eChapters

Olericulture is Latin term ‘Olerus’ meaning ‘pot herb’ and ‘Cultra’ meaning ‘cultivation’.

Definition: Vegetables are those plants wherein parts such as leaf, stem or root can be used for food.

Herbs: Are those plants that are used for food, medicine, scent or flavour.

Potato

Potato, Solanum tuberosum L. under the family Solanaceae (Chromosome No. 2n = 4x = 48) is the most important non-grain food crop in the world, ranking 3rd in terms of total production with over 381 million tonnes per year in (FAOSTAT, 2017), after rice and wheat. It is grown in 150 countries spread across both temperate and tropical regions and at elevations from sea level to 4,000 m. It is extensively cultivated in China, Russian Federation, Ukarine, Poland, Ireland, Great Britain, Germany, Netherlands, France, Spain, South America, India and USA. Potato was brought from Peru to Spain by the Spaniards in 1565 when it was widely grown in Spain and Italy. They were probably brought to England in 1586 by Sir Francis Drake. Potato was introduced in India in early 17^th century probably by the Portuguese. Now it is one of the principal cash crops of India.

The crop

The subsection Potato is distinguished from all other subsections within the genus Solanum by “true potatoes whose tubers are borne on underground stolons, which are true stems, not roots”. The series tuberosa is characterised by “imparipinnate or simple leaves, forked peduncle, rotate to pentagonal corolla and round berries”.

The species S.tuberosum is characterised by “pedicel articulation placed in the middle third, short calyx lobes arranged regularly, leaves often slightly arched, leaflets always ovate to lanceolate, about twice as long as broad, tubers with well marked dormancy period”

Potato is an annual herbaceous plant and growth habit varies between and within species. The plant has a rosette or semi-rosette habit. The stem is erect in the early stage but becomes spreading and prostrate later on. The leaves are compound and alternate, irregularly odd pinnate. The tuber is an enlarged portion of an underground stem or stolon. Tuber eyes are the buds from which next season’s growth will emerge. Eyes are concentrated near the apical end of the tuber, with fewer near the stolon or basal end. Eye number and distribution are characteristic of the variety.

Potato is mainly propagated vegetatively by means of tubers and sometimes by botanical seeds, i.e., true potato seeds. Potato has a terminal inflorescence consisting of 1-30 (but usually 7-15) flowers, depending on the cultivar. The five petals give the open flower a star shape. A flower also has a pistil that generally protrudes above a cluster of five large, bright yellow anthers. The corolla colour varies from white to complex range of blue, red and purple. Flowers are self-pollinated but also cross pollination take place by insect. Seeds are produced in the fruit which is botanically called berry. Potato fruits, stems and leaves contain glycoalkaloids, the toxic compounds, of which the most prevalent are solanine and chaconine.

GENERAL POMOLOGY

Word pomology: Derived from Greek word ëpomeí means ëdevelopment of fruit from inferior ovaryí and ëlogosí means ëto studyí.

Father of systematic pomology: De Candolle.

T. A. Knight attempted 1st artificial hybridization in fruit crops

Agarwood Oil

Biological Source : Wood of Aquilaria agalloch, Aquilaria crassna, A. Khasiana.
Family : Thymelaeaceae
Common names : Agarwood, Aloeswood, Eaglewood, Gaharu or Oudh.

Plant Introduction : Aquilaria is a fast-growing, archaic tropical forest tree, which occurs in South and Southeast Asia, from the foothills of the Himalayas to the rainforests of Papua New Guinea. Agarwood is a fast growing, evergreen tree, that normally grows to 18 - 21 m but sometimes up to 40 m in height. It bears sweetly-scented, snow-white flowers. The trees occasionally become infected with a parasite mould and begin to produce an aromatic resin in response to this attack. As the fungus grows, the tree produces a very rich, dark resin within the heartwood. The tree grows in natural forests at an altitude of a few meters above sea level to about 1000 meters, and it grows best around 500 meters. It can grow on a wide range of soils, including poor sandy soil. Seedlings need a lot of shade and water. Trees grow very fast, and start producing flowers and seeds as early as four years old.

