FUTURE CROPS— Volume 2 —

The Editor

—————

Prof. K.V. Peter, Director World Noni Research Foundation, Chennai is theFormer Vice-Chancellor, Kerala Agricultural University (KAU); Director, IndianInstitute of Spices Research, Calicut; Director of Research KAU and Professor ofHorticulture from 1979. He is an acknowledged teacher and science manager. Apost graduate from G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology Pantnagar(1969-1975), he is associated with development of biotic stress resistant varietiesin Chilli (Pant-C1, Pant-C2), tomato (Sakthi) and brinjal (Surya) which are grownthrough out the country. He is recipient of several National Awards like RafiAhmad Kidwai Award; Dr. M.H. Marigowda National Award; HSI-Shivasakthi

Award for Life Time Contributions to vegetable research; Recognition award and Dr. K. RamiahMemorial Award of National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, New Delhi; PNASF Gold Medal andGold medal from Indian Society of Vegetable Science, Varanasi. He is Fellow of NAAS New Delhi,NASI, Allahabad and NABS Chennai. National Book Trust, New Delhi published his authored book“Plantation Crops” in three languages-English, Hindi and Malayalam- and “Tuber Crops” in English.Woodhead Publishing Company UK published the three volume series titled “Handbook of Herbs andSpices” now revised into two volumes (2012). ICAR New Delhi published the book “Genetics andBreeding of Vegetable Crops”. New India Publishing Agency, New Delhi published a 12 volume serieson “Horticultural Science”; five volume series on “Underutilized and Underexploited Horticultural Crops”and two volumes of “Science of Horticulture”. Daya Publishing Company (Astral International Pvt.Ltd.) published four volumes of “Biodiversity of Horticultural Crops” and two volumes of “Future Crops”.He co-edited the book “Handbook of Industrial Crops” with Prof. V.L. Chopra and published by Taylorand Francis, USA. The monograph on “Jackfruit” co-edited by him and published by Studium Press,LLC is informative and widely read. He edited the much referred monograph on Noni (Morindacitrifolia L.) authored by Prof. P.I. Peter, The Divine Servant of the People and Chairman, Noni Biotech,Chennai. His immediate family consists of Vimala; two sons Anvar and Ajay and daughter-in-lawCynara. He comes from the famous tourist village Kumbalanghy, Cochin, Kerala and familyKuruppacharil.

FUTURE CROPS— Volume 2 —

EditorProfessor K.V. Peter

2014Daya Publishing House®

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© 2014 K.V. PETER (b. 1948– )

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Devotion

FUTURE CROPS Vol. 2 is devoted to the memory of Dr. N.K. Anant Rao (Dean Rao),Dr. R.K. Arora, Dr. B. Chaudhury, Dr. B.P. Ghildyal, Dr. S. Jayaraj, Dr. S. Kannaiyan, Dr. B.R. Murthy,Dr. R.M. Pandey, Dr. J.S. Pruthi, Dr. P.S. Rao, Dr. G.M. Reddy, Dr. Joseph Thomas, Dr. J.S.P. Yadav,Dr. Sant Ram, Dr. R.L. Paliwal and others who moulded me from the days at Pantnagar and whomI miss a lot. All these men contributed to physical, spiritual and scientific knowledge which made ourstay in planet earth worth living. I believe all above are in safe hands of God Almighty.

Acknowledgement

Prof. P.I. Peter Chairman NoniBiotech Chennai renders me unstinct support and physical facilitiesto make my academic dreams to reality. No words are sufficient to thank him from bottom of my heart.Dr. Kirti Singh, Chairperson World Noni Research Foundation Chennai is always supportive andencouraging. I am grateful to Dr. N. Krishna Kumar, Deputy Director General (Horticulture), KAB-II,ICAR, New Delhi for the FOREWORD and Dr. C. Devakumar, Assistant Director General (Education)ICAR, New Delhi for the PREFACE. I acknowledge the silent support and unfathomable sacrifice ofmy dear wife Vimala Peter, sons Anvar and Ajay and daughter-in –law Cynara which enabled me tobe at WNRF Chennai and compile this volume. I acknowledge all the contributors who supported mewith information with patience and good spirits. The Volume 2 reflects their scientific acumen andcommitment to science. I also acknowledge Mr Anil Mittal, Astral International Pvt. Ltd., New Delhifor attractive and error free printing.

Foreword

Agri-horticuIture and Agro-forestry are in critical turning points resulting from pressure on land,water, energy, human labour, urbanization and new life styles. Deforestation is rampant and shiftingcultivation has done irreparable damage to eco-systems. Plundering of natural resources especiallyplants of medicinal values and large scale deforestation are making many plants extinct. Climatechange and globalization are constraining food, feed and fuel production. Sustainability of manycrops like rice, sugarcane, sugarbeet and forages are being questioned due to high water requirement.

