eChapters

Abstract
The analysis of variance showed significant differences for all the traits studied. The best two combinations out of the 28 F1s produced by crossing eight diverse lines of capsicum in diallel fashion (excluding reciprocals) with respect to most of the traits were Osh Region x EC-119058 and California Wonder x Bonali.

Keywords: Heterosis, Capsicum annuum L.

Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) also known as Sweet pepper or Spanish pepper is an important vegetable used in various delicacies and salads, the world over. The crop originated in New World tropics and subtropics (Greenleaf, 1986), and introduced in India by the British. Because of its excellent quality as obtained under Shimla hills conditions, it came to be called as Shimla Mirch. Its most notable feature is flavour and hence is appreciated worldwide. It is also an excellent source of pro-vitamin A and vitamin C. Bell pepper assumes a special significance in the mid hills of Himachal Pradesh as it is grown as an off season crop during summer and rainy seasons, which brings lucrative returns to the growers. 

Introduction
Definition of heterosis
The word “heterosis” was coined by G.H. Shull in 1914 as a convenient abbreviation for awkward phrases like ‘stimulation of heterozygosis’. When two genetically diverse parents are crossed, the resulting F1 or hybrid progeny has superior performance over both of its parents which is known as heterosis. The F1 or hybrid has superiority in vigour, adaptability, stress tolerance, growth rate, population fitness, biological and economic yield. Luxuriance on the other hand is a more general term often confused with heterosis, used to describe plant’s overall healthy and abundant growth, regardless of its genetic background (Allard, 1960). Charles Darwin introduced the concept of hybrid vigour in 1876, a term closely related to heterosis. The exceptional hybrid vigour in the F1 generation stems from the theory of dominance and codominance, offering numerous advantageous characteristics, particularly economically significant ones.
Heterosis is confined to F1 or hybrid generation only. The F2 and subsequent generations do not show heterosis due to factors like recombination and segregation, which lead to shuffling of the genes and produce variety of new combinations, hence they are neither homogenous like F1 nor have hybrid vigour. One of the main characteristics of heterosis is that it is highly variable from crop to crop as well as from cross to cross. So, some of the crosses will exhibit higher heterosis than the other crosses. This is because heterosis is controlled by many factors which include the genetic diversity of parents, combining ability of parental lines, genetic background, additive, dominance, epistasis nature of gene imparting heterosis which will be dealt in detail in next sections of the book.
Heterosis, manifested in positive (yield, quality, disease resistance) or negative (plant height, maturity duration) aspects, is more prevalent in crosspollinated species than in self-pollinated ones. It can be fully exploited in hybrids or partially exploited in synthetic and composite varieties. The performance of hybrids relative to parents exhibits distinct features, as illustrated in Figure 1, including better-parent heterosis with optimal trait values surpassing either parent. Mid-parent heterosis exceeds the parental average but holds limited agronomic relevance. Phenotypes are broadly categorized as additive (similar to parental average) or non-additive, further subdivided into partially dominant, dominant, and over/under dominant. Factors influencing heterosis include genetic diversity, combining ability, genetic background, and the interplay of additive, dominance, and epistatic genetic factors, explored in detail in subsequent sections.

INTRODUCTION

Heterosis has contributed significantly towards increased crop production and it has become the basis of multibillion dollar agro-businesses in the world (Phillips, 1999). Hybridization is the important way that can create genetic variability and make new options. The F1 population is obtained from the crossing of two homozygous but genetically dissimilar gametes or individuals (purelines in self pollinated crops or inbred lines in cross pollinated crops) that shows increased or decreased vigour over the better or mid parent value. Heterosis is maximum in F1, generation which diminishes gradually in later generations. Hence, production of F₁, hybrid seeds of different flower crops is considered as the extreme focused area in floriculture industry.

INTRODUCTION

Heterosis has contributed significantly towards increased crop production and it has become the basis of multibillion dollar agro-businesses in the world (Phillips, 1999). Hybridization is the important way that can create genetic variability and make new options. The F₁ population is obtained from the crossing of two homozygous but genetically dissimilar gametes or individuals (purelines in self pollinated crops or inbred lines in cross pollinated crops) that shows increased or decreased vigour over the better or mid parent value. Heterosis is maximum in F₁, generation which diminishes gradually in later generations. Hence, production of F₁, hybrid seeds of different flower crops is considered as the extreme focused area in floriculture industry.

Production of F₁ hybrids in ornamental crops was carried out even before Shull’s classical theory of hybrid vigour which was reported in 1971 for the first time in plant breeding. Benary Seed Company in Germany released F₁ hybrid in begonia (Begonia semperflorens) in the name of Prima Donna in 1909 (Reimann-Philip, 1983). But that time it did not attract the attention of plant breeders. It was during Second World War in 1942, when flower breeders were attracted towards heterosis breeding and started systematic F₁ hybrids. From 1950 onwards, numerous outstanding hybrids have been developed in many other flower crops in several countries like USA, The Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, United Kingdom and Japan, etc. First hybrid in single geranium was produced in 1960, in other flower crops like antirrhinum, pansy, marigold and zinnia in 1965, ageratum in 1966, geranium double in 1970, dianthus, begonia, impatiens and portulaca in 1976-77, gerbera in 1980 and carnation in 1981. In the present scenario of developed floriculture industry, in many countries F₁, hybrids are available in a number of annual flowers like ageratum, antirrhinum, anemones, calceolaria, dianthus, hollyhock, gazania, marigold, flowering tobacco, pansy, portulaca, stock, wall flower, zinnia, etc.

As emasculation is having the maximum share in cost of hybrid seed production, researchers have found several techniques in different flower crops as the alternative of emasculation and that can help in reducing the cost of hybrid seed production. The list of techniques being utilized commercially in different flower crops (Janakiram, 2004) is as follows:

Hybrid vigour is used as a synonymous of heterosis. In 1910, the term heterosis was first used by Shull who defined this phenomenon as the stimulus of heterozygous, and in his word, it has been the “interpretation of increased vigour, size, fruitfulness, speed of development, resistance to insect-pests and diseases or to the climatic rigors of any kind manifested by the out breeding organism as compared with corresponding inbreds as a specific result of the unlikeliness in the constitution of uniting parental gametes”. This definition is often interpreted as not implying a genetic basis for heterosis, because the definition basically describes the phenotypes that result from the crossing of two different inbred lines. Generally, heterosis is manifested as an increase in vigour, size, growth rate, yield, or some other characteristics but in some cases, the hybrid may be inferior to the weaker parent. This also represents as heterosis (average heterosis), and if heterosis is estimated over the superior parent, such an estimate is sometimes referred to as heterobeltiosis, hence, authors feel “heterosis refers a biological phenomenon in which the F₁ population obtained by crossing of the two genetically dissimilar gametes or individual shows increased or decreased vigour over better parent or over the mid-parental value. Earlier, Power (1944)also suggested that the term heterosis should be used only when the hybrid is either superior or inferior to both the parents. Other situation should be regarded as partial or complete dominance. It can be easily explained with the help of Table 5.1.

