eChapters

The processing of the seed refers to mainly pre-cleaning and sizing. The sizing is up gradation of seed lots based on size, shape or length. In this chapter processing with main reference to sizing or upgrading is given. Sizing or upgrading is done by using different screens in an air screen cleaner, gravity separator, seed blower, indent disc cylinder, belt grader or some time colour sorter. Here specific tasks like use of screens in an air screen cleaner, rubber belt angles when using a belt grader, disc type when using indent disc cylinder or special arrangements in a gravity separator are given. The details of the machines or equipments with the principles of working were already covered in Chapter-3.

INTRODUCTION

The use of chemical for protecting plants from the ravages of the pathogens is not an innovation of the 20th century. Chemicals have been used for over 200 years to protect plants against fungal diseases. At present about 150 chemicals belonging to different classes are used as fungicides in world agriculture. Most of the recommended treatments generally provide 90% or greater control of target diseses. Even when a crop has been grown from pathogen free soil and the crop seems superficially healthy, the use of fungicides in some circumstances become unavoidable. Resistant varieties of potato are attacked by late blight if rain occurs during tuber formation. To control this disease use of fungicides become vital to avoid any loss of the crop. Thus, even in the case of resistant varieties, judicious use of chemical protection will extend the life of resistance in the variety. For killing different groups of pathogens, different types of chemicals are required. The chemicals mainly used for controlling diseases are: fungicides for killing fungus, bactericide for killing barteria, nematicides for killing nematodes, and viricides for killing viruses.

Photosynthesis is a very important parameter in plant physiological studies. It is the only process in nature which utilizes solar energy and converts it into chemical energy. It has a direct bearing on plant productivity. By understanding the process of photosynthesis, manipulation of productivity can be made possible.

1. Measurement of Photosynthesis Rate

Measurement of CO₂ uptake provides an alternate and direct method of measuring productivity, with important advantages over measurements of change in dry weight. It is instantaneous and non-destructive.

Infra Red Gas Analyzer (IRGA) is an equipment which is most widely used for the measurement of photosynthesis in situ in the field or in detached leaves under laboratory conditions. It is less time consuming and reliable. It can also be used for the measurement of rate of respiration and CO₂ compensation concentration (CO₂ CC), provided a little alteration is made in the chamber.

10.1 Introduction

Milk is a unique substance in that it is both consumed, as fluid milk with minimal processing and it is the raw material used to manufacture a wide variety of products. From the nutrition point of view, milk is an almost ideal food and considered to be perfect food. The human body needs more than thirty distinct materials in its food supply. No single food stuff supplies all of them but milk supplies nearly all. Since milk by its nature is perishable and an ideal product for bacterial growth, so it must be carefully handled, both during production and while processing. This chapter focuses on the technological (processing) aspects of the transformation of milk into its various consumer products, including beverages, fermented products, concentrated and dried products, butter and ice cream.

Abstract

The gut microbiota, microbe population living in the human large intestine is generally associated with various metabolic functions and it influences health and well-being. Taking into account the major role gut microbiota play in the normal functioning of the body and the different functions it accomplishes, experts nowadays consider it as an “organ”. However, it is an “acquired” organ, as babies are born sterile; that is, intestine colonisation starts right after birth and evolves as we grow. Each of us has a unique microbiota, as the fingerprints, it always fullfils the same physiological functions and they have a direct impact on our health. Gut microbiota consists of a complex of microorganism species that live in the digestive tracts of animals and is the largest reservoir of microorganisms mutual to humans. Gut microorganisms benefit the host by gleaning the energy from thefermentation of undigested carbohydrates and the subsequent absorption of short-chain fatty acids. The most important of these fatty acids are butyrates, metabolised by the colonic epithelium; propionates by the liver; and acetates by the muscle tissue. The human body carries about 100 trillion microorganisms in its intestines, a number ten times greater than the total number of human cells in the body Guarner and Malagelada, 2003). Gut microbiota, particularly the probiotics, have beneficial effects on gastroenteritis resistance, blood lipids, antitumor properties, lactose tolerance and gastrointestinal immunity. Probiotics have role in reducing the risk of rotavirus-induced diarrhea and colon cancer. The survivability of any probiotic bacteria till a longer time in the gut can be enhanced by the supplementation of prebiotics. Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients that benefit the host by selectively stimulating the growth or activity of one or a limited number of bacteria in the colon. There are so many prebiotics which stimulate the growth and survivability of probiotic bacteria such as fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS), inulin, galacto-oligosaccharide (GOS), polydextrose (PDX), acacia gum (GUM), lactulose (LOS), lactitol etc. Many research studies have been done on above mentioned prebiotics. Mostly inulin-type fructans have been used as functional food ingredients. The prebiotics are known for reduction of disease risk such as constipation relief, suppression of diarrhea and reduction of the risks of osteoporosis, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease associated with dyslipidemia and insulin resistance, obesity and possibly type-2 diabetes. Probiotics are beneficial microbes that confer a realistic health benefit on the host, which in combination with prebiotics, (indigestible dietary fibre/carbohydrate), also confer a health benefit on the host via products resulting from anaerobic fermentation. The combination of probiotics and prebiotics in a synbiotic might improve the survival of the bacteria crossing the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract, thereby enhancing their effects in the large bowel and immune-modulatory ability.

