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Social civilization of the Neolithic settlements of primitive human communities contributes substantial initiation of cultivation and an approach towards conservation of useful plant species for sustainable food habits. Several archaeological attestations confirm that Homo sapiens at the end of the Paleolithic period had knowledge on many useful plants derived from food gathering techniques. Growth of human populations beyond the size that hardly supports hunting and gathering for food materials may perhaps be the probable reason that forced the Neolithic primitive nomadic communities for settlement and emergence of crude forms of cultivation.

History

The history of organic farming is largely based upon the history of organic movement which came to fore as a reaction against the large-scale use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture. This movement can be traced back to England during 1920, when individuals started speaking against a variety of agricultural “innovation”.

One of the earlier pioneers of Organic Farming, Sir Albert Howard, is often referred to as the father of the modern “Organic Farming”. He began to work as a British botanist and served as an agriculture advisor in India, where he observed traditional Indian farming practices and came to respect them as superior to his conventional agriculture science. He documented and developed these organic farming practices/methods. His writings and notably the 1940 book, An Agricultural Testament, have influenced many scientists and farmers of the day.

In Germany Dr. Rudolf Steiner developed biodynamic agriculture which was probably the first comprehensive farming system. In America, the agronomist F.H. King had toured China, Korea and Japan in early 1990s, closely studied the fertilization, tillage and general farming practices being followed there. He published his findings in his book Farmers of Forty Centuries (1911). King probably did not impart any view himself as part of the movement, whether Organic Farming movement or by some other name. However, in the later years, some scientists within the organic farming movement thought, about what King had encountered in Asia as kindred approach.

Bioinformatics encompases the use of tools and techniques from three separate disciplines; molecular biology (the source of the data to be analyzed), computer science (supplies the hardware for running analysis and the networks to communicate the results), and the data analysis algorithms, which strictly define bioinformatics. So the list below incorporates events from these areas into a brief history of the field.

The homoeopathic system of medicine is one of the finest systems of cure available in the world. It achieves in totality the ideal laid down by its founder, Dr. Samuel Hahnemann:

"The highest ideal of cure is rapid, gentle and permanent restoration of the health, or removal and annihilation oftlie disease in its whole extent, in the shortest, most reliable, and most harmless way, on easily compreltensible principles".

In homoeopathy, not a single drug is used without knowing its effect on healthy human beings. Hence there is no shooting in the dark. The system operates, by and large, without laboratory tests and other expensive means of diagnosis, which are being used when not needed and that too, unfortunately on patients who can hardly afford the expenses.

Cost wise, there is no medical system in tlie world, which is as inexpensive as homoeopathy. No patient who requires a speedy cure without side effects can ignore homoeopathy; no doctor who has nothing but the good of his patient at heart can overlook the utility and effectiveness of homoeopathy and no Government which has to balance its budget can afford not to use homoeopathy in hospitals and other institutions run for the health and care of the sick and thus it is the most cost effective treatment

The discovery of homoeopathic system of medicine makes a fascinating story.

The history of plant breeding is divided into 4 periods- knowledge of plant breeding before 1900, application of genetic principles (1900-1940), plant breeding research after 1940 and the recent developments in plant breeding. Emphasis is given on the land marks in genetic improvement of vegetable crops.

The major land marks  in genetics and breeding of crop plants are listed below.

Plant diseases are mentioned in some of the oldest books available (Homer, C – 1000 B.C. mentioned about the therapeutic properties of sulphur and in Old testament – 750 B.C.) and were feared as much as human diseases and war.

Nowhere in the plant kingdom do ecology, evolution, and human affairs come together as intricately as phenomena involving secondary metabolites. The importance of these compounds is apparent in some of the earliest annals of human history. For example, Papaver somniferum, the original source of morphine and codeine, was known to the Sumerians in 4000 B.C. as hul gil (joy-plant). These two alkaloids, so important in human affairs for many years, probably evolved within the genus Papaver originally as protective compounds against herbivores. As a testament to the importance of secondary metabolites,

P. somniferum was one the first plants to be cultivated for a reason other than its caloric or nutritive value. Sadly, its importance has only increased over the time. Organic chemists of the nineteenth century were among the first to recognize and study the diversity of plant secondary metabolites and to analyze them both in terms of structure and function. The German organic chemists developed techniques to acetylate morphine and produce what they claimed at the time to be a non addictive version of the drug. However, acetylation product of morphine trade name Heroin, was vastly more addictive. The economies of several developing nations in Asia still depend on the acetylation of this plant secondary metabolite, and tens of thousands of lives each year are destroyed by its commercial importance. In another striking example of profitable secondary metabolites, acetylation techniques to salicylic acid, derived originally from the bark of willows, Salix, to create aspirin. The modern appreciation of these secondary metabolites from ecological and evolutionary perspectives had its spread outside of the plant-insect ecology community. The overwhelming array of chemicals found in plants was more than simply by-products of primary metabolism that served as waste products for these organisms that lacked excretory systems.

