam distillation of roots

• One of finest oriental perfumes with persistent fragrance.

• Used in manufacture of soaps, cosmetics, perfumery, agarbattis, soft drinks, pan masala etc.

• Acts as excellent fixatives for volatile compounds.

3.1. Origin and distribution

• Originated from Sri Lanka.

• Cultivated throughout tropics.

• Presently maj or producers - China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Argentina, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Madagascar and India.

3.2. Economic importance

• Two types of citronella oil: Java citronella oil obtained from Cymbopogon winterianus which is superior.

• Another is Ceylon citronella oil which is obtained from Cymbopogon nardus inferior type oil.

• Citronella oil - essential oil containing citronellal, geranial and hydroxy citronellal and high value perfumery bases obtained on steam distillation of citronella grass.

• Used for perfuming soaps, detergents, cosmetics, agarbattis and for making mosquito repellent creams.

1.1. Origin and distribution

• Native to South East Asia especially India

• In India, it is cultivated in MP, Maharashtra and AP

1.2. Economic importance

• Oil of palmarosa - rusa or rusha or rosha

• Oil obtained from C. martini var. sofia - ginger grass oil.

• Essential oil - Geraniol- East Indian Geranium.

• Motia grass - fine yellow stem with dark green leaves and height 1.80-2.40 m.

• Sofia grass - purple stem, shorter (90-120 cm)

• Used as base for fine perfumery

26.1. Origin

• Native to Dalmatia (Yugoslavia), Herzegovina and Montenegro.

26.1. Economic importance

• Natural insecticide from dried flower heads.

• Seed or achene contains Pyrethrin I, II, Cinerin I, II, Jasmolin I, II collectively called Pyrethrins.

26.2. Varieties and types

• KKL-1 released from TNAU.

• Hansa and Jhelum released from CIMAP, Lucknow.

• Sel-2 - developed at the Kodaikanal Centre of CIMAP.

• Two types

? Dalmatian pyrethrum: C. cinerariaefolium, grown on the Easte Coast of the Adriatic Sea.

? Japanese pyrethrum also derived from C. cinerariaefolium.

25.1. Origin and distribution

• Native to Western and South Western Europe, Western and Central Asia and Erstwhile USSR countries.

25.2. Economic importance

• Dried leaves constitute the drug, digitoxin and gitoxin.

• Used to treat congestive heart failure and heart rhythm problems.

• Increase blood flow throughout the body and reduce swelling in hands and ankles.

25.3. Varieties

• Strain E.C. 115996 - Higher foliage yield with high glycoside content

25.4. Climate

• Requires a cool and mild climate (20-30°C)

• Well in hill slopes at elevation of above 1250 m above msl

25.5. Soil

• Well drained sandy soil rich in organic matter and slightly acidic (pH 5.5-6.5)

24.1. Origin and distribution

• Originated in hills of South Western India, Indo-Malaya region.

24.2. Economic importance

• Used to improve appetite and digestion and treat stomachache, heart burn, indigestion, intestinal gas, diarrhoea and cholera.

• Fruits are stomachic and carminative.

• Used for lung problems including Asthma, bronchitis and cough.

24.3. Varieties

• Vellanikara -1 (Visvum tippili) and Yercaud (Pl) - 9.

24.4. Climate

• Elevation between 100 and 1000 m.

• Shade intensity: 20-25%.

• Lower elevations with high humidity

23.1. Origin and distribution

• Native from South Eastern Asia (Indonesia) to Australia

• Indian mulberry

23.2. Economic importance

• Widely used for health restorative properties, over years popularity diminished due to unpleasant smell from ripened fruit.

• Helps in reducing high blood pressure and cures heart disease and stroke due to presence of scopoletin which dilate blood vessels resulting in lower blood pressure.

• Stimulates body’s production of nitric oxide, a chemical which allows the blood vessel to dilate more easily and more elastic.