Heterosis, hybrid vigor, or outbreeding enhancement, is the improved or increased function of any biological quality in a hybrid offspring. The adjective derived from heterosis is heterotic.Heterosis is the occurrence of a superior offspring from mixing the genetic contributions of its parents. These effects can be due to Mendelian or non-Mendelian inheritance.

The commercial exploitation of heterosis started only after the rediscovery of Mendel’s law of inheritance and consequent understanding of the theoretical basis of hybrid vigour. Heterosis is considered as a major revolution in classical plant breeding era. Utilization of heterosis has substantial influence in genetics to provide hybrid vigour, consequently high yielding hybrids in different crops and plants. Yield increase from heterotic hybrids due to the expression of heterosis is up to 30% superior to conventional varieties. The term heterosis was first used by Shull (1914) and represents the increase or decrease in fitness and vigour of the F₁ hybrid over the mean or mid parent values, produced by crossing two genetically different individuals for one or more traits. Generally, positive heterosis is desirable but in some cases like maturity duration and presence of toxic substances, negative heterosis is condiderable as desirable. Heterosis can be estimated in three different ways. When the heterosis is estimated over mid parent, it is called as relative heterosis or mid parent heterosis. Estimation of heterosis over better parent out of the two parents involved in the cross is referred as “Heterobeltiosis”, the term which was coined by Fonseca and Patterson (1968). “Standard Heterosis”, often called as useful heterosis which was coined by Meredith and Bridge (1972) and denotes the superiority of F₁ over the standard commercial check.

Definition: Heterosis is defined as the percent increase in the performance of outbred animals over the average of their parents.
The mean superiority of hybrids over the average of their parental lines is called heterosis. Heterosis or hybrid vigor is the increased vigor of the offspring over that of the parents when unrelated individuals are mated. Hybrid vigor includes greater viability, faster growth rate, greater milk production and greater wool production in domestic animals. The amount by which the hybrids exceed the mean performance of better parent is called heterobeltiosis or Euheterosis. The term heterosis was coined by G.H. Shull (1914). Heterosis or hybrid vigour is synonym to each other. However, the heterosis is a phenomena exhibited by an individual or a group of individuals due to heterozygosity of genes. Heterosis in quantitative terms can also be defined as the non-additive gene action. While “hybrid vigour” is the resultant of heterosis phenomena expressed phenotypically by an increase in vigour, size, production, reproduction, survival rate, growth, and economic returns etc. the heterosis is a measure of extent magnitude of out breeding.
In livestock, hybrids may be produced by crossing between two species/breeds/ lines/strains. Technically, heterosis may be positive or negative. However, the desirability of a trait is more important than the sign of heterosis. In some cases, the negative heterosis could be a desirable one (e.g. age at first lay, age at first calving, calving interval, back fat thickness etc.). The amount of heterosis obtained usually depends upon the extent of heterozygosity attained by the hybrids, which in turn is based on the diversity of sire and dam lines crossed. It also depends upon the degree of dominance, over dominance and/ or for which the heterosis is exhibited. Thus, the main causes of heterosis are directional dominance, over dominance and epistasis.

Hybrid vigor or heterosis is opposite and complementary to inbreeding depression (reduction in fitness as a direct result of inbreeding). In theory, the heterosis observed after crossing is expected to be equal to the depression upon inbreeding, considering a large number of crosses between lines derived from a single base population. In practice, plant breeders are interested in heterosis expressed by specific crosses between selected parents, or between populations that have no known common recent origin. Furthermore, because heterosis is subject to the interactions between genotype and environment, it is desirable to describe the heterosis of a particular hybrid line for a specific trait at a specific location or under specified environmental conditions.

This alternative pathway for glucose oxidation has enzymes in the cytosol through which glucose is degraded to carbon dioxide. It is also called a shunt because carbon atoms from glucose 6-phosphate take a long route before they proceed down the EMP or glycolytic pathway. This pathway is anabolic in nature as it produces many intermediates. In this pathway, two NADPH are generated from one glucose 6-phosphate molecule. No ATP is generated or consumed.
Overall, this pathway needs three glucose-6-phosphate molecules to complete all the reactions. Therefore, one cycle run produces 2 mol of fructose-6- phosphate, 1 mol of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate, and 3 mol of carbon dioxide from 3 mol of glucose-6-phosphate with the reduction of 6 mol of NADP+ to NADPH.
Overall reactions of the HMP pathway are as follows:
3 Glucose-6-P + 6 NADP+→ 3 ribulose-5-P + 3 CO2 + 6 NADPH
3 Ribulose-5-P → 2 xylulose-5-P + Ribose-5-P
2 Xylulose-5-P + Ribose-5-P → 2 fructose-6-P + Glyceraldehyde-3-P

Introduction

Flowers speak millions of unspoken words. Presenting a bouquet and making arrangements with flowers in most of the drawing rooms, offices, hotels and hospitals have become the style of the day in the fast – moving modern world where there is hardly any time for exchange of sweet memories. Since time immemorial, the importance of such a delicate creation of nature has always been appreciated. Tamil Nadu ranks first among the flower producing states of India, contributing 25% of the country’s flower production with an area of 31, 970 ha under flowers. Of this, around 700 ha are under protected cut flower cultivation. In Nilgiri district alone, it has an area of around 70 ha under protected cut flower production which is inclusive of around 11.2 ha of lilium.

The genus Lilium (Lilium spp.) is a herbaceous flowering plant normally grown from bulbs, about 110 species world over belongs to lily family Liliaceae. It is native of the northern temperate regions. The species in this genus are the true lilies while the other plants with lily in the common name are related to the other groups of plants. Lilies are usually erect leafy stemmed herbs. The majority of species form tunicless scaly underground bulbs from which they produce flowers. The large flowers have three petals along with three sepals, look like petals.