Climbers refer a group of plants which do not have rigid stem but have special structure to climb over the support or structure of any kind. Ornamental climbers constitute an important group and have unique place in all types of gardens. Careful selection of different species and planting at suitable points of the garden creates scenic beauty and a point of attraction when in bloom. Ideal places of planting climbers are - near gate, porch and boundary wall or on trellis and training them on such structures. Climbers also serve functional purposes like screening, covering wall etc. One should have some knowledge about the growth and flowering before selecting them for planting in the gardens.

Classification

Climbers have various types of growth habit, foliage and flowers. For easy selection, they have been categorised under three broad groups on the basis of their morphological and floral characters.

Foliage Type - These are fast growing and have attractive foliage. Foliage type climbers are suitable for planting in locations where availability of light intensity is comparatively low. The important ones in this group are - Asparagus plumosus,

Hedge

Hedge is an important garden feature both for beautification and functional purposes. When a selected plant species is planted together at close distance, in single or multiple rows, later pruned to retain a definite shape and height is known as hedge. These are actually live fence used for demarcating road, paths and sometimes for providing physical barrier, screening and several other purposes.

Selection of Plants

Before selection of plants for developing hedge, the purpose of planting hedge is to be considered first. If the purpose is protective fence, the height and width are to be decided. Accordingly, selection of plant species is to be made. For developing low height and ornamental hedge along the passage and inner roads, selection of plants will be different. In this case, plants having colourful leaves is preferred. Final selection of plant species, however, should be done considering location, availability of sunlight and the type of garden. Plants selected for developing hedge should response well to pruning and, at the same time, acquire a definite shape on repeated pruning. Both foliage type and flowering plants are used for developing hedge.

6.1 Determination of Soil Moisture

6.1.1 Determination of Soil Moisture Content by Gravimetric Method (Direct method)

Traditionally, water content in soil is expressed as the ratio of the weight of water present in the soil to the weight of dry soil. When this ratio is multiplied by 100, it becomes the percentage of water in the soil sample on dry weight basis.

Equipments and Materials

Soil auger, aluminium moisture box with air tight lid, balance, oven and desiccator

Carbon may be present in soil in four different forms:

1. Carbonates: Mainly as CaCO₃ and MgCO₃, active CO₃ ^2- and HCO₃ ^- ions and gaseous CO₂.
2. Highly condensed elemental organic form: Charcoal, graphite.
3. Completely decomposed resistant organic residues: Humus.
4. Undecomposed and partially decomposed organic residues.

The latter three fractions constitute the total organic carbon of which last two are chemically active form.

Genetics is the study of what genes are, how they carry information, how their information is expressed, and how they are replicated and passed to subsequent generations or other organisms.

DNA in cells exists as a double-stranded helix; the two strands are held together by hydrogen bonds between specific nitrogenous base pairs: A-T and C-G.

A gene is a segment of DNA, a sequence of nucleotides, that code for a functional product, usually a protein.

When a gene is expressed, DNA is transcribed to produce RNA; mRNA is then translated into proteins. This is also referred as Central Dogma of Life. The DNA in a cell is replicated before the cell divides, so each daughter cell receives the same genetic information.

Mushrooms have been part of fungal diversity for around 300 million years. A mushroom is a macro fungus with a distinctive fruiting body, which can either be epigeous (above ground) or hypogeous (underground) and large enough to be seen by naked eye and to be picked up by hands. They lack the green matter (chlorophyll) present in plants and grow on dead and decaying organic materials, as phytoparasite or in mycorrhizal association with plants. From these decaying substrate, they absorb their nutrition with the help of fine thread like structures (mycelium), which penetrate into the substratum and are generally not visible on the surface. After the mycelium has grown profusely and absorbed sufficient food materials, it forms the reproductive structure which generally comes out of the substrate and forms fruiting body, commonly known as mushroom. Mushrooms can be divided into four categories (i) Those that are fleshy and edible fall into the edible mushroom category i.e., Agaricus bisporus; (ii) Mushroom that are considered to have medicinal applications are referred to as medicinal mushrooms i.e., Ganoderma lucidum; (iii) Those that are proved to be or poisonous or suspected of being poisonous are named poisonous mushrooms i.e., Amanita phalloides; (iv) those in a miscellaneous category, which include a large number of mushrooms whose properties remains less defined. The toxic/poisonous species commonly referred to as ‘toadstools’ are objects of fear and distrust and have led to certain amount of inhibition and taboo towards mushroom consumption.

Use of mushrooms as food by man has been practiced since time immemorial and probably predates any historical records. The early civilizations of Greeks, Egyptians, Romans, Chinese and Mexican appreciated mushroom as delicacy, knew something about their therapeutic value, often used them in religious ceremonies. Greeks regarded them as strength food for warriors while Romans considered them as ‘Food of Gods’ and Chinese regarded mushrooms as ‘Elixir of life’. Much referred ‘Somrus’ in ancient Indian literature is actually a decoction of mushroom. Archeological and other accounts reveal that ancient man used mushroom in religious ceremonies. The Aztecs of South America referred mushroom as ‘teononacte’ (God’s flesh) and worshipped a group of mushrooms as being divine. The high esteem in which mushrooms were held in different civilizations is also indicated by the restriction of the use of many species to the rulers.