Ecologists and evolutionary biologists soon took up the cudgels, and the past 60 years have seen the development, testing, refinement, and, in some cases, rejection of models that describe the ecology and evolution of these “secondary” substances. With the functional roles of these compounds broadly acknowledged, several challenges presented themselves to scientists interested in their ecological and evolutionary dynamics. Most obviously, the details of the processes underlying the interactions between each of these compounds and their target pest or pathogen became one of the most vibrant topics in ecological and physiological research.

Aromatic plants synthesise and preserve a variety of biochemical products, many of which are extractable and useful as chemical feed stocks or as raw materials for various scientific investigations. Many secondary metabolites of plants are commercially important and find use in a number of perfumery, flavouring and pharmaceutical compounds. The characteristic property of the plant is due to a variety of complex chemical compounds and hence aromatic plants are generally referred to as ‘natural bio-chemical factories’ or ‘chemical goldmines’.  Not all these natural chemicals can be synthesised in laboratory. Aromatic plants possess odorous volatile substances, which occur as essential oil, green exudate, balsam and oleoresin in one or more parts, namely, root, wood, stem, foliage, flower and fruit.  The term essential oil is concomitant to fragrance or perfumes because these fragrances are oily in nature and they represent the essence or active constituents of plants. They are called volatile or ethereal oils as they evaporate when exposed to air at ordinary temperatures.

Cashew has a long history as a useful tree but only in the current century, it became an important tropical horticultural crop. Small-scale local exploitation of cashew for its nuts and cashew apples is the pattern for more than 300 years in Asia and Africa. It was not until early years of 20^th century that international trade in cashew kernels began with first exports from India. Although with slow beginning, cashew became an important commercial crop in the last couple of years. In India, use of cashew apples and nuts was started by local people, and accounts from Africa are similar; making cashew wine/liquor possessing a common practice in both Asia and Africa (Johnson, 1973).

Cashew, an evergreen tree, produces both nuts and apples, has become a crop of importance owing to the highly valued kernel and wide adaptability to varying agro-climatic conditions. India is one of the largest producer, exporter and consumer of cashew in the world. Today, cashew has become a crop of high economy and has moved from a crop of waste lands to commercial crop, even in organized sector (Singh, 1998).

Hog-plum also known as wild mango (Spondias pinnata), is native to tropical Asia. A small, aromatic deciduous tree, up to 27m height and 2.5m in girth, with a clear bole of 16m, is found wild or cultivated almost throughout India, ascending up to an altitude of 1500m in the Himalayas; also found in the Andamans. Bark thick, aromatic, smooth, grey; leaves imparipinnate, 20-60cm long, leaflets 5-11, 22-28cm long, ovate-oblong, elliptic or elliptic-oblong, more or less oblique with mango-like smell; flowers whitish or greenish white, polygamous, in large, terminal panicles; fruits in terminal clusters of 10-15, drupes yellow-green or rich olive-green, mottled with yellow and black, smooth, ovoid, 4-7cm long; seeds 1-3, one being perfect, oblong-elliptic. Fruit is extremely sour, even when completely ripe.

Scientific name: Ocimum sanctum L.
Family: Lamiaceae
The ‘Sacred basil’ or ‘Holy basil’, Ocimum sanctum Linn. a biennial shrub belonging to the family Lamiaceae, is commonly cultivated in gardens. The Hindus of India worship the species and is traditionally grown in courtyards and temples. The aromatic plants belonging to genus Ocimum is popularly known by the name Basil. Basil was derived from Greek word “Basilica” which means royal plant. Among the Ocimum genus Ocimum basilicum is variously known as Sweet basil, French basil or Common basil. Ocimum sanctum is known as sacred basil or Holy basil which is a very sacred plant according to Hindu belief.
Origin and distribution
Ocimum Sanctum has broad distributions, covering the entire Indian subcontinent, ascending up to 1,800 m in the Himalayas and as far as the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. This plant occupies a wide range of habitats.
Botany
Botanically, Ocimum sanctum is an erect, herbaceous, and softly hairy plant that exhibits extensive branching. It typically grows to a height of 30-75 cm. The leaves are entire, serrate, and pubescent on both sides, while the flowers are characterized by their purplish or crimson hue, arranged in racemes. The fruits of Ocimum sanctum are sub-globose or broadly ellipsoid in shape, slightly compressed, nearly smooth, and exhibit a pale brown or reddish coloration with small black markings. It is a biennial or triennial shrub.