1. INTRODUCTION

Today’s technological advancement have reached a level where a farmer can have access to information and tools to manage his mechanized field operations. They can now measure, evaluate and deal variability with infield (e.g. soil fertility, water availability and yield) that was known to exist previously but was not manageable, to his advantage. The ability to handle variations in productivity within a field and maximize financial return, reduce waste and minimize impact on the environment has always been the objective of an enterprising farmer, especially those with limited land resources and those who advocate sound agriculture practice.

This concept is not new. What is new is the ability to automate data collection and documentation and the utilisation of this information for strategic farm management decision in the field operations through mechanisation, sensing and communication technology. Such an approach in agriculture production management gives rise to what is now termed as Precision Farming (PF), Precision Agriculture (PA), Prescription Farming (Precision farming), Site Specific Agriculture (SSA), Soil Specific Crop Management (SSCM), Spatially Variable Crop Production (SVCP) etc.

• It is the technology of intensive production system.
• In which modern, less environmental dependent and capital–intensive but with a capacity to improve productivity and farmer income.
• Use of plastics, protected cultivation, precision farming, high density planting (HDP), integrated nutrient management (INM), integrated pest management (IPM), mechanization etc., are important facets of hi-tech horticulture. There are many practices which helps to enhance horticulture production:

Introduction to Hi-Tech Horticulture Greenhouse area in different countries

1. Japan - 42,000 (ha)
2. Holland - 10,000 (ha) 3) Italy - 20,000 (ha)
3. USA - 4,000 (ha)
4. India - 700 (ha)
   • Crops are grown in the greenhouse Strawberry, grapes, citrus, banana, papaya, melons.
   • Salt affected soils in different states: UP - 2,375 °
     • Gujarat - 1,334
     • W.B. - 1,150
     • RJ - 458
     • Punjab - 749 Haryana - 636

Introduction

Rose, acclaimed as the “Queen of Flowers”, is one of the most popular cut flowers in the global floriculture trade. Popularly referred to as ‘Dutch rose’ in the international market, cut rose occupies a prominent place among the cut flowers owing to its exquisite form, size and attractive colours. Apart from cut flower it is used for making various value added products such as rose oil, rose water, garland, gulkhand, rose attar etc and also in landscaping as pot plant and garden plant. The present day rose (Rosa hybrida) combines all desirable qualities such as, productivity, attractiveness of buds, a variety of colours and forms of the typical species of Rosa.

The major cut rose producing countries of the world are the Netherlands, Colombia, Kenya, Israel, Italy, United States, and Japan. In India, roses are mostly grown under cover (poly house) in Nasik, Pune, Hosur, Kalimpong, Darjeeling, Bangalore, Solan, Palampur, Shimla, Srinagar, Delhi, Ludhiana and Calcutta. The roses grown for export should be popular varieties of that region and maintain high quality standards with respect to bud size and stem length and should have lush green leaves and be free of pests and diseases. These high quality standards can be achieved and maintained only when grown inside poly house or greenhouse, which gives protection against inclement weather conditions and pests and diseases.

Malvaceae, the mallow family, carries herbs, shrubs or trees comprising about 75 genera and perhaps as many as 1,500 species. Hibiscus and Abelmoschus are two important genuses under this plant family. Several species of plants of potential uses come under these two genera about which limited publications are available. 

Hibiscus

Hibiscus is a large genus of about 200-220 species of flowering plants in  Malvaceae, native to warm temperate, subtropical and tropical regions throughout the world. The genus includes both annual and perennial herbaceous plants and woody shrubs and small trees. The leaves are alternate, simple, ovate to lanceolate, often with a toothed or lobed margin. The flowers are large, conspicuous, trumpet-shaped, with five petals, ranging from white to pink, red, purple or yellow, and from 4-15 cm broad. The fruit is a dry five-lobed capsule, containing several seeds in each lobe, which are released when the capsule splits open at maturity.

Hibiscus a well known member of the family Malvaceae, grows as an evergreen shrub plant. The plant is extensively cultivated as an ornamental plant that bears large flowers on the bushy hedges. These enormous flowers are usually dark red in colour and are not usually fragrant. The huge size and the reddish colour and hues attract humming birds (Kumar and Singh, 2012). The generic name is derived from the Greek word “hibiskos” which was the name Pedanius Dioscorides gave to Althaea officinalis. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis was named by Carolus Linnaeus. The Latin term “rosa-sinensis” literally means “rose of China”, though it is not closely related to the true roses. Member species are often noted for their showy flowers and are commonly known simply as hibiscus, or less widely known as rose mallow. The hibiscus is used as an offering to goddess Kali and Lord Ganesha in Hindu worship. Hibiscus is an important flowering and garden plant. It has various medicinal values (Chopra et al., 1996 and Sayed et al., 2012).

Hibiscus a well known member of the family Malvaceae, grows as an evergreen shrub plant. The plant is extensively cultivated as an ornamental plant that bears large flowers on the bushy hedges. These enormous flowers are usually dark red in colour and are not usually fragrant. The huge size and the reddish colour and hues attract humming birds (Kumar and Singh, 2012). The generic name is derived from the Greek word “hibiskos” which was the name Pedanius Dioscorides gave to Althaea officinalis. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis was named by Carolus Linnaeus. The Latin term “rosa-sinensis” literally means “rose of China”, though it is not closely related to the true roses. Member species are often noted for their showy flowers and are commonly known simply as hibiscus, or less widely known as rose mallow. The hibiscus is used as an offering to goddess Kali and Lord Ganesha in Hindu worship. Hibiscus is an important flowering and garden plant. It has various medicinal values (Chopra et al., 1996 and Sayed et al., 2012).

ORIGIN AND DISTRIBUTION

The ancestors of the modern exotic hibiscus were originally native to Mauritius, Madagascar, Fiji, Hawaii, China and India. Ornamentally most important species is Hibiscus rosa-sinensis. There is no known record of the history of the domestication of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis. In one view it is believed that the species is a native to China and was first cultivated by the Chinese for its showy flowers (Kimbrough, 1997). No extant wild populations of the species have however, been reported from that country. Another view holds that the species is a native of the South Indian Ocean islands of which Madagascar, the Mascarene Islands and the Rodriguez Islands are a part (Borssum Waalkes, 1966). This view is strengthened by the fact that three Hibiscus species genetically compatible with H. rosa-sinensis are native to this area (Singh and Khoshoo, 1989). It is thought that the species was collected and domesticated on these islands by far easterner during their westward migration.