Currently 14000 mushroom species are known to exist. Of these about 50 % or 7000 species are considered to posses varying degrees of edibility and almost 3000 species from 31 genera are regarded as prime edible mushrooms. To date only 200 of them are experimentally grown, 100 of them economically cultivated, approximately 60 commercially cultivated and about 10 have reached to industrial scale production in many countries. Furthermore, about 2000 are medicinal mushrooms with varieties of health attributes. The number of poisonous mushroom is usually reported to be relatively small (approximately 1 %), but there is an estimate that about 10 % may have poisonous attributes while 30 species are considered to be lethal.

All animals, including domestic animals and humans, depend entirely on their sense organs and nervous system for information about external environment and the internal status of their bodies. Sensory inputs, together with the genetically inherited organization and properties of the nervous system is responsible for the all knowledge and determines how each animal behaves.

Nervous system may be viewed as an anatomical arrangement of neurons with a large number of different kinds of synapses through which sensory information from the periphery of the body is transmitted through numerous sensory neurons to a set of neurons in a central region of the body, where the information is integrated and from which impulses are then directed out through numerous motor neurons to effectors.

The central nervous system is distinguished from the peripheral nervous system in that it is made up of a concentration of tracts, ganglia and nuclei. Thus nervous system is a structural and functional mechanism involved in the coordination of an animals responses to internal and external environment.

Neurons : The central and peripheral portion of the nervous system are comprised of nerve cells (neurons) and supporting tissues.

Supporting tissues : The supportive tissues of the peripheral nervous elements consist primarily of connective tissue and specialized cells called neurolemma or Schwann cells. The supportive tissues of central nervous system are glia cells or neuroglia. These cells have functional and nutritive roles in addition to their roles as supportive tissue.

Abstract

The landslides have become the fast spreading disaster all over the Indian sub-continent. As such landslides were mostly occurring in the Mighty Himalayan Mountains, it was all along attributed to active tectonics. But when it started occurring in most of the mountain belts of India, various geological parameters, the anthropogenic phenomenon and rain fall were inferred to be the main causes for the landslides. Hence when this concept emerged, and again the Remote Sensing and the GIS technologies have phenomenally evolved, different types of variables, again on different resolutions and different methodologies have been adopted to prepare landslide vulnerability maps and this has started yielding varying types of outputs. As the landslide vulnerability zonation mapping (LVZ) is the first step in landslide studies it is essential to evolve a suitable methodology for the same. So the present study was carried out in a test site of around 300 sq.km in between Coonoor and Otacamund, Nilgiri mountains, Western Ghats, South India. In the said study, a set of 12 Earth System Parameters/Variables which could contribute to landslide vulnerability were prepared as GIS raster databases from the data interpreted from satellite MSS data and field geological and geophysical data sets. Similar GIS database was generated on 144 landslides. These landslides were superposed over such 12 Earth system parameters data and landslide vulnerability weightages were assigned to each subvariables of these Earth system parameters. In assigning weightages using such landslide incidence data various methods viz; slope, integrated terrain, information value, weight of evidence, index overlay and BIS methods were used and landslide vulnerability zonation maps were prepared adding all the 12 weightages assigned Earth system variables. In this, all the 12 earth system parameters were having same resolutions. Then the outputs were compared which revealed that the information value method is the best suited method for LVZ mapping followed by weight of evidence method.

Fill in the Blanks

1.The highest amount of rain is received in India by _______ Monsoon

2.Country with largest irrigated area in the world is _______

3.The major source of irrigation water in Andhra Pradesh is _______

4.The annual water budget of India is about _______ million ha meters

5.Ultimate irrigation potential in India is _______ m. ha.

6.The portion of the total rainfall that is retained in the soil directly for evapotranspiration is _______ M ha m

7.The first irrigation commission was constituted in the year _______

INTRODUCTION

Tribulus terrestris L. (Gokhru) is an important industrial herb, belonging to family Zygophyllaceae which includes 285 species representing around two dozen genera. Members of this family are distributed in tropical and warm climates. Most species are shrubs, but some grow as small trees or herbs. T. terrestris is a mat forming plant that grows extensively in warm and dry areas all over the world. In China, India, Greece and other parts of the world, the species finds wide application in folk medicine, in polyherbal formulations and as food supplement for physical rejuvenation, to enhance muscle strength, sexual potency, etc. Amidst many positive claims, clinical trials are recommended to evaluate its reported toxicity in animals.

INTRODUCTION

In India, medicinal plants have traditionally occupied an important place in the socio-cultural, spiritual and health related aspects of peoples’ life. As much as 34% (ca. 6000) of total plant wealth have some known medicinal value (Ved, 2008). The genus Ephedra is one such important group of medicinal plants, from which the drug Ephedrine and a range of medicinally active compounds such as ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, norephedrine, norpseudoephedrine, methyl ephedrine, methyl pseudoephedrine, alkaloids, phenols, terpenoids are obtained. Owing to its medicinal properties, genus Ephedra is in high demand by pharmaceutical industries. It is currently facing heavy extraction pressure from its restricted habitat in the wild, and utterly lacks effective proper conservation and management efforts. For long-term conservation management of this genus, a better and comprehensive understanding of the species remains a top priority, for which detailed studies on its biology, habitat ecology, and agro-technology are required.

