eChapters

Abstract

Vegetables are health capsules, being the chief source of vitamins and minerals besides providing other dietary elements like carbohydrates, proteins and even fat and enzymes to some extent, antioxidants and fibre. Though India is the second largest vegetable producer (147 million tones in 2012) in the world, per capita supply and consumption of vegetables in India is very low (160 g day ^-1). It is now realized that the problems of satisfying hunger and nutrition are much beyond the realm of food crops alone and therefore, to supplement and balance our diet, more vegetables are to be included. Vegetables not only provide nutritional security in rural areas but also financial security to small and marginal land holders growing vegetables in the hinterlands of urban markets. Commercialization of vegetable production is the scene of the day as they are money spinners in domestic markets and dollar earners in global markets. To compete in the domestic and global market and for year round supply of quality produce, protected or greenhouse cultivation of vegetables is imperative. Water and nutrients are the top most growth and production inputs in any crop cultivation and vegetables are no exception to this. In order to get the potential yields with matching quality of vegetables grown under protected cultivation, the best of the management strategies to supply water and nutrients is needed. In this direction, drip fertigation is the best option for efficient supply of irrigation water and fertilizer nutrients for greenhouse grown vegetable crops. The studies carried in different parts of the world have clearly indicated that fertigation technology resulted in substantial yield increase with marked enhancement of water and nutrient productivity.

1. Introduction
With commercial uses ranging from the production of high-quality substances to the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, hydrogenation is an essential step in the formation of organic compounds (Cerveny et al., 1986). There are two main approaches to hydrogenation: direct hydrogenation, which employs pressurized hydrogen gas, and transfer hydrogenation (TH). A versatile and effective approach for producing a large variety of hydrogenated molecules, the TH method entails adding H2 to molecules via an origin other than H2 gas. This approach is increasingly preferred over direct hydrogenation and has recently attracted considerable interest in hydrogenation research. The benefits of the TH method include (i) the elimination of potentially dangerous pressurized hydrogen gas and the complexity of experimental setups, (ii) the accessibility, cost-effectiveness, and ease of use of hydrogen donors, (iii) the potential to recycle the main byproduct, and (iv) the availability and stability of the catalysts employed (Brieger et al., 1974).
1.1. The Historical Context, Core Principles, and Groundbreaking Research on TH (transfer hydrogenation)
With a history spanning more than a century, the TH reaction has a rich past. In order to enable hydrogen transfer between equivalent donor and acceptor units, Knoevenagel showed in 1903 that palladium black could efficiently aid in the disproportionation of dimethyl 1,4-dihydro terephthalate into dimethyl terephthalate and cis-hexahydroterephthalate. Three primary types of hydrogen transfer reactions were distinguished by Braude and Linstead: (i) the hydrogen movement within a single molecule; (ii) hydrogen disproportionation, which entails transfer among identical donor and acceptor units; and (iii) TH-dehydrogenation, which takes place between distinct donor and acceptor units. Of them, THdehydrogenation— often just called TH—is the most well-known and often applied sector. Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley (MPV) reductions, early transition metal-catalyzed reactions, organocatalytic processes, enzyme-catalyzed reactions, heat techniques, and base-catalyzed reactions are among the types of TH reactions that are classified according to the type of catalyst used. The historical context, important research, and underlying ideas of each category will be covered in detail in this section.In 1925, Meerwein et al. independently reported the significant MPV reduction, which were the first TH process involving carbonyl groups. After earning his Ph.D. under Richard Anschütz in Bonn, where he was appointed a professor in 1914, Hans Meerwein (1879–1965) moved to Königsberg in 1922 and then to Marburg. His name is associated with a number of processes and reagents,

Introduction

In India, climatic conditions are very diverse and fruit crops of temperate, sub-tropical and tropical regions are grown. Frequently, the fruit crops of one regional environmental requirement are grown in another region. This type of crop husbandry has some typical pest problems as the insect and mite pests have easy access to any of these regions depending upon the fruit crop. The application of management approaches in isolation of insect pests on fruit crops demand a unified strategy to suppress the different pest populations under the concept of ‘crop management’. Thus, to sustain the crop management for the better fruit quality, a judicious integration of safe chemical/biopesticide molecules must be used with other non-chemical approaches namely host plant resistance, bioagents, cultural and mechanical practices etc.

Poultry production in India has emerged as a rapid growing sector among agricultural and livestock sector. Indian poultry industry has made a significant impact in economic, nutritional and socio-cultural aspects including livelihoods of poor rural households. Ever since its inception and is presently emerging as sun rise sector with a growth rate of 10-15% and overall turnover of Rs 70,000/- crore. Despite of frequent ingress with various pathogenic avian diseases including avian influenza, which is a severe setback for the industry, India has sustained globally as 3rd and 5th biggest country for egg and meat production respectively. Emerging and re-emerging poultry diseases in the country are posing significant challenges to the poultry industry.

Introduction

The importance of soil in agriculture cannot be overstated, as it serves as the foundation for crop growth and sustenance. However, many regions grapple with problematic soils characterised by issues such as poor fertility, erosion, contamination, and structural degradation. In recent years, significant steps have been made in addressing these challenges through innovative approaches and technologies. This change in outlook includes the combination of imaginative advancements, protection procedures, and biological standards to enhance farming efficiency while limiting ecological effects (Singh et al., 2011).

Farmers are challenged with the management of problematic soils characterised by fertility issues, erosion, contamination, and structural degradation. Sustainable agricultural techniques depend on the efficient management of problematic soils, which is also critical to environmental sustainability, global food security, and farming systems' ability to withstand climate change. The idea of changing soil and harvest management practices a complex system that incorporates accurate horticulture, agroecology, and computerised cultivating innovations (Fu et al., 2021).

Introduction
Because of their useful uses, porous substances are of scientific interest. Depending on the size of the pores, these solids are categorized as microporous, mesoporous, and macroporous. Microporous solids are defined as having pores that are 2 nm or smaller (Figure 1) (Zheng et al., 2002). Solids that are mesoporous fall between 2 and 50 nm, while those that are macroporous are larger than 50 nm (Zheng et al., 2002).
Over the past 20 years, the synthesis of MOFs has garnered a lot of attention since it may produce a wide range of visually pleasing structures that may also be very useful for applications in other porous material-related domains. Coordination polymers, or MOFs (Figure 2), are a type of crystalline materials that are currently garnering a lot of attention because of their appealing qualities. Metal ions serve as connectors and organic bridging ligands as linkers, forming the compound’s backbone. The ligand’s chemical structure and the connecting metals’ characteristics determine whether MOFs will develop the appropriate architectural, chemical, and physical characteristics (Hu et al., 2004). They are permeable and can form structures in one, two, or three dimensions. Because of their intriguing topologies and potential uses as functional materials for gas purification, gas separation, gas storage, and adsorption (Sculley et al., 2011; Friscic, 2012; Lu et al., 2011; Burnett et al., 2012; Lin et al., 2009), molecular magnets (Kang et al., 2012; Zhang et al., 2012; He et al., 2013; Dang et al., 2010; Feng et al., 2012; Ranocchiari et al., 2011; Sumida et al.,2012), heterogeneous catalysis (Sonnauer et al.,2009; Kreno et al.,2012), luminescence, catalysts, and sensors (Chughtai et al.,2015), MOFs and coordination polymers (CPs) are of great interest to modern inorganic chemistry for their logical designation and synthesis. The potential of metal-organic frameworks as appropriate candidates for the detection of a number of pertinent organic and inorganic analytes, such as biomolecules, ionic species, hazardous compounds, environmental contaminants, etc., has been encouragingly realized. MOFs are among the leaders in the development of materials for realtime sensing applications because of their practical ability to tap various types of photophysical processes, even when they are present simultaneously, as well as their freedom to adjust their electronic characteristics and pore surfaces for

Introduction

In horticulture crops, plant materials has been  propagated through vegetative propagation methods for its superiority in growth as well as yield for centuries. Among vegetative propagation methods, micropropagation is most advance technique which made a significance in the horticultural crops to increase quality and yield. It can produce many plants from a single individual.

