eChapters

ABSTRACT

The present communication thr ows light on 118 species of flowering plants (Angiosperms) found in Dewghat forest (in Koraon forest range of Uttar Pradesh), which are traditionally used by the “Kol” tribal community and some other forest dwelling people, viz. Belbans, Bahelia, Mushahar etc. An enumeration of these plants materials is prepared with their botanical names, local / vernacular names, family names and using practices provided in this paper. This is the first ever report from the area under study on this aspect. In case of Anogeissus latifolia the leaf juice is used poisonous insect bite, grounded flower used in chronic diseases and its fruit is used asthma. The seeds of Cleome viscosa are given orally in stomach diseases. The leaves of Cassia alata used for ringworms and skin disease. The leaves juice and seed of Euphorbia thymifolia is used as a strong purgative. It leaf juice is also used for the remedy of ringworms and other skin diseases. It is an antidote for snakebite. The present study is aimed at indexing of all medicinal flora occurring in Dewghat forest (U.P.) and their uses for the benefit of the researchers to undertake studies on the prospects and potential of commercial exploitation.

Pulses are widely acknowledged as superfoods, three times the protein in rice and double in wheat. Besides, they are also rich in complex carbohydrates, micronutrients, protein and B-vitamins and minerals like folate, iron, calcium, magnesium, zinc and potassium. High iron content in some pulses also minimizes the risk of anaemia. Long storability without loss of nutritional value, low prices, and broader availability make pulses an affordable source of minerals, and protein, thus contributing to food security at all levels of society in India. Besides human nutrition, pulse crops are also utilized as fodder and fuel for farm households.

The intersection of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) with agriculture has sparked a transformative revolution in the farming landscape. ICT projects in agriculture represent a paradigm shift, leveraging technological advancements to optimize farming practices, enhance productivity and ensure sustainable food production. From precision farming and data-driven decision-making to innovative tools and connectivity solutions, these projects harness the power of digital innovation to address challenges and drive efficiency across the agricultural sector. In this era where technology has become a cornerstone of progress, ICT projects stand as beacons of hope, ushering in a new era of smarter, more resilient and eco-conscious agriculture. The initiatives of ICT projects in agriculture and allied sectors

Introduction

The most important function in the socioeconomic domain of India is played by agriculture, which is the foundation of the nation's economy. India's agriculture industry is vast, varied, and involves a lot of different players. With the use of Green Revolution technologies, it has become one of the most amazing success stories of the post-independence era. The Green Revolution enhanced rural welfare and allowed for food self-sufficiency, both of which boosted the Indian economy. In the framework of the Green Revolution, the National Agricultural Research System (NARS) played a crucial role. India boasts one of the world's biggest and most intricate agricultural research programs in terms of structure. The Imperial (now Indian) Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) was established in 1929 on the advice of a Royal Commission on Agriculture, marking the culmination of a process that began in the 19th century and led to the creation of the current Indian agricultural research system [1].

The functioning of the agricultural sector, market dynamics, and policy consequences are all influenced by a complex web of interrelated components that make up agricultural economics dynamics. These dynamics shape the production, supply, demand, and competitiveness of agricultural products and involve the interactions between farmers, markets, technology, and government regulations [2],[5].

Introduction

Traditional Knowledge (TK) and Traditional Cultural Expressions (TCEs) are crucial intangible heritage passed down through generations in indigenous communities. TK encompasses indigenous knowledge, practices, and innovations related to cultural traditions, natural resources, and ecosystems, while TCEs are heritage artistic and literary expressions that embody traditional culture and knowledge. TK and TCEs are deeply embedded in the cultural heritage of indigenous communities, and play a vital role in preserving their identities, values, and beliefs. However, they are vulnerable to exploitation and misappropriation, which can lead to cultural loss and undermine the rights of indigenous peoples. Thus, it is crucial to involve indigenous communities in decision-making and protect their rights to safeguard and preserve the integrity of TK and TCEs.