7.1 Introduction

Food processing has become one of the most competitive sectors in recent years. With increasing consumers’ demands, food industry needs to keep updating technology. These efforts are focussed at improving the organoleptic quality and nutrition of food and improve its keeping quality. This drives the industry to look for newer technologies which include new products as well as new processes. Some of the new processing technologies include non-thermal processes such as high pressure processing, pulsed electric fields and ultrasound processing. Advanced thermal processing techniques such as ohmic heating, inductive heating, extrusion and infrared heating have also been developed. Innovative methods for improving food quality through irradiation, removal of heat and moisture from food are now available. Newer packaging techniques now help to improve shelf-life and attractiveness of the food products and cater to the biodegradability of the packaging material. Hence, there is abundance of new products that have now become part of our daily life.

Food nanotechnology has its long history when the first step of revolution in food processing and improvement in quality of foods was introduced by Pasteur to kill the spoilage bacteria (1000 nm). Later, Watson and Crick’s model of DNA structure, which is about 2.5nm, opened the gateway of applications in biotechnology. Nanotechnology is defined as the design, production, and application of structures, devices, and systems through control of the size and shape of the material at the nanometer (10^-9 of a meter) scale. Nanotechnology is one such technology that has the potential to revolutionize the food industry. Taniguchi first used nanotechnology in 1974 to describe production technology at ultrafine dimensions. The word “nano” means “dwarf” in Greek and one nanometer is equivalent to 10^-9 m. Objects of this scale are not visible through the human eye or the ordinary optical microscope. A nanometer (nm) sized particle measures one billionth of a meter. A human hair measures 80,000 nm while a DNA strand is 2.5 nm wide whereas a protein chain is 5nm in diameter. Nanotechnology can be applied to develop nanoscale materials, controlled delivery systems, contaminant detection and to create nanodevices for molecular and cellular biology. Nanotechnology may be defined as the understanding and management of matter at dimensions of roughly 1-100 nanometers. Unique behavior of matter at the nanoscale enables novel applications. Nanoscale science, engineering, and technology can be used for imaging, measuring, modeling, and manipulating matter at this length scale. Range of sizes of nanomaterials in the food sector and their relative position on nanoscale/microscopic scale are listed below.

9.1 Introduction

Food quality and safety are central issues in food economics today. A number of developed countries (EU, UK, US) has imposed a number of new regulations to track food products across the supply chain which is forcing the companies to invest in new automated approaches for their implementations. These solutions facilitate better process efficiency with more productivity, quality control in production lines, lower manufacturing costs with higher profit margins, and also help to achieve improved presentation as customers request. The high labour costs in developed countries make cost-cutting inevitable to remain competitive production. The growth in products packaged for the market, the increasingly strict hygiene regulations, the need to reduce risks at work, cut costs, and control product quality are all calling for the development of technologies that enable robots to be used for these tasks. In fact, robotics has a great opportunity in this industry. But the variation in physical properties of various food products and the necessity to avoid damaging them, make it necessary to seek flexible handling solutions for a wide range of products.

The robotics industry is looking into a bright future. As per the report given by the Statistical Department of International Federation of Robotics (IFR), it was projected that between 2014 and 2016 worldwide robot sales will increase by about 6% on average per year. Ten years ago, global sales figures were hovering around 80,000. So, three key factors for the boom - factory modernization, increases in production capacity and rising demand from a number of emerging markets.

11.1 Introduction

Phytosterols or plant sterols are bioactive plant constituents having similar chemical structure and biological functions as cholesterol (cholest-5-en-3b-ol), but differ in their side chain configuration. They are non-nutritive compounds with chemical structure differing from that of cholesterol only by minor modifications like in the structure of their side chain by a methyl or ethyl group at C-24. Sitosterol and campesterol have an ethyl and a methyl group at C-24, respectively (Fig. 11.1). Phytosterols present a tetracyclic ring and side chains linked to C-17 that differ according to sterol compound same as cholesterol, to which they resemble structurally as well as biosynthetically. Saturated form of sterols referred to as stands, occurring in small amounts, mainly in cereals are represented by the absence of the double bond at the D5 position. Phytosterols represent a part of the broad group of isoprenoides and are 28- and 29-carbon atom steroid alcohols naturally occurring in plants. Phytosterols and phytostanols are triterpene compounds, found ubiquitously in plants which can only be synthesized by plants, whereas humans and animals obtain them from their diet.

Abstract

Geomatics (Remote Sensing and GIS) based tsunami damage assessment was carried out for Nagapattinam coast as a part of All India Coordinated Programme of NRDMS, Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi. The paper discusses the methodology and the inferences made for Nagapattinam region, Sirkali block and north Poigainallur panchayat village, holistically for the former and as case studies for the latter two. The regional studies show that the coastal geomorphology has played a significant role in tutoring the tsunami inundation and the damages with beach, dunes, tidal flats, backwaters and rivers / streams facilitating the inundation of tsunami. The studies in Sirkali block show the similar role of geomorphology, but the damage assessment carried out for Water bodies, soil and ground water show appreciable damage to Aquifer in the form of saltwater mixing / intrusion due to tsunami. Detailed geospatial data bases were generated village wise too. On the basis of the studies, possible remedial strategies were also suggested.

Keywords: Remote Sensing, GIS, Tsunami 2004, Damage Assessment, Tsunami mitigation, Nagapattinam.

