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In order to provide for the establishment of an effective system for protection of plant varieties, the rights of farmers and plant breeders and to encourage the development of new varieties of plants it has been considered necessary to recognize and protect the rights of the farmers in respect of their contribution made at any time in conserving, improving and making available plant genetic resources for the development of the new plant varieties. Moreover to accelerate agricultural development, it is necessary to protect plants breeders’ rights to stimulate investment for research and development for the development of new plant varieties.

Conservation of released varieties requires a sound scientific and technical basis. There are two main strategies for conserving agricultural biodiversity, namely ex-situ and in-situ conservation, both of which are equally important. In-situ conservation refers to the maintenance of a species in its natural habitat. Exsitu conservation is the conservation of components of biodiversity outside their natural habitats. It is conserved in the form of seeds (seed gene bank), live plants (field gene bank), tissues (tissue gene bank), pollens (pollen gene bank) and DNA materials (DNA bank). 

Agathi is a fast growing tree upto 10m. tall. Branching is drooping. The stem bark is deeply furrowing forming cork like plates. Leaves are compound, pinnae, 20 to 30 cm. long glabresence to pubescent. Leaflet oblong rounded 18 to 24 pairs of leaflets that are green to dark green mostly, bitter free. Inflorescence is a raceme 4 to 7 cm long and bearing 2 to 5 flowers that are white, red, yellowish and pink. Flowers are 5 to 10 cm long, 3cm wide, curved calyx bell shaped 2 cm long, 2 lobed, fine teeth like serration, fleshy. 

Leaves are alternate in distichous arrangement; lamina long and linear and leaf sheath covering the internodes; ligule membranous and auricle claw shaped. The inflorescence is a spike and florets are borne on rachis node. Each spikelet has three florets. In two row barely, lateral spikelets become sterile.

Molecular markers may be a short DNA sequence that flanks base pairs like SNP, a Single Nucleotude Polymorphism, small fragment or SSR Single Sequence Repeat or an extended site as in the case of microsatellites. Schematic representation of the SSR assay is shown in Fig. 1. Genetic markers have to be easily identified, linked to a specific locus and polymorphic. Molecular markers are subdivided into codominant monolocus and polyallelic markers and the second group contains dominant, polyallelic and biallelic markers. 

Deterioration of Crop varieties in their genetic endowments/qualities has been explained by Kadam (1942). Publication on maintenance and management of breeder seed production (Laverack 1991), and maintennce of self pollinated crop varieies (De Hanns 1953; Parlevliet 2007) explain in detail various aspects in maintenance of the seed quality.

Crop improvement is a continuous process. Crop improvement aims to genetically enhance, enrich and empower the crop plants with superior performance, enhanced yield level, higher quality of food, nutritional, fodder, energy produce and adaptability to climate change and crop growing environments. The intrinsic virtues of the improved cultivars could be sustained mainly through the production of the quality assured seeds endowed with genetic capabilities. The quality assured seed delivery system is through the seed chain from the basic seeds through Nucleus-Breeder-Foundation-Certified seed. Quality seed production system need to be based on genetic, breeding and seed technological protocols including field and laboratory testing to ensure very high genetic purity, true to type and superiority.

Synthetic seeds are also known as somatic seeds, artificial seeds, clonal seeds and synseeds. They are analogue for botanical seeds. Somatic embryoids which are tissue culture produced embyoids with bipolar structures, apical and basal meristematic regions which are capable of forming shoot and root respectively. Somatic embryoids are encapsulated and are used as artificial seeds possessing the ability to convert into plants in in vitro and ex vitro conditions. Artificial seeds are broadly two types.

Organically produced seeds are obtained by adapting the organic crop production system. Organic seed is a critical input but specialised efforts to produce organic seeds are not adequately and systematically followed. Accredited organic farming standards recognises the organic seed production as a prerequisite to organic farming. Seed health is important in organic seeds since seeds are not treated with chemical fungicides.

In vitro cloning is a vegetative propagation performed in the Plant Tissue Culture system. In vitro micropropagation cloning propagation is mostly applied to the vegetatively propagated plants and in particular in ornamental, fruit and in a few orchard crops and in vegetable crops besides in many forest tree species.