A kitchen garden/ nutrition garden is a vegetable garden where the vegetable crops are grown in the backyard of a house or any available space in compound or rooftop of the house, to meet the daily requirement of the family. All the members of the family are collectively involved in a kitchen garden.

For a balanced diet, 300 g of vegetables are to be included in our daily food. But on an average, Indians take only 160 g per day. Hence to fill up the gap, vegetable cultivation not only in farmers’ holdings but also in the home gardens is encouraged.

The homoeopathic materia medica consists of around 1000 drugs, the characteristics of which have been verified or proved. Homoeopathy is unique in that it uses no drug, which has not been proved. The proving has been done by administering pure medicines to healthy human beings and recording in minute detail the effects, mostly adverse, produced by such administration. The tests were conducted on men and women who were mostly medical people and students who were not sick. The drugs were administered in doses consisting of crude drugs or homoeopathic potencies. These volunteers were then asked to describe the effects of the drugs in their own words. These descriptions were noted down by the doctors conducting the experiments and were carefully recorded. Hundreds of thousands of such symptoms were recorded while proving the homoeopathic drugs and the materia medica forms a record of the best proving along with other data collected as a result of laboratory tests and experiments.

In paragraph 25 of the 'Organon of medicine', Dr.Samuel Hahnemann the founder of the system laid down the basis of homoeopathy in the following words: "Now, however, in all careful trials, pure experience, the sole and infallible oracle qi healing art, teaches us that medicine which, in its action on the healthy human body, has demonstrated its power of producing the greatest number of symptoms similar to those observable in the case of disease under treatment, does also, in doses of suitable potency and attenuation, rapidly, radically and permanently remove the totality of the symptoms of this morbid state, that is to say the whole disease present, and change it into health; and that all medicines cure, without exception, those diseases whose symptoms most nearly resemble their own, and leave none of them uncured."

Dr. Samuel Hahnemann laid down the fundamentals of the then new doctrine of homoeopathy in organon of medicine. As observed by him in the 'Introduction⁷ to this work, till then no one had ever taught this homoeopathic mode of cure, no one had carried it out in practice.

Dr. Hahnemann was of the view that the art of the medical practice "should. Rapidly and mildly, effect an unalloyed and permanent cure, and restore to health by means of the smallest doses of a few simple medicines carefully selected according to their proved effect, by the only therapeutic law comfortable to nature, that is Similia Similibus Curentur".

Homoeopathy is based on the following principles:

"The physicians high and only mission is to restore the sick to health, to cure, as it is termed"

The highest ideal of cure is rapid, gentle and permanent restoration of health or removal and annihilation of the disease in its whole extent in the shortest, most reliable and most harmless way on easily comprehensible principles.

Unprejudiced observer of a sick person takes note of nothing in every individuars disease except the changes in the health of the body and of the mind, which can be perceived externally by means of the senses. "All these perceptible signs represent the disease in its whole extent, that is, together they form the true and only conceivable portrait of the disease"

Homoeopathy system of medicine is the system of healing suited to all the young, and the old, the rich and the poor, the people in the developed as well as the underdeveloped countries and for persons in any place or climate. This is not to take away from the value and utility of the other prevalent systems of medicine. The aim of every science of healing is the relief of sick. Every system is successful in its own fashion. Homoeopathy too fights sickness and does so with remarkable results. Additionally the cost of diagnosis in this system is negligible because the diagnosis is by and large symptomatic. The medicine itself is inexpensive. Notable efficacy and low costs are the strong points of homoeopathic medicine. There are no toxic effects of the drugs, no side effects. The time taken for the medicine to show improvement is not long. Homoeopathic medicines are easy to store and have a long life.

Homoeopathy has been attacked again and again on the ground that the potencised drugs cannot be tested in a laboratory. But that way a number of phenomenon is still outside the pale of conventional science. However, laboratory tests have been going in many countries and certain phenomenon not acceptable to conventional scientific beliefs have been observed.

The homoeopathic system of medicine develops for its special use, the inner medicinal powers of the crude substances by means of a process peculiar to it and which has never been tried, whereby they only all become immeasurably and penetratingly efficacious and remedial. Even those that in the crude state give no evidence of the slightest medicinal power on the human body.

This remarkable change in the qualities of natural bodies develops the latent, hidden powers, which influence the body, change the well-being. This is affected by mechanical action upon their smallest particles by means of rubbing and shaking and through the addition of an indifferent substance, dry or fluid. This process is called dynamization; potencizing and the products are dynamizations or potencies in different degrees.

1. Introduction

Raw milk is an emulsion. It is a mixture of milkfat globules, Solid Not Fat (SNF) and water. Over time, milkfat globule separate out from milk serum and comes to the surface of milk as a layer of cream due to the low density of milkfat or due to heating of milk. When milk is heated rapidly and continuously, some of the water in it evaporates from the surface. This exposes proteins and fat molecules, which bind and dry out and forms a skin like film on the surface. 