Abstract: Ornamental hibiscus (shoe flower) is native of Asia, probably China, but now conspicuous in all warm countries. Hibiscus is cross pollinating, evergreen shrub and progeny can segregate widely for traits due to heterozygosity. High polyploid constitution of species predominant vegetative reproduction and rampant hybridization irrespective of chromosome number are features of this crop. The important traits for continuous crop improvement include plant with good growth habit, floriferous nature, desirable flower colour, size, shape and good keeping quality. A variety of flower forms, flower colours and growth forms exist. Very little genetic information and trait heritability has been established for this crop. Use of somatic hybridization, mutation breeding and marker assisted breeding are discussed. The continuous use of these techniques will ensure creation of new phenotypes for the market.

Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) is a vigorous tropical evergreen flowering shrub valued for its large, colourful and attractive blooms. In India, its flowers are widely used for religious offerings, particularly in temple worship, as well as for ornamental and loose flower purposes. The chapter introduces its origin, distribution, genetics, botanical characteristics and important varieties. It also highlights the crop’s medicinal and food-related importance, including the use of hibiscus products in herbal beverages and processed foods. Detailed production practices cover climate, soil, propagation, field preparation, nutrient management, irrigation and cultural operations. Major pests and diseases, harvesting, postharvest management and yield are also included for commercial cultivation.

Hides and skin are the important and widely used animal by-products of slaughter house industry. Human beings are utilizing animal skins since time immorial and nomadic people still depend upon them for shelter, clothing, weapons, food containers etc. In general on live weight basis yield of hide is 7 percent while skin is around 11 percent.  Though it is also obtained from the fallen animals but the superior quality hide is always of slaughtered animals. Source wise slaughtered animals account 20-25 percent of hide and 80 percent of skin whereas fallen animals contributes around 75-80 percent of hide and 20 percent of skin. So the major sources for hide are fallen animals and skin is from slaughtered animals.

Classification involves grouping organisms into a series of hierarchical categories. Actual method of establishing a classification consists in defining groups or categories on a hierarchical scale. The animals can be classified in a taxonomic hierarchy consisting of a series of categories of ascending ranks from species to kingdom. Each of these categories includes one or more groups from the next lower level. Therefore, all animals can be classified in a taxonomic hierarchy consisting a series of categories in ascending order from species to kingdom such as species, genus, family, order, class, phylum and kingdom.

According to the history of biological classification, Aristotle, a Greek philosopher classified different animals based on the habitat, characteristics etc. Later Swedish botanist Carolus Linnaeus introduced taxonomic hierarchy categories during 18th century and this system is followed globally.

Taxonomic hierarchy refers to the sequence of categories in increasing or decreasing order. Kingdom is the highest rank and species is the lowest rank in hierarchy. Taxonomic hierarchy is the process of arranging various organisms into successive levels of biological classification. Each of the level of the hierarchy is called taxonomic category or rank.

Abstract

High altitudes may be cold and humid or cold or arid ones making the requirements of protected cultivation entirely different in both the conditions. The present chapter is based on the environmental conditions existing in Leh region. Near sub-zero temperature with snow in higher altitudes makes vegetable production tough without use of techniques of protected cultivation. Protected cultivation has witnessed gradual developments from riverbed cultivation practices to use of several types of plastics (PP, PE, PVC etc.) and UV stabilized polythene sheets. Area under protected cultivation is spread worldwide mainly in countries like Holland, Spain, Isaral, China , Japan etc. Protected cultivation technology provides favorable climate for production of vegetable &/or their seedlings of superior quality even in the extreme adverse climate outside. Such structure exploits solar thermal energy to improve photosynthetic efficiency of the plants grown inside. This green house effect is very helpful in winters at high altitudes. Similarly, some modifications in these structures are needed to low the temperature during summers. A number of advantages with some limitations can be listed that are associated with the protected cultivation. At high altitudes, three methods viz. Polyhouse/Greenhouse /Net /shaded house, Low tunnels or row covers and plastic mulching can be used. Polyhouse is a framed structure with 200 micron UV stabilized low density cladding forming a greenhouse effect. Underground trench type polyhouse can also be made with polyethylene supported on wooden poles or GI pipes. Though a combination of above two known as polyench was found performing better in Ladhak area. Low tunnels or row cover use transparent plastic films or net over low hoops to cover rows of plants. Mulching is covering the soil around plants to conserve soil moisture, temperature, preventing weeds etc. using transparent and black plastics of 10-25micron thickness. Double colored plastic mulches are being tested for different crops and different seasons. In arid high altitudes, DRDO (through DIHAR, Leh) has worked extensively on protected cultivation and developed production technologies in the service of nation. Its contribution includes making possible the production of nursery, cucurbits and several other vegetables and their seeds in sub zero climatic conditions. Now, there is a need to develop more area specific, more appropriate, efficient and economic protection structures. Simultaneous development of tools, machinery and vegetable varieties suitable for use in protected conditions are among the major aspects of future work to be done in this field.

Cholesterol is present in the diet of all people, and it can be absorbed slowly from the gastrointestinal tract into the intestinal lymph. It is highly fat soluble but only slightly soluble in water and is capable of forming esters with fatty acids.

The art in producing high-boiled sweets with satisfactory shelf life is manufacturing boilings which contain the minimum amount of residual moisture and a satisfactory balance between cane or beet sugar, and glucose syrup or invert sugar syrup. The main physical change during the storage of high-boiled sweets is the formation of small crystals in the confection, usually referred to as graining, due to recrystallisation of sucrose. These spoil the appearance and cause an unpleasant roughness on the tongue.

For high-boiled sweets it is impossible, using the normal proportions of cane or beet sugar (sucrose) and glucose syrup, to obtain a product of 97% solids content, which is not supersaturated with respect to sucrose.

In practice, however, one-and-a-half parts of sugar (sucrose) to one part of forty-two DE glucose syrup will produce a high-boiled sweet stable against graining.

