National Research Centre on Seed Spices

Essential oils are valuable commodities, serving as raw materials for a wide range of industrial, commercial, medical, and scientific applications. Their diverse applications make essential oils a focal point in research. There have been various findings on the biological activity of essential oils derived from coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) leaves and seeds at the individual genotype level. So far, very limited research has been done on coriander cultivars on identification of candidate genes related to essential oil biosynthesis pathway. Our work used popular Indian coriander cultivars such as AgCr-1, CO-2, and Pant haritma’s leaves and seeds for transcriptome sequencing and data analysis. Sequencing and transcriptome data analysis identified putative candidate genes for essential oil biosynthesis in leaves, including the terpene and terpinene synthase gene family, sesquiterpene synthase, and geraniol-8-hydroxylase. Similarly, S-linalool synthase, geraniol 8-hydroxylase-like, and 8-hydroxygeraniol dehydrogenase-like associated genes were discovered in seeds. Myrcene synthase was specifically found in Pant Haritma seeds. Furthermore, genes involved in the metabolism of vitamins such as thiamine, riboflavin, and vitamin B6 have been identified, along with medicinally and nutritionally significant metabolites. These genes can be used to develop biotechnological and molecular breeding approaches for modulating the essential oil composition of coriander crops.

A new fennel variety AF-3 has been released with an average seed yield (2143 kg ha-1), essential oil (1.9%) and Ramularia blight resistance. The variety was recommended for release in Annual Group Meet XXIX AICRPs workshop held at Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry, Solan (H.P.) during 4-6th Oct., 2018 and notified vide S.O.4272(E) dated 26.11.2019 for commercial cultivation under timely sown, with recommended POP for growing areas of Rajasthan. Adoption of new fennel variety AF-3 by the fennel growers will increase their farm productivity and income, thus improving their livelihood besides better sustenance of spice industry in the country.

Ajmer Green Coriander-1 (AGCr-1) variety of coriander has beenreleased for leafy purpose and powdery mildew resistance for offseason cultivation in Rajasthan state. The average yield of greenleaves was 2732.89 kg/ha under shade net conditions. This varietyhas powdery mildew resistance with percent disease score of 21.69%. The essential oil content of leaves and seeds was observed 0.05% and 0.36 %, respectively. The variety was recommended forrelease in Institute Research Advisory (IRC) Committee Meeting heldat ICAR-National Research Centre on Seed Spices, Ajmer andsubmitted State Seed Sub-Committee, Govt. of Rajasthan andnotified vide S.O. No./1480 (E); dated 01.04.2021 for commercialcultivation under timely sown, with recommended POP for growingareas of Rajasthan. In off-season, coriander growers will be able togrow AGCr-1 to accomplish market demand and improve their farmproductivity and income.

Genetic variation for salt tolerance remains elusive in jamun (Syzygium cumini). Effects of gradually increased salinity (2.0-12.0 dS/m) were examined in 20 monoembryonic and 28 polyembryonic genotypes of jamun. Six genotypes were additionally assessed for understanding salt-induced changes in gas exchange attributes and antioxidant enzymes. Salt-induced reductions in leaf, stem, root and plant dry mass (PDM) were relatively greater in mono- than in poly-embryonic types. Reductions in PDM relative to control implied more adverse impacts of salinity on genotypes CSJ-28, CSJ-31, CSJ-43 and CSJ-47 (mono) and CSJ-1, CSJ-24, CSJ-26 and CSJ-27 (poly). Comparably, some mono- (CSJ-5, CSJ-18) and poly-embryonic (CSJ-7, CSJ-8, CSJ-14, CSJ-19) genotypes exhibited least reductions in PDM following salt treatment. Most polyembryonic genotypes showed lower reductions in root than in shoot mass, indicating that they may be more adept at absorbing water and nutrients when exposed to salt. The majority of genotypes did not exhibit leaf tip burn and marginal scorch despite significant increases in Na+ and Cl-, suggesting that tissue tolerance existed for storing excess Na+ and Cl- in vacuoles. Jamun genotypes were likely more efficient in Cl- exclusion because leaf, stem and root Cl- levels were consistently lower than those of Na+ under salt treatment. Leaf K+ was particularly little affected in genotypes with high leaf Na+. Lack of discernible differences in leaf, stem and root Ca2+ and Mg2+ contents between control and salt treatments was likely due to their preferential uptake. Correlation analysis suggested that Na+ probably had a greater inhibitory effect on biomass in both mono- and poly-embryonic types. Discriminant analysis revealed that while stem and root Cl- probably accounted for shared responses, root Na+, leaf K+ and leaf Cl- explained divergent responses to salt stress of mono- and poly-embryonic types. Genotypes CSJ-18 and CSJ-19 seemed efficient in fending off oxidative damage caused by salt because of their stronger antioxidant defences. Polyembryonic genotypes CSJ-7, CSJ-8, CSJ-14 and CSJ-19, which showed least reductions in biomass even after prolonged exposure to salinity stress, may be used as salt-tolerant rootstocks. The biochemical and molecular underpinnings of tissue tolerance to excess Na+ and Cl- as well as preferential uptake of K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ need to be elucidated.