2.1 Introduction

India is known for its richness in bio-resources including floristic diversity and the associated cultural diversity that evolved over time and holds a vast amount of indigenous traditional knowledge (ITK) assembled over millenniums. The ability to convert this knowledge into wealth of products for social good through the process of innovation based on validation of available information holds great promise. In-depth studies using the modern technologies and further examination of potential sources will determine the future of India in the 21st century, commonly referred to as the century of scientific knowledge and technological expertise/advancements that belongs to Asia/India. In this regard, five technologies namely, biochemistry, biotechnology, herbal technology, information technology, and nanotechnology are going to be the most powerful elements that are crucial for ensuring prosperity, security, and welfare of the people of the nations and the globe at large. Production of an inventory of the medicinal aromatic plants with the associated knowledge evolved and documented over millenniums under different Indian traditional medicinal systems shall be the key in promoting and strengthening their exploitation and use under various herbal medicinal systems and/or under an integrated innovative combination of these with modern medicinal systems.

1. Potato

Scientific name: Solanum tuberosum L.

Family: Solanaceae

Origin: South America

Chromosome No.: 2n = 4x = 48

Introduction

Potato is one of the four major food crops of the world and is also a very popular vegetable crop. It is extensively cultivated in China, Russian Federation, Ukarine, Poland, Ireland, Great Britain, Germany, Netherlands, France, Spain, South America, India and USA. Potato was brought from Peru to Spain by the Spaniards in 1565 when it was widely grown in Spain and Italy. They were probably brought to England about 1586 by Sir Francis Drake. Potato was introduced in India in early 17^th century probably by the Portuguese. Now it is one of the principal cash crops of India.

Importance and use

• Potato is the fourth major food crops of the world after rice, wheat and maize.
• Being a major source of carbohydrate it is often used as a substitute for cereals.
• It is one of the major vegetable crops of the world and is grown in almost every country.
• In India, it is considered as a staple vegetable and used either alone or mixed with other vegetables.
• Potato is used as vegetable in various forms such as, boiled, mashed, baked, fried and cooked in sambar and different curries of vegetable, fish and meat.
• Potato is processed into different commercially used dehydrated, canned and fried products like, shredded potato, sliced potato, chips, flakes, French fries, finger chips, granules, disc, cubes, flour, etc.
• It is used for several industrial purposes such as production of starch, alcohol, dextrin, glucose, etc.
• Potato starch is a large grained starch and contains 25 % amylase and 73 % amylopectin and high phosphate content.

Dicotyledons
Ranunculaceae
Juss., Gen. 231. 1789. Type: Ranunculus L.
Ranunculus L., Sp. Pl. 548. 1753. Lectotype: R. auricomus L.
R. sceleratus ssp. sceleratus; Tutin in Fl. Eur. 1: 233. 1964. Ranunculus sceleratus L., Sp. Pl. 551. 1753; Fl. Alld. 1: 2.
Vernacular Name: Jaidhania., Kandira
Description: Annual herbs, erect up to 60-70cm tall. Stem, fistuler simple, glabrescent below, branched and pubescent Leaves 3-5-palmately lobed o partite, lower long-petioled, higher ones panicled. Flowers yellow, Sepals reflexed. Petals oblong. Stamens and carpels numerous. panicled. Achenes with an intramarginal rib. Receptacle pilose.
Distribution: North temperate.
Habitat: A Common-herb during winter near river and pond banks: in wet places in gardens.
 