Migration and urbanization for better employment opportunities are creating new life styles andnew dietary requirements. Habitat pollution is throwing new challenges in the form of diseases likecancer, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and above all disturbed mind leading tounhealthy body. Customer convenient fast foods, frozen and ready to cook items; bottled water andready to serve drinks are infusing chemical preservatives to the long term detriment of people. By 2060world population is expected to touch 9 billion with India surpassing China. Food and Nutritionrequirement of 2060 demand doubling the present production and that too from a drastically reducedland-area, water and energy. The crops are to be tailored to meet the emerging requirements. Aquaticvegetables are getting popular in South East Asian countries and the aquatic weeds are projected asfuture foods.

There are a large number of underexploited and underutilized fruits in North East India especiallyMizoram with its congenial climate and virgin lands. Further, there are several underutilized spicesdemanding lesser natural resources for growth and development. Fruits like cactus, pear and citronare getting attention for suitability to areas with limited rainfall. Medicinal plants like camelina,embelia, salada and saraca are dealt as promising plants against new life style diseases. Lasoda andmappia are arid crops demanding research attention. Water chestnut is getting attention as a economiccrop in areas with natural ponds and water reserves. Palmyrah palm is emerging as a source of healthfood and timber for houses.

FUTURE CROPS Vol. 2 is a continuation of the series edited by Dr. K.V. Peter, Director WorldNoni Research Foundation, Chennai. Twenty chapters contributed by 50 well known scientists from18 Research Institutes constitute the informative book and deserve appreciation.

N.K. Krishna Kumar

Preface

Fruits and vegetables are the main source of many essential vitamins and minerals in our diet.They also provide much needed fibre and are a veritable source of anti-toxicants. According to theNational Sample Survey 66th Round (July 2009-June 2010), fruits and nuts accounted for only 2.4 percent of consumer expenditure in rural India and 3.2 per cent in urban India. Banana, apple, mango,grapes, papaya and oranges together accounted for around 84 per cent of the value of fresh fruitsconsumed in rural areas and 86 per cent of the value in urban areas. In case of each fruit and nut, percapita urban consumption outstripped rural consumption not only in value but also in quantity.Thus, there is enormous scope for fruits in the coming years.

According to Darrow and Yerks (1937), “All of our present cultivated plants, it must beremembered, have been derived from wild plants.” Evolution of edible plants from wild relative is acontinuous process mediated by environmental, ecological, geo-physical and anthropogenic factors.Some vegetables like tomato were not considered edible till 15th century. Cruciferous vegetables likecabbages, cauliflower, Brussels sprout and sprouting broccoli were not grown in tropical regions ofIndia because of sensitivity to higher temperature and higher rainfall. Now with introgression ofthermo-resistant genes from Asiatic cauliflowers into temperate cauliflower, the vegetable is nowgrown in tropics.

The basket of economic plants is at present small as numerous plants remain either underutilizedor underexploited. Maize, wheat, rice, potato, cassava, soybean, sweet potato, sorghum, yam andbanana are the ten top crops in decreasing order that feed the world. Fortunately, India is rich inbiodiversity with varied agro-ecological zones. India being a sub-continent can grow fruits of temperate,arid and sub-tropical grades. It is in this context, the series FUTURE CROPS edited by Dr K V Peter,Director, World Noni Research Foundation, Chennai is relevant and timely. The Vol. 2 of this seriescontains 20 chapters authored by 50 scientists from 18 research institutes and provides elaboratedetails on aquatic vegetables, medicinal plants, oil seeds, fruits and energy plants of future.

The editor of this volume is a well-known author of several excellent treatises such as Underutilizedand Underexploited Horticultural Crops, Genetics and Breeding of Vegetables, Handbook of Herbs and Spices,

Biodiversity in Horticultural Crops, Science of Horticulture etc. I congratulate Prof. K V Peter for thisexcellent publication which, I am sure, will immensely benefit teachers, students, researchers and allengaged in enriching the fruit basket of India. I commend M/s Astral International Pvt. Ltd. NewDelhi for this publication.

C. Devakumar

Assistant Director General EducationPlanning and Development,

ICAR, New Delhi

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Contents

Devotion v

Acknowledgement vii

Foreword ix

Preface xi

List of Contributors xv

Introduction xxi

1. Aquatic Vegetables 1A.K. Pandey, P.M. Singh, B. Singh, A.K. Chaturvedi and Mathura Rai

2. Aquatic Weeds as Potential Future Foods 17R.N. Mandal and P. Jayasankar

3. Underutilized Fruits of Indian Arid Zone 51Dheeraj Singh, M.K. Chudhary, M.L. Meena and Hari Dayal

4. Underexploited and Lesser Known Fruits of Mizoram 85T.K. Hazarika

5. Underutilized Spices 103S. Datta and A.B. Sharangi

6. Cactus Pear 133P.K. Ghsh, P. Bhattacharjee and R.S. Singhal

7. Camelina 153Ankur Agarwal, Anuja Kumari, M C Arya and Zakwan Ahmed

8. Castor Bean 179Swati Sinha, C. Lavanya, R.K. Chaudhary and Rajib Bandopadhyay

9. Citron 199Lallan Ram

10. Delphiniums 213K.K. Dhatt

11. Embelia ribes: An Endangered Medicinal Plant 225Vasantha Kumar, T. Sane Anuradha, V.K. Rao and P.E. Rajasekharan

12. Propagation and Cultivation Techniques of Embelia ribes (Vidanga) 237A. Patwardhan, M. Mhaskar, A. Joglekar, M. Tadwalkar, R. Wagh,and R. Vasudeva