High Density Orcharding

India is the second largest producer of the fruits (41.5 million tones) in the world. Still the productivity of almost all the fruits in India is very low (12 tones /ha) as compared to other fruit growing countries of the world. It is a major cause of concern to our scientists, extension personnel and orchardists. Many reasons may be attributed to the low productivity and to solve this problem our scientists have to develop high yielding varieties/hybrids, resistant to the biotic and abiotic stresses and develop better agro-techniques for realizing the maximum potential of the fruit cultivation in India. Though, we have achieved this distinction, but the per capita consumption of the fruits in our country is still 80 g/day due to our huge population, which is far below from the recommendation of 120g/capita/day.

The high density planting (HDP) in fruit crops is one of the new concepts of increasing the productivity without affecting the quality of fruits. The concept of high density planting was pioneered in temperate fruits in Europe at the end of 1960, since then there is rise in establishment of commercial high density orchards throughout the world. Initially HDP was followed mostly in temperate fruits e.g., apple. HDP is defined as a method of planting wherein more numbers of plants are planted per unit area as compared to conventional planting density or it is a modern method of fruit cultivation involving planting of fruit trees densely, allowing small or dwarf trees with modified canopy for better light interception and distribution and ease of mechanised field operations. It is one of the important methods to achieve high productivity per unit area both in short duration and perennial fruit crops.

Now-a-days, new orchards of fruits are planted in this system with a view to produce higher fruit yield and increased profitably. In addition, there is also a need to feed the growing population and provide them nutritional security and land resources are shrinking simultaneously due to the industrialization, urbanization etc., hence it is required to develop the modern facilities to compete with the developed nation. The success of this technology in most of the fruit crops is dependent on the use of methods to control shoot growth so as to maximize light interception. The main aim of HDP is to obtain the twin prerequisites of productivity by maintaining a balance between vegetative and reproductive growth without sacrificing plant health and fruit quality.

The high density planting (HDP) in fruit crops is one of the new concepts of increasing the productivity without affecting the quality of fruits. The concept of high density planting was pioneered in temperate fruits in Europe at the end of 1960, since then there is rise in establishment of commercial high density orchards throughout the world. Initially HDP was followed mostly in temperate fruits e.g., apple.

With the culmination of green revolution, the yield in agriculture is almost static with the use of even great deal of inputs and resources with appearing decadence in nature. The agriculture, if continuous on with same trend, will no longer productive and sustainable. Heterogenity being vested with best survival and sustenance, attempt is underway towards crop diversification deploying remunerative crops and techniques so as to keep pace with rising demand of mankind. Added to this, dwindling land : man ratio (0.13 ha during 1990s), harvesting more return from a unit area of land, disguised unemployment, improper availability of fruits and vegetables (40 g and 120 g respectively as against 120 g and 280 g for fruits and vegetables, respectively), generating employment (143 man-days/ha in cereals, 860 man-days/ha in fruit production and 1000-2500 man-days/ha in cultural intensive fruit crops), are major concerns for high density planting (HDP). It is a holistic production system which helps in promoting and preserving dynamic agro-ecosystem. HDP is also an aid to biodiversity, biological cycles and organic farming. As an alternative to raise production and productivity especially to compete global trade, HDP is worth adoption.

India is regarded as a horticulture paradise due to growing of tropical, subtropical and temperate fruit crops in varied soil and climatic conditions. However, increasing pressure on land owing to diversion of orchard lands to various other obvious reasons as well as rising energy and land-costs, together with mounting demand for fruits have made HDP imperative to achieve higher productivity from limited space.

There is a shift in farmers’ perception from production to productivity and profitability, which can be achieved through high density planting. India is the second largest producer of fruits in the world. However, the average productivity of various fruit crops in the country is quite less. Low productivity can be attributed to many reasons such as old and senile orchards, lack of canopy management practices, planting of poor yielding varieties, low or no adoption of recommended package of practices by the farmer leading to poor orchard management, etc.

ABSTRACT

The mass production of orchids through in vitro approach is now practising on a commercial scale. But, in most cases, it is being done via an intermediate callus which may lead to variability in the progenies. A study was made to standardize a protocol for rapid mericloning of tropical orchid dendrobium cv. sonia from the shoot tip explant without an intermediate callus so as to produce true to type progenies. The efficiency of production of clones through agar gelled medium and shake cultures were compared. The shoot tip explants produced an average of 6-8 multiple shoots on agar gelled (0.8% w/v) MS medium containing 3% sucrose as carbon source supplemented with a hormonal combination of 0.75 mg l^-1 NAA and 2.5 mg l^-1 KIN without an intervening callus, within a period of 3 - 4 months. When the shoot tip explants were cultured in agitated ( 80 - 100 rpm) liquid Vacin and Went ( VW) medium supplemented with 3% sucrose, 2.0 - 2.5 mg l^-1 BA and 0.5 - 1.0 mg l^-1 NAA could induce a large number of protocorms within a period of two weeks. Agitated liquid MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg l ^-1 IBA and 2 mg l^-1 BA or 0.5 mg l ^-1 2,4 - D, 0.5 mg l^-1 GA₂ and 3.0 mg l^-1 BA was identified as the rapid multiplication medium of the protocorms. About 60 - 80 protocorms could be produced from a single protocorm within a period of 3 weeks. Transfer of these protocorms to agar gelled (0.8%w/v) MS medium containing 2% sucrose supplemented with 20 - 25% coconut milk (CM) was found ideal for plantlet formation of size 1.0 - 1.5 cm within a period of three weeks. Sub culturing of the plantlets to the same medium resulted in rapid profuse rooting. Transfering the rooted plants into bottles containing sterile coconut husk provided with half MS medium without sucrose and hormones was sufficient for in vitro hardening. By this two stage culturing technique, about 50 - 60 true to type clones can be produced from a single shoot apex within a period of 3 months.

