eChapters

Introduction
Social sustainability has gained significant attention in the contemporary development, especially in information technology (IT). Social sustainability refers to the ability of a society to maintain and improve social well-being, equity, and quality of life for its present and future generations. It involves fostering an environment where all individuals, irrespective of their socioeconomic backgrounds, have equal access to resources, opportunities, and services. Information technology (IT) has emerged as a transformative tool in achieving social sustainability by addressing various social challenges such as inequality, lack of access to education, healthcare, and basic services. It also fosters community engagement, empowerment, and participation in governance.

Introduction
In global environmental challenges, sustainable products have gained considerable prominence. Sustainable products are those designed, manufactured, and disposed of in ways that minimize environmental impact, promote resource efficiency, and
contribute to a circular economy. Integrating information technology (IT) into sustainable products’ design, production, and lifecycle management has emerged as a crucial enabler of innovation and efficiency in achieving environmental sustainability. IT-enhanced sustainable products leverage technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, and data analytics to reduce waste, optimize resource use, extend product lifecycles, and enhance transparency. By incorporating IT into the lifecycle of products, manufacturers and designers can make smarter decisions that have far-reaching benefits for both the environment and the economy. This detailed analysis will
explore how IT contributes to creating sustainable products, focusing on product design, resource optimization, manufacturing processes, consumer engagement, and end-of-life management.

Technical Knowledge (ITK) based special inputs / Techniques for plant growth

Growth of the plant has for long been believed to be due to the minerals absorbed from the soil and the food materials synthesized by the palnt. It is recognized that growth of the plant is very much regulated by certain chemical substances known as growth regulators. These substances are formed in one tissue or organ of the plant and are then transported to other sites where they produce specific effects on growth and development. These materials can be produced organically for improving plant growth.

3.1. Growth Promoting Substances

Are those organic solutions (like Panchagavya, Buttermilk & Coconut milk slurry, Amudhakaraisal) prepared using the plant and animal products, decayed fruit and other agricultural wastes. For example

From very early times, humans were astonished, fascinated and frightened by the weather events and the dynamism of changes that weather brought around them. Human beings have attempted to predict the weather informally for millennia, and formally since the nineteenth century. He has tried to predict or forecast the weather mainly based on many indicators around. In the earliest record of weather forecast, the Babylonians have predicted the weather from cloud patterns as well as astrology in 650 BC. In 904 AD, Ibn Wahshiyya, an Iraqi alchemist and agriculturist in his work Nabatean Agriculture have discussed the behavior of plants and animals also along with atmospheric, planetary, solar and lunar signs in weather forecasting. This is perhaps the first work that have discussed about the animal and bird indicators for weather forecast. Though there are a variety of end uses to modern weather forecasts, indigenous knowledge and application of weather forecasts were mainly for agricultural operations. Farmers have to rely on weather forecasts to decide on what work has to be done on any particular day. They are astute weather watchers and are quick to recognize weather that is either favourable or unfavourable to their production systems. In traditional weather forecasting, the farmers has identified a set of indicators and developed a reliability factor for each of them. Predicting weather is also an important cultural component for farmers, as it is common for farmers to discuss weather indicators on the street, markets and with family members.

Farmers have used traditional knowledge to understand weather and climate patterns in order to make decisions about crop and irrigation cycles. This knowledge has been gained through many decades of experience, and has been passed on from previous generations, and the knowledge is also adapted to local conditions and needs. But the scientific forecasts are formulated at a much larger scale and so access to get location specific rainfall forecast to take proper decision at the farm level is very limited. Besides forecasting weather, the farmers has also evolved several coping strategies in rain-fed systems across the world and so today many international development agencies, universities and research institutions have started focusing on indigenous knowledge and have incorporated it in development perspectives.

Agricultural scientists and policy makers have understood that continuation of modern agriculture might lead to severe ecological and economic problems. We are also convinced that modern agriculture may not be able to meet the requirements of the ever increasing population in the future. So, we are searching for alternative technologies. Several alternatives have been proposed such as low external input agriculture, sustainable agriculture, organic farming, biodynamic farming etc. However, they require, some times little or considerable external inputs whose availability may be uncertain in future.

Hence for the developing countries, the other alternative viz., traditional methods have special advantages over modern agricultural techniques. Also the capital and technological skill requirements in the use of traditional technologies are generally low and their adoption often requires little restructure of the traditional societies. The traditional technologies are nothing but indigenous technical knowledge. By adopting such indigenous knowledge, our ancestors did not face any problem of large-scale pest out break or economic crisis unlike the today’s farmers.