13. Jujube 257Sunil Kumar Sharma

14. Jamun (Syzygium cumini) 279Bratati Chaudhary and Kunal Mukhopadhyay

15. Lasoda (Cordia myxa Roxb.) 293S.K. Sharma, Hare Krishna and A. Parashar

16. Mappia: An Endangered Life Saving Anticancerous Medicinal Plant 297S. Shashi Kumar, T. Vasantha Kumar, Renuka Jain and P.E. Rajasekharan

17. Palmyrah 309Jiji George and Anitha Karun

18. Salacia oblonga Wall. ex Wight and Arn. 321T. Vasantha Kumar, Anuradha Sane, V.K. Rao and P.E. Rajasekharan

19. Saraca asoca (Rose.) De. Willd.: An Epic Tree of Ancient India 329T. Vasantha Kumar, Anuradha Sane, V.K. Rao and P.E. Rajasekharan

20. Water Chestnut (Trapa bispinosa Roxb.) 337S.K. Sharma, Hare Krishna, S.K. Maheshwari and Nitesh Chauhan

Previous Volume Contents 343

Index 345

xiv

List of Contributors

Agarwal, AnkurDefence Institute of Bio-Energy Research (DIBER), DRDO, Ministry of Defence, Field Station,Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand – 262 501E-mail: darl_ankur@rediffmail.com

Ahmed, ZakwanDefence Institute of Bio-Energy Research (DIBER), DRDO, Ministry of Defence, Field Station, Pithorgarh,Uttarakhand – 262 501

Anuradha, T. SaneIndian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore – 56 0089

Arya, M.C.Defence Institute of Bio-Energy Research (DIBER), DRDO, Ministry of Defence, Field Station, Pithorgarh,Uttarakhand – 262 501

Bandopadhyay, RajibDepartment of Biotechnology, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi – 835 215, JharkhandE-mail: rajib_bandopadhyay@bitmesra.ac.in

Bhattacharjee, P.Department of Food Technology and Biochemical Engineering, Jadavpur University,Kolkata – 700 032

Chaturvedi, A.K.Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi

Chaudhary, BratatiDepartment of Biotechnology, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi – 835 215E-mail: bratatichaudhary@yahoo.co.in

Chaudhary, R.K.Department of Botany, University of Calcutta, Kolkata – 700 019

Chauhan, NiteshCentral Institute for Arid Horticulture, Beechwal, Bikaner – 334 006, Rajasthan

Choudhary, M.K.Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI), Pali-Marwar – 306 401, Rajasthan

Datta, S.Department of Spices and Plantation Crops, B.C.K.V.V., Mohanpur– 741 252, Nadia, West Bengal

Dayal, HariKrishi Vigyan Kendra, Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI), Pali-Marwar – 306 401, Rajasthan

Dhatt, K.K.Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana – 141 004,PunjabE-mail: dhattkiran@gmail.com

George, JijiResearch Scientist-II, Manipal Centre for Virus Research, (Regional Reference Laboratory for InfluenzaViruses, and ICMR Virology Network Laboratory-Grade-I) Manipal University, Manipal – 576 104,Karnataka

Ghosh, P.K.Department of Food Technology and Biochemical Engineering, Jadavpur University,Kolkata – 700 032

Hazarika, T.K.Department of Horticulture, Aromatic and Medicinal Plants, School of Earth Sciences and NaturalResources Management, Mizoram University, Aizawl, MizoramE-mail: tridip28@gmail.com

Jain, RenukaAvesthagen Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore

Jayasankar, P.Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (ICAR), Kausalyaganga, Bhubaneswar – 751 002, OrissaE-mail: pjayasankar@yahoo.com

Joglekar, A.Department of Biodiversity, Abasaheb Garware College, Deccan Gymkhana, Karve Road,Pune – 411 004, MaharashtraResearch and Action in Natural Wealth Administration (RANWA), 16, Swastishree Society, GaneshNagar, Kothrud, Pune – 411 052, Maharashtra

Karun, AnithaPrincipal Scientist, Biotechnology Section, Central Plantation Crops Research Institute,Kasaragod – 671 124, KeralaE-mail: anithakarun2008@gmail.com

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Krishna, HareCentral Institute for Arid Horticulture, Beechwal, Bikaner – 334 006, Rajasthan

Kumar, S. ShashiChromus Seeds, Bangalore

Kumar, VasanthaIndian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore – 560 089E-mail: thuppil@iihr.ernet.in

Kumari, AnujaDefence Institute of Bio-Energy Research (DIBER), DRDO, Ministry of Defence, Field Station, Pithorgarh,Uttarakhand – 262 501