Abstract

Airflow drying persists as the main dehydration operation. Indeed, the high expense of freeze-drying in term of equipment cost and energy consumption considerably restricts its use and confines its applications to high added value products (pharmaceutical products, cosmetics, etc.). However, airflow drying undergoes fundamental problems such as low operation performance, poor product quality and short reliability of the equipment. The time of drying is long; particularly at the end of the operation, which implies crucial energy consumption. The poor quality of the end product is related to thermal degradation and in particular to the compactness of texture as a result of the phenomena of shrinkage and case hardening. Another main problem common to all drying operations, including freeze-drying, is the safety of the end products. Swell-drying is defined as an operation that combines optimized hot air drying with instant controlled pressure controlled texturing. The improvement of texture, the preservation of sensory and nutritional quality, the possibility of manufacturing expanded granule powders and the reduction of drying time and energy consumption allow considering swell-drying as the most relevant drying process.

Abstract

Mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of fungi, a group of organism that is different from fruits and vegetables. They are a rich source of good quality protein having more essential amino acids and vitamins with low calories. There are about six commonly known edible mushrooms throughout the world with button mushroom (Agaricus bisporous) being the most familiar and commercially important variety. Mushroom is a highly perishable product with a shelf life limiting to a few days. Soon after harvest, it starts to undergo physiological disorders like shriveling, wilting, liquefaction, browning, textural as well as weight losses and flavour changes. The main responsible factors for the quality deterioration after harvest are respiration rate, browning, bacterial spoilage of mushrooms, temperature and relative humidity. Because of its limited shelf life under ambient conditions of temperature and humidity, the preservation of mushrooms is a matter of concern. Various techniques have been involved in the extension of shelf life of mushrooms including chemical treatments, cooling, modified and controlled atmospheric storage, radiation, drying etc. Drying is one of the most accepted and effective methods for the long term storage of mushrooms. Mushrooms preserved by drying have a pleasant flavour and are used as an important ingredient in several food formulations including salads, instant soups, meats and rice dishes. Various drying processes like sun drying, hot air drying, freeze drying, vacuum drying etc. can be used for the long term storage of mushrooms. As mushrooms are sensitive to temperature, determining the right drying method is the key for the successful and effective operation of the system. The different operating conditions involved in various methods of drying affect product quality considerably. The effect of drying methods on the process and the quality of the dried mushroom is explained in detail in this chapter.

Abstract

Vitamin C is one of the most important phytochemicals and can be found in almost all fruits and vegetables. Since it covers almost all eventualities, being water solute and prone to leaching from cells, thermally labile (one of the most labile vitamins), pH-, metal ion-, light-sensitive, as well as readily oxidizable by ascorbic acid oxidase, vitamin C is selected as the most frequently measured nutrient to evaluate the nutrients loss during thermal processing. It is generally accepted that if vitamin C is well preserved, the other nutrients are also well retained. Higher retention of vitamin C in processed products is highly desired. Herein this chapter reviews the degradation mechanism and kinetics of vitamin C of fruits and vegetables during thermal processing, such as blanching, drying, cooking and frying. It starts with an overview of the functions of vitamin C in human’s health. Then the current status for understanding of the degradation kinetics of vitamin C during thermal processing was outlined, followed by the discussion of its degradation mechanism. At last, potential strategies or alternatives to keep vitamin C are identified and discussed.

Fruits provide a suitable environment for seed maturation and often a mechanism for the dispersal of mature seeds. By anatomical definition, fruit is a mature ovary, and therefore, includes carpel tissues in part or in whole. However, many fleshy fruit species develop mature fruit tissues by including extra-carpellary floral components. The examples include strawberry, pineapple, mulberry and pome fruit (apple, pear, etc.) in which the receptacle, bracts, calyx and floral tube (the fused base of floral organs), respectively constitute majority of mature fruit tissues. Even species with fruit derived from carpel tissue exclusively can display a range of developmental programs, spanning the relatively uniform single expanded carpel or drupe of stone fruit to the differentiated carpel tissues, giving rise to the peel (flavedo) and multi-carpel flesh as observed in citrus and banana. Although genetic selection of agriculturally valuable fruits is being done since centuries but most of the information about how fruits develop, how this development is coordinated with embryonic development and seed formation and the molecular, cellular and physiological events that control fruit growth and differentiation are still lacking. In the following sections, the various aspects controlling fruit setting and development have been discussed.

The ultimate aim of production, handling and distribution of vegetables is to satisfy the consumers, and it is well known fact that consumer satisfaction depends on quality of the produce what he gets (Shewfelt et al., 1997). The term quality implies the degree of suitability of produce for a particular use. Quality can be expressed as an absence of defects or degree of excellence of the produce in respect to appearance, i.e., size, shape and colour. Quality is a bundle of attributes that are inherent in the produce and can readily be quantified throughout handling and distribution. It may also be defined as a series of attributes selected based on accuracy and precision of measurement. For grades and standards, the definition of quality is institutionalized so that it may have the same meaning for every one using it. Combination of characteristic features of the produce itself is termed as quality and that the consumer’s perception and response to those characteristic features should be referred to as acceptability.