Abstract

Packaging plays an important role in the food processing Industry. It makes food more convenient as well as gives the food greater safety assurance from microorganisms, biological and chemical changes such that the packed foods can have longer shelf life. In order to meet the huge demand of processed food with longer shelf life, various methods of preservation and packaging are being used in the food processing industry. Drying and dehydration is one of the method which helps preservation of a perishable commodity against deterioration or spoilage.

1. Introduction
Palladium (Pd), which has the atomic number 46, was discovered in 1803 by the English chemist William Hyde Wollaston. It is a well-known transition metal recognized for its versatile catalytic properties in chemical reactions, material sciences, and various industries. The palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions extend beyond the formation of biaryls. Many carbon–carbon, carbon–nitrogen, and carbon–oxygen bond-forming reactions in organic chemistry are facilitated by palladium salts and catalytic systems derived from palladium. Some notable organic reactions that involve palladium include the Mizoroki-Heck reaction, (Biffis et al., 2018, Koranne et al., 2023, Lee et al., 2021) Suzuki-Miyaura coupling, (Zhang et al., 2023) Negishi reaction, (Haas et al., 2016). Stille coupling, (Cordovilla et al., 2015). Sonogashira coupling, (Chinchilla & Najera, 2007) Tsuji-Trost reactions, (Kvasovs et al., 2023). and Wacker catalytic processes. (Zhang et al., 2023) In this chapter, we will focus on the applications of palladium and its salts in C-N bond-forming reactions.
2. Palladium (Pd)-Catalyzed C–N Bond Formation
Besides copper, palladium metal is considered as the most widely used metal in organic synthesis. The discovery of cross-coupling reactions catalyzed by palladium(0) complexes in the 1970s was a highly important achievement that substantially changed the strategy of organic chemistry. Best applications of the palladium salts are in enantiolective and new C-N bond forming reactions. Stephen L. Buchwald and John F. Hartwig opened up the catalytic scope of palladium in newer methodologies on C–N bond forming reactions during 1990s, (Ruiz- Castillo & Buchwald, 2016) and henceforth, new methodologies of carbocycles, heterocycles, and simple organic compounds have been created in large scales (Rayadurgam et al., 2021). The mechanisms of palladium-catalyzed C-N cross-coupling reactions are critically discussed in numerous high-quality research journals with different theoretical and experimentally proven methods (Beletskaya & Averin, 2021). However, the most acceptable mechanistic pathway to reaction products in these Pd-catalyzed reactions involving palladium is illustrated in Scheme 1. The process begins with the formation of a palladium complex through the reaction of an aryl halide (which can be aliphatic, heteroaryl, or functionalized alkenes/alkynes), a palladium salt, and amino nucleophiles. In the presence of a suitable base, the loosely bonded halide or any leaving groups are eliminated, leading to the formation of a palladium (IV) complex. This complex then undergoes reductive elimination, resulting in stable aminated aryl, heteroaryl, alkyl, or functionalized alkenes/ alkynes. Additionally, a more generalized reaction mechanism is presented in a circular pathway format, highlighting the bonding approaches, rearrangements, intermediate formations, and the final release of target compounds, as depicted in Scheme 1. The involvement of higher valence organo-palladium complexes in such catalytic transformations have been well established (Hickman & Sanford, 2012).

The pineapple, botanically known as Ananas comosus Merr, is the most famous edible member of the Bromeliaceae family. It is native to southern Brazil and is known by a variety of names, including “pina” in Spanish, “abacaxi” in Portuguese, “ananas” in Dutch and French, “nanas” in Southern Asia and the East Indies, “po-lo-mah” in China, “sweet pine” in Jamaica, and merely “pine” in Guatemala (Morton, 1987). After banana and mango, the pineapple is the third most important tropical fruit of the world (Chen et al., 2019; Nath et al., 2019). The pineapple became a major cultural icon of luxury after its introduction to Europe in 17th century. Pineapple has been grown commercially in greenhouses and on many tropical plantations since the 1820s. Furthermore, it is the world’s third-largest tropical fruit producer. Hawaii was a major pineapple producer in the twentieth century, with Costa Rica, Brazil, and the Philippines accounting for nearly a third of global pineapple production. Pineapples grow as a small shrub, with the un-pollinated plant’s individual f lowers fusing to form multiple fruits. The plant is usually propagated from a side shoot or an offset produced at the top of the fruit and it matures in about a year.

Crop Improvement

Pineapple is usually propagated through asexual method by using slips, crowns or suckers. Sexual reproduction in pineapple is barely used due to its self-sterile nature and failure in formation of seeds. Seed set can occur in case of self-fertilization but the seedlings are with low vigour due to inbreeding depression (Robert et al., 2003). Pineapple is heterozygous in nature, on this wise hybridization is possible in this crop. Gametophytic self incompatibility is reported in this crop where pollen tube growth is repressed in the uppermost part of the style. Diploid chromosome number of the crop is 2n=50. The genome size of the crop is estimated to be 526Mb and total genes were anticipated to be around 25,862 in number (Zhang et al., 2014).

ABSTRACT

Plant growth promoting (PGP) bacteria play an immense role in promoting crop growth mainly by direct mechanisms such as N_2-fixation, phosphate solubilization and phytohormone production and indirectly may help to suppress pathogens or contribute to enhance absorption of nutrients leading to increase yields. The N₂fixers are grouped based on their niche adaptation as endophytic nodular symbionts (Rhizobium spp.), free living (Azotobacter spp.), associative symbionts (Azospirillum spp.) and endophytic non-nodular symbionts (Azoarcus and Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus). In the recent past, phosphate solubilizing and phytohormone synthesizing bacterial communities also gained momentum.

Introduction
A significant challenge in the field of chemistry lies in the application of green methodologies aimed at enhancing the efficiency, cleanliness, and environmental sustainability of chemical processes in alignment with contemporary green chemistry goals. Recent global environmental issues have motivated researchers to create and implement more sustainable chemical practices to reduce the reliance on and generation of harmful toxic materials. The importance of coupling reactions lies in their role as effective and robust techniques for synthesizing key pharmaceutical agents, polymers, and natural products (Colberg, 2022). Crosscoupling reactions are particularly focused on the formation of C-C (carbon-carbon) and C-X (carbon-heteroatom) bonds. For the last three decades, cross-coupling chemistry has been widely utilized to facilitate the development, discovery, & market introduction of innovative types of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals (Carsten Bolm, 2012).
In cross-coupling polymer reactions, two reagents equipped with activating functional groups engage with a specific metal catalyst, culminating in creating a new covalent bond. The loss of the activating groups carries out this process. In the 1940s, Kharasch and Fields first discovered the cross-coupling reactions using Grignards reagent with aryl or alkyl halides in the presence of metal halides such as NiCl2, CoCl2, FeCl3, CrCl2, or CuCl2 as a suitable catalyst. (Wu, 2021). Cross-coupling reactions have tremendous valuable applications in many vital areas, such as powerful tools for synthesizing essential pharmaceuticals, natural products, polymers, and agrochemicals. Furthermore, cross-coupling reactions have facilitated the synthesis of important molecules with industrial relevance, such as losartan, which is produced through a late-stage Suzuki cross-coupling reaction. Additionally, these reactions have created previously unattainable molecules, as the Suzuki coupling reaction ranks as the second most prevalent reaction in medicinal chemistry (Kotha, 2022). The predominance of sp2-hybridized carbon nucleophiles and electrophiles in most cross-coupling reactions has presented challenges in the pharmaceutical sector, as the “flattening” of many pharmaceutical targets results in a reduced number of specific drugs and an increase in off-target interactions. Nevertheless, crosscoupling reactions exemplify the capacity of robust synthetic methodologies to profoundly influence and inspire molecular design within the chemical industry. Recent trends in advances with the cross-coupling reactions are enabling the development of new reaction mechanisms, the synthesis of new compounds & development of new catalysts, and reactions that proceed under milder conditions.