ABSTRACT

Aloe vera is one of the oldest known therapeutic herb belongs to the family Liliaceae commonly known as guar patta. Gel from fleshy leaves of Aloe vera is rich in 200 nutrients which are used in healing the burns, wounds, gastric ulcers, treatment of diabetes and also used in normal functioning of the liver. Aloe vera is a desert plant which needs water in very less quantity. As Aloe vera is second in ranking in drug production in the world. Government of India is also trying to promote Aloe vera as a crop in dry and semi dry regions of India. As it needs very less and cheaper inputs, Aloe farming promises higher economic gains to farmers. But as the plant grows vegetatively the quality planting material is a problem. Tissue culture provides an opportunity in production of quality seedlings. To optimize the regeneration system in Aloe vera, MS based media were tried to induce shoot formation in cultured shoot tip explants. 6-10 cm long offshoots were collected. Shoot tip explants were cut vertically after sterilization in laminar hood and cultured on MS basal media supplemented with various growth regulators. A total of 23 media were tried for shoot regeneration. All the cultures were incubated under fluorescent light. Different concentrations of BAP (2, 5, 10 mg/l) were used and MS medium with 2 mg/l or 5 mg/l BAP exhibited similar response while BAP at 10 mg/l showed poor shoot formation. TDZ when used at 1 mg/l concentration improved percent shoot formation marginally. Multiple shoots were observed on TDZ containing medium and BAP (2.0 mg/l) supplemented medium in 12-15 days. Multiple shoots were obtained in 12 days when 2 mg/l BAP was added along with 0.18 mg/l IAA. The number of multiple shoots ranged from 4 -15 per explant. The regenerated plants developed roots on MS medium supplemented with 0.1mg/l NAA.

High Humidity Hot Air Impingement Blanching (HHAIB) is a modern blanching technology developed to overcome several limitations associated with conventional blanching. This chapter introduces HHAIB as a pretreatment used before drying, freezing, canning and frying, particularly for fruits and vegetables. It explains the underlying principle of high-humidity hot-air impingement and its effects on heat and mass transfer. The chapter discusses applications in pre-dehydration treatment, colour preservation, texture and structural integrity and enzyme inactivation. Comparative analysis with conventional blanching methods highlights its potential advantages in drying efficiency, quality retention and energy utilization, making HHAIB an important emerging technology for modern food processing.

Abstract

The future food grain demand in India is projected to increase beyond 300 million tons by 2025. There are only two ways to meet the increasing food and other agricultural demands of the country’s rising population either expanding the net area under cultivation or intensifying cropping over the existing area. The net sown area of the country has risen by about 20 per cent since independence and has reached a point where it is not possible to make any appreciable increase. The option left is go for high cropping intensity for ahead of present of 137%. A major share of this increase is likely to come from increasing the number of crops produced per year on a given land using improved crop cultivars. Research indicates that maximum intensity of 400-500% is possible provided situation fulfills the requisite factors such as irrigation facilities, short duration varieties, mechanization and agrochemicals are available. The objective of increasing the cropping intensity will be achieved only by the inclusion of short duration varieties of cereals, identification of pulses and oilseed crops that can fit well in the cropping systems of different agro-ecologies that will ultimately improve crop productivity per unit of land making the efficient utilization of resources and will meet the objectives of crop diversification leading to food and economic security of the nation.

Various products of karanj (Pongamia glabra) are utilized for industrial, health and animal agricultural application in the Indian subcontinent. Despite a rich source of protein (CP 28 —34 %), karanj (honge) cake is found to be slightly bitter in taste and toxic owing to the presence of furanoflavonoid (Karanjin), restricting its safe inclusion in the livestock diets. Though a non polar solvent, soxhlet extraction of karanj seed cake with petroleum ether/ acetone drastically reduces karanjin content. The residual cake left after solvent extraction is proved to be safe as animal feed supplement.

Estimation of karanjin

The samples can be analysed for the toxin, karanjin as per the method of Prabhu et al. (2002).

Extraction of Karanjin from Raw and Processed Cake

Exactly 25 gm of ground and thoroughly mixed sample is weighed and transferred into the thimble and extracted for 12h using 200ml of freshly distilled methanol as solvent. Methanol extract is then cooled and filtered into preweighted round bottom flask using Whatman No.1 filter paper.The excess methanol is distilled off under vacuum. The flask containing the extract is weighed again to obtain the weight of extract by subtracting the empty flask’s weight. Sufficient amount of moisture free extract is transferred into vials for further analysis.

High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was developed during late 1960s and early 1970s. Today it is a widely accepted separation technique for both sample analysis and purification in a variety of areas. HPLC, basically a highly improved form of column chromatography and popularly known as liquid chromatography, like other forms of chromatography, whether paper, thin layer or gas chromatography, needs two essential components, the stationary and the mobile phase. It has the unique ability to separate and quantitate residues of polar, non volatile and heat labile chemical compounds. HPLC uses high pressure pumps up to 400 atmospheres that makes it much faster, short and narrow columns packed with micro particulate phase and a detector. To affect a separation, mixture to be analysed is dissolved in a solvent (ideally this solvent is identical to mobile phase) and then forced to flow through analytical column along with mobile phase. In the column the constituents of mixture get resolved and are detected with a suitable detector by a proper choice of column, mobile phase and detector. HPLC is a technique having high degree of versatility. There are several excellent texts published over the last decade which may be consulted for general information on the instrumentation in liquid chromatography

In the present era, residue analyst is exposed to array of analytical choice and as per International regualtions, presence of pesticide residues in environmental components and food commodities are becoming more stringent.Generally, multiresidue methods are based on GC equipped with selective detection either electron capture detector, nitrogen phosphorous detector, flame ionization detector etc. One most widely applied technique in pesticide residue analysis is HPLC, equipped with different detectors. Another up-datemethod for confirmation is gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GCMS)and HPLC-MS applyingparticlebeam or thermo sprayionisationtechnique. Recently one more analytical technique which has gained ground in the field of pesticide residue analysis, is high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC).The criteria of good analytical technique like simple, rapid, flexible, versatile, inexpensive, easily documented and validated has been the inherent advantage of HPTLC. Strictly speaking, HPTLC is not different in principleor application from conventional TLC, but due to improvements in materials, its effectiveness has also enhanced.The technique has a potential to operate upto femtogramlevel. HPTLC is a sophisticated and automated form of TLC. It is a technique which can generate about 5000 or more theoretical plates. The high performance in TLC is achieved by optimized plate coating materials, by improved sample application techniques, and by developing newmethods for the development of mobile phase. Thus HPTLC is an instrumental approach at different stages of TLC. A flow chart for HPLC principle is shown in Figure 8.1. The principle of separation is based on adsorption and this leads to easyseparationof isomers, includingchiralcompounds.Main difference between HPTLC and TLC is given in Table 8.1

High pressure (or performance) liquid chromatography (HPLC) is more versatile than GC since it is not limited to volatile compounds. The choice of mobile and stationary phases is wider. HPLC has high resolving power, separations are speedier, quantifications are more precise and it is in general, more reproducible. Liquid chromatography basically involves separation of components due to differences in the equilibrium distribution of sample components between the mobile (liquid) and stationary phases.