ABSTRACT

The Cry2A proteins are promising candidates for managing the development of Cry1Ac resistance in insects. The Cry2A class of proteins is different from that of Cry1A, and experiments have shown that insects resistant to Cry1Ac are not cross-resistant to Cry2A proteins. However, the Cry2A proteins are less toxic than Cry1Ac to the polyphagous pest Helicoverpa armigera. Structure-based protein engineering of Cry toxins may pave the way for directed evolution of variants with broad spectrum of insect species specificity, enhanced potency, and stability. In the present study homology modeling of Cry2Ac was done using DeepView software. The template for Cry2Ac protein sequence (accession number X57252) was selected using ExPdb template search. The raw sequence of the Cry2Ac was superimposed over the Cry2Aa PDB template (1I5P). The superimposed model was submitted to the SWISS Model server. After receiving the Cry2Ac model, energy minimization was done using Gromos96. The threading energy and force field energy were calculated. The homology model of Cry2Ac made by us along with the Cry2Ac model from the SWISS-MODEL Repository was used for comparative analysis of receptor binding regions of Cry2Aa. Results showed variation between the two highly homologous Cry2A proteins in their receptor binding regions which may account for differences in spectrum of insecticidal activity.

16.1. Origin and distribution

• Native of Asia

• Widely distributed in tropical regions of Asia and Pan tropics

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

16.2. Economic importance

• Economic part - Seed, roots.

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

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

• Used in rheumatic ailments.

Description and Distribution
A near relative of Turnip, Cabbage and Mustard. It is one of the oldest condiments, and is a well-known, large-leaved, hardy perennial in many long-established gardens. It is the thick, white, fleshy, tasty root of the Horse- Radish, which is highly prized as an appetizing condiment which goes well with many food items. A native of the marshy districts of Eastern Europe, it is grown in the USA, and to some extent in the gardens, both in the northern India and in the hill stations of the southern India. In the USA, about 7 million kilograms of Horse-Radish are processed annually for consumption as food. Cultivated over 1500 acres in the USA, its varieties are classified into two types, namely, Common and Bohemian. The Common type has, broad, crinkled leaves and produces a root of high quality. The Bohemian type has, narrow, smooth leaves, is diseaseresistant, but, yields poorer quality roots. Horse-Radish plant is highly sterile and hence is propagated asexually by the root. The tap root is tuberous and cylindrical, 30 cm long and about 18mm in diameter, possesses an acrid, pungent taste, and, when scraped or bruised, emits a characteristic pungent odor (Guenther, 1973). The root contains a pungent, acrid and vesicating volatile oil. The pungency is due to the presence of “Sinigrin”(potassium myronate), a sulfur-containing glucoside, which, in the presence of water and under the influence of an enzyme myrosinase, yields allyl mustard oil or allyl isothiocyanate, as by mustard seeds (Willstater and Stoll, 1918, Stoll and Seeback, 1948).
Area, Production and Export
Horse-Radish, being a garden crop, so far, there is no recoded data on any of the aspects of area, production and export from India.

HORTICULTURAL CLASSIFICATION OF PLANTS

The Horticultural crops are majorly classified on the basis of its consumption and uses as fruits, vegetables, flowers, spices, medicinal, aromatic and plantation crops. Moreover, these crops have been further classified into various groups on the basis of their habitat, growth pattern, edapho-climatic requirements and uses. All branches of horticulture classified specifically as hereunder:

A Classification of fruits

1. Based on Climatic adaptability
   1. Tropical fruits: These fruit crops are grown in tropical climatic regions which are geographically located between the parallels of 23° 27' South (Tropic of Capricorn) and 23° 27' North (Tropic of the Cancer) of the equator. They are generally evergreen and very sensitive to cold. Eg. Mango, Pineapple, Banana, Papaya, Citrus, Sapota, Avocado etc.
   2. Sub-tropical fruits: Fruit crops are grown in between temperate and tropical climatic regions. They may be either deciduous or evergreen nature. Eg. Mango, guava, citrus, durian, jackfruit, bread fruit etc.

1.1 Introduction

The word ‘horticulture’ was first used in 1600’s, and is derived from two Latin words, ‘hortus’(garden) and ‘cultûra’(cultivation), and it means ‘the culture (cultivation) of garden plants’. Relf (1992) defined “horticulture as an applied science and art of growing fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices, nuts, tubers, aromatic and medicinal plants, plantation crops, mushrooms and ornamental plants which include shrubs, flowering plants and turfs stimulating minds, spirits and emotions of individuals, enriching health and wellness of communities, and linking human beings to nature and its landscaped exteriors for wellness and wellbeing”. Fruits and vegetables are nourishing and protective foods. It has been recognized that fruits are a rich source of antioxidants which protect us from dreadful diseases. Vegetables and fruits contain vitamin E, K, and  carotene in addition to minerals like zinc, copper and manganese. To meet the ever-increasing demand of the country for fruits, vegetables, tubers, spices, flowers, ornamentals etc., we must strive hard to deliver better cultivars in as many aspects as possible to the society so that human beings will be in sound health physically as well as mentally. To achieve this goal plant breeding in general, and horticultural plant breeding in particular will come to our help.

