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The pineapple is the leading edible member of the family Bromeliaceae which encompasses about 2,000 species, mostly epiphytic and many ornamentals. Pineapple (Anans comosus (L) Merr), belonging to the family Bromeliaceae, is one of the most important commercial fruit of the world. Its pleasant characteristic aroma and taste make it a choicest fruit both for fresh consumption and processing.

Now known botanically as Ananas comosus Merr. (syns. A. sativus Schult. f., Ananassa sativa Lindl., Bromelia ananas L., B. comosa L.), the fruit has acquired few vernacular names. It is widely called pina by Spanish-speaking people, abacaxi in the Portuguese tongue, ananas by the Dutch and French and the people of former French and Dutch colonies; nanas in southern Asia and the East Indes. In China, it is po-lomah; in Jamaica, sweet pine; and in Guatemala often merely pine.

The region which includes Central and Southern Brazil, northern Argentina and Paraguary, is believed to be the place of origin of Pineapple. From here it has spread to all countries of the tropic and some parts of the sub-tropics. It has been introduced to India in 1548. The major pineapple producing countries of the world’s are Hawaiian, Island, Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Brazil, China, Kenya, Mexico, Taiwan, South Africa, Australia, India and Indonesia.

Cultivars: Kew or Giant Kew, Queen, Mauritius, Cayenne, Red Spanish, Singapore Spanish, Haricharanvita, Charlotte, Rothchild. In Assam there are two indigenous varieties–Jaldhup Desi and Lakhat, both of which fall in Queen group.

Genus : Feijoa 
Species : sellowiana Berg.
Family : Myrtaceae
Chromosome No. : 2n = unknown

Origin
Feijoa is native of subtropical South America, widely distributed in western Paraguay, parts of Argentina southern Brazil and Uruguay.

Uses
All parts of the plants are edible, the fruit has great resemblance to guava in respect of its appearance and size and other important pomological traits. Usually consumed as dessert or cooked, petals being thick are used in salad, on accounts of its high fruit flavour is also made into jams, jellies etc., besides these fruit juice is used to add aroma to non-alcoholic beverages.

Genus : Ananas 
Species : comosus L. Merr
Family : Bromeliaceae
Chromosome No. : 2n = 50, 75, 100

Pineapple (Ananas comosus L) ‘Golden Queen’ belongs to order Farinosae and family Bromeliaceae. The name is derived from genus Bromelia in honour of Olaus Bromel, a Swedish botanist. Herbs or sub-shrubs  mostly epiphytic, has the distinction to be one of the major food plants of the world, which was selected, domesticated and developed by the early pre-historic people, who passed this valuable knowledge gathered for hundreds of years through earlier civilization. Pineapple developed to its present form in its natural habitat – New World, and was not know to the Old world before Columbus discovered America. Red Indians the local inhabitants of South America at that early time had already developed and named number of varieties which were partially selected by them or their ancestors based upon various desirable horticultural traits like fruit size and quality, earliness, long storage, and absence of seeds etc.

Pineapple is the second most popular tropical fruit next to bananas. It is also known as Piña, Nanas and Ananas. Native to South America, it was named for its resemblance to a pine cone but it is neither a pine nor an apple. When Christopher Columbus made his second voyage to the Caribbean’s in 1493, he and his crew ate the unusual fruit they found there. They thought the fruit looked like a pine cone, so they dubbed it the “Pine of the Indies.” When they introduced it to the English later on, they added the word “apple” because they thought it should be associated with another delicious fruit that people enjoyed. Thus, the name “pineapple” came into existence. In their natural form, every variety of pineapple has a rough, diamond-pattern skin. Their tastes vary slightly, though they all basically have the same juicy, tart taste. 

The cultivation of pineapple, Ananas comosus is prevalent in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and North eastern parts of the country. It is one of the choicest fruits all over the world because of its pleasant taste and flavour. Pineapple is a good source of vitamin A and B and fairly rich in vitamin C and minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium and iron. It is also a source of bromelin, a digestive enzyme. In addition to being eaten fresh, the fruit can also be canned and processed in to different forms. The description of some of the major pests infesting pineapple are given hereunder:

Mealy bug, Dysmicoccus brevipes (Cockerell) (Pseudococcidae: Hemiptera)