1. Introduction

Fruit products have their unique identities having large content of micronutrients, polyphenols, vitamins, flavonoids and other nutritional compounds. Characteristic appearance and flavors distinguish among various fruit based products like juice, puree, jam, jelly, squash and other several varieties. Main concern of this fruit processing industry is the stability of the products throughout the post processing storage. Thermal treatment as mean of preservation of these products is the common process implemented so far. It ensures the safety of the product but lacks in retaining the nutritional intact that like of fresh fruit. Today’s consumer demand for minimally processed fruit products and “natural” fruit products tend to think of alternative thermal processing.

High pressure processing (HPP), a relatively new concept compared to conventional thermal processing, also sometimes known as high hydrostatic pressure (HHP), or ultra high pressure (UHP) processing, is a non-thermal food processing method that subjects liquid or solid foods, with or without packaging, to pressures ranging between 50 and 1000 MPa. HPP has already been established itself as an alternative to thermal processing. In food processing it is of great interest due to its ability to inactivate food borne microorganisms and enzymes, at low temperature, without the need for chemical preservatives and it is less detrimental than thermal processes to low molecular weight food compounds such as flavoring agents, pigments, vitamins, etc., as covalent bonds are not affected by pressure. Pressure-treated foods have sensory properties similar to fresh products, which is a major advantage in fruit processing as it matches consumer demand for healthy, nutritious and ‘‘natural’’ products. HPP of fruit products offers the chance of producing food of high quality, greater safety and increased shelf life (Hayashi 1989; Gould 1996; Butz and Tauscher 1998).

4.1 Introduction

The purpose of processing the food is to make it safe and healthy for human consumption. The term food processing refers technologically anything, which transforms raw ingredients into consumer ready products, with the aim of stabilizing food products by preventing or reducing deteriorative changes in quality. The objective of food manufacturers is to develop, modify and employ those processing technologies that retain or create desirable sensory qualities in food and eliminate or reduce undesirable changes due to processing.

The purpose of food processing is to increase the shelf life of food before spoiling (preservation); to remove, destroy or inhibit pathogens and toxins (food safety); to change flavor, texture, aroma, color or form (variety); to reduce preparation times and make food more portable (convenience); to restore and/or raise nutrient levels in food (nutrition).The various food processing methods used extensively in food industry include physical (high temperature, freezing, chilling, dehydration, packaging), chemical (control of storage gases, reduction of water activity, pH, addition of chemical additives or spices) preservation methods.

Traditionally, food preservation has been associated with thermal treatments alone or in combination with biochemical or chemical methods. For example, the thermal processing of milk is done various thermal treatments viz. at 63^oC for 30 min for low temperature long time (LTLT), 72^oC for 15 seconds for high temperature short time (HTST) pasteurisations and up to 140^oC for a few seconds for ultra high temperature (UHT) treatment. However, such thermal treatments effectively reduce level of microorganisms but in long-term preservation, it may lead to losses of desired organoleptic attributes and destruction of temperature liable nutrients and vitamins. The limitations involved with thermal processing has been overcome by employing chemical preservation, cool chain management and process hygiene in the formulation and production of food products.

Food and nutrition are necessary for all living beings to maintain good health[1]. Thermal treatment is commonly used for preservation of food. Although application of thermal treatment can ensure food safety, it may cause undesirable changes in the nutritional, sensory and functional properties of food products[2]. Due to growing awareness of connection between the diet and the health, there is an increase in demands for fresh-like, palatable, additive-free and microbiologically safe food products with high nutritional value and quality[3].

Abstract

High Tech interventions begin with acute desire and demand for high productivity and profit from Agricultural activity. High Tech cultivation implies judicious use of space, time and inputs; nothing more and nothing less. It is interesting to note that the different components that were listed in each case above are known to scientists and extension workers and to a lesser extent to farmers also. Piecing them together to formulate a practise is the novel thing. The major components of high tech cultivation assume the highest priority by virtue of the fact that the country has shortage for water and fertilizer and both are essential for any type of crops. Different components of high tech intervention can be used for growing crops, also for the growers to enhance production and quality .High tech intervention includes a number of components like- uniform virus free planting material, drip fertigation technology, assistance to post harvest management, and training and guidance to farmers, value addition opportunity, technical support to the farmers etc. These high tech interventions are introduced to other crops- a host of vegetables, fruits like Pomegranate, Cashew and Guava, and agricultural crops like, Cotton, Pulses, Sugarcane, and even cereals like, maize, wheat and rice. Another important aspect of such interventions is that only if concomitant interventions in marketing of produce are made, the whole exercise would bring profit to the farmers.

ABSTRACT

Commercial propagation using tissue culture techniques started in seventies for orchids in USA. Since then, the science and technology of tissue culture have advanced particularly after the development of the most widely used medium by Murashighe and Skoog (1972). The science has led to the development of the fascinating area of gene transfer. Today, micropropagation protocols are available for almost all horticultural crops. But, there are certain grey areas where research need to be intensified to solve the problems confronting certain difficult to propagate species belonging to plantation and spice sectors. The major area that needs to be addressed is recalcitrance.

Introduction

Raising milk and meat production are long-standing global issues. Researchers are learning that present breeding efforts won't be sufficient to meet anticipated future food demands given the current climate scenario. The animals that influence the overall yield of the field must be screened as soon as possible. In order to build more successful modern breeding programmes, high-throughput phenotyping is currently being included into conventional breeding operations. Despite the public accessibility of their genetic information online, there is still a lack of phenotypic data on the genomes of various animal breeds because environmental factors make it more difficult to define phenotypes and increase the likelihood of measurement error (Rahaman et al., 2015). Genomic selection (GS) is a strategy that predicts the genomic estimated breeding values of lines in a breeding population using information from genome-wide markers (Meuwissen et al., 2001). When compared to other conventional methods like marker-assisted selection (MAS), genomic selection has some inherent advantages. These include boosting genetic gain by reducing breeding cycles and acquiring minor effect loci based on markers dispersed throughout the entire target genome. Reliable phenotypes and genotyping are both necessary for the training of accurate prediction models for genomic selection. Phenotyping is regarded as a significant factor restricting genetic improvements in animal breeding due to high labour and time expenditures. Traditional approaches of phenotyping are prohibitively expensive, time-consuming, and slow.