• Anti-inflammatory and histamine inhibiting effects, excellent for promotion of smooth joint movement.

18.1. Origin and distribution

• Native of wetlands of Southern and Eastern India, Australia, Europe, Africa, Asia, and North and South America

• Cultivated throughout tropical and subtropical India.

18.2. Economic importance

• Economic part - Whole plant

• Chemical constituents: Bacosides

• Used as a nerve tonic and for epilepsy and insanity.

• Used as diuretic and for treating rheumatisim, asthma and hoarseness.

17.1. Origin and distribution

• Native of India, China, Indonesia, Madagascar and Africa.

17.2. Economic importance

• Economic part - Whole plant mainly leaves and roots.

• Cures leprosy, skin diseases, diarrhoea, anti-tumor and anti-ulcer activity.

• Fresh herb - Aromatic odour when crushed.

• Nauseous bitter taste

• Kitchen herb - Chutneys, pickles, refreshing drinks

• Possess insecticidal properties

• Used as a nerve tonic for improving memory and in insanity.

16.1. Origin and distribution

• Native of Asia

• Widely distributed in tropical regions of Asia and Pan tropics

• Most part of India up to 1000m elevation includes Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

16.2. Economic importance

• Economic part - Seed, roots.

• Black seed variety contains L - DOPA CL - 34 dihydroxy phenylalanine non-protein amino acid.

• Used as tonic, aphrodisiac and treatment of Parkinson’s disease

• Used in rheumatic ailments.

15.1. Origin and distribution

• Also known as Cheeni tulsi or Mou tulsi.

• Originated from Seirra Amambay in North eastern Paraguay and adjacent areas in Bolivia and Brazil.

• Widely distributed in U SA and Brazil.

15.2. Economic importance

• Economic part - leaves

• Candy leaf

• Major constituents-Stevioside (3 to 10%), rebaudiside-A (13%), rebaudiside- B and C

14.1. Origin and distribution

• Originated from Africa and distributed throughout warmer regions of world

• Naturally grown in hilly areas of Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh

14.2. Economic importance

• Economic part - Root

• Roots of safed musli contains 2-15% saponin having medicinal property of enhancing vitality and immunity to human beings.

• Also helps in correcting gynecological disorders.

• Dried tubers - Used as curative for pre-natal and post-natal illness, arthritis, restorative and a health tonic

• Known as divya aushadhi and ayurvedic anori.

13.1. Origin and distribution

• Native to Turkey Western Mediterranean region.

• Cultivation in India - Confined to states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh

13.2. Economic importance

• Opium and codeine - important medicines used for analgesic and hypnotic effects.

• A semi-synthetic derivative of drug from morphine - Heroin.

• Seeds contain linoleic acid which lowers blood cholesterol.

• License from Government is mandate for cultivation

12.1. Origin and distribution

• Native of Persia and neighbouring tracts of Western and Southern Asia

• In India, North Guj arat, Raj asthan, Haryana and Bihar are the maj or states.

• Husk and peel - exported to USA, Germany, UK and France

12.2. Economic importance

• Psyllium from Greek meaning flea, in reference to colour, size and shape.

• Economic part - Seed coat, husk used in indigenous medicine. Seeds contain glucoside and tannin.

• Works as an anti-diarrhoea drug.

• Seed - Pentose, a sugar is isolated.

11.1. Origin and distribution

• Originates in India

• Sikkim, West Bengal, Odisha, Upper Gangetic Plains and in Nilgiris, ascending to altitude of 1600 m.

• North-east, North-west, Southern as well as Central India, and extends into Myanmar and China.

11.2. Economic importance

• Economic part - Whole plant

• Raw materials for production of steroidal drugs, steroid bearing solanum

• Yields a glyco alkaloid, solasodine, a nitrogen analogue of diosgenine.

10.1. Origin and distribution

• Native of India and tropical South East Asia.

• Distributed throughout plains of India from Uttar Pradesh to Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

10.2. Economic importance

• King of bitters.