It is a polyphagous pest and besides pineapple it infests banana, sugarcane, citrus, coffee and long pepper. These are small, oval and soft bodied sucking insects. The eggs are pink in colour but remain inside the female body. The first stage nymphs are called crawlers which moves to find a suitable spot for sucking of cell sap, thereafter they settle at a particular place. The adult is elliptical and bears 17 pairs of wax filaments (Plate 10h). The colour of the pest is pink but looks white due to white waxy covering. The mealy bug first infests root and later they are found

Origin and history: Pineapple is considered as one of the most popular tropical fruit, and is known as “Golden Queen” all over the globe. It can be grown as mixed crop in most of the orchards and also as hedge plant and as a pure crop. It is drought tolerant and suitable for marginal lands. Pineapple contain an enzyme Bromeline and volatile compound three methyl propionate ester. It is widely cultivated throughout the world and country is like Malaya, Hawaii, Brazil, South Africa, Singapore, Mexico and India. In India it is cultivated in eastern part of the country like West Bengal, Assam, Manipur, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

Mealy bug: Dysmicoccus brevipus: Pseudococcidae

Mealy bugs are major pests of pineapple in India. They can attack roots and aerial parts. Colonies of reddish –white mealy bugs infest roots, crown, and fruits and suck sap. The leaves change in colour from green to red or pink and the margins reflect inwards and leaf tip starts drying. Severely infested plants become stunted and bear only small fruits. The attacked plants should be drenched with an insecticide solution of contact insecticides like Quinalphos or Dichlorvos or Chlorpyriphos@ 0.05% concentration, in between the fronds and allowed to drip down to reach the roots. Addition of liquid soap @4 ml per litre or 4 g of soap powder per litre is a must to get the best results.

Pineapple (Ananas comosus L.) is an important commercial fruit crop belongs to family Bromeliaceae. It is one of the choicest fruits all over the world because of its characteristic taste and pleasant flavour. Plant is herbaceous in nature with narrow pointed leaves and 50–100 cm height. The inflorescence composed of 150–200 flowers arranged in a compact spiral cluster. The flowers are perfect with three short fleshy sepals and petals, six stamens, floral bract and ovary with three locules. The plant bears a single fruit of cylindrical shape terminally on a peduncle come out from the centre of the rosette. Pineapple fruit is a multiple or sorosis type fruit formed by the partial fusion of numerous fleshy segments from several separate flowers and edible part of fruit mainly consists of the ovaries, bases of sepals, bracts and cortex of the axis. Commercial varieties are self sterile but easily crossable with plants outside their varietal group. The apex of fruit bears a compressed, leafy and spiny shoot known as crown. The fruit weight ranged from 1.00–2.50 kg and has outer colour yellow and very golden yellow flesh inside. Pineapple fruits are mainly consumed as fresh fruit, juice purpose and also used for canning. The typically yellow fruit flesh is found suitable for fresh consumption when sweet (10 to 18% sugar) and moderately acid (0.5 to 1.6%). Fruits are processed in various value added products like pineapple chunks, crushed pineapple, diced pineapple, slices, juices, syrups, jams, etc. The pineapple possess crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM), a photosynthetic carbon assimilation pathway with high water-use efficiency

Abstract

Any environmental variable, can adversely affect the optimal growth conditions of the plants. The stressed environment makes the plants to alter their physiology for survival rather than reproduction. Prolonged drought, intense raining, frequent floods, cold waves high and low temperatures are the predicted abiotic stresses in the future due to climate changes. Water stress is one of the important growth limiting factor which decreases plant growth during vegetative stage. Crops grown under rain-fed conditions are the most affected by seasonal variations in rainfall. Therefore failure of monsoon, high temperature and salinity usually result in water stress. In addition, it causes serious negative impacts on crop growth and yields. A greater stress tolerance capacity could also be largely attributed to the plants by the symbiotically associating microorganisms capable of modulating stress factors. The microorganisms having close association with plants are referred as plant associated bacteria (PAB), which can be grouped into rhizospheric (in vicinity of root) and rhizoplanic (on surface of root), endophytic (inside the plant tissue)  and phyllospheric (on the leaf surface ) bacteria. Among the PAB, pink pigmented facultative methylotrophic (PPFM) bacteria belonging to the  genus Methylobacterium are well known for their intimate ubiquitous occurrence in the plant.