Introduction
   
The major land mark in the primary food production is the Green revolution during sixties, eventually leading the country to self-sufficiency in food grains. At present, agriculture and allied sector contributes 22% of GDP in India. Total arable area in India is 184 million hectares contributing a total food grain production of 210.01 million tonnes. Horticultural crops including fruits, vegetables, flowers, plantation crops, spices and medicinal and aromatic plants have emerged as a major economic activity in India. Horticulture crops cover over 20.7  million hectares of area, which is approximately 11.25%  of the total gross cropped area of the country and contributes 18-20% of the gross value of India’s agricultural output. India is the world’s second largest fruit and vegetable producing country accounting for 81.29 million tonnes of fruit and 162.2 million tonnes of vegetables (Annon., 2013).

Introduction

• The green revolution of the 1960s and 1970s ended chronic food deficits and while cereals still command the attention of policy makers, fruit production has surged impressively, making India the second largest global producer behind China.

• Annual growth in horticulture has seen fruit production grow at faster rate and constitute the larger segment of agriculture. • No doubt, there has been manifold increase in area, production and productivity but when we compare the productivity of various major fruit crops with other developed countries, our productivity is very low.

• This may be mainly attributed by non-availability of quality planting material and seeds, existence of old unproductive seedling orchards, small and unirrigated land holdings, use of inferior genetic stocks/ varieties/hybrids, poor management and non-adoption of package of practices, high incidence of pest and diseases, heavy pre and post harvest losses and lack of trained human resource.

• To meet increasing demand the productivity per unit area per unit time and per unit investment has to be increased from limited land resources, where production and supply of quality planting material of elite varieties is one such important factor that can bring tremendous improvement in production, productivity and higher economic returns to farmers.

• This may be mainly attributed by non-availability of quality planting material and seeds, existence of old unproductive seedling orchards, small and unirrigated land holdings, use of inferior genetic stocks/ varieties/hybrids, poor management and non-adoption of package of practices, high incidence of pest and diseases, heavy pre and post harvest losses and lack of trained human resource.

Abstract

The structure and function of proteins involved in plant-microbe interactions is investigated through large-scale proteomics technology in a complex biological sample. Since the whole genome sequence are now available for several plant species and microbes, proteomics study has became easier, accurate and huge amount of data can be generated during plant-microbe interactions. Proteomics approaches are highly important and relevant in many studies and showed that only genomics approaches is not sufficient as much significant information are lost as the proteins and not the genes coding them are final product which is responsible for the observed phenotype.

Abstract

Production of healthy and vigorous seedlings is the foremost crucial step for raising a successful vegetable crop. Now a days seedlings are raised in trays under controlled atmospheric conditions called as transplants. As soil substitutes, artificial media made of perlite, vermiculite and peat moss are commercially available. A good rooting medium should be light weight, well drained, well aerated, and soilless with or without starter solution or added nutrients and with good water and nutrient holding capacity. The media should be sterilized before use. Selection of trays for cell shape, size and number depends on the type and nature of crop. Most of the vegetable transplants are now being produced in hardened plastic or polystyrene containers. Only good quality certified seeds should be used in media filled trays after priming, pelleting, coating or other seed treatments as per the crop requirement. Germination chambers as insulated rooms to maintain suitable conditions over large period of time may also be used. Generally vegetable crops need fertilizer application after expansion of first true leaf. Young seedlings are managed carefully to avoid any toxicity while taking care of their nutrient management. Water requirement also depends on growth stage and variation in weather conditions. Other seedling management practices include shading, thinning, weeding, disease/pest control, hardening off and subsequent transplanting. Containerized greenhouse plants can be grown using the conventional “rail” (or rack) system or the “float” system. Shipping factors such as mechanical injury, environmental conditions and length of storage affect plant vigour and establishments. IPM (integrated pest management) offers a practical way to effectively manage pests on vegetable bedding and transplants.

Introduction to Research

Research is an inseparable part of human knowledge. Its role in human life is as precious as that of salt in a vegetable. The life would lose its taste without research exactly in the same manner as a vegetable without salt. The modern academics just cannot stand and meet the aspirations of a matured society, if it does not provide for research and investigation. “The obvious function of research is to add new knowledge to the existing store. but its power for cleansing our minds of clinches and removing the rubbish of inapplicable theory is equally notable. Scientific research is a cumulative process. It is also a projective process, especially in the social sciences. Understanding can be (advanced) not only by gains in knowledge but also by discarding outworn assumptions”.

Introduction

Stored-product insects are serious pests of dried, stored, durable agricultural commodities and of many value-added food products and non-food derivatives of agricultural products worldwide. Various estimates on post harvest losses across the country revealed that there is loss of 2–12 per cent during storage exclusively by insects. Almost all the insect species may destroy 10.0 -15.0 per cent of grain and contaminate the rest with undesirable odour. The major loss is done by two internal feeders i.e. rice weevil and grain borer, which are major pests of rice, wheat and millets (Champ and Dyte, 1977). They also help in transportation of fungi (Sinha and Sinha, 1990). The losses during storage are quantity losses and quality losses. Quantity losses occur when insects, rodents, mites, birds and microorganisms, consume the grain. Infestation causes reduction in seed germination, increase in moisture, free fatty acid levels and decrease in pH and protein contents etc. resulting in total quality loss. Quality losses affect the economic value of the food grains fetching low prices to farmers (Das et al., 2013).