Micrografting is a method to produce virus free, viroid free and disease free grafts that are clonally propagated. This method is an aid to mass multiplication. In vitro grafting is applied to difficult to root clones. Micrografting is performed to understand incompatibility prediction between the two grafting partners, virus indexing, deduction of latent virus, safe germplasm exchange and to do grafting functions throughout the year. It is not season specific. Protocols for micrografting are available for almond, pistachia, olive, prunus, grape, mulberry, cashew, citrus, peach, pear, avocado, hazlenut, walnut, chestnut and grape fruit (Hussein et al., 2014).

Clonal crops belong to at least 34 families including herbs, shrubs, trees and vines. Clonal crop improvement dates back to 10,000 years ago. The diversity of clonal crops and their wild relatives are very significant but not yet fully understood and exploited. Many crops represent combination of sexual and clonal reproduction. Different parts of the clonal crops which may or may not be the same as consumed parts have been shaped as clonal propagules such as stem, setts, tuber, rhizome, corms and bulbs among others.

Genetic purity is the vital determinant in continuing the genetic integrity in seed from generation to generation. This is the basis of variety purity maintenance. The genetic purity depends upon the purity of the seeds planted. The genetic purity of the seeds planted must exceed or equal to the final product purity standards required as the purity generally decreases with subsequent generations of propagation. The improved varieties loose their identity and healthiness unless properly maintained. Maintenance selection can prevent the seed quality deterioration.

1. Seed is the key ingredient in establishment and expansion, diversification and improvement of crops/and crop husbandry.

2. Seed is the most effective and efficient means of crop propagation.

India had fourfold increase in population from 0.3 billion to 1.34 billion and registered a fivefold increase in food grain production from 50 million tons to
285 million tons in 2018 (Paroda, 2020). 

Food processing sector in India has largest segment of bakery with more than 1.3 million tonnes of production from organized sector and 1.7 million tons from 1,000,000 unorganized sectors. India is second largest producer of biscuits globally. Our bakery industry is positioned third in generation of revenues among processed food sector.

Confectionery is an vital food item of great acceptance among wide range of population. It has been relished as a major food delicacy from ancient times. The term confectionery is describes a spectrum of sweet goods and takes on different meaning depending on the country in which it is used, for example in the United Kingdom the term applies to any sweet product including cakes. In the United States confectionery is candy and includes sugar confectionery and chocolate confectionery.

Confectionery fills an especially direct need; the sugar of agreeableness joined with exquisite flavors, smells and mouthfeel affects a basically transitory feeling of thriving and joy. Sugar confectionery has been made all through the long haul with extending headway and it remain alive in unlimited plans following a changed levels of agreeableness, flavors just as scents, feel, appearance and tastes

In the Modern era of globalisation, a wide variety of miscellaneous bakery products are available. It is hard to acknowledge all of them in this chapter due to the unlimited specialities of bakers across the world. The writing here in this chapter is limited to formulation & technology used for the production of buns, pizza base, chapatti, wafers, pretzels, crackers and muffins individually.

The history of cakes traces back to ancient times where Egyptians first practiced advanced baking skills. However, the modern-day cakes are said to have evolved in Europe around mid of 17th century. Today cake products and its derivatives are widely found all around the world. Cakes are sweet baked products rich in sugar, fat and egg with a tender bite and a pleasant flavour. They are basically protein foams, stabilized by gelatinized starch. Quality of cake depends on number of factors like selection of ingredients, balancing of recipe, optimum mixing and baking procedures. Good quality cakes are characterized by large volume, uniform crumb with fine cells and pore size.

The word biscuit drives from Danisbiscoctus which is the Latin word used for twice-cooked bread in Britain and refers to bread rusks made for sailors (ship biscuits) as long as the Middle Ages. Biscuits are thin, flat, baked and crisp items made comprising flour, sugar and fat as the key ingredients. These usually have a moisture content of less than 4% and have a long shelf life, maybe six months or more, when packed in moisture-proof containers. They may be a part of routine diets, sweets, luxury gifts, nutritional items, baby foods, pet foods, chocolates and creams added, etc. The appearance and eating qualities determine the appeal to consumers.

Bread is considered as one of the oldest processed foods to be known, traditionally prepared using wheat flour and water and baked on hot stones. The process of bread making involves hydration of protein and formation of gluten network ABSTRACT 70 Bakery and Confectionery Technology upon mixing, the evolution of carbon dioxide owing to the action of yeast on sugars and aeration of the mixture by incorporation of the gas followed by coagulation of the dough upon heating it in the oven. 