Key Points

• Animal euthanasia is the act of humanely killing animals, most commonly with injectable drugs.

• Euthanasia techniques vary by species, age, and the health status of the individual animal.

• Death must be confirmed before disposal of any animal remains.

• Animal remains must be disposed of in a legal manner that does not contaminate food sources or the environment.

Introduction

Euthanasia is the act of inducing humane death in an animal by a method that induces rapid loss of consciousness and death with a minimum of pain, discomfort, or distress. Euthanizing agents cause death by three basic mechanisms: (1) direct depression of neurons necessary for life function, (2) hypoxia, and (3) physical disruption of brain activity. Because loss of consciousness resulting from these mechanisms can occur at different rates, the suitability of a particular agent or method will depend on whether an animal experiences distress before loss of consciousness. Unconsciousness, defined as a loss of individual awareness, occurs when the brain’s ability to integrate information is blocked or disrupted. Ideally, euthanasia techniques cause rapid loss of consciousness, followed by cardiac or respiratory arrest and death.

Syn.cordifolia Cogn.,C.indica Wight and Arn,Bryonia grandisL. Family.Cucurbitaceae) is an aggressively climbing vine that  spreads quickly over trees, shrubs, fences or other supports. It is also called  scarlet fruited gourd or little gourd. The name is derived from the Latin coccineus, meaning scarlet,in reference to fruit colour (Wagner et al.,1999). Vernacular names are kundru (hindi), kovakka, kova (malayalam), kovakkai, kovai(tamil), thondakayi (kannada), dondakaya (telugu). Coccinia shoot is a good source of calcium, iron, and fiber and has good texture (Anon., 2002). It is grown mostly in homestead farms for tender fruits in almost all regions of the country. It bears fruits almost through out the year where mild winter prevails. In regions where severe winter occurs, it bears fruit for 8-9 months. Although this is considered as a an under utilized vegetable, it is grown extensively in Chattisgarh, West Bengal, Bihar and Karnataka on a commercial scale and giving remunerative returns to  farmers. Availability of better cultivars and knowledge of  many other preparations and uses of this crop can propel its evolution from an under utilized species to an important horticultural crop in Indian Agriculture.

Ivy gourd (Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt), a climbing, herbaceous perennial plant in family Cucurbitaceae, grows well under hot-humid conditions. The genus name is derived from the Latin coccineus, which means scarlet in reference to the fruit color. Thus, it is also called scarlet-fruited gourd. Other vernacular names are: little gourd in English, courge écarlate in French, pepino cimarrón in Spanish, tam leung or phak tam leung in Thai, kundree or kundru in Hindi, pepasan in Malay, hong-gua in Chinese, and tindori in East Africa (Schippers, 2002; MMPND, 2007; USDA, 2007). The plant is often collected wild or cultivated in home gardens in tropical Asia, and its tender shoots are consumed as potherb (Wasantwisut and Viriyapanich, 2003). Bundled tender shoots of ivy gourd in the village market setting are common scenes in Southeast Asia (Boonkerd et al., 1993; Engle et al., 1998). The fruit of its sweet type cultivar is also used widely as a vegetable in India (Ramachandran and Subramaniam, 1983; Sarnaik et al., 2001; Bharathi, 2007). Ivy gourd has a potential to be a valuable vegetable in the tropics to diversify cropping system in peri-urban and urban agriculture, and to improve diet and health, especially where vitamin A deficiency is of developing concern.

Ixora is an ornamental plant which is a medium-sized, tropical flowering, evergreen shrub that is used in landscapes. The genus Ixora belongs to the family Rubiaceae. The plants have glossy green leaves which are arranged oppositely along each stem. All Ixoras produce clusters of star-shaped flowers on stem tips or terminal growth. They are grown for their beautiful flowers which bloom in summer in clusters of different shades of red, pink or yellow (De Block, 1998 and Husain and Paul, 1988). The colour of the wild flowers is red or reddish-orange but ornamental varieties may have white, yellow, salmon or pink flowers. It is commonly known as West Indian Jasmine. The other common names of this plant are Jungle Geranium, Flame of the Woods, Jungle Flame, Burning Love, Red Ixora, Ixora, Amor Ardiente, Cruz de Malta, Dola de Coral, Equisosea and Rajana (Griffiths,1994 and Liogier,1997), Rangan, Kheme, Ponna, Chann Tanea, Techi, Pan, Santan, Jarum-Jarum and many more. Members of Ixora prefer acidic soil and are suitable for bonsai (Frommer, 2001). I. coccinea is used extensively for landscaping and is also grown as a potted ornamental (Lakshmanan et al., 1997). Ixora coccinea and Ixora parviflora are generally used as the ornamental plants in gardens and parks.