Lavanya, C.Directorate of Oilseeds Research Rajendranagar, Hyderabad – 500 030

Maheshwari, S.K.Central Institute for Arid Horticulture, Beechwal, Bikaner – 334 006, Rajasthan

Mandal, R.N.Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (ICAR), Kausalyaganga, Bhubaneswar – 751 002, Orissa

Meena, M.L.Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI), Pali-Marwar – 306 401, Rajasthan

Mhaskar, M.Department of Biodiversity, Abasaheb Garware College, Deccan Gymkhana,Karve Road, Pune – 411 004, MaharashtraResearch and Action in Natural Wealth Administration (RANWA), 16, Swastishree Society, GaneshNagar, Kothrud, Pune – 411 052, Maharashtra

Mukhopadhyay, KunalDepartment of Biotechnology, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi – 835 215

Pandey, A.K.Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, VaranasiE-mail: pandey.ajai1@gmail.com

Parashar, A.Central Institute for Arid Horticulture, Beechwal, Bikaner – 334 006, Rajasthan

Patwardhan, A.Department of Biodiversity, Abasaheb Garware College, Deccan Gymkhana, Karve Road,Pune – 411 004, MaharashtraResearch and Action in Natural Wealth Administration (RANWA), 16, Swastishree Society, GaneshNagar, Kothrud, Pune – 411 052, MaharashtraE-mail: ankurpatwardhan@gmail.com

Rai, MathuraIndian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi, U.P.

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Rajasekharan, P.E.Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore – 56 0089

Ram, LallanProcessing Laboratory, National Research Centre for Citrus, Amravati Road, Nagpur – 440 010,MaharashtraE-mail: lallanram09@gmail.com

Rao, V.K.Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore – 56 0089

Sane, AnuradhaIndian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore – 560 089

Sharangi, A.B.Department of Spices and Plantation Crops, B.C.K.V.V., Mohanpur– 741 252, Nadia, West BengalE-mail: dr_absharangi@yahoo.co.in

Sharma, S.K.Central Institute for Arid Horticulture, Beechwal, Bikaner – 334 006, RajasthanE-mail: ciah@nic.in

Sharma, Sunil KumarIARI Regional Station, Agricultural College Estate, Shivajinagar, Pune – 411 005E-mail: sunilksharma@yahoo.co.in

Singh, B.Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi, U.P.

Singh, DheerajKrishi Vigyan Kendra, Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI), Pali-Marwar – 306 401, RajasthanE-mail: dheerajthakurala@yahoo.com

Singh, P.M.Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi, U.P.

Singhal, R.S.Institute of Chemical Technology, Nathalal Parekh Marg, Matunga, Mumbai – 400 019E-mail: rsinghal7@ediffmail.com

Sinha, SwatiDepartment of Biotechnology, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi – 835 215, Jharkhand

Tadwalkar, M.Department of Biodiversity, Abasaheb Garware College, Deccan Gymkhana,Karve Road, Pune – 411 004, MaharashtraResearch and Action in Natural Wealth Administration (RANWA), 16, Swastishree Society, GaneshNagar, Kothrud, Pune – 411 052, Maharashtra

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xix

Vasudeva, R.Department of Forest Biology and Tree Improvement, College of Forestry, University of AgriculturalSciences, Sirsi Campus – 581 401, Dharwad, Karnataka

Wagh, R.Department of Biodiversity, Abasaheb Garware College, Deccan Gymkhana, Karve Road,Pune – 411 004, MaharashtraResearch and Action in Natural Wealth Administration (RANWA), 16, Swastishree Society, GaneshNagar, Kothrud, Pune – 411 052, Maharashtra

Introduction

In an editorial in the journal Science titled 'Combating Hunger', Prof. M S Swaminathan highlightsprioritization of an innovative science-based marriage of nutrition and agriculture.”At the close of therecent London Olympics, The UK announced a programme designed to rescue 25 million childrenworldwide from malnutrition by the time of the next Olympics in Brazil in 2016. The problem ofhunger is not simply a lack of sufficient quantities of food. The chronic hunger caused by protein andcalorie undernutrition (the hidden hunger caused by the deficiency of micronutrients, which includeiron, iodine, zinc, Vit. A and Vit. B12) and sometimes by human diseases which disable the body’sability to absorb what micronutrients it receives”-Prof. Swaminathan. Prof. Carlos Perez del Castilloof CGIAR in his Millemmium Lecture delivered on November 21st 2012 elaborated challenges of ruralpoverty and world food security. Green revolution of 1970’s and 1980’s happened in irrigated areasand the rainfed areas need technologies and new crops to increase food (rice, wheat, millet andpulses) to feed 9.0 billion people by 2050. Water scarcity affects more than 1.2 billion people calling forwater saving crops and technologies. Dryland systems, humid tropics and aquatic agriculture systemsare the less tapped for food and nutrition security. CGIAR has three centres-Bioversity, IWMI andWorldfish to deal with aquatic agriculture systems. There are underutilized potential in root, tuber,fruit, vegetable, spice and plantation crops to improve food security, nutrition and livelihoods.