Carrot, Daucus carota L. under the family Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) having chromosome numbers 2n = 2x = 18 is a root vegetable, grown in spring, summer and autumn in temperate regions and during winter in tropical and sub-tropical regions all over the world. It is important root crop of the European countries, USA, China, Japan, Korea and India. It is grown in almost all parts of India, both in plains and hills. Most of the carrots are typically orange in colour, though purple, black, red, white and yellow cultivars are also available. It is consumed fresh as salad or cooked as vegetable. It is also used for fresh juice, pickles and for the preparation of sweets. Leaves are used as fodder. Essential oil from the seeds is used for flavouring liquors and foods. It contains highest amount of β carotene (pro-vitamin A) among the common vegetables. It is also a good source of vitamin K, and vitamin B6.
Origin, domestication and adaptation in India
Carrot probably originated in Afghanistanin, the region where the Himalaya and Hindukush mountains are confluent. The secondary centres of diversity are probably Ehiopia and north America. Its domestication occurred in Afganistan and adjacent regions of Russia, Iran (previously called Persia), India, Pakistan and Anatolia (Van der Vossen and Sambas, 1993). From its centre of origin in Afghanistan, it was taken by the Arabs to eastern Mediterranean and Spain in 12th century. It was introduced in China in 13th or 14th century, in England during 15th century, in Japan in early 17th century and in the USA in 1620 AD.

Introduction

Plantation crops are high value industrial crops with great economic importance and play vital role in trade. It contributes to environment protection and sustains a large number of agrobased industries. It has great potential for utilization of waste lands in varied agro-ecosystems like rainfed, dryland, hilly, arid and coastal, providing higher employment opportunities, nutritional security, eco-friendly, high potential for foreign exchange earnings and above all providing livelihood security to people. They contribute 25% of AGDP. Major plantation crops grown in India are coconut,cardamom,cinchona, arecanut, oilpalm, cashew, palmyra, rubber, cocoa, tea and coffee. These crops grown between 20° N and 20° S of equator occupy nearly 3.2 million ha with a production of 9.8 million tonnes. All these crops are perennial in nature and demand  labour round the year. All plantation crops enter international trade and all of them have a long juvenile period. Coconut, arecanut and cashew are cultivated by individual land  owners who are not organized to the same extent as  planters of tea, coffee and rubber.

This chapter contains the description of the Indigenous Traditional Knowledge practices as subject wise manner viz, Traditional varieties, Crop management, Crop protection measures, Post harvest methods, Storage structures, Farm tools, Medicinal plants, Ethnoveterinary practices, Fisheries and others related to agriculture.

Definition of Plant Pathology

‘Plant pathology’ may be defined as ‘the study of microorganisms and of the environmental factors that cause disease in plants; of the mechanisms by which these factors induce disease in plants; and of the methods of preventing or controlling disease and reducing the damage it causes’. Plant Pathology or ‘Phytopathology’ is a branch of Biological Science, which exclusively deals with plant diseases and various aspects connected with plant diseases. The term Phytopathology had been derived from the Latin language. The Latin word ‘PHYTON‘ means plants; ‘PATHOS‘ means suffering and ‘LOGOS‘ means Science. So, Phytopathology means the Science dealing with suffering plants. Trees, shrubs, grasses etc., whether cultivated or wild are termed as plants and they form the majority of the earth’s living environment. These plants, which are so vital for humans, animals and insects are vulnerable to attack by numerous microorganisms, called ‘plant pathogens’. Some environmental factors are also detrimental to the normal growth of plants, resulting in diseases. Diseased plants exhibit some type of abnormalities and these abnormalities are termed as ‘disease symptoms’. Depending upon the pathogens attacking the plants or adverse environmental factors the disease symptoms vary markedly.

The Science of Plant Pathology has four main objectives:

1. To acquire knowledge about biotic plant pathogens and abiotic environmental factors, which are responsible for causing diseases.
2. To know more about the occurrence and mode of spread of the pathogens on a large scale.
3. To study the interaction between the host and the pathogen with respect to environmental factors.
4. To adopt suitable methods of preventing or controlling the diseases, thereby reducing the damage caused by the pathogens.

Systematic knowledge about Plant Pathology will be of much help in protecting the plants from attack by the pathogens, thereby allowing the plants to grow and attain maturity according to their genetic potential.

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. 