As the flow properties of liquids play such an essential role in our daily lives, whether intentionally or unintentionally, no one is truly an absolute beginner when it comes to rheology. Consumers not only focus on new and improved products but also consider the texture of the products e.g thick and creamy

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the major cereal consumed globally in various form as food. The powder of wheat flour is prepared by grinding of wheat seeds. Soft wheat flour has low gluten content that causes its crumbly texture. However, hard wheat flour has high gluten content of about 12-14% and has elastic toughness due to which it has good shape once its baked. Wheat flour is a basic ingredient in India’s famous flatbreads, and it can also be a key ingredient in addressing major health concerns in India.

The word “baked products” refers to a vast variety of foods, such as cakes, bread, cookies, pastries, and crackers, and a variety of other items, and it might be difficult to find a common thread that connects the members of this a varied group. The strongest common connection is that all of them include wheat flour in their recipes.

Bakery products have a long history of development. The process for the preparation of foods via dry heat treatments in an oven is defined as baking. Baking of foods can also be achieved by using hot ashes or on hot stones. Bakery products include biscuits, bread, cookies, rolls, cakes, pasteries, pies, rolls, doughnuts, etc. These products are mainly composed of raw materials such as wheat flour, water, yeast, salt, and various other ingredients. Bakery foods provide various nutrients that are beneficial for human health. Among bakery products, bread,biscuits and cakes are some of the popularly consumed items.

Intercropping with food crops and vegetables is widely practiced by small and marginal farmers of the world mainly belonging to arid and semi-arid regions. Because of several benefits obtained, farmers prefer to adopt intercropping system. In temperate regions, mixed stands of cover crops and combinations of cereal and legumes forage production are very common.

Enhancement of population is a global issue and the expected world population will be 9.7 billion in 2050 (UN, 2019). Under the situation, achievement of food and nutritional security is a major target with reduction of GHGs to the atmosphere and mitigation of ill effects of climate change. Modern agriculture is responsible for emission of GHGs in many ways and one of them is production of synthetic N fertilizer. There is no doubt about the fact that chemical N fertilizers enhance crop yield but it is at the cost of atmospheric equilibrium and agricultural sustainability cannot be achieved by this practice (Bedoussac et al. 2015; Layek et al., 2018).

In the current situation, crop intensification is of topmost importance to increase agricultural production from ever-limiting and degrading resources. In this regard, the potential of agroforestry can be thought that offers ample opportunity to enhance farm output with multifaceted benefits (Xu et al., 2019). Forests are known to maintain ecological balance in many ways with greater ecosystem services; hence, the advantages of forestry can be included in agroecosystem in the form of agroforestry which enables yield of forest products and crops together

Worldwide, agriculture contributes a lot for mankind by providing food and feed for human beings and livestock, respectively. The countries where agriculture plays a vital role, it has enough importance in the economy of the country as well as gross domestic product (GDP).

Agriculture is an important factor for human civilization as it not only provides food, feed for the livestock, fibre, fuel and industrial raw material but also supports the livelihood of a wide range of world population. Besides, it shows its prominent presence in the economy of the developing countries. Being a developing country, agriculture is the largest sector in India where about 54% of the population is engaged. The growth of agriculture in India during last seven and half decades (after independence) is quite remarkable in terms of sufficient food-grains production as well as in achieving self-sufficiency in food production. The task to achieve it was not so easy.

During recent time, world agriculture is in search of sustainability in farming. However, it is tedious job for the developing countries because of poor input management and degradation of resources, ever-growing human population and increasing demand for food and livestock feed, and shrinkage of land and other natural resources.

Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy in different developing countries and it is not only nourishing the population, but also contributing a major share in country’s gross domestic product (GDP). During the second half of the twentieth century and after, modern agriculture encouraged intensive cropping with high cost and consumption of fossil-fuel based energy. Yield enhancement was achieved by adoption of modern technologies, but that was at the cost of ecological unbalance.

The competitive relations among the cultivated crop species perform a relation and these are pronounced during the early growth period of the crops and during later phases. The crop’s performance is reflected into the yield output. Intercropping research so far conducted is based on the experimental layout of either replacement or additive series.

Predominantly, an agrarian society is mostly dependent on the farm sector. Agriculture plays an important role in Indian economy notwithstanding its shrinkage in share in the gross domestic product (GDP) of the country being 55.4% in 1950-’51 and 17.4% in 2018-’19 (Tripathy, 2019). Still the agriculture and allied sector is providing employment to 54 percent of the Indian population.

Oats originated in the Mediterranean region and from there it spread to most of the countries of the world like U.S.A., Russia, Canada, Poland, Australia, France and Germany.