Quality of produce encompasses sensory properties, such as appearance, texture, odour, aroma, taste and flavour that are readily perceived by the human senses and hidden attributes, such as safety, chemical constituents, nutritive values, mechanical properties, functional property and defects that require sophisticated instruments to measure (Abbott, 1999). Combination of sensory and instrumental measurements of quality attributes provides an estimate of customer acceptability. In a long chain from producer to the actual consumer, each passes judgment and each has his own set of acceptability or quality criteria, often biased by personal expectations and preferences. The component attributes of quality vary with context. The choice of what to measure, how to measure it and what values acceptable to the consumer are determined by the person requiring the measurement, with consideration of the intended use of the produce. Quality can be measured, and it relates to consumer acceptability.

Vegetables play an important role in human nutrition and health making them important in Indian agricultural economy. The productivity of vegetable crop is seriously affected by several biotic and abiotic stresses and makes the economic conditions of the Indian marginal farmers worst. Under Indian conditions, 25-40% of the total vegetable produce is going waste due to lack of post-harvest storage and processing facilities in the country. Conventional plant breeding methods have improved vegetable crop plants bringing together a wide array of genes responsible for novel productivity and quality traits. However, sometimes, genes needed for crop improvement are not available in the existing germplasm. In genetic engineering, individual genes affecting the traits of economic importance are introduced in commercial cultivars. It is a targeted approach to improve the crop plants, which attempts to avoid the transfer of large blocks of genetic material. It requires identification and cloning of desirable gene and its subsequent transfer in plant species for improvement. Transgenic technologies offer many scientific advantages in breeding for improved vegetable crop quality and performance. However, very few genetically engineered horticultural crops have been released to farmers. As of 2005, one thousand million acres of transgenic crops have been planted globally covering 40% of the United States land area out of which 75% of the area is devoted to cotton, 50% to corn and 85% to soybeans in the United States of America (ISAAA, 2006).

Bonsai is an art of growing and training of a woody plant in a miniature form in a shallow container imitating natural look of an old aged tree. It differs from a pot plant where either the foliage or the flower is the main criterion, but here the artistic look of the tree in a miniature and natural form maintained for many years is desired.

The word Bonsai’ is a combination of two Japanese words, Bon (meaning shallow pan) and Sai (meaning plant), which can be translated as “tray planting”. By growing the trees in shallow containers, the growth is checked or dwarfed but the plant is not starved. A properly maintained bonsai should outlive a full size tree of the same species. Bonsai is a small tree in comparison to its huge life-sized tree of the same species. Thus, Bonsai is specially trained ordinary tree or plant, not special hybrid dwarfs. Bonsai culture is viewed as a hobby that allows greater understanding and association with nature. This art of bonsai is linked with Zen Buddhism - where this art originated as pastime that merged with natural elements and developed into a unique method of meditation and expression. The bonsai is even expressed as “heaven and earth in one container”

Bonsai is developed from seeds, cuttings, layering or grafting from young trees or from naturally occurring stunted trees transplanted into shallow containers. Most bonsai range in height from 5 centimeter (2 inch) to 1.2 meter (4 ft). Bonsai is kept small and trained by pruning branches and roots, periodic repotting, pinching off new growth and wiring the branches and trunk for giving desired shape. Tradition holds that three basic virtues are necessary to create a bonsai: shin-zen-bi standing for truth, goodness and beauty which are parallel to Hindu concept of Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram. The bonsai must look natural and should never show the intervention of human hands (with the exception of Chinese bonsai which in many cases depicts images of dragons and other influential symbols of the culture at the time of origination). Bonsai is primarily kept outdoors in partial shade with exception of some plants suited, trained and indoor grown. In traditional Japanese rooms, there is a tokonoma, the alcove, specially designed for the display of bonsai on special occasions. Bonsai can live for hundreds of years with utmost care and the prized specimens are being passed from generation to generation, admired for their age and valued as a reminder of those who have cared for them over the centuries.

Chromatography was first employed by Ramsay (1905) to separate mixtures of gases and vapours. The first scientist to recognize chromatography as an efficient method of separation was the Russian botanist Tswett (1906), who demonstrated that, when a plant extract was carried by petroleum ether through a column consisting of a glass tube packed with calcium carbonate powder, a number of dyes were separated, as shown in Figure 1. He named this analysis method “Chromatographie” after “chroma” and “graphos”, which are Greek words meaning “color” and “to draw,” respectively.

ABSTRACT

In Ayurvedic system of medicine, the word Astavarga represents eight endangered Himalayan herbs, which includes four orchids Habenaria intermedia D.Don, Platanthera edgeworthii Hook.f., Crepidium acuminatum D.Don, Malaxis muscifera Lindl., three liliaceae members (Lilium polyphyllum D.Don, Polygonatum verticillatum L.,Polygonatum cirrhifolium Wall.) and one zingiber (Roscoea purpurea Sm.). These herbs are popular in various ayurvedic formulations, as for instance, Chyawanprash which is well recognized for strengthening vital force to the body, help in cell regeneration, and build immune system. These plants are repository of various bioactive ingredients such as diosgenin, β-sitosterol, catechin, p-coumaric acid and many more which shows positive biological functions such as anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, antiinflammatory and other associated health promoting activities. In traditional system, different parts of these plants are used for different purpose, and mainly rhizomes are used as herbal formulations. In terms of ecology, these plants are growing wild in Himalaya belts between the elevation ranges of 1200-4000m above mean sea level. Subtropical, temperate and alpine environment provide condusive adaptation and habitat for these species to grow and florish. Due to lack of proper documentation and certification, the identification of most of the species became difficult and illusory. Considering the medicinal importance and endangerment status, attempts have been made in the present communication to provide a comprehensive account on phytochemistry and pharmacological activities associated with astavarga species. The data presented in this communication will put door open for various research activities related to discovery of new drugs and nutraceutical products for human welfare in days to come.