Horticulture is an art and science of growing plants. It is the practice of engaging ailing people in various horticultural activities such as gardening and flower arrangements in order to improve their physical, mental and spiritual health. Research confirms that health benefits escalate manifold when people connect with nature and plants by viewing and/or interacting with them. Major benefits of horticultural therapy includes sensory simulation and mood enhancement, mental relaxation, improvement of memory and concentration and an overall feeling of wellness. Horticulture therapy also helps in cultivating positive emotions and provides a meditative mood. It eases both physical and emotional pains and also improves social skills. It is proven that a simple viewing of a garden benefits a person both physically and mentally.

This practice has been used as therapy for centuries. In 1798, Dr. Benjamin Rush, considered as the “Father of American Psychiatry” documented that gardening has positive effects on mentally ill patients. Following World War, II gardening was used as a form of occupational therapy for war veterans. The concept of using nature to improve human health began to gain credibility in 1970’s. Rachel and Stephen Kaplan (1989) found that natural environments had relaxing and restoration benefits for people. The Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture, a peer-reviewed publication of the American Horticultural Therapy Association, has published authentic research papers since 1986. The American Horticultural Therapy Association (AHTA) serves to promote and advance horticultural therapy as a therapeutic intervention and rehabilitative approach. Degrees and certificate programs in horticultural therapy are offered at several colleges and universities and information is available on AHTA website.

Horticultural therapy is a worldwide practice and recognized as an effective treatment for clients of all ages and abilities. It is being used in several diverse settings including hospitals, rehabilitation centres, youth outreach and recovery programs, nursing homes, senior care facilities, prisons, mental health facilities, schools, botanical gardens etc. The client is engaged in horticultural activities facilitated by some trained therapists to achieve specific and documented goals. AHTA believes that horticultural therapy is an active process that occurs in the context of an established treatment plan where the process itself is considered as the therapeutic activity rather than the end product.

Horticulture therapy is a growing profession in rehabilitation and addiction centers, vocational centers, youth mental health programs, hospitals and nursing homes, and old age homes or senior citizen centers, mental health centers, schools and colleges.

The Horticultural crops show wider adaptation and therefore exact delineation of the agro-climatic areas specific to each crops is not possible, except for the typical temperate and tropical species. However, our country can be broadly divided into seven zones for horticultural crops as indicated below:

1. Temperate Northern Region

Comprising of states of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Hilly areas of Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Temperate fruits, cool season vegetables are the important horticultural crops in the zone.

2. North Western Arid Region

Comprising ofthe entire Rajasthan state, Gujarat and parts ofPunjab & Haryana. Arid fruit crops like ber, pomegranate, amla, date palm, wood apple and seed spices like coriander, cumin, fennel occupy major area in this zone.

3. North Eastern Sub-tropical Humid Region

Comprising of states and union territories like Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura. Fruit crops like banana, pineapple, citrus, jack besides plantation crops like tea and large cardamom are also grown here.

The Indian arid and semi-arid regions are characterized by immature, structure less, coarse textured soils with low water holding capacity and poor nutrient status. The moisture deficit conditions dominate for a long time throughout the year, which acts as the major limiting factor for establishment and growth of woody plant. Due to harsh edapho-climatic conditions, arable crop production is risky in arid and semi arid regions and threatening the agriculture, under such situation, horticulture based cropping system is considered effective strategy for improving productivity, employment oppornitues and nutritional security. Most of the cropping systems operating in the limited irrigated    area of arid ecosystems have very high water requirement and are highly unsustainable, hence location specific models have to be developed involving fruit crops, multipurpose tree species and arable crops in an agri-silvi-horti production system for increasing irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE), productivity, profitability and sustainability of the system. An attempt has been made to present the status of available research data on some of horticulture based farming systems for arid and semi arid regions

Fruits and vegetables play an important role in balanced diet. These provide not only energy rich food but also provide vital protective nutrients/elements and vitamins. Comparatively fruits and vegetables are the cheapest source of natural nutritive foods. Since most of Indians are vegetarians, the incorporation of horticulture produce in daily diet is essential for good health. Realizing the worth of fruits and vegetables in human health, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) recommended the use of 120g fruits and 300g vegetables per capita per day. With the growing awareness and inclination towards vegetarianism worldwide the horticulture crops are gaining tremendous importance.