Maize is an ideal forage crop grown throughout the country. It is quick growing, high yielding and provides palatable and nutritious forage which can be fed at any stage of growth without any risk to animals. Maize produces good quality herbaceous fodder with high digestibility. On an average, it contains 9-10% crude protein, 60-64% neutral detergent fibre, 38-41% acid detergent fibre, 28-30% cellulose and 23-25% hemi cellulose on dry matter basis when harvested at milk to early-dough stage. It can be fed as green or dry and makes excellent silage.

Origin is generally accepted that the genetic/evolutionary origin of lucerne is in the near east center of Vavilof and that the species developed in Asia Minor, Iran and the highlands of Turkmenistan. All these areas have cold winters and hot dry summers. The soil is well drained with an approximately neutral pH and has subsoils with deposits of calcium (lime). Sinskaya, a Russian, asserts that lucerne originated in two areas and that there was a second development in central Asia.

They are short duration crops. Fodder is available for use in short period, e.g., cowpea and soybean can be harvested within 50-60 days of sowing. Being short duration crops, they can fit well in the gaps between two crops or seasons as catch crop.

It is a tufted aromatic perennial herb with fibrous roots, erect over 2 m tall, with smooth leaves and bearing a large inflorescence.

Origin: The origin of citronella is Sri Lanka

It is a perennial grass about 2 to 3m tall with profuse tillering habit having linear lanceolate leaves. The inflorescence is a highly branched terminal panicle.

Origin: The origin is India

Mints are a group of perennial herbaceous plants, belonging to the family Lamiaceae: Labiatae, which yield essential oil on distillation. The various species of mints which are commercially cultivated in different parts of the world are: Japanese mint or corn mint or field mint (Mentha arvensis subsp haplocalyx Briquet var. Piperscens Holmes var. Javanica), peppermint (M. Piperita L.) spearmint or garden mint or lamb mint (M. spicata L.) and bergamot mint or orange mint (M. citrata Ehrh.)

Jaggery making is a simple process comprising crushing of sugarcane for juice extraction, filtration and boiling of juice for concentration and then cooling and solidifying to give jiggery blocks.

The Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative (SSI) aims at providing practical options to the farmers in improving the productivity of land, water and labour, all at the same time. SSI is also expected to reduce the overall pressure on water resources and contribute to the recovery of ecosystems. Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative is an innovative method of sugarcane production using less seeds, less water and optimum utilization of fertilizers and land to achieve more yields.

Indian canes probably originated in the moist parts of North Eastern India from some plants closely related to Saccharum spontaneum (Barber, 1931). Brandes (1956) concluded that tropical cane might have originated in some of the larger islands of Oceania countries most probably in New Guinea, where various forms of thick, tall tropical canes have been grown from ancient times. Parthasarathy (1946) believed that India is the original home of Saccharum officinarum.

Sunflower was introduced as an oil seed crop in India in 1967. The crop is now widely cultivated in all parts of India and in any type of situation. Sunflower belongs to Compositae family and the cultivated species is Helianthus annus spp. macrocarpus. Apart from the edible oil species, there are non-oily types, other edible forms and ornaments. Helianthus tuberosus gives the edible tubers.

Rapeseed and mustard are termed in different names in different places. Sarson and toria (lahi) are generally termed as rape seeds. Rai, raya or laha are termed as mustard. Rape seed and mustard belongs to the species Brassica of the family Cruciferae. It is an annual plant or biennial herbs. Rape seed and mustard are the major rabi oilseed crops of India.

Pea (Pisum sativum L.), the famous plant in which G.H. Mendel worked out Mendel Laws and Genetic Principles, is a noble and aristocratic vegetable. The crop is cultivated for its tender and immature pods for use as vegetable and mature dry pods for use as a pulse. In both cases, seeds are separated and used as vegetable or pulse.

Lentil is one of the oldest nutritious rabi pulse crop. The whole or splitted seeds are used in preparing dal and delicious namkin commonly called dalmoth. The splitted seeds are also used in making soup and porridge. Green pods are used as vegetables. The leaves and stalks are used as cattle feed.

The ancient wisdom of the Indians about the value of pulses in human nutrition is perhaps, responsible to an extent for the widespread vegetarianism in our country. The staple pulse component in combination with cereals in our diet emanates from this recognition, Modern nutritionists also substantiate that this combination is superior to either pulse or cereal alone.