Ixora is an ornamental plant which is a medium-sized, tropical flowering, evergreen shrub that is used in landscapes. The genus Ixora belongs to the family Rubiaceae. The plants have glossy green leaves which are arranged oppositely along each stem. All Ixoras produce clusters of star-shaped flowers on stem tips or terminal growth. They are grown for their beautiful flowers which bloom in summer in clusters of different shades of red, pink or yellow (De Block, 1998 and Husain and Paul, 1988). The colour of the wild flowers is red or reddish-orange but ornamental varieties may have white, yellow, salmon or pink flowers. It is commonly known as West Indian Jasmine. The other common names of this plant are Jungle Geranium, Flame of the Woods, Jungle Flame, Burning Love, Red Ixora, Ixora, Amor Ardiente, Cruz de Malta, Dola de Coral, Equisosea and Rajana (Griffiths,1994 and Liogier,1997), Rangan, Kheme, Ponna, Chann Tanea, Techi, Pan, Santan, Jarum-Jarum and many more. Members of Ixora prefer acidic soil and are suitable for bonsai (Frommer, 2001). I. coccinea is used extensively for landscaping and is also grown as a potted ornamental (Lakshmanan et al., 1997). Ixora coccinea and Ixora parviflora are generally used as the ornamental plants in gardens and parks.

It is also a popular choice for hedges in parts of South East Asia like Thailand. Red Ixora flowers are commonly used in Hindu worship as well as in Indian folk medicine. The flowers, leaves, roots and the stems are used to treat various ailments in the Indian traditional system of medicine, the Ayurveda. The fruits are used as a dietary source. The plant possesses antioxidative, antibacterial, gastroprotective, hepatoprotective, antidiarrhoeal, antinociceptive, antimutagenic, antineoplastic and chemopreventive effects. The oil extracted from the flowers is helpful in conditions like scabies, eczema, pruritis and other skin infections. It is also used for hedges and borders and planted as an indoor potted plant. In laboratory tests, extracts of Jungle Geranium have shown anti-bacterial (Kumer et al., 1997) and anti-tumour (Serrame and Lim-Sylianco, 1995 and Latha and Panikkar, 2000) activity. From a methanol extract of the flowers, 13 chemicals were identified including ursolic acid which has known antitumor and antiviral activity (Monteath et al., 2001). In the traditional medicine of India, infusions of the leaves and juice from the roots are used to treat a wide variety of ailments including dysentery, ulcers, and gonorrhea (Parrotta, 2001).

Ixora is an evergreen flowering shrub valued for its attractive clusters of brightly coloured flowers and its suitability for loose flower production, religious offerings, garlands and landscaping. The crop performs well under tropical and subtropical conditions and is appreciated for its extended flowering period. This chapter presents the botanical characteristics, origin, distribution, genetics and important varieties of Ixora. It discusses suitable climate and soil conditions, propagation, land preparation, planting, nutrient management, irrigation and cultural practices. Special attention is given to pruning and canopy management for improving flowering. The chapter also covers important insect pests and diseases, harvesting, postharvest handling and yield, providing practical guidance for commercial Ixora production.

Jasmonic acid: Jasmonic acid is derived from the fatty acid, linolenic acid. It is a member of the jasmonate class of plant hormones. It is biosynthesized from linolenic acid by the octadecanoid pathway. The major function of JA and its various metabolites is regulating plant responses to abiotic and biotic stresses as a well as plant growth and development processes.

Jaeschkea oligosperma Knobl. (Gentianaceae): Ladakhi- Tikta [W]. Annual herb, along scrubby alpine slopes of Ladakh. Leaves lanceolate, blunt. Flowers bluish to reddish purple. The plant is consumed raw as blood purifier.

Judgment sampling: Judgment sampling is utilized frequently during qualitative research to develop hypotheses rather than to generalize to larger populations. The research worker’s decision is used for selecting items which are considered as representative of the population in judgment sampling.

Jaggery: Raw brown / unrefined brown sugar in lump made from palm sap (Plate 365).

Jam: A preserved product prepared on boiling pectin contained in fruit pulp with required amount of sugar, water and acid to a reasonably thick consistency, firm enough to hold the fruit tissues in position (Plate 366).

Jam pack: The packing of the commodity tightly or in excess is called Jam pack.