• Economic part - Dried leaves and tender shoots (Whole plant)

• Leaves contain three bitter principles: Deoxy andrographolide, Andrographolide and Neo andrographolide.

• Roots contain flavonoids like andrographin, panicothin, aplegenin etc.

9.1. Origin and distribution

• Originates in Tropical America

• Distributed in all tropical and sub-tropical regions

9.2. Economic importance

• Economic part - Whole plant

• Phyllanthin (0.4-0.5%) and hypophyllanthin

• Antioxidant with free radical scavenging properties due to presence of high levels of super oxide dismutase.

• Effective in treatment of peptic ulcer, dyspepsia, diabetes etc.

• Treatment of Hepatitis B and j aundice

8.1. Origin and distribution

• Indigenous to Eastern and Southern Africa, the Canary Islands and Spain.

• Spread to Mediterranean basin, West Indies, India, China.

• Also cultivated in India. It is the miracle plant.

8.2. Economic importance

• Source of drug aloe; aloe gel is a mixture of glucoside aloin, main constituent of atom is barbation.

• Commercially important species - A. barbadensis, A. ferox, A. africana and A. spicata

• Yellow bitter juice from leaves consists of aloin and gel.

• Other products - dehydrated aloe powder, concentrates.

7.1. Origin and distribution

• Native of South East Asia, Central America.

• Mexico - largest producer of diosgenin.

• In India, it is grown in North eastern states and Goa

• Dioscorea alata and Dioscorea esculenta - edible tubers.

• Dioscorea floribunda, Dioscorea villosa, Dioscorea composita - widely grown

• Major producing countries - Mexico, Guatamala, Costa Rica, India and China.

6.1. Origin and distribution

• Indigenous to moist deciduous forest of south East Asia (Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Andaman Islands)

• In India, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, North Bengal, Parts of Western Ghats and Assam are the major cultivators.

6.2. Economic importance

• Economic part - Root.

• Used in treatment of snake bite, stings, nervous disorders etc.,

• Root bark - 40-60% alkaloids helps in reducing high blood pressure and sedative or tranquilizing agent.

• Fresh roots - Emit acrid aroma very bitter.

5.1. Origin and distribution

• Native of tropical Asia and Africa.

• Tropical India, from North-west Himalayas to Assam and Deccan plateau.

• In Karnataka, it is grown along Western Ghats.

• Important species in India - Gloriosa superba and G. rothschildiana.

• Tamil Nadu leads in production of glory lily in India

• State flower of Tamil Nadu

5.2. Economic importance

• Economic part: Seed

• Rhizomes are used as a tonic, antiperiodic, antihelminthic and also against snake bites and scorpion stings.

• Used for promoting labour pains and an abortifacient.

4.1. Origin and distribution

• It is called as Indian ginseng.

• Native of Africa, India and Mediterranean region.

• Wild in grazing grounds in Mandsaur and forest lands in Bastar district of Madhya Pradesh, all over foothills of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh and Western Uttar Pradesh, in Himalayas.

• Also wild in Mediterranean regions in North Africa.

4.2. Economic importance

3.1. Origin and distribution

• Native of South East Asia

• Distributed all over tropical and sub-tropical regions of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, tropical east Africa, Brazil.

• In India, sub-tropical Himalayan regions from Kumaon to Nepal.

• Cultivated in parts of Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

3.2. Economic importance

• Dried roots - rich source of forskholin (Coleonol) (0.10 to 0.80%)

• Used for treating hypertension, glaucoma, asthma, congestive heart failures and certain types of cancer.

• Tuberous roots, resembles carrot in shape and brown in colour - commercial part.

• Useful against cholesterol and activating the cardio vascular system

2.1. Origin and distribution

• Native of Madagascar and spread to India, Indonesia, Indo-China, Philippines, South Africa, Israel, USA and other parts of the world.

• In India, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Assam are the major states that cultivate periwinkle.