Aquatic vegetables are possible future crops for food, nutrition, energy and raw materials forindustry. Nurturing them needs protection, propagation and proliferation. Velvet leaf, Indian bluewater lily, water lettuce, marsilea, pygmy water lily, Manchurian rice, common water plantain, watermimosa, parrot’s feather, duck lettuce, aponogeton, keysoor, achyranthe, hydrolea, water pepper,water fern, giant chickweed, eel grass, water shield, frog bit, para cress, golden club, papyrus, Chinesearrowhead, cattail, Indian red water lily, fragrant water lily, swamp taro, sonneratia, water spinach,lotus, water cheshnut, buffalo spinach, gorgon nut, water dropwort, monochoria, water cress, Chinesewater cheat nut and water sprite are a few aquatic plants edible and nutritious. Water spinach is nowa common leaf vegetable. Rhizomes of lotus are edible and dehydrated rhizomes are raw materials fordelicious chips and fries. Water hyacinths were used as human food in the Philippines in war time.Water hyacinth protein shows deficient levels in only two of the essential amino acids-valine andmethionine-. Medicinal uses of aquatic plants like water spinach, cattail, eel grass, duck lettuce,

common water plantain, water shield, papyrus, dwarf waterclover, wasambi, fragrant water lily,sonneratia, Chinese arrowhead, paracress, Indian blue lily, keysoor, hydrolea and water pepper arereported. Aquatic plants are life line to wet land ecosystem, one of the most threatened habitats of theworld due to human encroachments, dumping of wastes and above all pollutants from industries.Role of aquatic plants in phyto-remediation has been well understood. Future threats to aquaticvegetables will come from contamination, accumulation of nitrate and oxalates, heavy metals andpathogenic organisms. Depletion of oxygen in wet land water is another issue demanding attention.

Aquatic weeds as potential future foods are debated intensively. Fresh, brackish and saline waterbodies host different plants as weeds as of now. Food, feed, fodder and vegetables are four groups ofaquatic plants based on usage. Makhana, water cheshnut, lotus, water lily and colocasia are used asfood. Wild macrophytes, azolla, duckweed, water spinach and water cheshnut for feed and fodderand wild plants for vegetables are other notable aquatic weeds now.”If one fifth area of the total fallowwetlands are utilized for the purpose of harnessing potential of nutrient substances of selective aquaticplants, it can surely bring about a remarkable change in the scenario of future crops”-reports DrMandal and Dr Jayasankar(2013).

Underutilized fruit crops are getting evolved to meet the requirements of nutrients, energy anddiet of a developing and growing populace. Bael, seethaphal, jackfruit, bamboo fruit, chironji, karonda,lasoda, timru, gab/tumbi, aonla, loquot, baincha, banyan treefigs, papaltree, gullar, anjeer, kaith,phalsa, mahua, rayan/khirni, molsiri, mulberry, senjana, neemphal, cape gooseberry, dates/khajur,pomegranate, jamun, tamarind and ber are a few underexploited fruits of Indian arid zone. Many aresources of food, nutrients, vitamins, antioxidants, pectins, celluloses, lipids and pigments. Manyvalue added products are made from above underexploited fruits. Tamarind pulp, toffees, juice, juiceconcentrate, pulp powder, pickle, jam, syrup, candy and seed based products are available. TheAmerican pharmaceutical industry processes 100 tones of tamarind pulp annually and it is a commoningredient in cardiac and blood sugar reducing medicines. Mizoram, one among the seven states of N.E. India is an abode of several minor fruits of considerable value. Many have outstanding adaptationcapabilities to drought tolerance, salt tolerance and are resistant to major pests and diseases.

As per document 676 of International Standards Organization(ISO) there are 109 spices out ofwhich 52 are grown commonly in India, the major ones being black pepper, ginger, cardamom, onion,garlic, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, allspice, coriander, fennel, fenugreek, cumin and celery. Spices impartcolour, flavor and fragrance to food preparations and have several medicinal uses for health andwellness. Many of the above spices face stresses from biotic and abiotic agents. The future spices arethe present herbs and minor spices like ajmund, ajowain, aniseed, asafetida, black cumin, curry leaf,horse radish, Japanese mint, kokam, leek, mango ginger, opium poppy, paprika, parsley, rosemary,sage, sweet flag, sweetmarjoram, tamarind, tarragon, tejpat and thyme. Each of above plants has itsown flavor and fragrant characteristics.

With desertification looming large and water resources dwindling, attention is focused on cuticlethick and lenticels free plants. Opentia and cactus are water saving crops of interest. Cacti are succulentplants which live in dry(xeric) environment and survive long period of drought. Low waterrequirements and a high water use efficiency ratio make cacti suitable for arid regions. Cactus pear orPrickly pear is an edible fruit from the plant Opentia ficus-indica. At present Mexico grows 79.6 per centof the world production. In view of the changes in global climate, cactus pear is suggested as apromising crop by the FAO. It can act as a boon for the underdeveloped countries providing nutritionat an affordable costs and is projected as future fruit.