ABSTRACT

Drug discovery is the process to identify the active ingredients from traditional remedies as new candidate for medications. It involves the sources, identification of screening hits, medicinal chemistry and optimization of those hits to increase the affinity, potency, reduce the potential of side effects, increase the half life and oral bioavailability followed by clinical trials. While studying and screening the plant resourses of Himalaya, Colebrookea oppositifolia Sm. is identified as an important Heptoprotective Phytopharma plant. This is an important Indian medicinal plant of the family lamiaceae endemic to the Southeast Asia. The active ingredients of this species possess antimicrobial, antifungal and antioxidant properties as evident from experimentation which may be due to the high content of flavonoids and polyphenols as a major chemical constituents. In Ayurvedic traditional system of medicine, leaves of C. oppositifolia is used for the treatment of wounds and fractures, where as roots helps in curing epilepsy. Chemical investigations on the petroleum ether extract of the leavesof C.oppositifolia, some active molecules suchasn-triacontane, acetyl alcohol, 32-hydroxydotriacontyl ferulate, β-sitosterol and 5,6,7,42 -tetramethoxy flavones have been identified which has hepatoprotective properties as evident from biological investigation. Structures of these compounds were interpreted on the basis of spectral (IR, NMR, MS) data. While studying acute toxicity of these bioactive ingredients, the species can be classified as category V as per GHS of OECD test guidelines and principles of GLP. In the present communication, an attempt has been made to provide scientific data on biology, natural products, constituents of volatile oils, salient markers, medicinal chemistry, results showing hepatoprotective activity and future direction for research to be carried out on this plant species. It also provide data on lyophilized extract or at least one bioactive fraction obtained from leaves of C. oppositifolia and treatment of liver toxicity caused by the conditions hepatoprotective against alcohol induced and tetrachloride (CCl₄) models. The presented data will be helpful in future for drug discovery.

ABSTRACT

Arunachal Pradesh in Northeastern India covers a major portion of the Eastern Himalayas and is well-known for its rich biological and cultural diversity. The indigenous communities of the state living in close vicinity of forests depend upon wild plant-resources for meeting their various needs like medicine, food, fodder, fuel, etc. The present paper deals with documentation of plant species used by Monpa and Adi community residing in vast ecological range starting from subtropical to alpine ecosystems. A total of 346 species belonging to 215 genera and 102 families used by the two communities as wild vegetables (97 species), wild fruits (39), dye and color (13), spices and condiments (51), hunting and piscicide (40), paper pulp and fiber yielding plants (5) and medicinal use were reported (165). This study highlights the rich diversity of indigenous knowledge among the local communities in utilizing the diverse plant resources around them for their sustenance. Documentation of this knowledge is of utmost importance for identification of useful plant species for value addition, promotion as well as to formulate strategies for their sustainable utilization and conservation. This would also enhance the livelihood of the indigenous communities contribute to biodiversity conservation in these fragile mountain ecosystems.

ABSTRACT

Herbal systems of medicine have been acceded by various drug regulatory authorities across the globe. In modern days, people prefer herbal medicines for the cure of various gentle to extreme and chronic disease, and another option is of allopathic system of medicine. In the present communication, the herbal formulations utilize extracted constituents of the various parts of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal, a member of the famly Solanaceae, and commonly known as Ashwagandha, Indian ginseng, Asgand or winter cherry. This is a principal medicinal plant that has been used in various Ayurvedic formulations from more than 3000 years. Wide distribuion of this species have been reported from the various Indian states like are Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and mountainous regions of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu. This plant is commonly used, either alone or in combination, with other herbs for the cure of various conditions e.g stress and inflammation. The major phytochemicals of this species are alkaloids and steroidal lactones, and due to presence of various bioactive compounds, this plant species possess various multitudinous biological activities such as adaptogenic, antibiotic, aboritifacient, aphrodisiac, astringent, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, sedative, deobstruent, anti-stress, anti-oxidant, anti-carcinogenic, anti-aging, cardio protective, hypothyroid activity, immunomodulatory. Keeping these aspects into consideration, this herb has enormous potential for the management of a number of diseases. In the market, W. somnifera is available in various forms including decoctions, infusions, ointments, powder, tablet, capsule and syrup. This communication provides an account of various chemical constituents and their associated various biological functions.

1. Introduction

Lichens are the most fascinating and widely distributed organisms on earth. The lichens are unique in having two microorganism in a single plant- a phycobiont (alga) and a mycobiont (fungus) forming a thallus that does not resemble either symbionts in the free living (non- lichenized) state. By virtue of the peculiar structure and physiology, lichens have high tolerance of drought and cold and are able to grow in the diverse geographical regions from icy expanses to tropical and subtropical parts and from drier, hot deserts to moist humid climate. Lichens grow on any substratum that provides a convenient foot hold to them. This may be soil (terricolous), humus (humicolous), stones, rocks, brick (saxicolous), lime plaster (calcicolous), leaves (folicolous), tree trunk (corticolous), decaying wood (lignicolous) and other man made substratum like iron pipes, asbestos sheet and glass panes. Sometimes lichens also grow on some insects and animals. Lichens which are bigger in size and shape can be easily recognized as leaf like (foliose) and thread like (fruticose) (commonly called macrolichens), while those which forming a crust over the substratum and quite smaller in size are categorized under microlichens.