1. Introduction
Soils stand out as an intricate and diverse ecosystem on our planet. Their significance extends beyond supplying 98.8% of the world’s food, encompassing a wide array of essential services such as carbon storage, regulation of greenhouse gas emissions, flood prevention, and offering support to burgeoning urban populations. However, it is crucial to recognize that soil is a finite natural resource. The unprecedented growth of the human population, escalating from 250 million in the year 1000 to 6.1 billion in 2000, with projections reaching 9.8 billion by 2050, along with the intensified practices of agricultural production, is exerting immense pressure on the sustainability of soils.
For long-term sustenance the concept of ‘Soil quality’ was propagated around three decades back from now in the United States of America, and further expanded to the scientists of European and Asian countries. Soil health and soil quality are two interweaving term that signifies the potentiality or capacity of soil towards mankind. These two words complement each other in such a way that one term automatically comes with another to determine both aspects i.e. agricultural sustainability and environmental quality in terms of plant, animal and human health (Haberern, 1992; Doran, 2002). Idowu et al. (2007) remarked that the term “soil quality” is more favoured by scientists, whereas “soil health” is a term favoured by farmers as it connotes a holistic approach to soil management. The inception and application of soil quality term was officially approved by Soil Science Society of America (SSSA). They defined soil quality as “The capacity of a specific kind of soil to function within natural or managed ecosystem boundaries, to sustain biological productivity, maintain environmental quality, and promote plant and animal health” as illustrated by Karlen et al. (1997). It is a complex composition of certain properties associated with physical (texture, bulk density, water holding capacity, infiltration capacity etc.), chemical (pH, EC, organic carbon, extractable macronutrient and micronutrient etc.) and biological (microbial activity and related parameters) conditions of soil (Prabha et al., 2020). There are primarily two key methodologies for assessing soil quality: the descriptive approach, which focuses on characterizing various aspects or attributes of soil quality, and the Indicative approach, which aims to identify the ability or capacity of an attribute in a desired manner. The comprehensive process of developing a soil quality index is guided by the 3-Is framework: the Identification of indicators, Interpretation, and Integration of selected soil quality indicators. It is important to note that the specific set of indicators utilized can vary between different soils, diverse agroecosystems, and from one crop to another. Additionally, climatic conditions and other abiotic factors may also significantly influence the assessment of soil quality.
The USDA has categorized soil quality indicators into four primary groups: visual, physical, chemical, and biological indicators. However, in the current context, the dominant indicators are physical, chemical, and biological. For a systematic assessment of soil quality, it is crucial to collect individual parameters and integrate them meaningfully. Consequently, integrated soil quality indicators

Introduction

Humans and grass are inextricably linked to each other. The oldest unequivocal grass fossils are 25 million years old, originating in the Oligocene epoch (Thomasson, 1987). Grasses are one of the first permanent vegetation to reappear after disasters, such as volcanic activity, extended droughts, floods, fires, explosions, abandoned urban ghettos, and battlefields. In the past, landscaping was universally regarded as an extravagance for the affluent or as a decorative for mediocre and average structural design. Today, growers offer hundreds of selections for landscape designers who envision their backyard canvases swept with fulsome grasses. Countries are capitalizing on this industry at a furious pace and turfgrass research can be circuitously, the next moolah machine for enhancing lifestyle, real estate values and tourism revenues.

1. Introduction

Aquaculture has played a sustaining role in global food systems by providing expanded food production and livelihood benefits with relatively minimal environmental harm. (Igwegbe et al., 2021). To emphasize the importance of the aquaculture sector, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2020) stated that, global aquaculture production increased by 5.27%, hitting a record-breaking productivity value of 114.5 million tonnes between 1990 and 2018 (Pauly and Zeller 2017). Aquaculture has profited from developments in science and technology in nearly every aspect such as a greater diversity of species, nutritional regimes, production techniques, organizational frameworks, and marketing compared to other agricultural industries (FAO 2020). As an illustration, enhanced reproductive technologies have made it possible for individuals to achieve closed life cycles of aquaculture species, resulting in the diversification of species in the aquaculture sector (Weber and Lee 2014). The utilization of live feeds in hatcheries, such as microalgae, artemia, rotifers, brine shrimp, and various copepods, has eliminated the obstacle in breeding a variety of marine organisms (Conceição et al., 2010).

Approximately 60 varieties of fish species have shown significant improvements in features of economic value through selective breeding assisted by quantitative genetics (Zuma 2022). River shrimps (Levy et al., 2017), Yellow catfish (Roskoski et al., 1975), and mono-sex tilapias (Mair et al., 1997) all have been produced owing to sex reversal technology and DNA markers linked to sex determination. The risk of inbreeding has decreased due to intrafamily screening being made possible by molecular parentage assignment (Xu et al., 2020). Selection for characteristics, particularly are governed by single genes and a small number of significant genes (Fuji et al., 2007; Houston et al., 2008) has been made possible by QTL (quantitative trait locus mapping) and marker-assisted selection (MAS) (Yue 2014). Enhanced feed formulations dependent on the dietary needs for every fish species have enhanced feed conversion rate (FCR) and decreased feed cost (Tacon and Metian 2015). Innovations for disease control (Kelly and Renukdas 2020) have minimized the prevalence of ailments in aquaculture.

Introduction 
Over the past few decades, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been showing great importance in the field of organic synthetic reactions, catalysis, sensors, biomedicines, environment rehabilitation, etc. (Gawande, M. B. et al., 2013; Del Rio, M. et al., 2022). Numerous research teams have recognized the significance of solid support materials for the creation of environmentally acceptable nano catalysts with high catalytic activity in light of the infinite advantages of MNPs (Sharma, R. K. et al., 2016; Gawande, M. B. et al., 2013; Deng, J. et al., 2011; Nasrollahzadeh, M. et al., 2015; Hudson, R. et al., 2014; Payra, S. et al., 2017; Chng, L. L. et al., 2013; Parandhaman, T. et al., 2017; Zhang, F. et al., 2014; Pourjavadi, A. et al., 2012). Heterogeneous catalysts in organic chemistry are solid catalysts that, while remaining in a distinct phase (usually solid) from the reactants (generally liquids or gasses), promote chemical reactions without being consumed in the process. These catalysts, which have multiple benefits such as ease of separation, recyclability, and selective reactivity, are essential in a variety of industrial processes and laboratory reactions (Lattuada, M. et al., 2007; Jiang, K. et al., 2011). The standard formula for ferrite nanoparticles is MFe2O4, where M is usually divalent metal ion like copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), or nickel (Ni), and iron (Fe) is the common metal (Kazemi, M. et al., 2018). These nanoparticles work very well as heterogeneous catalysts in a variety of chemical reactions because of their special magnetic and electrical characteristics.Because of its special qualities as a catalyst in a variety of processes, copper ferrite (CuFeO4), a mixed-metal oxide, has drawn interest in organic chemistry (Kharisov, B. I. et al., 2019; Zhu, J. et al., 2014; Vannucci, A. K. et al., 2012). It is a spinel-type ferrite that can catalyse a variety of organic transformations because it combines iron and copper in a stable, highly active structure. With benefits including high stability, reusability, and low toxicity, these catalysts are frequently employed in processes like oxidation, coupling, and reduction (Taghavi Fardood, S. et al., 2018). The Figure 1 represents schematic diagram of a reaction where the ferrite nanoparticles as catalyst have been recovered with the aid of an external magnet after the formation of reaction product.

Introduction 
Over the past few decades, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been showing great importance in the field of organic synthetic reactions, catalysis, sensors, biomedicines, environment rehabilitation, etc. (Gawande, M. B. et al., 2013; Del Rio, M. et al., 2022). Numerous research teams have recognized the significance of solid support materials for the creation of environmentally acceptable nano catalysts with high catalytic activity in light of the infinite advantages of MNPs (Sharma, R. K. et al., 2016; Gawande, M. B. et al., 2013; Deng, J. et al., 2011; Nasrollahzadeh, M. et al., 2015; Hudson, R. et al., 2014; Payra, S. et al., 2017; Chng, L. L. et al., 2013; Parandhaman, T. et al., 2017; Zhang, F. et al., 2014; Pourjavadi, A. et al., 2012). Heterogeneous catalysts in organic chemistry are solid catalysts that, while remaining in a distinct phase (usually solid) from the reactants (generally liquids or gasses), promote chemical reactions without being consumed in the process. These catalysts, which have multiple benefits such as ease of separation, recyclability, and selective reactivity, are essential in a variety of industrial processes and laboratory reactions (Lattuada, M. et al., 2007; Jiang, K. et al., 2011). The standard formula for ferrite nanoparticles is MFe2O4, where M is usually divalent metal ion like copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), or nickel (Ni), and iron (Fe) is the common metal (Kazemi, M. et al., 2018). These nanoparticles work very well as heterogeneous catalysts in a variety of chemical reactions because of their special magnetic and electrical characteristics.Because of its special qualities as a catalyst in a variety of processes, copper ferrite (CuFeO4), a mixed-metal oxide, has drawn interest in organic chemistry (Kharisov, B. I. et al., 2019; Zhu, J. et al., 2014; Vannucci, A. K. et al., 2012). It is a spinel-type ferrite that can catalyse a variety of organic transformations because it combines iron and copper in a stable, highly active structure. With benefits including high stability, reusability, and low toxicity, these catalysts are frequently employed in processes like oxidation, coupling, and reduction (Taghavi Fardood, S. et al., 2018). The Figure 1 represents schematic diagram of a reaction where the ferrite nanoparticles as catalyst have been recovered with the aid of an external magnet after the formation of reaction product.