Functions of fruits and vegetables in human body

Fruits and vegetables provide palatability/taste.

Improves appetite and provides fiber to overcome constipation.

They neutralize the acids produced during digestion of proteins and fatty acids.

They improve the general immunity of human body against diseases, deficiencies etc.

They are the important source of vitamins and minerals for used in several bio-chemical reactions occur in body.

German Prof. Peter Laurenberg conceived first the word horticulture. The term “Horticulture” is known in written form first in seventeenth century in a book entitled “New World of Words” by Phillips.

Etymologically the word “Horticulture” is derived from two Latin words viz. ‘Hortus’ [garden or enclosure] and ‘Cultura’ [cultivation]. So, literally horticulture means ‘garden or enclosure culture’ or ‘cultivation of garden crops within protected enclosures’.

Garden: Garden is a broad term derived from the Latin word Gyrdan meaning “to enclose”.

DIVISIONS AND DEFINITION OF HORTICULTURE

Pomology: (pomum = fruits, logy = science) It is a branch of horticulture which deals with study or cultivation of fruit crops starting from raising of saplings and intercultural to harvesting operations. The ‘pomology’ term is derived from latin word pomum (means fruits) and greek word logy (means science).

India is the seventh largest country in the world with a total geographical area of 328.73 million ha and has second largest population after China. The gross cropped area is 198.36 million hectares of which 70% is under rainfed cultivation. Around 55 to 60 per cent of the total population depends on agriculture and allied activities.

One of the important features of India prevalence is varied agro-climatic conditions; which enables to strengthen the horticulture industry. Many numbers of horticultural crops namely fruits, vegetables, ornamental and flower crops, spices and condiments, plantation crops, aromatic and medicinal plants, etc. are grown in almost all the parts of country. Thus, horticulture sector has become one of the major drivers of growth in agriculture having major share in agriculture GDP.

After independence, the Government of India realized the need of diversification in agriculture during the mid-eighties with an objective to make it more profitable through efficient land use. Due to diverse agro-climatic conditions, rich diversity in genetic resources of horticultural crops, sincere efforts through education and research, implementation of standardized technology by horticulturist in the field has achieved not only the production, productivity and export of horticultural produce but also the food and nutritional security. Such horticulture development in India is proudly said as “Golden Revolution”. Horticulture is also said to be a sunrise industry as it has potential to raise farm income, provide livelihood security and earn foreign exchange through export.

The horticulture industry is now expanding in many commercial sectors such as cultivation, production, post-harvest handling, processing, marketing, etc. Horticulture crops are grown on an area of 10% of India’s gross cropped area, as compared to over 50% of the area under food grains production. 

1. IMPORTANCE

India is bestowed with a varied agro-climate, which is highly favourable for growing a large number of horticultural crops such as fruits, vegetables, root tubers, ornamentals, aromatic plants, medicinal herbs, spices and plantation crops like coconut, arecanut, cashew and cocoa. It has emerged as an indispensable part of agriculture, offering a wide range of choices to the farmers for crop diversification. It also provides ample opportunities for sustaining large number of agro-industries which generate substantial employment opportunities. India has emerged as the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables; with largest producer of coconut, arecanut, cashew, ginger, turmeric, black pepper and tea, among plantation crops.

The changing scenario encourages private investment, to go for Hi-tech Horticulture with micro-propagation, protected cultivation, drip irrigation, fertigation and integrated nutrient and pest management, besides making use of latest post harvest measures particularly in the case of perishable commodities. As a result, horticulture crop production has moved from rural confines to commercial ventures and has attracted youth since it has proved to be intellectually satisfying and economically rewarding. It is essential to appreciate the contribution of horticulture, landscaping and gardening in the hospitality industry. Aesthetic use of horticulture freshens up the atmosphere, enhances the look of the property and creates a lasting impression on guests. It also has a beneficial effect on the health.

Many thousands of people today are heavy smokers, not by choice, but because they have found no way of escape. They are caught in the grip of a habit developed during their teen-age years when so many young people think it is 'smart' to smoke.

The strange thing is that most of these people never wanted to smoke in the first place. There was only doing what they thought everyone else was doing at the time. Yet there is another odd thing. Smoking in not a normal habit. A person has to learn to smoke.

Smoking is by and large, an acquired habit. People start smoking because they think it is fashionable to do so or because their friends and companions are able to persuade them to start smoking. Some smokers feel that they look more attractive to the opposite sex when they are smoking. Others hold that a social gathering becomes more intimate if people are smoking. In reality all this is a product of smokers imagination. Because he wants to justify his habit, he invents enough reasons for it.