Apart from altitudinal variation, the vegetation and forest types of higher plants also play an important role in determining the type of lichen flora of the region. Based on the forest types six lichen vegetation zones are known in India such as: Moist tropical evergreen forest, Cold deserts in the Himalayas, South Peninsular region, Mid Eastern Indian & Peninsular Plateau, Dry and arid regions and Indo-gangetic plains of central India, Coastal regions of India and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The cold deserts in the Himalayas exhibit some unique group of lichens having restricted distribution only in such habitats.

1. Introduction

The word ‘lichen’ has a Greek origin, which was referred to the superficial growth of fungus like organism on the bark of olive trees. Theophrastus, the Father of Botany coined the term ‘lichen’ during 300 BC and introduced this group of plants to the scientific world.

Lichen is a combination of two organisms, an alga and a fungus, living together in symbiotic association. Sometimes instead of an alga a cyanobacterium (blue-green alga) may be present in the lichen thallus. The algal component in the lichen is generally called as ‘photobiont’ as it contains photosynthetic pigment. The fungal part is called as ‘mycobiont’ (myco = fungus). The photobiont and the mycobiont loose their original identity in symbiotic association and the resulting organism is the lichen which behaves as a single organism, both morphologically and physiologically. Hence, the lichen is called as a composite organism. The lichen thallus is made 90% of mycobiont which provides shape, structure and colour to the lichen. In a lichen thallus whatever visible from outside is fungal part, which holds algae inside its body (Fig. 1) and therefore, the lichens are placed within the Kingdom - Fungi. The fungi present in lichens are called as ‘lichenized fungi’. Among the 20,000 lichen species present in the world, 98.9% of them belongs to Ascomycetes group while Bacidiomycetes and Deuteriomycetes groups are represented by only 0.1% and 1%, respectively.

The science of agrometeorology has great practical utility in protection against, or avoidance of adverse climate risks of crop production. Agrometeorological information can be used in efficient land use planning, determining suitable crops for a region, risk analysis of climate hazards and profit calculations in farming, production and harvest forecasts, and in adoption of farming methods and choice of farm machinery. Meteorological instruments are the equipments used to sample the state of the atmosphere at a given time. Meteorology does not use much laboratory equipments but relies more on field-mode in situ observation and remote sensing equipments. Rain was one of the first weather parameter to be measured historically. Two other accurately measured weather-related variables are wind and humidity.

An agrometeorological observatory or station is a place where all the necessary instruments and structures are installed and maintained to observe and record the weather parameters at stipulated time interval.

The word biodiversity refers to the variety of living organisms (flora and fauna). Biodiversity or Biological diversity is defined as the variability among all living organisms from all sources, including terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and ecological complexes of which they are part. Wilson, 1988 defined ‘Biological diversity’ or ‘biodiversity’ as that part of nature which includes the differences in genes among the individuals of a species, the variety and richness of all the plant and animal species at different scales in space i.e. local, regional, country wise and global, andvarious types of ecosystems- both terrestrial and aquatic-within a defined area.

The diversity of agro-ecosystems

Biological diversity deals with the degree of nature’s variety in the biosphere. This variety can be observed at three levels i.e., genetic, species and ecosystem.

a) Genetic Diversity

Genetic diversity refers to the variation at the level of individual genes. Tremendous amount of genetic diversity exists within individual species. This genetic variability is responsible for the different characters in species. Genetic diversity is the raw material from which new species arise through evolution. Today, the genetic diversity is made use to breed new crop varieties, disease resistant crops.

Organic producers, on the other hand, are looking for varieties that are suited to their local climatic and soil conditions and are not susceptible to disease and pest attack. Research has shown that in general these characteristics are more likely to be found in the older native cultivars. For example, conventional wheat grown in an organic system will have reduced protein content, whereas the selection of a variety suitable for the particular growing conditions will provide higher protein, and thus higher baking quality wheat to be grown. Research has also indicated that yields and disease resistance are better in native cultivars as opposed to modern varieties for vegetables (tomato, cucumber and melon) grown in an organic system.

Abstract: Impatiens are popular seed and vegetatively propagated bedding plants with numerous series (Shadeglow, Firefly, Peach Ice, Circus, Hawaii, Pixie, Show Topper, Elfin, Shady Lady, Fanciful, Fantasia, Fiesta, Futura, Jewel, Minarette, etc.) and F₁ hybrid cultivars available on world market. The history of balsam development as a crop is highlighted. Continued domestication by flower breeders produced a wide range of flower colours and flower patterns. Ample genetic information and trait heritability has been established for this crop; plant breeding continues to produce new variants for commercial production. Continuous breeding and improvement of balsam focus on flower colour/ size/ pattern, double flowers, plant growth habit/ branching and disease resistance. Important traits for both production and landscape use include flower colour/ size and bloom time, larger flowers, resistance to biotic and abiotic stress and other valuable traits. Results achieved through interspecific hybridization and polyploid breeding are discussed. The chapter concludes with future prospective for research and breeding in the genus.