• USA - world’s largest user as raw material.

• Germany, Italy, Netherlands and the UK are interested in roots.

2.2. Economic importance

• Economic parts: Leaves, stem and roots

• Used as an abortificent, purgative, antidiabetic, diuretic, hemorrhagic antimalarial, antidysentric and against skin diseases

1.1. Origin and distribution

• Native of Yemen, South Arabia, Sudan and Sinai.

• Introduced into Tamil Nadu in eighteenth century grown as an annual crop (5 to 7 months).

• C. angustifolia (Tirunelveli senna)

• Indigenous to Somalia, Southern Arabia, part of Sindh (Pakistan) and Kutch area of Gujarat.

• Cultivated in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu (Tirunelveli, Ramanathapuram, Madurai, Salem, Tiruchirapalli)

• C. acutifolia (Alexandrian senna)

• Indigenous to Sudan and Sinai.

• Cassia abovata

• Common all over India.

• C. italica

• Grows in west Rajasthan and Saurashtra (Gujarat)

• New source of the senna drug

An Abstract on Production Technology of SpicesAn Abstract on Production Technology of Spices and Plantation Crops

11.1. Tea

11.1.1. Tea mosquito bug: Helopeltis theivora

Symptoms

• Adults and nymphs suck sap from buds, young leaves and tender stems.

• Punctures appear as reddish brown spots.

• Leaves curl up, badly deformed and shoots dry up.

Management

• Spray clothianidin 50 WDG 120 g/ha or thiacloprid 21.7 SC 375 ml/ha or thiamethoxam 25 WG 100g/ha or bifenthrin 8 SC 500 ml/ha.

10.1. Origin and distribution

• Native to the tropical Africa and grows in the Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.

• Palm is widespread in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Karnataka and Maharashtra.

• In Tamil Nadu, it is present in Tuticorin, Tirunelveli, Thenkasi, Virudhunagar, Ramanathapuram Madurai, Theni, Salem, Namakkal, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Tiruvallur, Villupuram, Kallakurichi and Cuddalore districts.

• Palm is dioecious in nature.

• Palmyrah was declared as “State Tree of Tamil Nadu” by the Government of Tamil Nadu.

.1. Origin and distribution

• Originated from West Africa.

• Cultivated in Malaysia, Indonesia, USA, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Togo, Angola and Congo.

• Commercial scale plantation in Malaysia was found in 1917.

9.2. Economic importance

• Produces edible palm oil as well as palm kernel oil.

• Maj or constituent of oil is mono unsaturated oleic acid; rich in carotenoids.

• Unrefined palm oil is a significant source of tocotrienol, part of vitamin E.

• Oil content is 17 to 27% for palm oil, and 4 to 10% for palm kernels.

8.1. Origin and distribution

• Originated in South and South East Asia.

• Cultivated mostly from Pakistan to Papua New Guinea.

8.2. Economic importance

• In India and Sri Lanka, sheaf of betel leaves are traditionally offered as a mark of respect and auspicious beginnings like greeting elders at wedding ceremonies, celebrating the New Year, and offering payment to Ayurvedic Physicians and Astrologers (To whom money and/or areca nut placed on top of the sheaf of leaves are offered in thanks for blessings).

• Consumed in Asia as betel quid or paan with arecanut and/or tobacco.

• Used in cooking usually raw for its peppery taste.

• Medicinal use over a 300 years history in China.

7.1. Origin and distribution

• Native to Tropical America, the Amazon Basin.

• Domesticated in Mexico and Central and South America.

• Cultivated in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu mainly as intercrop and multi-storey crop with arecanut and coconut from 1970 onwards.

7.2. Economic importance

• Cocoa is a cauliflorus beverage crop.

• Chocolate, hot chocolate, cocoa powder and dry powder are made

• Cocoa butter (the fat) can be extracted.

• Used in Mesoamerican foods including tejate and Mexican drink that also includes maize.