Physical Properties of Soil

Physical properties of soil have many important roles in the crop production. The basic requirements for germination, seedling emergence and root development are adequate moisture and aeration, optimum temperature and absence of mechanical hindrance. After germination the further development of plant is also governed by physical conditions of soil. Soil texture, soil structure, soil density, soil consistence, soil water, soil air, soil temperature and soil colour are main physical properties of soils also affecting mechanical behaviour of soils. These are described here.

1. Soil Texture

The weathering divides larger particles of rocks and minerals in to the smaller ones. This process goes continuously. Thus, particles of different sizes ranging from large fragments of rocks to the very fine clay minerals are found in soil. However, for texture particles less than 2mm diameter is considered. The relative amount of these particles indicates the soil type also. Such as sandy soils contain more amounts of coarse particles i.e., sand and clayey soils are rich in fine particles. The rock and mineral particles having diameter less than 2.0 mm and come between specifies size are called as soil separates. International society of soil science (ISSS) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) systems are Generally, followed to classify the soil separates. This classification is given in table 3.1.

CEREALS

Rice (Oryza sativa)

1. Rice blast
Pyricularia oryzae

‘Rice blast’ occurs in more than 80 countries across the world. The disease is more prevalent in Thailand, Japan, America, Guyana, Philippines and India. It is particularly serious in places, where rice is irrigated or receives heavy rainfall and where high levels of nitrogenous fertilizers are applied. Rice blast was first reported in China in 1637, in Japan in 1704 and in India in 1913. In India, it is found in all rice growing states, particularly in Telungu Desam, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh. Assam, Tripura, West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry and causes considerable damage to rice crop. In Tamil Nadu, the disease occurs in all rice growing districts and attains epidemic proportions in some seasons. Several rice blast epidemics have occurred in different parts of the world, causing yield losses ranging from 50 to 90 %. In Tamil Nadu, a serious epidemic of the disease occurred in 1919 in the Thanjavur Delta.

Symptoms. The disease, though chiefly a foliage disease, attacks other parts of rice plants, such as leaf sheath, rachis, joints of the culms and even the glumes. On the leaves, the initial symptoms appear as small bluish or grayish specks, which remain circular in older leaves. On young leaves, they enlarge and become eye-shaped, diamond-shaped or spindle-shaped spots, extending over several centimeters in length and about 1.0 cm. in width. The central portion of the lesion appears pale green or grayish green and water-soaked in the beginning. In older spots, the center becomes white to gray with a dark-brown margin surrounded by a yellow hallow. The lesions may coalesce, cover large area of the leaves and eventually the entire leaves are killed. The shape, size and color of the spots vary depending upon the variety, growth stage of the plants and environmental conditions. Similar spots may be formed on the leaf sheath also. During severe incidence, large areas of the leaves dry and die and the entire crop presents a burnt appearance. Hence the disease is known as ‘blast disease’. Leaf blast is more severe during the seedling and maximum tillering stages. In the nursery, the seedlings show numerous spots on the leaves, which wither and die. In case of severe infection, large number of seedlings may die. Blast also affects the leaf collar, which results in the death of the entire leaf.

The disease attacks the stem-nodes at the heading stage leading to production of ‘white panicles’ or the stem may break at the infected node. Rarely the internodes are affected. Further, at heading the fungus also attacks the panicle neck, which is girdled and becomes shining black and shrivelled. This is the most destructive phase of the disease and is known as ‘neck blast’, ‘neck rot’ or ‘panicle blast’. If infection of the panicle neck occurs early, the grains become chaffy and the panicle remains erect. If panicle neck infection occurs late, the grains become partially filled and because of the weight of the grains, the panicle breaks at the neck- node and droops. Sometimes, only parts of the panicle and joints of the culms and some glumes are infected and develop brown to black spots (Fig. 1).

Under conditions highly favorable for the pathogen, even the varieties resistant to the fungus under normal conditions are also attacked and small, round or short elliptical spots develop. However, the spots normally do not enlarge as typical blast spots.

USA ranks 17th in per capita cut flowers consumption.

India ranks 2nd in flower cultivation next to China.

India stands 14th in the world in exporting floricultural products, while the Netherlands and Columbia rank 1st and 2nd, respectively