Introduction

One of the remarkable advancements in veterinary medicine recently is the application of interventional cardiology techniques to treat various congenital heart diseases. In dogs and cats, congenital heart diseases can be treated much more easily and with fewer complications using minimally invasive interventional approaches, rather than through traditional open-heart surgery. Among congenital heart diseases, treatment options are available for conditions such as PDA (Patent Ductus Arteriosus), AS (Aortic Stenosis), PS (Pulmonic Stenosis), VSD (Ventricular Septal Defect), ASD (Atrial Septal Defect), extrahepatic shunt, and stem cell applications. These diseases often cannot be significantly improved by medical treatment alone, making the use of the aforementioned interventional techniques essential for effective management.

The management of diseases and pests is a major challenge. Monoculture, excess use of fertilisers, high- yielding varieties, climate change etc have not only intensified plant diseases, but also given rise to new diseases or intensified those diseases which were earlier considered of minor importance. Although decades of research have given rise to certain promising organic and biological alternatives to chemical disease management, due to the lack of proper attention of researchers worldwide, the organic and biological disease management technologies are still not very popular.

Mastitis is a consequence of interplay between the infectious agents and managerial practices. The mammary glands of cows are frequently exposed to potential pathogens, but on most of the occasion, cows get mastitis because their immune systems are not adequate to prevent infection. Mastitis is an inflammation of the mammary gland in response to injury for the purpose of destroying or neutralizing the infectious agents and to prepare the way for healing and return to normal function. The average incidence of subclinical mastitis has been found to be 49% in cows and 28% in buffaloes. Similarly, clinical mastitis is prevalent in 7% of cows and 4% buffaloes. Besides this, 17% of the cows and 8% of buffaloes have been suffering from various udder and teat lesions such as udder/teat warts, bovine ulcerative mammilitis, udder impetigo and teat chaps etc. These lesions pre-dispose the animal to mastitis and cause a great discomfort at milking and hence markedly decrease the milk yield. The economic losses due to mastitis worldwide have been estimated at $35 billion. Current annual economic losses due to mastitis in India have been estimated to be Rs. 7165.51 crore that include Rs. 4151.16 crore and Rs. 3014.35 crore due to subclinical and clinical mastitis, respectively. Mastitis causes a reduced milk production, not only at its occurrence but throughout the rest of the lactation, increases the risk of new cases of mastitis and increases the risk of culling. Besides, mastitis impairs the quality of milk and milk products. Approximately 70-80% of losses are due to subclinical mastitis. Subclinical mastitis is also important due to the fact that it is 15-40 times more prevalent than the clinical form. It usually precedes the clinical form, is of longer duration, difficult to detect and constitutes a reservoir of micro organisms that lead to infection of other animals within the herd.Besides this, presence of mastitis causative organisms and antibiotic residues in milk following therapy of mastitis poses a major threat to the consumer health. Mastitis results in increase in the somatic cell count (SCC) and bacterial load of milk. The European Union has set up a threshold of 400,0000 cells/ml of milk from healthy quarter of a cow. The high SCC in mastitis milk has lipolytic effect on fat and there is increased tendency for rancidity of milk and milk products. Also, the mastitis milk with total bacterial count of more than 100,000 cfu/ml could release hydrolytic enzymes, which spoil the milk and milk products. It has been also observed that mastitis milk inhibits the growth of starter bacteria and results in decreased cheese production.

AGRI BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

Agribusiness is a generic term. It includes food production, farming, seed supply, agrichemicals, farm machinery, wholesale and distribution, processing marketing and retail sales. John. H. Davis of Harvard University first used the term Agribusiness in 1955. Prospects of agri-business India (McKinsey and Confederations of Indian Industry 1997)    
Food industry offers one of the largest opportunities in India today
By 2005 - 07, the food industry will grow three fold to reach us 70 $ billion, and increases in forthcoming year. India can be the world Largest Food Factory
   
India’s food production today is equal to that of USA, second to China
Value added foods will grow faster rates ($30 to $60) million.
Growing the food industry will raise agricultural yields, increases income and create employment and economic development.

The Indian subcontinent has a vast costal belt along with the wide range of forest environment, which host large number of unexplored plant/marine species. This diversity has been the source of unique chemical compounds with the potential for industrial development as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, nutritional supplements, molecular probes, fine chemicals and agrochemicals. In recent years, a significant number of novel metabolites with potent pharmacological properties have been discovered from the natural sources including marine and terrestrial plants. Recent move of society towards nature for the treatment of various diseases where there is no satisfactory cure in modern medicine has diverted the attention of natural/medicinal chemists and biologists to unravel their chemical characteristics and biological activities together in order to define their therapeutic potential in the light of modern pathobiological understandings. This move has led collectively to rediscover, design and refine the therapeutic application of medicinal plants/marine sources.

Introduction

The United Nations’ Food and Agricultural Organisation reported that global aquaculture is increasing by 11 percent per year and is the world’s fastest growing food-producing sector. More than 38 million people are employed in aquaculture and associated industries worldwide, and 131 aquatic species are currently being commercially cultured. In 2002, Asia led the world in the aquaculture production, with about 12.4 million tonnes, while Europe and America together produced 1.2 million tonnes.

Among the Asian countries, India ranks second in aquaculture and third in capture fisheries. Freshwater aquaculture in India is mainly based on Indian major carps (Labeo rohita, Catla catla and Cirrhinus mrigala) with an annual production of 1.8 million tonnes, and exotic carps, which together contribute to over 87% of the total aquaculture production of 2.2 million tonnes. Disease problems represent important constraint to the aquaculture industry. The need to control endemic diseases imposes severe year-on-year costs on producers. The advances made in the development of vaccines for diseases of Indian major carps are very meager.

Abstract

Food lost during the production chain is referred to as postharvest loss. Reducing postharvest loss can effectively feed starving mouths while conserving resources and decreasing the pressure to produce more. There are five main areas where postharvest loss can be reduced – harvest, storage, transportation, processing, and retail. New approaches and technologies in each of these areas will increase the amount of food available for human consumption. The total loss due to poor post- harvest processing of agricultural products in India when valued in terms of monetary reflects a tremendous loss in the economy. Annual value of harvest and post-harvest losses of major agricultural produces at national level to be of the order of Rs. 92,651 Crore calculated using production data of 2012-13 at 2014 wholesale prices. Deficits in food items or financial loss should not have occurred if postharvest losses were reduced through proper processing and preservation from harvest to consumption. Both the government and private sector need to invest in research so as to improve and modernize post-harvest facilities for attaining more efficient market infrastructure and distribution channels. Research and extension activities have to be closely coordinated particularly in the public sector for the benefit of farmers, traders and consumers.