A pipe is connected to a tank or cistern. It is used to fill (inlet) or empty (outlet) the tank. Therefore, Inlet refers to a pipe which is connected to fill a tank is known as an inlet, while outlet refeRs to a pipe which is connected to empty a tank is known as an outlet. Generally the problems on pipes and cisterns are similar to problems on time and work. In pipes and cistern problems, the amount of work done is the part of the tank of filled or emptied. And, the time taken to do a piece of work is the time taken to fill or empty a tank completely or to a desired level. Following points should be remembered to solve the probles;

Laboratory pipettes are classified by their method of liquid transfer. There are two types of pipette one is plastic which is made up of polystyrene and are essentially disposable and second one is glass pipettes are very resistant to chemicals. Glass pipette can be used frequently by washing, sterilising and dry heat sterilisation is also available. Some of the common types of pipettes are using in laboratory such as serological, volumetric, micropipettes, multichannel, and Pasteur pipettes. Serological and graduated pipettes are used for transferring various volumes, while micropipettes and volumetric types of pipettes are only considered for precise measurement and transfer. Multichannel pipettes are used for dispensing into multiple wells, and Pasteur pipettes are simple for transferring small amounts.
1. Serological Pipettes
• Also known as graduated pipettes, made of glass or transparent polystyrene they are calibrated with markings to measure and dispense varying volumes.
• Appropriate for cell culture applications, transferring liquids and mixing.
2. Multichannel Pipettes
• It is design to transfer multiple samples at once, often used for 96 well plates or pcr tubes.
• It can be manual or automated, with multiple heads for faster dispensing.
3. Volumetric Pipettes
• It is designed to supply for single and particular volume of liquid.
• Marked by single graduation for an exact volume, such as 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 mL.
• Used in chemical reactions and analysis where accuracy is crucial.

In molecular biology and biochemistry, the ability to accurately and reproducibly measure and transfer small volumes of liquids is critical for obtaining useful results. For volumes less than 1 ml, the most common method for measuring liquid volumes involves the use of a device known as a pipetman or micro-pipette.

The pipetmen can be both fixed and variable volumes. Commonly used pipetmen are: P1000, P200, P20, P10 etc. P1000 are useful for volumes from 200 to 1000 µl. P200 are useful for volumes from 20 to 200 µl. P20 are useful for volumes from 0.5 to 20 µl. For beginners fixed volume pipetmen are more useful. It is important to ascertain whether the correct pipetman is chosen for measuring the volume one needs.

Today the world is facing a variety of interrelated problems such as food production, energy use, pollution, unemployment and urbanization, mainly because the developmental strategies contravene the basic philosophy of ecology. The world ecosystem is becoming increasingly more unstable through an ever growing dependence on finite resources of fossil fuels. Food production system in developed countries, both terrestrial agriculture and fisheries are energy intensive and are thus, not entirely suitable for developing countries. An alternative strategy to an increasing reliance on fossil for agriculture development should depend on locally available sources of renewable energy and resources. A significant effect could be made through recycling organic wastes into fish. Organic wastes can be recycled in ecologically sound pond based systems fueled by solar energy. The reuse of wastes would safeguard the environment from pollution and lead to a reduction in diseases of insanitation. Recycling of animal wastes is the cheapest way of protein production by reducing cost of production. Fish farming in Europe, Israel and USA is energy intensive, since more farmers use commercially prepared feed formulations which resulted in cost to feed often exceeding 50% of the total operating costs.

In recycling of waste through fish culture, fish is considered to have a great potential to change raw protein into high energetic edible protein. The rationale behind raising fish on organic manure is that about 72.98% of the nitrogen, 62.87% of phosphorus and 82.92% of potassium in the feed rations fed to animals are recovered in their excreta. In most of the world, cereals and legumes account for most of the proteins and calories consumed, but fish produced cheaply by recycling wastes would provide a low energy way to produce an animal product and diversify the diet. Fish, being the cheap source of animal protein is now widely accepted to meet the persistent and widespread malnutrition in developing countries.

Aquaculture is the fastest growing food production sector in the world with annual growth in excess of 10% over the last two decades. Much of this development has occurred in Asia, which also has the greatest variety of cultured species and systems. Asia is also perceived as the ‘home’ of aquaculture, as aquaculture has a long history in several regions and knowledge of traditional systems and is most widespread.