Jamaica rum: Heavy bodied rum made by slow fermentation and marked by a pungent bouquet.

Jamboline: A type of glucose found in the jamun fruit help in cure of the diabetes in the patients.

Jelly: A product prepared by boiling clear extract of fruits with sugar. It should be transparent, well set, and tender enough to quiver but not flower and when cut; it should retain its shape and show a clean cut surface (Plate 367).

Jaggery or Gur: Unrefined brown coloured sugar produced mainly in India by evaporation of sugar cane juices. Or a crude brown sugar made from the sap of coconut or palmyra palm trees, sold in round cakes or lumps.
Jam: A fruit preserve made by mixing fruit or boiling it with sugar and water and adding extra gelling agent if required, usually pectin. The high sugar concentration inhibits but does not totally prevent proliferation of microorganisms, so jam is usually bottled hot in sterile jars with a seal, or sterilized after bottling.
Jasmine: Natural flavourings with warm, spicy characteristics derived from flowers and leaves of jasmine (Jasminus spp.). Predominant flavour compounds and aroma compounds include jasmonates, jasmones, benzyl acetate, indol and eugenol.
Jellied milk: Milk to which is added sugar, flavourings, thickening agents and gelling agents. It is also known as jellified milk.
Jellies: Small, soft sweets, usually fruit flavoured, of gelatinous texture, made in various shapes and often coated with sugar. The singular term, jelly, is used to refer to jam-like products, usually clear, that are made from strained fruits containing pectins which are boiled with sugar. Also refers to soft, semi- transparent foods prepared from gelatin which are sweetened, flavoured, cooled in a mould and eaten as desserts.

Canavalia ensiformis is a vine that originated in South and Central America and has since spread throughout the tropics and subtropics of the planet. It’s used as a food source, fodder, and a cover crop or green manure. As a minor vegetable crop, jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis), commonly known as horse bean, is extensively dispersed in the tropics and subtropics. Jack bean is a semierect annual herb with a bushy appearance. It is only grown on a small scale in India’s eastern and north-eastern regions. Immature pods and seeds are cooked and eaten like a vegetable. The pods should be cooked in water for 15 minutes before cooking, and then the boiling water should be drained.

Genus : Artocarpus 
Species : heterophyllus L. (Lamk.)
Family : Moraceae
Chromosome No. : 2n = 56

Afamous traveller John de Marignolli has described jackfruit as ‘there is again another wonderful tree, which produced fruit on the trunk, and was very pleasing to see and the fruit was as big as a lamb‘. The rind is hard and has to be cut open by a sharp knife, the pulp inside is of pleasant flavour sweetness of which matches the honey and usually contains 500 or more chestnut like seeds which are eaten after roasting. In its place of origin (India) where it has been grown since ancient times it is held in great esteem. Theopharatus and Pliny who wrote about jackfruit also expressed similar opinion about the fruit. In India several vernacular names are given like Kanthal, Kathal, Panasa and Kantaka.

The jackfruit, Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. of the family Moraceae, is also called jak-fruit, jak, jaca and, in Malaysia and the Philippines, nangka; in Thailand, khanun; in Cambodia, khnor; in Laos, mak mi or may mi; in Vietnam, mit. It produces the largest known edible fruit. In South-India, it is a common shade tree for many plantation crops. A jackfruit contains 28.7% pulp, 11.5% seed and 59.8% rind, sheath and core.

The place of origin of Jackfruit is not knows exactly, but it is believed to be indigenous to the rainforests of the Western Ghats of India. It is found at low elevations throughout India, Burma, Ceylon, southern China, Malaysia, and the East Indies. It is common in the Philippines, both cultivated and naturalized. It is grown to a limited extent in Queensland and Mauritius. In India it grows in a wild and semi-wild state in Assam, West Bengal, Tripura, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and states along western Ghats range, particularly Kerala, Karnataka and Maharastra.

Cultivars: Rasdar, Khajwa, Rose-scented or Gulabi, Champa, Hazari, Rudrakshi.