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Oil seed crops like soybean, ground nut, canola-mustard, sunflower, sesame, safflower, niger, oilpalm and coconut are under threat of several diseases and pests. Water requirements of above cropsare also higher. Aftermath of climate change tells up on oil yield and quality of above crops. GMSoybean and GM canola are facing opposition in Europe. Castor bean is emerging as a future oil seedcrop because of its adaptability, lesser water requirement and resistance to drought and salinity. Useof castor oil is known since 2000 B. C. in Ayurvedic and Unani medicines. Presence of ricin, a toxicphytochemical, is the limiting factor for use of castor oil as edible oil. Attempts are made to locate ricinfree castor varieties.

Camelina belonging to cabbage family is another oil yielding annual crop with potential as anindustrial oil crop. Linolenic fatty acid in camelina places it exclusively in industrial use only now.Once the unsaturated fatty acid content is brought down to levels prescribed for edible oil, there isscope for this crop to be a future crop. At present the crop is grown in Europe and was an importantcrop during Iron and Bronze ages. Camelina is also known as German sesame, Siberian oilseed, Falseflax, Dutch flax, Linseed dodder and Gold of pleasure. Camelina oil being rich in omega-3 fatty acidsalso offers opportunity to meet the growing demands for high quality fatty acids after removal of non-edible fractions.

Lime, lemon and oranges are sub-tropical fruits of considerable value both health and processingindustry wise. Being the richest source of ascorbic acid(Vit. C), lime and lemon are taken fresh andprocessed forms. Rapid decline due to viral and nematode infected soils is reducing area under thesecrops. Among processed fruit juices, oranges occupy top most position. The Nagpur based NationalResearch Centre for Citrus conducts research on citrus and despite all out efforts oranges are gettingaffected by several pests and diseases. Citron(Citrus medica L.) is emerging as a future citrus plant withall the qualities of oranges. In addition, several medicinal uses are attributed to the fruits. Citron seedsare also ingredients of medicines administered in S E Asia as vermifuge.

Ornamental plants decorate men and women, habitats, ceremonies and add natural bliss toliving environment. Gardens-Mughal, Japanese, Chinese, European, etc-have characteristics of theirown. Flowers and foliages are used in religious functions-birth, marriage, departure-, other functions-house swarming, opening of offices and factories, inaugural occasion-. Possession of a home gardenis a dream of many in urban areas. There are flowering seasonals, annuals, biannuals and perennialsand like wise foliage plants. There are ornamental trees providing shade and housing to birds andsquirrels. Features of a garden like hedges, edges, arches and pargolas, lawns, pandals, water spotsfor lotus and birds like ducks and peacons are made and decorated by plants of varied colours,textures and heights. Landscape planning and architecture are unique arts and science marryingknowledge on plants with engineering skills. Floriculture industry deals with extraction of pigments,flavourants and volatiles. Novelty, uniqueness and rarety are characteristics of a vibrating floricultureindustry. New forms of orchids, cacti, ferns, succulents, palms and foliage plants are coming outusing technologies of molecular biology and biotechnology. Many weeds of yesterdays are now muchdemanded ornamentals. Salvenia, Eupatorium and Aquatic lilies are now evolved into much demandedplants. Delphiniums are emerging as much demanded ornamentals. Tropicalisation of delphinium isin progress.

Medicinal and aromatic plants are receiving attention for their pro-nature and non-residualproperties. Every plant in the planet earth has one or other medicinal properties. Traditional wisdom,tribal practices and writings in vedic books, Caraka Samhita, several flora –Flora of Madras etc- byDutch and British army men and missionaries, Hortus Malabaricus by Van Rheedes and afterindependence by the Botanical Survey of India, Wealth of India by CSIR, publications of Central

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Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow;Directorate of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants,Boriavi Anand;All India Co-Ordinated Research Project on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants underICAR;Tropical Garden and Research Institute, Palode Trivandrum; Departments of Medicinal andAromatic Plants in several State Agricultural Universities conduct research on medicinal plants.Ayurveda Universities maintain live collections of these plants. There are threats to these plantsbecause of neglect in regeneration and loss of habitats. Red Data Book carries list of plants underthreat of extinction. Embelia ribes is one of such plants facing extinction and is listed”endemic”. It is anIndo-Malaysian species, commonly seen in places upto a height of 1666 m amsl. Roots, fruits andleaves are used. The plant is used in about 75 formulations of Ayurveda. Pharmacological activitiesinclude diabetic dyslipidemia, antioxidant activity, wound healing activity and anticancer activity.Embelia ribes being an endemic species, attempts are made to standardize propagation and cultivationtechniques. Propagated mainly through seeds, it can be multiplied through tissue culture also. Leafexplants are taken for direct shoot organogenesis. Rooted plants are established in soil with 70 percent success.