Clouds, those ever-present features of our sky, are more than just aesthetically pleasing; they are fundamental components of earth’s weather and climate systems. This chapter, “cloud formation and classification,” will embark on a journey to understand the fascinating processes that lead to their creation and the systematic ways in which they are categorized.
We will begin by exploring the essential ingredients for cloud formation: the presence of water vapor in the atmosphere, the availability of condensation or ice nuclei, and the crucial mechanism of air cooling. We will delve into how rising air parcels cool adiabatically, reaching saturation and allowing water vapor to condense or deposit into the myriad forms we recognize as clouds.
Following the understanding of their genesis, we will navigate the internationally recognized system of cloud classification. This system, primarily based on a cloud’s altitude, appearance, and the processes that formed it, provides a common language for meteorologists and observers worldwide. We will learn to identify the main cloud types – high, mid-level, low, and vertically developing – and their associated characteristics, from the wispy cirrus to the towering cumulonimbus.
Furthermore, we will touch upon the significance of different cloud types in indicating current weather conditions and forecasting future weather. The appearance and evolution of clouds can offer valuable clues about atmospheric stability, moisture content, and the likelihood of precipitation.
By the end of this chapter, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of how clouds form the diverse array of cloud types that grace our skies, and their importance in the broader context of atmospheric science. Let’s unlock the secrets held within these visible masses of water and ice suspended in our atmosphere.

There are two assumptions necessary involved in the regression of repeatability. These are:
• The variances of the different measurements are equal and have their components in the same proportions, and
• The different measurements reflect genetically the same character. If these assumptions are not valid the repeatability concept becomes vague without precise meaning in relation to the variance components.
The repeatability differs very much depending on the following:
• The nature of the trait.
• The genetic properties of the population.
• Environmental conditions under which the individuals are kept or raised.
Repeatability indicates the proportion of observed differences in performance between animals caused by differences in real producing ability. That is say, repeatability of butterfat yield is 0.40, and if a cow has an age corrected butter fat yield of 30 kilograms above the herd average, her near producing ability will be equal to 30x 0.40 = 12 kg. above the herd average. This can also be explained in a different way, i.e., if two cows differ in one lactation by 30 kg in butter fat yield. They will have difference of 12 kg of butter fat in the next lactation.
Repeatability has a value 0 to 1 and may also be expressed in percentage. Repeatability of a trait is not a constant, and measurements error or generally, varying environmental conditions tend to increase VEt and thus to decrease repeatability, shrode et al (1960) have shown the effect of a change in environmental conditions on repeatability. They obtained repeatabilities of milk yield, butter fat yield and fat percentage as 0.37, 0.32 and 0.7 respectively and after improving the management removed some of the environmental variations that had marked the cows real producing abilities.

Introduction

The term value chain was first used and popularized by Michael Porter in his book “Competitive Advantage: Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance” in 1985.

The value chain concept separates useful activities which allow the company as a whole to gain competitive advantage from the wasteful activities (which hinder the company from getting a lead in the market). Focusing on the value-creating activities could give the company many advantages. For example, the ability to charge higher prices; lower cost of manufacture; better brand image, faster response to threats or opportunities.

Strobilanthes (of Acanthaceae) is a morphologically diverse and species rich genus extensively distributed in South and Southeast Asia (Carine,1997 and Moylan et al 2004). Approximately 74 species are found along the Western Ghats of Southern India - Sri Lanka biodiversity hotspot (Carine, 1997). The mass flowering of Strobilanthes with blue coloured flower makes them promising plants for gardens.  The genus is subjected to several systematic revisions recently (Bennett and Scotland 2003, Carine et al. 2000, 2004 Carine and Scotland 1998, 2000, 2002 and Venu 2007). The most distinguishing character of the genera (Strobilanthes) is its monocarpic nature, i.e., flowers after a long period of vegetative growth ranging 1-15 years and in a few cases flowers after 35 years. Bremekamp (1944) used the term ‘plietesials’ for such monocarpic plants that take several years to reach maturity before flowering.

The term “laboratory” refers to the room in the building specifically equipped for the chemical manipulation of radioisotope. The word “shall” is used to indicate procedure which are mandatory.

    1.    No unnessary materials are to be brought into the laboratory. Eating drinking, smoking and the using cosmetic in the laboratory are specifically forbidden.

    2.    Pipetting or the performance of any similar operation by mouth suction is prohibited.

    3.    Laboratory protective clothing (gloves, smocks, etc.) shall be left in the laboratory; gloves shall be removed before using the counting equipment.