Uses

Both mature and immature fruits as well as seeds are used for various purposes. Ripe fruit is used for dessert purpose and processing into various products, while unripe bulbs are used for making chips. The immature fruit and seeds are used as vegetable. The bark is used for tanning purpose. Heart-wood yield a yellow dye. A yellow dye can also be extracted from the wood particles and used to dye cotton. The latex which flows from all parts of the plant when injured is also used as adhesive. The resins within the latex may also have some value in varnishes. The timber is a medium hardwood with desirable characteristics for making furniture, oars, implements and musical instruments and the wood is also used in construction. It is termite proof and fairly resistant to fungal and bacterial decay. The roots of older trees are good materials for carving and picture framing Leaves are utilized as a green fodder. Several processed products, such as squash, nectar, fruit bar, toffies, jams, canned and dehydrated pulp, beverages, etc. are prepared from the pulp. The seeds can be eaten boiled, roasted or dried and salted as table nuts, or they can be ground to make flour and blended with wheat flour for baking (International Centre for Underutilized crops, 2003).

The jackfruit tree or jack or simply known as jak (Artocarpus heterophyllus) belongs to the mulberry family (Moraceae) and its fruit, jackfruit, is known as the “poor-man's food” (Bose, 1985; Haq, 2006; Ramanani and Rao, 2001; Rowe-Dutton, 1976; Sonwalkar, 1951; Verheji and Coronel, 1992). It is believed to be native to Southwestern India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka (Answers.com, 2009). It is possibly also native to the Philippines and also East to the Malay Peninsula. The fruit is large, oval and covered with a thick rind that has hexagonal protrusions. Inside the fruit, we find the yellow, fleshy and banana-flavoured carpel or large "bulbs" (which are botanically the perianths) massed among narrow ribbons of thin, tough undeveloped perianths (or perigones), around a central, pithy core. Each bulb encloses a smooth, oval, light-brown coloured "seed" (endocarp) covered by a thin white membrane (exocarp).

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam) is a multi-purpose tree species that provides food, timber, fuel, fodder and medicinal and industrial products. It is one of the species that has been brought into wider cultivation through a farmer-driven domestication process because its products meet the household needs of families with limited land, which require wood and animal feed to ensure family food security. Despite such vast potential and usefulness, jackfruit remains an underutilized fruit species and deserves to be given the necessary thrust for research and development. There is little progress on the genetic improvement of the species, including study on its reproductive biology, even though it demonstrated substantial use and importance. Therefore, a brief background on the reproductive biology of jackfruit is covered here before dealing with its genetic improvement.

Jackfruit is believed to be indigenous to the rain forests of the Western Ghats of India and the name “Jack fruit” is derived from the Portuguese word Jaca, which in turn, is derived from the Malayalam language term, Chakka. The jackfruit has played a significant role in Indian agriculture for centuries. Archeological findings in India have revealed that jackfruit was cultivated in India 3000 to 6000 years ago. During the season, each tree bears as many as 250 large fruits, supposed to be the largest tree-borne fruit in the world. The fruit varies widely in size, weigh from 3 to 30 kg and has oblong or round shape measuring 10 cm to 60 cm in length and above 25 to 75 cm in diameter. 

Shoot and fruit borer : Diaphania (Margaronia) caesalis :  Pyraustidae

The shoot-and fruit-borer D.caesalis is a major pest of jackfruit in India. The larvae are reddish brown with pale brown head and thin hairs from black warts. The caterpillars bore into the shoots, buds and fruits.  Affected shoots wilt or dry up and the fruits rot and drop. The adult is brown with grey elliptical patterns on the wings.

Origin and history: Jackfruit is a common and popular fruit crop of the low land tropics of eastern and southern parts of India. This fruit tree grows well without much care. It is the largest edible fruit (20-40kg), in Srilanka a fruit of about 120 kg was harvested and created the world record. The fruit is also called as poor man’s food in eastern and southern part. The tree has considerable potential, but it is yet to receive due attention in India it is not generally cultivated in regular plantations and is mainly grown in homestead for domestic uses and as a shade tree in coffee or cardamom plantations. The largest area of jack fruit is in Assam, jack fruit can grow in a wide variety of soil but in grow well in rich, deep alluvial soil.

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.), belonging to the family Moraceae, is indigenous to the rain forests of the Western Ghats of India (Menon and Peter, 2011; Amma anbd Kumaran, 2011; Alila and Sanyal, 2011). It spread early onto other parts of India, south-east Asia, the East Indies and the Philippines. It is often planted in central and eastern Africa and is fairly popular in Brazil and Surinam (Menon, 2011). Its tree is adapted to humid tropical and near-tropical climates. The jackfruit tree is handsome and stately. In the tropics, it grows to an enormous size. One of the popular cultivar, Ceylon, was introduced into India from Ceylon and planted extensively in our country.