Ber(Jujube) is an emerging fruit tree from a state of oblivion due to its suitability for scanty rain fallareas. There are several varieties ranging from bush to shrub to tree plant types. Two distinct species-Indian jujube(Ziziphus mauritiana) and Chinese jujube(Z. jujube)-are available. Other minor cultivatedspecies are Z. spina-christi and Z. lotus. Ber provides nutritious fruit, honey, forage and environmentalprotection. Jujube is popular as fresh crispy fruits and processed products-dehydrated seedless fruits,dehydrated bits, jujube in brine, jujube sweet and sour pickles and jujube mixed fruit preserves-. Beingtap and deep rooted the shrub/tree withstands drought. Grafts of jujube on wild Zizyphus sp are nowavailable which start fruiting moderately 3 years after planting. Ber is projected as a fruit of future.Jamun (Zyzygium cumini) is another tropical and subtropical fruit tree providing needed shade alonghighways and yielding fruits of medicinal value especially against diabetes and obeisity. Maturedfruits are highly perishable and need to be preserved into products like juice concentrates, preserves,jams, jellies, vinegar and puddings and ready to serve drinks. Jamun is a rich source of anthocyaninimparting pink, red, magenta, purple and dark blue colours. Anthocyanins impart protective effects tohuman and animal health by antagonistic activities to a few bacteria, virus and fungi. It protects foodfrom microbial spoilage. The Hindus regard jamun as “fruit of Gods” as Lord Ram survived on thefruits in the forest during his exile from Ayodhya. Edible pulp is rich in Vitamins C, A and Bcomplex(riboflavin, choline, folic acid, malaic acid) and several amino acids. Seed contains the glycosidejamboline with hypoglycaemic properties. Jamun has become a much wanted fruit.

There is desertification in progress due to manmade and extraneous reasons. There are limitednumber of economic crops which can survive the rigours of deserts. One such fruit tree is lasoda(Cordiamyxa) or cherry of the desert. It is underutilized and underexploited. A multipurpose tree spread overarid and semi-arid regions, folk names include lehsua, goonda/goondi, lasura, assyrian plum,sebestem, Indian cherry and naruvilli. All parts of lasoda have uses-medicinal, nutritional, feed andfodder, wood to make toys, ornamental furniture, utensils and handling sour recipes-. Through cropimprovement studies, a few plus trees are identified at Central Horticulture Experiment Station,Bhubaneshwar; NBPGR, Jodhpur and CIAH, Bikaner.

Mappia (Nothapodytes foetida) is a rare and endemic medicinal plant in the Western Ghats. It hasuse in treating cancer, HIV and malaria-camptothecin, an alkaloid to treat cancer and HIV-I is extracted.The current demand for woodchips of mappia is 500-700 tones, the supply being 50 per cent ofdemand putting pressure on collection from forests. Antifungal and anti bacterial activities of organicsolvent extracts of mappia wood chips are established. Indiscriminate cutting and rapid deforestation

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cause severe shortage of wild and cultivated mappia. Attention is focused on rapid multiplication ofmappia through cuttages, tissue culture and other micropropagation methods. Developing a cultivationstrategy combined with optimizing the growing conditions to increase the biological yield andcampothecin would result in consistant supply of high quality wood chips to industries.

Palmyrah palm is projected as a future palm yielding leaves for shelter, truck for carpentry, nutsfor culinary drink, kernel for value added products and root masses for soil conservation and thewhole palm as wind break. Being grown in rain shadow and dry areas, palmyrah has advantages ofgrowing in drought prone areas. It requires limited quantity of irrigation water, soil depth and organicmatter. It is a multipurpose tree of great utility. Sweet sap(neera) is a primary product from the tappedinflorescence from which palm jaggery, palm honey, palm candy and toddy are made. Palmyrah fruitpulp from endosperm(nungu) is relished for nutritive value, flavor and taste. Attention on palmyrahis getting lesser due to non availability of climbers and conversion of lands for other purposes.

Salacia oblonga, Saraca asoca and Trapa bispinosa are future crops of economic value, the first two formedicinal and ornamental purposes and the third(water cheshnut) for vegetable purpose. Salaciaoblonga has uses in cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Ashoka (Saraca asoca) is a tree of culturaland religious significance. Ashoka stem bark contains tannin, catechol, haematoxylin, a saponin andorganic iron compounds. Two formulations based on the bark are Asokarista and Asokaghrita.Antimicrobial properties of Saraca asoca are established. Water cheshnut(Singhara) is an aquaticvegetable grown for its starch rich fruits. Singhara is now a poor mans fruit vegetable getting attentionfor its value as an economic water loving herb.

FUTURE CROPS Vol. 2 deal with fruits, vegetables, spices, ornamentals, medicinal and aromaticplants, oil seeds and crops for timber, fuel and fodder.

