Good Agricultural Practices and Economic Analysis of Naga King Chilli Cultivation

<p>Naga King Chilli (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) was previously acknowledged by the Guinness World Records as the world's hottest chili in 2006. This exotic chilli, native to North-Eastern India, was the first product from Nagaland to receive GI tag. Its production is limited and confined to North-Eastern India only. Scientific cultivation on a larger scale through the adoption of Good Agriculture Practices (GAP) has a huge potential to improve the production significantly. Based on the information and analysis in the present study, it is observed that the gross return and the net returns obtained after adopting GAP as opposed to conventional farming practices are yet to show significant results in the long run as the adoption of the new technologies was undertaken over a 1 year time frame. However, it remains to be determined that significant differences will occur in the long term once farmers are comfortable with the newly introduced GAP. Cost analysis indicated that the cost of production in conventional farming method and the newly introduced GAP approach were minimally different. The introduction of the new technology has motivated more farmers to take up Chilli cultivation in a short period of time. The study showed that the gross return in one acre of land is about Rs. 1, 20,000/-, whereas the net returns is about Rs. 58,400/- after adoption of GAP. It is further observed that the maximum amount is invested in labour cost. Therefore, there is a need to develop labour saving practices by utilising improved tools and optimising planting and harvesting techniques.</p&gt

Phytochemical and ethnopharmacological overview of endangered Homalomena aromatica Schott: An aromatic medicinal herb of Northeast India

Northeast India falls under the Indo-Burma mega biodiversity hotspot and is considered one of the richest repositories of aromatic and medicinal plants in the World. The region is also known for its rich ethnic diversity comprising about 130 major tribes and 300 sub-tribes or groups. Each ethnic tribal community utilizes wide varieties of plant species as food and medicine. However, of late, this rich plant diversity of the region has been threatened mainly due to ever increasing pressure of anthropogenic interferences including large scale jhuming and unsustainable collection of forest resources from its natural habitats. Homalomena aromatica Schott. is one such aromatic medicinal herb found in this region. The rhizomes are known to possess medicinal properties like antiinflammatory, analgesic, antidepressant, antiseptic, sedative, antispasmodic, treating joint pain, and skin infections. The rhizomes contain an essential oil having mainly sesquiterpenoids group that is used for blending of most oriental perfume. It has a high demand in perfumery and cosmetic industries. The spent material after oil extraction is largely used in Dhup manufacturing. However, despite its importance, conservation of this herb is one of the major challenges confronting the region. Large-scale indiscriminate collection directly from its natural habitat has endangered this species. This review presents a comprehensive overview of ethnomedicinal uses and phytochemical composition of the essential oil of H. aromatica. It also highlights the economic potential and future research directions towards conservation and utilization of H. aromatica

Phytochemical and ethnopharmacological overview of endangered <i>Homalomena aromatica </i> Schott: An aromatic medicinal herb of Northeast India

18-31Northeast India falls under the Indo-Burma mega biodiversity hotspot and is considered one of the richest repositories of aromatic and medicinal plants in the World. The region is also known for its rich ethnic diversity comprising about 130 major tribes and 300 sub-tribes or groups. Each ethnic tribal community utilizes wide varieties of plant species as food and medicine. However, of late, this rich plant diversity of the region has been threatened mainly due to ever increasing pressure of anthropogenic interferences including large scale jhuming and unsustainable collection of forest resources from its natural habitats. Homalomena aromatica Schott.is one such aromatic medicinal herb found in this region. The rhizomes are known to possess medicinal properties like antiinflammatory, analgesic, antidepressant, antiseptic, sedative, antispasmodic, treating joint pain, and skin infections. The rhizomes contain an essential oil having mainly sesquiterpenoids group that is used for blending of most oriental perfume. It has a high demand in perfumery and cosmetic industries. The spent material after oil extraction is largely used in Dhup manufacturing. However, despite its importance, conservation of this herb is one of the major challenges confronting the region. Large-scale indiscriminate collection directly from its natural habitat has endangered this species. This review presents a comprehensive overview of ethnomedicinal uses and phytochemical composition of the essential oil of H. aromatica. It also highlights the economic potential and future research directions towards conservation and utilization of H. aromatica

<i>In vitro </i>regeneration of <i>Begonia rubrovenia</i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style:italic"> var. <i>meisneri</i> C.B. Clarke— A rare and endemic ornamental plant of Meghalaya, India</p>

300-303In vitro plant regeneration from leaf and petiole explants of Begonia rubrovenia meisneri C.B. Clarke, an endemic and rare plant of Meghalaya, has been established. Multiple shoots were induced on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with various concentrations of 6-benzyl aminopurine (BAP) and thidiazuron (TDZ). In vitro produced leaf and petiole sections (secondary explants) exhibited enhanced shoot proliferation in MS medium supplemented with either BAP or TDZ in different concentrations (0.05-5.0 mg/L). A maximum, 65 shoots/petiole were formed on MS+0.1 mg/L TDZ. The in vitro-raised shoots formed roots in MS medium containing 0.1 mg/L indole 3-acetic acid (IAA), with a maximum of 13.8 roots/shoot. About 73.33% of the 500 plantlets transferred acclimatized successfully within 4 wk in a glasshouse. On being transferred to the field, all the acclimatized plantlets survived after 8 wk. </p