A high-yielding cultivar Vallabh Medha of mandukparni (Centella asiatica) was identified. Fresh herbage yield (12,331 kg/ha) and dry herbage yield (2,113 kg/ ha) of this variety were far more than the local variety (2,050 and 392 kg/ha respectively), besides higher active ingredients. Among mucuna selections, IIHR PS 15 with long duration, IIHR PS 6 with medium duration and IIHR PS 14 with short duration recorded significantly higher yield and high L-dopa yield/ plant. In Coleus, a promising hybrid, Hy 08-53, recorded significantly higher root yield (60.22g) and higher forskolin yield/plant (0.58 g). In ashwagandha, IIHR- WS 3 was found to be the best yielder (11.65 q/ha).

Isabgol (Plantago ovata Forsk.)

The crop requires cool and dry climate during the growing season. Sowing of seeds at 4 kg/ha in 0.25-0.50 cm depth during November 20 to December 20 was recommended. In medium black cotton soil of Malwa region, second week of November was reported to be optimum time for sowing. Broadcasting of seeds followed by light sweeping with broom found to give uniform germination. A spacing of 30x 45 cm found to be most ideal to get higher seed yield in Isabgol under Madhya Pradesh situation. Response of chemical fertilisers was found low. However, a fertiliser dose of 25 kg/ha each of N and P₂O₅ as basal dose and 25 kg/ha N as top dressing at 30-42 DAS was recommended for commercial cultivation in Gujarat while 50 kg/ha N reported to increase the seed yield in Madsaur areas of Madhya Pradesh. At Anand three irrigations viz. first at the time of sowing and subsequently at 30 and 70 days after sowing (DAS) proved to be beneficial. However, four irrigations at sowing, 10,25, and 50 DAS at Mandsaur are recommended. Chemical weed control was found to be economical and a pre-sowing or pre-emergence application of Isoproturone (0.5 kg ai/ha) was recommended for weed control. One spray of Metalaxyl + two sprays of Mancozeb were found significantly superior in controlling downy mildew. In Gujarat, Pearl millet in Kharif and Isabgol in Rabi season are advocated as a suitable crop rotation. Groundnut-Isabgol rotation gave higher economic return followed by Soybean-Isabgol and Pigeon pea-Isabgol rotations in Maharashtra.

High-yielding crop varieties and hybrids with tolerance to pests /diseases and to various farming constraints such as soil and water salinity, soil acidity, drought, flood and such other factors have been developed.

Eight cardamom hybrids, NKE 12 × MB 5 (1,499 kg/ha), MB 5 × NKE 19 (1,461 kg/ha), GG × NKE 12 (1,350 kg/ha), RR 1 × CCS 1 (1,245 kg/ha), CCS 1 × RR 1 (1,022 kg/ha), ASH (1,930 kg/ha), NKE 12 × GG (1,746 kg/ha), GG × NKE 19 (1,635 kg/ha), were identified for high yield and resistance to mosaic and rhizome rot diseases. Two unique mutants, AFg-3 and AFg-4, for powdery mildew resistance were isolated in fenugreek. In ajwain, AA 93 has been developed which flowers 40 days earlier compared to other varieties. Thirty- two elite saffron clones were selected and evaluated for fresh and dry weight of pistil, stiga and style length, and weight. CITH 125 (4.5 kg/ha), CITH 123 (4.3 kg/ha), CITH 124 (4.3 kg/ha), CITH 122 (4.0 kg/ha), CITH 12 (4.5 kg/ha), CITH 121 (3.9 kg/ha), CITH 107 (3.8 kg/ha), CITH 120 (3.8 kg/ha) and CITH 104 (3.7 kg/ha), having higher saffron yield were identified.

High-yielding Plantation crops varieties and hybrids with tolerance to pests / diseases and to various farming constraints such as soil and water salinity, soil acidity, drought, flood and such other factors have been developed.

Three coconut varieties (IND 045S, IND 048S and IND 058S), two arecanut varieties (VTL 62-Shriwardhan selection and VTL7-Nalbari) and two selections of cocoa (VTLC 1 and VTLC 57) were identified for commercial cultivation. Coconut variety, Kalpa Samrudhi, was recommended for commercial cultivation in Kerala and Asom, and Kalpa Sankara and Kalpasree for coconut root(wilt)- affected tracts in Kerala. Molecular-markers associated with hybridity in coconut, dwarfness and resistance to root (wilt) and yellow leaf diseases were utilized. Homology-basedmodelling of somatic embryogenesis receptor-like kinase (SERK) protein in coconut, development of a computational tool for detection of microsatellites in whole genome sequences, development of algorithm for gene annotation and genome-wide analysis of microsatellites in strains of plant growth promoting (P. fluorescens) are achievements in bioinformatics.

Cost-effective farming systems for spices cultivation for increasing production and productivity in different agro ecologies have been developed.

An organic package for production of black pepper, ginger and turmeric by applying farmyard manure, vermicompost, ash, rock phosphate, Azospirillum sp. and phosphobacteria and Trichoderma sp. and Pseudomonas sp. as biocontrol agents for disease control was developed. Further, a foliar spray of 1% solution of complex fertilizer 19 : 19 : 19 (N : P : K) during spike initiation period (April second week, May first week and May fourth week) during lean cropping season under irrigated condition enhanced black pepper (cv. Panniyur I) yield by 20–25%. Soil application of zinc up to 10 kg/ ha or foliar spraying of ZnSO4 (0.25%) and Borax (0.2%) twice (60 and 90 days after planting) was recommended for higher yield and quality for turmeric in zinc and boron deficient soil.

Among all the treatments, sprinkler and drip irrigation methods caused early sprouting; early flowering with increased plant height and more number of leaves and flowers/plant as compared to the control (rainfed). Also, stiga fresh weight, dry weight, length and saffron yield were improved in sprinkler and drip irrigation methods over the control. Raised beds resulted in early sprouting, early flowering with increased plant height and more number of leaves and flowers/plant.

Cost-effective farming systems for plantation crops cultivation for increasing production and productivity in different agro ecologies have been developed.

In coconut-based cropping system, elephant-foot yam cv. Gajendra yielded high amount of corm. Guinea grass (var. GGCo 3) produced higher green fodder (89.2 tonnes/ ha/year) under husk application. There was lower specific volume of soil and soil porosity (higher soil compaction), and soil dehydrogenase activity (an index of biological activity) as important abiotic pre-disposing factors in incidence of root wilt disease. Growing Gomphrena globosa as intercrop in root wilt- affected coconut gardens has been shown to be cost-effective and sustainable. In areca-based mixed farming system, total cash inflows and outflows from arecanut + dairy (3–4 milch cows) amounted to ‘4.41 and ‘5.96 lakh, with a net profit of’1.55 lakh. The system productivity of arecanut + cocoa system (3,127 kg/ha) was 30% higher per unit area than arecanut alone (2,405 kg/ha). Integrated nutrient management on four improved arecanut varieties recorded highest chali yield (4.19 kg).

A protocol for SYBR green based real-time RT-PCRfor detection of Piper yellow mottle virus and Cucumber mosaic virus infecting black pepper and Cardamom mosaic virus (CdMV) and Banana bract mosaic virus (BBrMV) infecting cardamom was developed. A native isolate of Phytophthora capsici (Is. No. 98-93) infecting black pepper was completely sequenced using next generation sequencing platform, Illumina-Solexa GA II. The sequence data was assembled by taking Joint Genome Institute’s P. capsici as reference genome. The treatment of black pepper cuttings with Carbendazim + Mancozeb (0.1%) was effective for the management of anthracnose disease in nursery.