K.V. Peter

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Chapter 1

Aquatic VegetablesA.K. Pandey*, P.M. Singh, B. Singh,A.K. Chaturvedi and Mathura Rai

Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi*E-mail: pandey.ajai1@gmail.com

Aquatic vegetables are predominantly in vogue where they are naturally available in plenty.Areas rich in water bodies like lakes, lagoons, ponds, ditches, marshy wet places are natural abode ofmost of the aquatic vegetables. South-East Asia is considered one of the suitable niches and most of thecountries lying in the boundaries of SE Asia have got unique gift of nature of unprecedented high rainfall and unique topography to harvest and preserve the nature’s drop, resulting in round the yearavailability of green lustrous aquatic edible greens, carbohydrate rich rhizomes and nutritionallypacked flowers and fruits suitable for various vegetable uses. Communities dominated in the wetlandareas of the globe do not only get their requirements of vegetables completed, it is an indispensablepart of their life. Gorgon fruit of eastern India, lotus and water chest nut are some of the few exampleswhich have been in use at various religious occasions since time immemorial. In Thailand, nutritionalcontribution of naturally occurring vegetables (NOV) were evaluated within the overall diet of 101and 110 women in the Mekong Delta (flood period and rainy season, respectively) and of 103 womenin the Central Highlands (rainy season). The concentrations of Ca, Fe and Zn were analysed in 28species, and presence of tannins and phytic acid in 19 species. Provitamin carotenoids were determinedin 11 species. Over 90 per cent of the women consumed NOV, and they contributed 43, 72 and 75 percent (Central Highlands, Mekong rainy and Mekong flood period, respectively) of the total quantitiesof vegetables eaten. Aquatic species such as Ipomoea aquatica and Limnocharis flava, and terrestrialvegetables like Schismattoglottis calyptrata, were among the most commonly consumed vegetables.They were eaten in mean daily quantities exceeding 50 g and had high concentrations of Ca, Fe andβ-carotene. Other major aquatic vegetables included the stems of Eleocharis sp., Nelumbo nucifera andNymphea lotus, all of which were used as salad vegetables and had relatively low nutrient density(Ogle et al., 2001).

2014, Future Crops Vol. 2 Pages 1–15Editor: Professor K.V. PeterPublished by: DAYA PUBLISHING HOUSE, NEW DELHI

Future Crops Vol. 22

Aquatic Vegetables: A Major Component of AquacultureAquaculture can be broadly defined as the farming or culture of aquatic organisms, including

fish, molluscs, crustaceans and aquatic plants where according to FAO (1995) ‘farming implies someform of intervention in the rearing process to enhance production. Aquatic vegetable production insemi-intensive and intensive systems is widespread and commercially significant around many citiesin South -East Asia. According to Phuong and Tuan (2005) in Hanoi, water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica)is produced throughout the year, whilst water mimosa (Neptunia oleracea) is cultivated only in thesummer (April to August) and water dropwort (Oenanthe stolonifera) and water cress (Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum) are produced in the winter (September to March). Most production occur in flooded fields,some of which were converted from rice production to generate a higher income; water spinach is alsocultivated floating on canals within the city. Water mimosa and water spinach production are reportedfrom peri-urban provinces around Bangkok (Yoonpundh et al., 2005). Around Ho Chi Minh City,Vietnam, many farmers in Binh Chanh District have combined water mimosa cultivation with fishproduction in separate ponds; mimosa providing a daily income whilst the fish consume the duckweedthat grows alongside the mimosa (Hung and Huy, 2005). A list aquatic vegetables and their commonname, scientific name, family and edible parts are given in Table 1.1.

Table 1.1: Aquatic vegetables, their scientific name, family and edible parts.

Common Name Scientific Name Family Edible Parts

Velvet leaf Limnocharis flava (L.) Buch Limnocharitaceae Leaf vegetable

Indian blue water Lily Nymphaea stellata Willd. Nymphaeaceae Rhizome

Water lettuce Pistia stratiotes L. Araceae Leaf vegetable

Marsilea Marsilea minuta Marsileaceae Pot herb

Pygmy water lily Nymphaea tetragona Georgi Nymphaeaceae leaf buds and seeds

Manchurian Rice Zizania latifolia Poaceae Infected culms

Common Water plantain Alisma plantago-aquatica L. Alismataceae Roots, leaves and petioles

Water mimosa Neptunia oleracea Loureiro Fabaceae Young shoots

Parrot’s Feather Myriophyllum aquaticum (J. M. Haloragaceae Edible leavesda ConceicaoVellozo) Verdc.

Duck lettuce Ottelia alismoides Hydrocharitaceae Petioles and tender leaves

Aponogeton Aponogeton crispum Aponogetonaceae Starchy tuberous rhizome

Keysoor Scirpus grossus Linn. f. Tikiu Cyperaceae Starchy root

Achyranthe Achyranthes aquatica Amaranthaceae Tender leaves and twigs

Hydrolea Hydrolea zeylanica (L.) Vahl Hydroleaceae Young shoots

Water pepper Polygonum hydropiper L. Polygonaceae Leaf vegetable

Water fern Dentella repens J. R. Forst. Rubiaceae Leafand G. Forst.

Giant chickweed Stellaria aquatica L. Scop. Caryophyllaceae Young leaves and stem

Eel grass Vallisneria spiralis L. Hydrocharitaceae Leaf vegetable

Water shield Brasenia schreberi J. F. Gmel Cabombaceae Leaf vegetable

Frog bit Hydrocharis dubia (Blume) Backer Hydrocharitaceae Mucilaginous leaves andinflorescence

Contd...