Food, Water and Air are three essential elements for existence and sustenance of life. Primarily food is manufactured by the plants by trapping the energy of Sun in presence of carbondioxide and water. Foods can be broadly classified into energy foods and protective foods. While energy is required for all bodily functions, protective foods confer a degree of resistance against diseases, corrects some disorder and prevents occurrence of certain conditions that occur due to deficiency of certain elements and phytochemicals. The balanced diets are said to be those which have an appropriate amount of carbohydrates, proteins and fats. All these three components play certain essential role in the process of metabolism. Deficiency or insufficiency of these major food components may lead to energy deficient disease conditions and are considered responsible for malnutrition world wide. Energy deficiency can threaten the existence of life. Food grains, tubers and roots are major sources of carbohydrates, and proteins. Sufficient intake of carbohydrates, proteins and fats alone does not ensure health. Health and wellbeing are the two important aspects of life, which makes it worth living. For being healthy, besides energy, body requires minerals and vitamins which are present mainly in fruits and vegetables. The role phytochemicals play in cleansing the body and fight against diseases, was understood quite recently. Therefore, for a healthy life we need to consume a balanced diet comprising of appropriate amounts of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, fruits, vegetables and nuts. While the former three can be consumed based on the energy requirement of an individual, one should consume at least 180 and 300 grams of fruits and vegetables respectively everyday.

Abstract

Ethnobotany as an academic discipline surfaced in the 19^th century. Traditional medicine is used globally and is of rapidly growing economic importance. In developing countries, traditional medicine is often the only accessible and affordable treatment available. The chapter deals with importance of plants in the life of people, value of collecting the plant samples and adding knowledge to plants based on their economic potential and issues related to ethnopharmacology.

Keywords: Ethobotany, Ethnopharmacology, Drug discovery, Research ethics.

Abstract

Ensuring the provision of safe and healthy working conditions to all workers and promoting the availability to them of certain minimum welfare amenities are the constitutional obligations of all employers as well as the Indian state. Enlightened employers tend to provide for these facilities on their own, as part of their performance and retention strategies. Others, however, largely consider these obligations as burden. Some recent researches reveal that the pursuit of numerical flexibility policies is becoming rampant amongst employers in the advanced world; they are doing so to cut costs and become more competitive. This means more use of labour-cost-saving devices and neglect of some basic rights of workers. Of course, intense competition amongst companies puts pressure on them to attempt cost-cutting and ignore these legal provisions. It should be noted however, that the law relating to working conditions is perhaps the most basic of labour laws in any country; therefore, its sanctity has to be maintained with an added responsibility by all concerned and as a societal value.

Improved production technology is an integral part of hybrid seed production technology, which is a very high venture practice. This is because like several factors (climate, availability of parental lines and technical labour etc), success of hybrid seed production also depends on the success of crop management in the hybrid seed production field

Ash gourd (syn:wax gourd, winter melon, white gourd, white pumpkin, ash pumpkin, Chinese preserving melon and hairy melon) is a vegetable belonging to family Cucurbitaceae and genus Benincasa with only one cultivated species, Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn. (2n=2x=24). Ash gourd is an important vegetable especially in the Indo-China region, which is also the major producer of ash gourd (Rubatzky and Yamaguchi, 1997), but it is also a potential crop of tropical Africa and America (Sirohiet al., 2005).

14.1 Introduction

The mating or crossing of genetically dissimilar individuals is called hybridization. Hybridization results in recombination that in turn widens the spectrum of variation among individuals. So, the reason for genetic diversity in progenies of crosses is the formation of new combinations of genes. This newly created variability is then channelized into development of better cultivars.

The importance of pure line selection as a method of breeding started decreasing when plant breeders felt that the genetic variability existing in the land races of self-pollinated crops had been almost completely exploited and there was little chance for further improvement in these crops by using pure line breeding. Therefore, no option was left for plant breeders except to cross diverse individuals and combine together desirable characters in a single genotype from two or more parents. The planned hybridization which could avoid self-pollination and chance cross-pollination, soon became the main feature of almost all plant breeding programmes.

Introduction

Instead of using soil, the unique technique of hydroponics grows plants in a nutrient-rich water solution. Using a tightly controlled environment, gardeners may optimise factors including sunlight, pH balance, and nutrient levels to maximise plant development in this agricultural approach. Hydroponics allows plants to grow more quickly and produce more by delivering nutrients straight to their roots. Water efficiency, less soil-borne disease risk, and the capacity to grow crops in non-arable or urban areas are just a few of the benefits of this technology. More and more people are turning to hydroponics as a means to grow their own food in a more regulated and efficient manner, all while reducing their impact on the environment.