Cumin usually known as Jeera and scientifically known as Cuminumcyminum L. is annual and one of the most important spice crop that is moreprone to several diseases among which the aerial diseases cause severelosses in both yield and quality. Aerial diseases are those diseases whichcause de-formalities in aboveground system of the plant and may includestem, leaves, flower, seed, fruit etc. The threats of Aerial diseases areepidemics in crop production, high cost of chemical fungicides anddevelopment of fungicide resistance, climate change, new diseaseoutbreaks and increasing concerns regarding environmental as well assoil health are becoming increasingly obvious. These demand the use ofintegrated aerial disease management strategies for the crop. This articlesummarized the methods for management of aerial diseases in cuminseed production which included legal methods, resistant cultivars,sanitation, and cropping system, biological control, soil amendments andsoil fertility and weather parameters, plant nutrients, and chemical control.Decision support systems developed to predict disease allow choosinggood management methods such as the use of healthy seeds, culturalpractices and biological control agents for each aerial cumin disease. Thecomplexity in interactions between a pathogen and its host, influenced bybiotic and abiotic factors of the environment, build the control of thediseases frequently very hard. However, profound awareness of host-pathogen systems allows constructing integrated pest managementsystems enhances the production of good quantity as well as quality seed.

Seed Spice oils of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.), cumin (Cuminumcyminumn L.), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Miller), and ajwain(Trachyspermum ammi L.) were used as impregnation on seed surface onsame seed as protectant against cigarette beetle Lasiodermaserricorne.All seed spice oils were able to significantly reduce the population of L.serricorneat all stages of observation. The application of fennel oil wasproved to be most detrimental against development of population of L.serricorne in fennel seed as only 11.3 beetle developed after 90 daysagainst 54.6 beetle in control treatment. Uses of higher concentration of oilapplied results more effective to reduce the population growth of beetle.The finding indicates the application of seed spice oil is good source ofrepellent for management of cigarette beetle during storage of seedspices.

The study was conducted to evaluate the performance of power operated chaff cutter for three types of fodder crops, viz., jowar, maize, and sorghum, under load and no-load conditions during kharif (July to October, 2022) at Farm Machinery Testing Centre (FMTC), University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur, Karnataka (16.2051°N,77.3303°E). The hardness of the blade was recorded to be 54 HRC, and the rate of wear of blades on a mass basis and a dimensional basis was recorded as 0.013% - 0.026% and 0.028% - 0.047% per hour, respectively. The power consumption of the chaff cutter at no load was recorded as 0.42 kWh. Similarly, the quantity of cut fodder received was measured as 621 - 623 kg h-1 and 1710 - 1816 kg h-1 for dry and wet fodder, respectively. The maximum specific energy consumption was recorded as 1123.21 - 2396.0 kg kWh-1 in dry and wet fodder, respectively. The quality of cut ranged from 0.38 - 0.42 and 0.41 - 0.43 in dry and wet fodder, respectively. The performance index of chaff cutters was recorded as 471.37 and 1006.34 for dry and wet fodder, respectively. The maximum efficiency was recorded as 96.62 - 97.87% and 97.50 - 98.10% for dry and wet fodder, respectively. The power-operated chaff cutter was operated for a long-run test (23.00 h) for cutting jowar (dry), maize, and sugarcane crops in both wet and dry conditions was done. No breakdown in the cutter head, feeding mechanism, transmission systems, body of the chaff cutter was noticed.