Abstract

The Himalaya is one of the youngest and the richest mountain ecosystems encompassed with a variety of species of both flora and fauna. Varying in climatic conditions coupled with altitudinal gradients and unique topography leads to the formation of different types of forests, which varies from tropical to the temperate and alpine to no timber line zone and snow-clad meadows. The present study aimed to investigate the potential of medicinal plants growing in valleys and mountains of district Doda to cure various ailments of the local inhabitants including animal health care. A total of 113 species belonging to 104 genera and 55 families of angiosperms, gymnosperms and cryptogams (lycophytes and ferns) were recorded and reviewed from published documents used for treatment of different diseases in the regions. Out of the total 113 species, 17 species were of trees, 14 species were shrubs, 78 types of herbaceous plants and 4 species of climbers. Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, Rosaceae, Ranunculaceae, Polygonaceae, Solanaceae, Apiaceae, Pinaceae, Fabaceae and Berberidaceae were recorded as the dominant families of the study area. The data were collected while interacting with local people as they possess rich traditional knowledge regarding the use of different herbal plants and medicine.

Introduction

Arid and semi arid parts of the India are known as Seed Spices Bowl (Rajasthan and Gujarat) and contribute more than 80% of total seed spices production. Total 109 spices are listed by ISO and 63 spices are grown in India and out of which 20 are being classified as seed spices. Out of 20 seed spices, ICAR-NRCSS working on 10 most important seed spices namely cumin, coriander, fennel, fenugreek, ajwain, anise, caraway, celery, dill and nigella (NRCSS Vision, 2050). Seed spices also grown in some other states on considerable areas such as Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Orissa, Punjab, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Since there is a large scope of seed spices by introducing them in new areas, the higher yields can also be achieved effortlessly by implementing new technologies. Among seed spices, maximum area is under cumin followed by coriander, fennel fenugreek, ajwain, celery, nigella, dill, anise etc. Being seasonal crops, these are grown extensively in rotation with food crops and also as inter/mixed crops under rainfed/irrigated conditions. All these crops mostly grown in rabi season. India is the largest producer, consumer and exporter of seed spices in the world. Out of total area and production in spices, seed spices contribute about 51.79% of total area and 19.06% of production of spices in the country. The area under seed spices is about 1.74 million hectare and 1.45 million tonnes. India is consistent source of seed spices for importing countries worldwide. There has been ever increasing demand of seed spices and importing countries look at India for quality produce of seed spices.

Introduction

Vegetables are one of the potential crops in meeting the food requirements and improving the nutritional status of our people. They play a vital role in crop diversification, employment generation, and nutritional security and in improving the economic conditions of farmers.

Our country has made a tremendous progress in vegetable production and ranked as second largest producers of vegetables in the world with a total production of more than 125 million tons per annum. Our estimated demand is about 225 million tons by 2020 AD. This target can be achieved through use of improved vegetable varieties, hybrids and production technologies even with diminishing land and water resources.

In Indian vegetable scenario, IARI has contributed significantly by developing more than 168 improved varieties and 24 hybrids in different vegetables. Apart from high yielding, many of these varieties/F₁ hybrids are resistant to biotic and abitic stresses and also suitable for processing, value addition and export. Besides developing large number of improved varieties and F₁ hybrids of vegetables, IARI has developed/standardized improved hi-tech vegetable nursery and off-season production technologies which require commercialization by the entrepreneurs as these can bring quantum improvement

Abstract

Greenhouse vegetable cultivation is gaining popularity for reasons such as high productivity of quality produce round the year with enhanced input use efficiency. As agriculture has a major share in our economy and if India has to emerge as an economic power in the world, the productivity should substantially increase from the present levels. We need a new and effective technology which can constantly improve the productivity, profitability and sustainability of our major farming systems. One such technology is the green house vegetable production technology. At Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangaluru, research on greenhouse vegetable production is in progress since the year 2000, resulting in the development of many technologies which have made possible to realize high yield levels in tomato, capsicum and cucurbits that are comparable to international standards of greenhouse productivity. Tomato and bell pepper yields have touched 300 tonnes and 200tonnes/ha/year, respectively and cucurbits 80 to 100 tonnes/ha/crop of 3 months. Vegetable cultivation in cost effective greenhouse is a technical reality in India, which is being adopted by resourceful farmers in and around big towns and cities as a peri-urban horticultural system. Such production systems have not only extended the growing season of vegetables and made their availability round the year but also opened the possibilities of growing new vegetables such as coloured capsicums, cherry tomatoes, seedless watermelons, icebox melons, sweet cucumbers, coloured cabbage, etc., besides tomato, cucumber, eggplant and climbing beans. Quality seedling production is one more important greenhouse activity in the present agricultural scenario as more and more F₁ hybrids are being adopted by the farmers.

High Yielding Variety Programme (HYVP)

High Yielding Variety Programme (HYVP) was launched in 1966, which helped the country in attaining self-sufficiency in food. The technological development did not remain confined to the introduction of high yielding crop varieties alone. These were combined with the application of high analysis and balanced fertilizer, irrigation, plant protection, improved implements etc. which made a ‘Green Revolution’possible in the country.

India is the second-largest producer of fruits in the world after China. However, the average productivity of fruits in India could be higher compared to many developed countries. The main reasons for low productivity are old and senile orchards, low-yielding varieties, poor orchard management, and inadequate technological upgradation and adoption by the growers. Presently, due to urbanization and population explosion, there is a continuous decline in the availability of cultivable land; rising energy and land costs, together with the increased demand for horticultural produce, have given thrust to the concept of high-density planting (HDP) in fruit crops. However, at the same time, it is now realized that there is limited scope for a quantum jump in fruit production in traditional areas. Therefore, the alternative is to expand under non-traditional regions like arid and semi-arid areas of the country. India’s hot arid and semi-arid regions are spread mainly in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Punjab, and Haryana. The vast land resources offer an excellent opportunity for fruit production in the Indian arid zone, which is spread over about 31.70 m ha, of which 41.50% is arable and 19% is a cultivable wasteland (Table 1).