    4.    Before leaving the laboratory, the hands shall be washed first, then checked with a beta-gamma survey meter. Contamination remaining after thorough washing shall be reported to the instructor.

    5.    If, in the course of work, personal contamination is suspected, a survey with a suitable instrument shall be made immediately, to be followed by the required cleansing. Routine precautionary surveys should be made at intervals.

    6.    No person shall work with active materials while having abrasions in the skin on the hands without using rubber gloves.

Introduction

Increasing carbon content in the soil, through better management practices, produce a number of benefits in terms of soil biodiversity, soil fertility and soil water storage capacity and hence productivity. Soil carbon sequestration through the restoration of soil organic matter can further reverse land degradation and restore soil “health” through restoring soil biota and the array of associated ecological processes. In particular, through improved soil water storage and nutrient cycling, land use practices that sequester carbon will also contribute to stabilizing or enhancing food production and optimizing the use of synthetic fertilizer inputs, thereby reducing emissions of nitrous oxides from agricultural land. Conservation tillage practices also reduce significantly the use of fuel and hence gaseous emissions. Soil carbon sequestration is thus very cost effective and could take effect very quickly (FAO, 2008). It also constitutes a valuable win-win approach combining mitigation (CO₂ is removed from the atmosphere) and adaptation, through both increased agro-ecosystem resilience to climate variability and more reliable and better yields (production and income generation). Under climate change scenarios, increased temperature may enhance soil organic matter mineralization in colder regions of the world, releasing carbon dioxide from soils (FAO, 2008). Improved soil management will mitigate the effects of global warming by improved and permanent soil cover. Soil carbon storage was hitherto left out of international negotiations because of envisaged difficulties of validation of amounts and duration/permanency of sequestration. 

India has witnessed tremendous increase in the production of horticultural crops especially fruits since independence. Due to specialized scientific interventions and application of latest research tools, the country is now among the top fruit producing countries of the world ranking second next only to China. However, the productivity has still remained low as against area under the fruit cultivation. Several neglecting issues related to the production technology have remained unattended so far. The old and senile orchards are now reverting towards a declining trend of production because of plant age factor, non-compatible varieties and poor canopy management (Baba et al., 2011).

In the recent past declining productivity of old and dense orchards existing in abundance has become a matter of serious concern for the orchardists, traders as well as scientists. In India 30-35 per cent area under fruit crops is occupied by old, dense and diseased orchards. For overcoming the problem of unproductive and uneconomic orchards existing in abundance, large scale uprooting and replacement with new plantations (rehabilitation) will be a long term and expensive strategy. Therefore research efforts were initiated to standardize a technology for restoring the production potential of existing plantations by a technique called Rejuvenation. The term ‘Rejuvenation’ means renewal or making new or young again. As applied to the orchard tree it would mean restoring the productive capacity of the fruit trees. The meaning of ‘Rejuvenation’ according to Chamber’s dictionary is ‘to recover youth character or to grow again’. Obviously, this would apply to those plants which have attained a stage where they are no more profitable from the grower’s point of view.

The agroclimatic conditions of Indian Himalayan region are suitable for growing temperate fruit crops like apple, pear, peach, plum, apricot, almond, walnut, pecan nut, kiwi, strawberry, hazelnuts, pistachio nuts and other small fruits. The region is extended over the states of Jammu and Kashmir (J & K), Himachal Pradesh (H.P.)  and Uttaranchal (U.A.) in the north-western Himalayan region and Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, hilly areas of Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram, Meghalaya and West Bengal in the north -eastern Himalayan region. Other areas are ooty, Kodai Kanal and Nilgiri hills in Tamil Nadu. Mount Abu in Rajasthan and hilly areas of Punjab. Although, temperate fruit growing areas in India do not fall in the temperate zone, yet the prevailing temperate climatic conditions due to high altitude and nearness to snow covered Himalayas has made the temperate fruit cultivation possible.

The term “laboratory” refers to the room in the building specifically equipped for the chemical manipulation of radioisotope. The word “shall” is used to indicate procedure which are mandatory.

    1.    No unnessary materials are to be brought into the laboratory. Eating drinking, smoking and the using cosmetic in the laboratory are specifically forbidden.