PRESENT STATUS

India is the second largest producer of jack fruit in the world and better known as the motherland of jackfruit (Verhji and Coronel, 1992; Chadha, 2003; Amma and Kumaran, 2011). Though, it is indigenous to India, but also found widely grown in Bangladesh, Burma, Sri lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Brazil and other tropical countries (Milan, 2011). In India, it has wide distribution in Asam, Tripura, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, foothills of the Himalayas and Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Jackfruit is the national fruit of Bangladesh. It is one of the three auspicious fruits of Tamil Nadu along with mango and banana. Jackfruit is very extensively grown all over the state of Tripura. As per the records of the Department of Horticulture and Soil Conservation, Government of Tripura, the area under jackfruit is about 9,012 ha with a total production of 2,69,404 tonnes (2012-13).

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam., Syn., Artocarpous integrifolia L.) is an evergreen tree species. Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) is a close relative of jackfruit. It belongs to Moraceae family along with fig and mulberry. It is a tree borne fruit crop species producing biggest size fruit among fruit crops. Jackfruit is the national fruit of Bangladesh and Indonesia (Matin, 2015). In southern India, Jackfruit received a respected status symbol. The state government of Kerala declared it as the state fruit of Kerala to promote the ‘Kerala Jack fruit’ and its value-added products as a brand, highlighting its organic and nutritious qualities among people.

• Jackfruit is eaten unripe at 25-50% full size as a vegetable or ripe as a fruit.
• The seeds are boiled or roasted and used in many culinary preparations. The seeds are very rich in carbohydrate and protein.
• Highest production in Assam.
• Jackfruit is a monoecious plant.
• The male inflorescence is long and light green and grows to a length of 5 to cm by 2.4cm.
• Pollen production is abundant and ranges from 1,50,00,000 to 1,70,00,000 per catkin. The percentage of pollen fertility ranges from 89 to 93 and the pollen diameter ranges from 16 to 22.
• Being cross-pollinated and mostly seed propagated, the jack fruit has innumerable types or forms considering the fruit characteristics.
• Gulabi, Champa, Hazari, Rudrakhs, Black Gold, Golden Nugget, J-31, Honey Gold and Lemon Gold.

Present study was undertaken to assess the effect of sepsis on purinergic signaling with special reference to P2Y6 and P2X7 receptors in mouse aorta; and to unravel the interplay between purinergic receptor (P2Y6) and angiotensin II type I receptor (AT1R) in mediating vascular hyporeactivity during sepsis. Sepsis significantly decreased total erythrocytes count, haemoglobin level, total leukocytes count and differential leukocytes count compared to sham-operated mice (SO). Sepsis significantly increased plasma levels of ALT, AST, BUN, creatinine values. Similarly, sepsis significantly increased total bacterial count in peritoneal lavage, blood and spleen compared to healthy control. Functional studies revealed that in mice of SO groups, high K+-depolarising solution produced almost equal contraction in the aortic rings having the intact-endothelium or denuded. But compared to the SO group, mice of the sepsis group, irrespective of the presence or absence of endothelium in aortic rings, exhibited significantly reduced contractile response following exposure to high K+-depolarising solution.

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.

Jam is prepared by boiling the fruit pulp with required quantity of sugar to thick consistency, firm enough to hold fruit tissues in position. It should contain not less than 68.5 per cent soluble solids. Jam may be made from a single fruit (apple, strawberry, banana, pineapple etc.) or from combination of two or more fruits. Jam contains 0.5-0.6% acid and invert sugar should not be more than 40%.

Jam : It is a product prepared by boiling to a suitable consistency, fruit pulp with sufficient quantity of sugar, acid and pectin so as to set and become firm enough to hold the tissues in position. About 45 parts of pulp are used with every 55 parts of sugar. The finished product should not contain less than 68 per cent total soluble solids.

Jelly : Jelly is prepared by boiling the fruit pectin extract with sugar in the presence of appropriate amounts of acid so as to set into a clear gel. A perfect jelly is transparent, devoid of haziness or any suspended material well set, but not too stiff and should have original flavour of the fruit. When cut it should retain its shape and show a smooth cut surface.

Marmalade : It is a fruit jelly like product in which slices of fruit or peel are suspended in the set gel. Mostly they are prepared from citrus fruits like oranges, lemons etc.

Jam:-Jam is a product made by boiling fruit pulp with sufficient sugar to a reasonably thick consistency. Jam is mainly prepared by apple, pear, sapota, apricot, peach, papaya, karonda etc. It can be prepared from one kind of fruits or from two or more kind of fruits. In general jam contain 0.5-0.6% acid and invert sugar should not be more than 40%.