Every research in agriculture aims at developing a promising new technology or refines an age old technology that can help addressing the improvement in crop yield. This is a worldwide scenario to meet up with the food needs of the growing population and reducing agricultural land resources. Many traditions in the world are associated with vast knowledge of cultivating the food crops, vegetables, fruits etc using selected methods that are modified based on the needs, climatic conditions and the resources available in the place of settlements. Soil based agriculture is the most popular method of growing plants since soil is considered as the main source of nutrients and water required for the healthy growth of crops. Generally it includes 3 major steps, ploughing, sowing and harvesting.

1. Horticulture sector covers % of total cropped area.

 a) 10% b) 15%

 c) 20% d) 25%

 2. Which of the following is / are pre-emergence herbicide(s)?

 a) Diquat b) Paraquat

 c) Diuron d) All of these

 3. Potassium plays an important role in:

 a) Osmotic regulation b) Opening and closing of stomata

 c) Sugar translocation d) All of these

1. Horticulture sector covers % of total cropped area.

 a) 10% b) 15%

 c) 20% d) 25%

 2. World Trade Organization is situated at:

 a) Geneva b) Rome

 c) Paris d) Brazil

 3. AVRDC is situated at:

 a) Phillipines b) Taiwan

 c) Japan d) India

1. Horticulture sector covers % of total cropped area.

 a) 10% b) 15%

 c) 20% d) 25%

 2. Among all floricultural products, the contribution of dry flowers in total exports is:

 a) 40 b) 50

 c) 60 d) 70

 3. Protein synthesis takes place in:

 a) Nucleus b) Nucleolus

 c) Ribosome d) Mitochondria

1. The total annual rainfall of India is about:

 a) 1190 mm b) 1250 mm

 c) 1050 mm d) 1350 mm

 2. Net cultivated area of India is:

 a) 142 mha b) 150 mha

 c) 140 mha d) 152 mha

 3. Amrapali is a cross between:

 a) Neelum x Dushehari b) Dushehari x alphonso

 c) Ratna x Alphonso d) Dushehari x Neelum

1. The first Indian scientist who won the ‘World Food Prize’ is:

 a) Sanjay Rajaram b) M.S. Swaminathan

 c) Vergese Kurien d) G.S. Khus

 2. Seed rate of paddy (kg/ha) in SRI (System of Rice Intensification) method of cultivation is:

 a) 5-6 b) 8-10

 c) 12-14 d) 18-20

 3. AVRDC is situated at:

 a) Phillipines b Taiwan

 c) Japan d) India

1. The end product of glycolysis is:

 a) Malic acid b) Citric acid

 c) Pyruvic acid d) Oxalic acid

 2. Tag colour of certified seed is:

 a) White b) Purple

 c) Blue d) Golden yellow

 3. Which of the following varietyiesof sweet potato is rich in carotene content?

 a) Gauri b) Rajendra Shakarkand-35

 c) Pusa Sundri d) Rajendra Shakarkand-43

1. Which of the following is a variety of black carrot?

 a) Pusa Meghali b) Pusa Asita

 c) Pusa Rudhira d) Pusa Vasuda

 2. NRC for orchid is situated at:

 a) Pakyong b) Gangtok

 c) Lachen d) Aritar

 3. Bonneville variety of pea has been introduced from:

 a) USA b) Germany

 c) Sweden d) UK

1. Which portion of the sugarcane is the best for use as seed?

a) Top 1/3 to 1/2 portion

b) Top 2/3 to 3/4 portion

c) 2/3 portion of bottom

d) 3/4 portion of bottom

2. Flower drop and less fruit setting/fruit drop in chilli can be controlled by spraying

a) Sulphur (1.52%) at 10 days intervals at growing stage.

 b) Planofix (NAA) @ 2-3 ml per 10 litres water at flowering stage.

 c) Dicofol (0.25%) at flowering stage.

 d) Fipronil (5% SC) 1ml per litre at flowering stage.

Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and other one labelled as Reason (R).

 Assertion (A) : Ditch system of planting is common planting system in Diara land cultivation of cucurbitaceous crops.

 Reason (R) : To  manage   the  availability  of moisture  and higher temperature, the trenches are dug in North-West direction.

 In light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

1. The nodal agency for international co-operation in the area of agricultural research and education in India is:

 a) ICAR b) DARE

 c) CAU d) CSIR

 2. Which of the following countries is not a member of G-8?

 a) Canada b) france

 c) Germany d) Spain

 3. FSSAI does not provide licensing for:

 a) Non-alcoholic beverage b) Alcoholic beverage

 c) Milk products d) Organic products

1. Alphabet Inc. (marketed as Alphabet) is the parent company of:

a) Google

b) Yahoo

c) Microsoft

d) Apple

2. Human Rights Day is celebrated annually across the world on ................. every year.

a) 10 October

b) 10 November

c) 10 December

d) 10 January