    2.    Pipetting or the performance of any similar operation by mouth suction is prohibited.

    3.    Laboratory protective clothing (gloves, smocks, etc.) shall be left in the laboratory; gloves shall be removed before using the counting equipment.

    4.    Before leaving the laboratory, the hands shall be washed first, then checked with a beta-gamma survey meter. Contamination remaining after thorough washing shall be reported to the instructor.

    5.    If, in the course of work, personal contamination is suspected, a survey with a suitable instrument shall be made immediately, to be followed by the required cleansing. Routine precautionary surveys should be made at intervals.

    6.    No person shall work with active materials while having abrasions in the skin on the hands without using rubber gloves.

I. Definition

Solute transport in plants, translocation, primarily occurs in the phloem, but it can occur in the xylem.

II. Solute Transport in the Xylem

Some solutes are transported in the xylem

Water and dissolved ions are the main substances in vessels/tracheids

These materials are transported via transpiration stream

Xylem sap may also contain organic materials, usually in relatively low concentration (with a notable exception being maple sap in the spring which is comprised of 2% or more sucrose).

Substances move at different rates depending on matrix effects, metabolic needs, etc.

THEORETICAL ORIENTATION

The word “democracy” is derived from the Greek roots - ‘cracy’ meaning ‘rule of and ‘demos’ meaning ‘the people’. It is governance of the people, by the people, for the people. Rule by majority is, no doubt, an important feature of this system of governance; but the more important ingredient is rule by consultation - consultation between the people’s representatives on one hand and consultation with the officers on the other. ‘Decentralization’ means devolution of central authority among local units close to the areas served. Where authority is devolved by this process on people’s institution, it is ‘democratic decentralization’.

At the instance of the Prime Minister it was decided to give the process of the three-tier administration the strictly Indian name, “Panchayati Raj” which means a system of government. Panchayati Raj was conceived system of democratic local self-Government. Earlier, Mahatma Gandhi also advocated panchayati raj as the foundation of India’s political system, as a decentralized form of government in which each village would be responsible for its own affairs. The term for such a vision was Gram Swaraj (“village self-governance”). The institution of Panchayat represented not only the collective will, but also the collective wisdom of the entire rural community.

The Balwant Rai Mehta Committee, headed by M P Balwant Rai Mehta, was a committee appointed by the Government of India in January 1957 to examine the work of the Community Development Programme (1952) and the National Extension Service (1953) and to suggest measures for their better work. The committee recommended the establishment of the scheme of ‘democratic decentralisation’ which finally came to be known as 'Panchayati Raj' which would be a 3-tier system - 'Gram Panchayat' at the village level, Panchayat Samiti at the block level, and Zilla Parishad at the district level.

Objectives

• Better understand the process and different stages of mitosis.
• Prepare your own specimens of onion root in which you can visualize all of the stages of mitosis.

Principle

The genetic information of plants, animals and other eukaryotic organisms resides in several (or many) individual DNA molecules, or chromosomes. For example, each human cell possesses 46 chromosomes, while each cell of an onion possesses 8 chromosomes. All cells must replicate their DNA when dividing.

DNA replication in eukaryotes is followed by the process called mitosis which assures that each daughter cell receives one copy of each of the replicated chromosomes. During the process of mitosis, the chromosomes pass through several stages known as prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase. The actual division of the cytoplasm is called cytokinesis and occurs during telophase. During each of the preceding stages, particular events occur that contribute to the orderly distribution of the replicated chromosomes prior to cytokinesis.

An onion root tip is a rapidly growing part of the onion and thus many cells will be in different stages of mitosis. The onion root tips can be prepared and squashed in a way that allows them to be flattened on a microscopic slide, so that the chromosomes of individual cells can be observed easily. The super coiled chromosomes during different stages of mitosis present in the onion root tip cells can be visualized by treating with DNA specific stains, like Feulgen stain and Acetocarmine stain.

Annuals

Annuals or seassonals are the group of plants which complete their life cycle in one season or in one year. Annuals are commonly known as seasonal as they complete the process of life like germination, growth flowering and seed formation in one season and finally the plant without. Annuals are widely used for garden decoration, cut flower and pot plants. They are frequently grown as bedding plant and in rock garden on the sides of lily pool and in shrubberies.