Pulses are important crops in the State of Jammu and Kashmir as they are the only source of protein, an essential part of the vegetative diet. Besides that, pulses enrich the soil fertility by fixing atmospheric nitrogen in the root nodules and improve the soil structure (Thakur et al., 2009). The tap root system explores the deeper soil strata and heavy leaf litter increases the soil organic matter. Pulses in J& K state are ideal crops for mixed and inter-cropping as well as vegetable and fodder crops. It has been estimated that by 2020 the pulse requirement for Jammu region of J&K alone will be 1.51 lakh tonnes (based on average per capita consumption of 68 grams for the projected population of 60.75 lakh) whereas the estimated requirement of J&K state as a whole works out to be 3.85 lakh tonnes (Digest of Statistics 2008-09).

Jamun, Syzygium cumini Skeels, belongs to the family Myrtaceae and genus Eugenia which comprises about 1000 species of evergreen trees and shrubs. Some of the old-world Eugenia spp., are now placed in the genus Syzygium. The genus Syzygium is a multipurpose genus with many important species.

The original home of jamun is considered to be India (Singh, 1969), while it is also found in Thailand, Philippines, Madagascar and other African countries. In India, jamun is mainly grown in eastern Himalaya, Kumaon, Gangatic plains, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Andamans. It grows well in marshy land and also in neglected wastelands.

Cultivars/Varieties: There are no improved variety of jamun for commercial cultivation. The most common type grown in north India is known as Raja jamun. This is a large-fruited type having oblong fruits of deep purple colour. A type having large- sized fruits is known as Paras in Gujarat. Another type found in Varanasi has no seed. A selection with desirable traits has been located by the CSA University of Agriculture and Technology at Faizabad. It has been named as Narendra Jamun 6.

Uses

Jamun fruits are deep purple to violet in colour and are, therefore, very attractive. The anthocyanin pigment is responsible for the colour. The products made from jamun are jellies, jams squash, beverage, wine vinegar and pickle. In Goa and the Philippines, jambolans are an important source of wine, somewhat like Port, and the distilled liquors, brandy and “jambava” have also been made from the fermented fruit. Jambolan vinegar, extensively made throughout India, is an attractive, clear purple, with a pleasant aroma and mild flavor.

Jamun fruit holds a dear place in Indian literature and religion. One such tale states that when Rama was exiled from Ayodhya, he lived on nothing but jamun for 14 years. Hindu mythology also likens Krishna’s blue skin to the color jamun. Its correlation with Krishna is one reason why the fruit is planted near temples honoring him, even today. Another text states how the Puranas split the cosmos into seven continents. The continent at the center and the one on which humans live was regarded as the island of jamun. At the center of the earth was a single jamun mother tree that produced fruits so large that, upon falling, gushed life-giving rivers for all to enjoy.

Introduction:Jamun (Syzygium cumini) belonging to the family Myrtaceae is a popular indigenous fruits Of India. It is also known as black plum, Indian black cherry, Ram jamun etc. in different parts of India. The tree is tall and handsome, evergreen, generally grown for shade and windbreak on roads and avenues. In India, the maximum number of jamun trees are found scattered throughout the tropical and subtropical regions. It also occurs in the lower range of the Himalayas up to an elevation of 1,300 meters and in the Kumaon hills up to 1,600 meters. It is widely grown in the larger parts of India from the IndoGangetic plains in the North to Tamil Nadu in the South.

Soil:The jamun tree can be grown on a wide range of soils. However, for high yield potential and good plant growth, deep loam and a welldrainedsoil are needed. Jamun can grow well under salinity and waterlogged conditions too.

Climate: Jamun prefers to grow under tropical and subtropical climate. It is also found growing in lower ranges of the Himalayas up to an altitude of 1300 meters. The jamun requires dry weather at the time off towering and fruit setting.

Varieties: The common variety grown under North Indian conditions is “Ram Jarnun”. It produces big sized, oblong fruits, deep purple or bluish-black in color at full ripe stage. The pulp of the ripe fruit is purple pink and the fruit is juicy and sweet. The stone is small in size. The variety ripens in the month of June- July and it is very common both in rural as well as in urban markets.