6.1. Origin and distribution

• Native of America and Brazil.

• Introduced in India during later half of the Sixteenth Century.

• In 2017, Vietnam, India, and Ivory Coast were the major producers.

• Cultivated in Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal; also in few pockets of Assam, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura.

• Cashew is called gold mine of waste lands.

6.2. Economic importance

5.1. Origin and distribution

• Indigenous tree of tropical rainforest of Amazon basin of Brazil and introduced in Asia in 1876

• Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Africa are the main rubber producing countries.

5.2. Economic importance

• Natural rubber is available from Manihot glaziovii (Cera rubber), Ficus elastica (India rubber), Castiolla elastica (Panama rubber), Parthenium argenatum (Guayul), Taraxacum koksaghyz and Hevea brasiliensis (Para rubber).

• Hevea brasiliensis is the most important commercial source of natural rubber.

• After proper chemical treatment, rubber wood provides enough strength and durability of any semi-hard wood available in India

• U sed for the manufacture of useful articles like door and window components, furniture, wall paneling, interior decoration, tool handles etc.

4.1. Origin and distribution

• Native to Indian ocean, Malaysia or Philippines

• Grows in tropical Pacific, Asia, and parts of east Africa.

• Areca is derived from a local name from Malabar Coast of India and catechu is from Malay name caccu.

• Karnataka (40%), Kerala (25%), Assam (20%), Tamil Nadu, Meghalaya and West Bengal are major arecanut growing states.

• India is the largest producer and consumer.

3.1. Origin and distribution

• Origin is in South Asia - Malaysia, Pacific.

• In the Pacific, cultivated on islands in Southeast Asia - Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia.

• In the Indian Ocean, centre of cultivation is southern periphery of India including Sri Lanka, Maldives and Laccadives.

• In India, coconut palms are grown on the entire coastal belt of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu followed by Goa, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha.

• Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh are the major coconut producing states accounting for more than 90% of area and production

2.1. Chromosome number

• Basic chromosome number for the genus Coffea is n=11

• Coffea canephora-diploid (2n=2x=22)

• Coffea arabica (2n=4x=44 )

2.2. Origin and distribution

• Original domesticated coffee plant is said to have been from Harar and native population is derived from Ethiopia (Abyssinia Plateau) with distinct nearby populations in Sudan and Kenya.

• From where, it was taken to Arabia in 11^th century.

• From Arabia, its seeds were brought to India by Baba Budan in the 17^th Century and were raised in the Baba Budan Hills of Karnataka.

• British planters established large coffee estates near Chikmagalur (Karnataka) in 1826, in Manantody (Wynad) and Shevoroys in 1830 and Nilgiris in 1839.

• Almost the entire production is shared by Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, smaller production in Andhra Pradesh, north eastern states and Madhya Pradesh.

• Karnataka is the largest producer accounting for 70% of total coffee production and 60% of the area

• Kozhikode, Waynad, Malappuram, Kollam, Kannur and Palakkad are the chief producing districts in Kerala.

1.1. Origin and distribution

• The oldest known beverage, tea is native of China (Between China and Burma) in South East Asia.

• Known to the Chinese as early as 2737BC, but it was a popular drink in England in 1664 AD.

• Original species, which produce tea, were C.assamica (Assam jats), C.sinensis (China jats) and their natural hybrid, C.assamica subspecies lasiocalyx (Indo China or cambod type).

• Chinese (Small leaf) tea - C. sinensis var. sinensis: Originated in southern China possibly with hybridization of unknown wild tea relatives

• Chinese Western Yunnan Assam (Large leaf) tea

• Indian Assam (Large leaf) tea- C. sinensis var. assamica: Originated from Camellia taliensis in the area where southwestern China, Indo-Burma, and Tibet meet

• Chinese Southern Yunnan Assam (Large leaf) tea: Hybridized with the closely related species Camellia taliensis

• Difference between Assam and China types