Genus : Pistachia 
Species : vera L.
Family : Anacardiaceae
Chromosome No. : 2n = 30

Among the nut crops Pistachio nut (Pistacia vera L.) occupies a significant place for its delectable and nutty flavoured kernels which in large quantity is imported to India mainly from Iran and Afghanistan. On account of its demand for very exacting climatic requirements the crop has failed to establish successfully in number of new regions where efforts were made to introduce this crop, despite the fact that it resists drought and adverse soil conditions much better than more important fruits of the family Anacardiaceae. Pistachio trees are long lived but grow very slowly in early years of its plantation compared to many of the deciduous fruit trees. Alternate bearing is also a wide spread phenomena in this crop. Pista is a fruit of temperate region and can withstand wide fluctuation in temperature. The exact place of its origin though not definite, is often regarded to be indigenous to central Asia, where large stands of wild pistachio trees are found growing in abundance.

1. Introduction

The pistachio nut tree, Pistacia vera L. has been extensively cultivated since ancient times in the Middle Eastern and Mediterranean countries; in India, Afghanistan. The climatic conditions favorable to pistachio culture are similar to those for almond and olives, and prevail in extensive regions of the western United States also. Pistachio is a nut which comes originally from Iran and has the history of 4000 to 5000 years. Pistachio is a drought-tolerant, slow-growing, deciduous tree that reaches to a height of 30 ft. The tree survives in arid regions where summers are hot and the winters cold. Rocky, poor terrain with little rainfall is no problem as long as there is good drainage. The fruits grow in clusters. Although called a nut, botanically, pistachios are actually drupe. The pistachio consists of a bone ivory shell that encases the edible meat portion, called the seed.

• It can withstand a very wide range of temperature from 30 to 42°C.
• Pistachio was grown for the first time in the early eighties using seeds of pista at the PCDO Bhoktu and Regional Horticultural Research Station, Sharbo in Kinnaur district of HP.
• The two commercial varieties namely Kerman (Pistillate) and Peters (Staminate) were introduced India from California in 2001.
• They are drought resistant and very tolerant of high summer temperature, but con not tolerant excess of dampness and humidity.
• P. atlantica, P. terebinthus P. integerrima are seedling rootstocks.
• Rafsanjani is the world-famous pistachio growing region in Iran.
• Iranian varieties: Momtaz, Owhadi, Agah, Safeed.
• Turkish varieties: Uzun, Kimizi.
• California varieties: Kerman, Peter Ibrahim, Owhadi, Safeed, Sharti, Wahedi, Bronte, Sfax.
• Other varieties: Buenzle, Minassian, Red Aleppo, Trabonella.
• A sister seedling of Kerman, namely Lasson also produces good quality large-sized nuts.

Pistacia integerrima Stewart (Pistaceaceae) is an ethnobotanically important tree native to Asia. Pistacia integerrima is a species of pistachio tree native to Asia, commonly called zebrawood or the crab’s claw. It is often classified as Pistacia chinensis ssp. integerrima.

Pistacia integerrima, commonly known as kakra shingi, is a moderate-sized deciduous tree, up to 18 m in height, with a short stout bole found in the Himalayas from Indus to Kumaon. Hard, horn-shaped, rugose, hollow galls like excrescences are formed on the leaves and petioles of the plant by an insect of Pemphigus species. Dry powdered galls have a very astringent and slightly bitter taste and terebinthine odour. This tree is also used as a rootstock in the cultivation of commercial pistachios

Morphological characteristics

It is a moderate sized deciduous tree with rough grey bark. Leaves are 15-23 cm long with or without a terminal leaflet. Leaflet is stalked, 4-5 sub-opposite pairs, lanceolate, coriaceous, entire and arched. Flowers are greenish-yellow or brownish in colour, dioecious, 0.2 cm diameter, reddish in lateral, puberulous panicles, appearing with or just before the young leaves.

7.1 Introduction

Placoderms (plate-skinned fishes) (Fig. 7.1) flourished and evolved in divergent lines during the Devonian period and became extinct by the end of the Permian period. They were bottom-dwelling, mud-sucking Palaeozoic fishes that may have been nectonic. Their bodies were divided into three parts: the head, the trunk and the tail. They ranged in size from 10 cm to 9 meters. The head and trunk are surely covered by bony plates.

The vast livestock population requires proper harvesting of animal by-products to generate income to the farmers and to provide the employment to marginally educated masses. The density of livestock in our country demands atleast one animal by-product processing plant in each fifty kilometer range. Proper utilization of animal by-products will also serve in reduction of environmental pollution through slaughter house. Ultimately image of the meat industry can be enhanced by proper utilization of animal by-products. The proper disposal of animal slaughter house and by-products waste is further necessary to reduce the environmental pollution and to enhancement the livelihood of neighourers.