Jamun is an evergreen tree commonly known as Java plum. It has its origin from Southeast Asia, India, Myanmar and East Indies. It belongs to the family Myrtaceae (which has flowers consisting of characteristic numerous stamens) and species Syzygium cuminii (L.) Skeels. Closely related to an important spice Syzygium aromaticum “Clove”. It is cultivated in tropics as an evergreen tree with dense foliage and can provide lot of shade. It is a very popular avenue tree. A unique fast growing tree, known to be tolerant to high rainfall and also to water deficit conditions, it is present in both moist and dry situations, occurring in the tropical wet evergreen forests, tropical semi-evergreen forests, tropical moist deciduous forests, littoral and swamp, tropical dry deciduous, tropical dry evergreen, subtropical broadleaved hills, and subtropical pine forests. The tree favours moist, damp or marshy situations, where it tends to form gregarious crops. It tolerates prolonged flooding, and once established it can tolerate drought.

Jamun is tall evergreen tree indigenous to India.  According to Hindu tradition, Rama subsisted on the fruit in the forest for 14 years during his exile from Ajodhya, because of this, many Hindus regard jamun as a ‘Fruit of the Gods’. It is known by different names in different regions of India: these names are java plum, black plum, jambul and Indian blackberry. Though the fruits of jamun are liked by all and sell at a good price, but it has still not grown as an orchard tree and is generally known as an avenue tree or as a wind break. Jamun is a hardy fruit plant which can be grown under adverse soil and climatic conditions. It is one of the hardiest fruit tree and best suited for wastelands. It is drought tolerant and at the same time can tolerate water stagnation as well as marshy wetlands. 

Genus : Syzygium 
Species : cumini (L.) Skeels
Family : Myrtaceae
Chromosome No. : 2n = 40

Syzygium cumini Jamun, Genus name Syzygium in from Greek word united, referring to the calyptra petals and is an important minor fruit of considerable commercial significance besides being tall growing with evergreen handsome foliage is often used as road side avenue plantation to provide shade. As with other genera this fruit crop is indigenous to the East Indies, is cultivated for its fruit which is refreshing when taken with salt in scorching summer heat in India. The plants are small evergreen with attractive glossy light green foliage found growing along river sides and also planted in avenues.

The Jamun (Syzygium cuminii Skeels) is a nutritious fruit with a variety of uses; virtually every part of the tree has been utilized by both urban and rural dwellers. The fruit is good source of iron, sugars, minerals, protein and carbohydrate etc (Table 1). Fully ripe fruits are eaten fresh and can be processed into beverages like jelly, jam, squash, wine, vinegar and pickles. The Jamun fruit has sub-acid spicy flavour and squash is very refreshing drink for quenching the thrust in the summer season. A little quantity of fruit syrup is much useful for curing the diarrhoea. The vinegar prepared from juice extracted from slightly unripe fruit is stomachic, carminative and diuretic, apart from having cooling and digestive properties (Thaper, 1958). However, small jamun fruits not suitable for table use but suitable for use in the beverage industry as they contained a high amount of acidity, tannins and anthocyanins (Anon., 1986). The volatile oil from the jamun fruits can also be extracted (Vijayanandet al., 2001). Fruits are used as an effective medicine against diabetes, heart and liver trouble (Singh, 2001). The Powdered seeds have also reputation of being useful in the treatment of diabetes. Oral administration of an aqueous jamun seed extract for 6 weeks caused a significant decrease in lipids, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and an increase in catalase and superoxide dismutase in the brain of diabetic rats (Prince et al., 2003). Leaf extract of jamun also reduces the radiation induced DNA damage in the cultured human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Jamun seed can be used as concentrate for animals, as it is rich in protein, carbohydrates and calcium. Its timber wood is used for railway sleepers, construction of buildings, agricultural implements and for well work, as it resists the action of water (Chundawat, 1990).

• S. fruticosum (Jamiya), a small edible fruit, is grown as a wide break.
• Ross apple (Gulab Jamun) bears rose-scented fruits with fibrous flesh.
• Cultivar – Raij Jamun, Paras (Large size) N.J.-6 (Seedless).
• Syzygium Jambos – Rose apple (Gulab Jamun)
• Fruit trees for sodicity tolerance.
• Syzygium grows in tropical and subtropical climate under a wide range of them temperature and rainfall.
• Jamun, in general, prefers dry atmosphere at the time of flowering and fruiting.
• Water apple and rose apple are usually planted in home garden at a distance of 7.0 m × 8.0 m.
• Propagation of seed and shield and patch budding.
• Irrigation the use in May-June requires 5-6 irrigations in a year.
• Intercropping – peach, guava, kagzilime, as fillers, field crop – gram, peas, moong etc.
• Jamun exhibits maximum growth and flowering during February.
• Flower bud differentiation has been observed on 5-10 months old branches, starts in the last week of January and continues for 43 days.