The black pepper accession, 1114 (Kumbhachola), was tolerant to P. capsici. The accession was earlier found resistant to pollu beetle and drought. A new bacterial wilt disease on small cardamom was recorded in Wayanad, Kerala. The phenotypic and genetic characterization revealed that causative organism is Ralstonia solanacearum (Biovar 3 phylotype 1) and was 100% similar to ginger strain of R. solanacearum. Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (GRB 35) and Serratia marcescens (GRB 68) were promising for enhancing sprouting of rhizomes, growth promotion and reducing the incidence of soft rot and bacterial wilt diseases in ginger in the field.

Crop protection research has brought out tangible and effective methods to suppress various pests in major agro-ecosystems. Indigenous knowledge in this regard has been tested and validated for its suitability.

Among the 137 Phytophthora isolates collected from bud rot/fruit rot affected coconut gardens in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka, four isolates from bud rot affected gardens were identified as P. nicotianae and one as P. capsici. Since, P. nicotianae is found associated with bud rot disease of coconut in three districts representing three states, it is expected that this may emerge as a major pathogen of coconut. Further, placing Trichoderma coir pith cake in the innermost leaf axils of coconut palm in disease endemic areas just before the onset of southwest monsoon (May-end) and thereafter at two months interval was found to be very effective in the management of bud rot disease of coconut.

Azadiractin (1%) was found effective for the control of Hadda beetle on Ashwagandha. Nineteen arthropods were recorded on isabgol. Among them, 13 were phytophagous species belonging to order Lepidopteran (09), Hemipteran (03) and Homopteran and six predatory species belonging to order Coleoptera (03), Neuroptera (01) and Odanata (02). The sequential occurrence of arthropods revealed the presence of aphid (Aphis gossypii) from second week of January to fourth week of February, whereas Lepidopteran (Helicoverpa armigera, Trichoplusia ni, Thysanoplusia oricalchae, Spliarictia sp. Hyposidra successari and Olene mendosa and true bugs (Graptostethus servus and Spilostethus pandurus) were observed associated during early crop growth stages (i.e. from second week of December). Infestation of aphid was uniformly severe, whereas that of Lepidopterans and true bugs were sporadic and less severe. However, presence of these pest arthropods caused significant reduction in seed yield.

Recent Initiatives by National Research Centre on Seed Spices, Ajmer

Standardization of the drying techniques

In fennel five methods of grain drying were employed viz., shade dryer (30°C), sun dryer (35°C to 37°C), solar dryer (40°Cto 42°C), vegetable dryer (50°C) and multipurpose grain dryer (60°C). Fennel grains which were dried under solar dryer, gave maximum test weight (5.17 g), recovery (39.82 %) with lowest moisture content (61.30%) and highest taste marks (9.3) and colour marks (9.2).

Technique to collect fresh and hygienic inflorescence sap (Neera) from coconut

In the traditional method of collecting sap, the inflorescence to be tapped is connected with an earthen pot/bamboo receptacle for the sap collection. Spadix to be tapped is tied with plastic rope and a small portion is sliced off from the top. The spadix is gently stroked with a mallet in the morning and evening. After a period of 8 to 10 days, sufficient sap starts oozing out from the cut end. A type of clay soil, a gummy material or leaf extract is pasted on the surface and sides of the cut end. Since the sap is highly nutritious, both enzymatic and microbial fermentation takes place. The total sugar reduces progressively and it becomes more acidic and develops a harsh odour and becomes unpalatable. In order to prevent fermentation, lime is coated inside the pot. The above method is not hygienic and attracts lot of insects, ants and contaminates from pollen and dust particles. In order to collect the sap fresh and hygienic, a simple device was developed.

A number of innovations have taken place towards ready to eat instant food mixes of traditional origin. These have helped people to eat traditional food in which ever part of the world they go.

MTR Company

In India the best example is of MTR company which manufactures a range of packaged foods which includes breakfast mixes, ready to eat meals, masalas and spices, snacks and beverages. Snacks, such as kodubale, khara boondi and masala groundnut are very popular as they are ready to eat packets and contain healthy food with less oil. The different spices used for mixes are procured from famous countries which give the perfect taste and avoid rancidity.As a summer launch, milkshake with canned chikoo, banana and cold filter coffee are available. MTR Foods Pvt. Ltd. is a subsidiary of Norwegian conglomerate Orkla and is an acronym of Mavalli Tiffin Rooms. According to the company, India is on the verge of explosive growth in packaged instant foods. MTR has an aim to target a market of Rs 30, 000 crore with their products of traditional meals, breakfast, snacks and desserts. The Nielsen India study has shown that in 2020, the number of consumers in this category will be 2.7 times than the current base.

Mother’s Recipe is a brand which make traditional pickles in bottles with a distribution network to 20 states in India and exporting the products globally. The manufacturing is done in-house and the raw materials are procured seasonally in large quantities. After cleaning they are cut according to the recipe. Each variety of mango pickle has its own cutting process. Some are automatically cut, while others need manual work. The use of right oils, spices roasted inhouse, and marination of the pickles according to the practices of the particular region allow many consumers to relish them. Bottling and packaging are done only when the orders come.

The ability to fast-track development and delivery of improved maize cultivars with capacity to provide climate-resilience (high and stable yields in stress-prone environments), coupled with improved nutritional quality, will be critical for sustainable intensification and diversification of maize-based cropping systems, and for providing enhanced income opportunities to the smallholders. This warrants coordinated multi-institutional efforts and implementation of innovative strategies to further increase genetic gains through breeding, and to translate these gains in the farmers’ fields. This article will focus only on the novel tools/ technologies/strategies that are being employed by CIMMYT for increasing genetic gains, especially for grain yield under stress-prone environments in the tropical/sub-tropical regions of sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and Asia.

Novel tools/techniques/strategies for increasing genetic gains in the tropics

“Genetic gain” (also called as selection response) refers to the difference in the mean value of the selection criterion between original generation and next generation (formed from only the selected individuals), when they were compared in the same environment. The selection criterion is the trait(s) on which selection is based. While conventional breeding has been successful in improving maize yields over the decades, and especially in the last one decade in India through single-cross hybrids, the significantly rising demand for maize in the tropical regions of sub-Saharan Africa and Asia warrants sharp increases in genetic gains. Thus, the major challenge for the present generation of product development teams is to double the genetic gains for grain yield under stressed environments, i.e., from the present <1% to at least 1.5% within the next 5-6 years.

Introduction

According to the United Nations (UN, DESA 2019) the world population will reach around 9.7 billion by 2050. The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has predicted that the world food grain production must increase by 70% by the year 2050 to feed this ever-growing population (Bernard et al., 2017). United Nations World Population Prospects (2022) also predicted the same (Fig 1). However, it is a matter of great concern that the global food grain production has not increased to any significant level (Fig 2) in the past 15 years. As seen in Fig 2, the global food grain production trend has reached a plateau. The main reason behind this fact is the degradation of this valuable natural resource (soil) beyond the tolerance limit due to anthropogenic activities such as imbalanced fertiliser use with the application being largely skewed in favour of nitrogen (N) fertilisers. As per the available data from 2020-21, in nutrient terms, India consumes a total of 32.5 million tonnes (Mt) of fertilisers swhich are distributed over a stable net cultivated area of 141 million hectares (Mha) (Singh et al., 2022). Associated with this is the expenditure of a huge amount of energy for producing these fertilisers, which principally comes from fossil fuel burning, pumping a gigantic quantity of groundwater to solubilise these fertilisers and so on. Not only nitrogen, but the usage of phosphatic and potassic fertilisers has also witnessed an upsurge in the last 50 years (Fig 3).

Introduction
World population is increasing and currently stands at 8.2 Billion as on 2025. Food security of population of any country is becoming a challenging task and the entire population depends on the available national resources. The importance of scientific community in securing foods for everybody was felt necessary and it was expressed that there is a huge herculean task to ensure food for everybody. Farming community and fruit growers across the globe were engaged in serious efforts to produce fruits of good quality. The necessity to develop advanced technologies for nutritious foods was thus given national importance not only for food security but also of nutritional security. The sincere scientific efforts to develop recent innovative technologies to support fruit production even at harsh soils and environmental conditions are praiseworthy. Farmers, stakeholders, policy planners and technology developers have been devoted to achieve the target of Sustainable Developmental Goals. The target of United Nation’s 2030 to eradicate poverty and eradication of malnutrition should be achieved sustainably. People across nations are working devotedly to achieve the target. However, climatic changes have been significantlyaffecting the food production to food security across nations. Decadal information suggested the adverse impact of climates on the fruit production. Recent changes in weather extremisms had also affect harshly on the food production to supply chain. Thus, the role of scientific community to coup up the environmental hazards and to sustain fruit production becomes a reality. In this context, agroadvisory services plays significant role to support farming community and fruit growers to adopt time bound managemental practices. The ultimate aim of these services is to improve the orchard soil and tree health condition, enhance factor productivity vis-à-vis profitability and precise use of available natural resources. Quantification of variability in environmental indicators, soil and tree interactions were felt necessary for formulating effective policy plan (Malhotra, 2017). Adak et al. (2022) advocated for foliage spraying of 1 per cent zinc sulphate on mango cv. Dashehari to enhance yield and nutrient richness in fruit pulp.

Abstract

Medicinal herbs are economically and nutritionally important plants, which are rich in health-promoting compounds. Herbs are the backbone of both the traditional Chinese and Indian medicine, which has long history as part of their culture. Ensuring the quality of herbs is a crucial step for integrating the traditional medicine into science-based modern medicine. Drying is an essential technique in preservation of herbs as it affects directly the quality attributes of the dried products, whereas many producers lose much profit due to poor drying techniques. So, employing a suitable drying technology and selection of appropriate drying conditions are very important for producing high quality herb products. The aim of this article is to summarize the advances in drying technologies of medicinal plants, describe the current status and identify future research opportunities. The current work provides more data and information for selecting optimum technology for herb drying and would trigger innovative drying technologies to enhance drying kinetics and quality of herb drying.

1. Introduction

The current method of agricultural production is fish farming. A type of aquaculture known as "fish production" or "fish farming" entails the process of growing and producing a range of fish species. Proteins, vitamins (especially B2 and D), calcium, and other minerals are abundant in fish (Khalili, Tilami, and Sampels, 2018; Bostock et al., 2010). In the past, fish output was limited to freshwater fish capture. Fish farming, also known as pisciculture, is becoming a more common and commonly utilized technique for fish production. The aquaculture and fish farming industry is one of the fastest-growing food production sectors globally. The production rate of farmed fish has increased from less than one million metric tons, as reported in the 1950s to about 110.1 million metric tons in 2016, which is valued at over $243 billion. In the recent years, production of farmed finfish has reached 57.5 million tonnes (that is equivalent to 146.1 billion USD), including 49.1 million tonnes (109.8 billion USD) from inland aquaculture and 8.3 million tonnes (36.2 billion USD) from marine culture in the sea and coastal aquaculture on the shore (Rito and Viegas, 2020). Nowadays, the majority of the world’s population is reliant on the consumption of fish from aquaculture. Over the past few decades, finfish production through aquaculture and fish farming has increased remarkably, including both production and economic yield. Consequently, fish farming is becoming a major source of agricultural food in the present scenario.

The major concern of fisheries and aquaculture is to reduce the widening gap between fish demand and supply and achieve the ultimate goal of self-sufficiency in fish production; however, this can only be achieved if technology advances. The world's fishery resources require scientific management to preserve their long-term viability and availability for future generations. Overfishing and its detrimental effects on ecosystems have become increasingly evident in recent years. Recent developments in fishing technology have focused on reducing the bycatch of non-target species, protected species, and juveniles, minimizing the environmental impact of fishing gear and their operation, and minimizing the energy use per unit volume of fish landed during fishing operations. Fishing innovations have been around for thousands of years, and they were primarily motivated by the goal of enhancing capture efficiency, which was sparked by a growing comprehension of the habits and behaviors of the species that were being sold. The degree of adoption of responsible fishing technologies strongly depends on the robustness of the fisheries management system.

1. Introduction

Coriander is a vital spice crop with a grave role in delicious food test. It is a tropical crop and cultivated as a major in Rabi season in chill free extents through the blossoming phase. Especially, all portions of the plant are comestible, but the fresh shrubberies and the desiccated seeds are the parts conventionally used in culinary. Approximately of the diverse forms of coriander are greenery, blossom and capsules. Coriander leaves are mainly ironic in vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin K, with moderate pleased of nutritional minerals. Though seeds usually have inferior happy of vitamins, they do widely provide significant quantities of nutritional fibre, calcium, selenium, iron, magnesium and manganese. Mostly, coriander plant productivity is around one and three-fourth tonnes per acre of seed. The root is crushed and used as a condiment in useable form.

Genome editing has emerged as a powerful tool for accelerating crop improvement in horticultural crops by enabling precise modifications in their genetic architecture. Considering the development and advantages of genomeediting technologies in improving diverse characteristics of horticultural crops, substantial increase has been reported in recent years including ZFN, TALEN, and especially CRISPR/Cas systems. The CRISPR/Cas technology has proved its potential in altering many genes of interest in horticultural plants including fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants for improving agronomically important traits and attributes such as growth rate, seed size, flowering time, flower color, storage time, resistance to biotic stresses, tolerance to abiotic stresses, herbicide tolerance, metabolism, fruit color, fruit ripening etc. This technology opens new avenues for more favorable and precise manipulation of plant genomes to improve crop performance.
Genome editing has emerged as a powerful biotechnological tool with transformative potential for horticultural crops. It involves the precise modification of plant DNA to enhance desired traits, increase crop yield, and confer resistance to pests, diseases, and environmental stresses. Molecular tools like CRISPR-Cas9, TALENs, and ZFNs act as molecular scissors, allowing for the targeted alteration of specific DNA sequences with unprecedented accuracy. This technology allows scientists to introduce or enhance beneficial traits in crops, including disease resistance, improved nutrition, and drought tolerance. Horticulture is a critical component of global food production and human well-being as it involves cultivation and management of plants for food, aesthetics, and medicinal purposes. Horticultural crops comprising fruits, vegetables, ornamental plants, and medicinal herbs, not only contribute to nutritional needs of populations worldwide but also enhance the visual appeal of our surroundings. However, productivity and quality of horticultural crops face significant constraints due to challenges such as biotic and abiotic stresses, limited genetic variation, and increasing demands for improved traits. Plant breeders have employed various techniques, such as hybridization, selection, and genetic manipulation, to enhance horticultural crops. These approaches have contributed to improved yield, disease resistance, and other desirable traits.