SUPER-FRUIT: AS A POTENTIAL OPTION TO MITIGATE MALNUTRITION IN INDIAN SUBCONTINENT

Health and wellness are key drivers of new product development, globally. Obesity and excess calories are issues on one extreme and lack of nutrients is an issue at the other extreme. Consumers are also seeking out new kinds of indulgence, driving demand for new ethnic and exotic flavours and authentic regional products. The health benefits of super-fruits have made them successful as ingredients for food companies and as a source of exciting new flavours for consumers. The super-fruits deemed super by nutrition scientists are packed with antioxidants, fibre, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that improve health condition. The importance of super-fruits as a necessary part of the human diet and as cash crops is well recognized. They help to prevent a number of extremely chronic human diseases. In recent years this term - originally used by the food industry to indicate fruit having an exceptional nutrient richness and nutritional qualities, including high concentration of phytochemicals - has been increasingly and generically utilized, mainly for marketing purposes. In, India traditional fruits like bael, aonla, pomegranate, guava, pineapple, coconut, grapefruit, litchi, jackfruit, papaya, grape and so many indigenous minor fruits are rich in above mentioned phyto-chemicals & anti- oxidant compound that include them in the list of super fruit. In this present paper we critically review the extraordinary-therapeutic characteristics of Super-fruit, mainly to aware the common people and to speed-up the super-fruit cultivation. Keywords: Super-fruits, Phyto-chemicals, Antioxidant, Malnutrition, Human healt

Zinc Fertilization in Potato: A Physiological and Bio-chemical Study

Aims: More than 54% of soils in West Bengal are Zinc (Zn) deficient and therefore, Zn−fertilization is assumed to play a key role not only for increasing potato yield but also for combating wide spread deficiency of micronutrients (mainly Zn) in many potato growing areas of the state. Place and Duration of Study: A two-year field experiment was conducted during winter 2013-14 and 2014-15 at to assess the advantages of Zn nutrition in potato cv. Kufri Jyoti under alluvial soil (Entisols) of West Bengal, India Methodology: The experiment was laid out in randomized block design (RBD) having five treatments and four replications The potato was fertilized with five zinc levels (0, 1.5, 3.0, 4.5 and 6.0 kg Zn ha−1) through zinc sulphate heptahydrate i.e. ZnSO4, 7H2O (commercial grade Multi-Zn contained 21% Zn) at the time of planting. A uniform dose of NPK at 200:150:150 kg ha−1 RDF was applied in all the plots in the form of urea (46% N), single super phosphate (16% P2O5), and muriate of potash (60% K2O). Results: Application Zn fertilizer at 4.5 kg ha−1 recorded significantly higher germination %, plant height, leaf area index (LAI), dry matter accumulation (DMA) and number of tubers hill−1. Total number and yield of tuber ha−1 were also changed significantly (P≤ .05) with the levels of Zn-fertilization. Quality parameters like total soluble solids (TSS), total acidity, ascorbic acid, starch and amount of total sugar contents of fresh potato tuber as well as organoleptic quality of chips (colour) also influenced significantly (P≤ .05) with varied levels of Zn fertilization. Conclusion: Results suggest that application of 4.5 kg Zn ha−1 in combination with recommended dose fertilizer (RDF) of NPK (i.e. 200:150:150 kg ha−1) is vital for optimizing yield components, yield and quality of potato (cv. Kufri Jyoti) in trans-Gangetic plains of West Bengal, India

Studies on Flowering Characteristics and Floral Morphology of Some Jamun Genotypes (Syzygium cuminii Skeels) under Semi-arid Lateritic Belt of West Bengal, India

A study was conducted to find out the variability of flowering behaviour and floral morphology of randomly selected 10 jamun genotypes (Syzygium cuminii Skeels) from 3 diferent districts namely Bankura, Purulia and Paschim Bardhaman under semi-arid lateritic belt of West Bengal during the year 2022. Only a single plant was considered for a single accession which was taken under the study.  The selection was done on random basis. Significant variation has been observed among the genotypes for the flowering behaviour as well as morphological characters of flowers. Month of panicle emergence among the selected genotypes ranged from 1st week of March to last week of March. Time taken for bud development was observed 21 (days from panicle emergence) from three accessions like JA 9 was shortest among 10 jamun accessions studied. Longest time for bud development was observed in JA 4 (38 days). Duration of flowering was highest of 39 days in genotype JA 6 followed by 35 days in JA 10and 34 days in JA 4. The length of panicle was recorded longest from JA 1 (13.08 cm) and shortest in JA 2 (6.73 cm). Highest flower length was measured from JA 2 (26.39 mm) and lowest from JA 8 (8.31). Maximum number of branchlets per panicle was recorded from accessions like JA 1 (15.02) and it was least in JA 8 (7.39). Maximum number of flowers per branchlets was observed from JA 7 (12.07) followed by JA 4 (11.09). Number of stamens per flower varied between 58.04 and 67.07. The flower colour of all accessions was light yellow except JA 3(pale green). On the basis of this significant findings it can be conclude that the genotype JA 1 has most earliest flowering and biggest size flower from JA 2

Studies on Some Physical and Chemical Characters on Diversity of Some Local Jamun (Syzygium cumini Skeels) Genotypes

The experiment was conducted by selecting 15 different jamun genotypes from Sriniketan and adjoining villages (viz. Andrews Pally, Rathindra Pally, Ballavpur, Bahadurpur Pashchim, Sonajhuri) and jamun fruits were brought to record their physical as well as bio-chemical character at laboratory of Department of Horticulture & post-harvest technology. Present study reveals a wide and significant variation in physical and bio-chemical characters of fruits has been observed among 15 different jamun genotypes. Among all genotypes G-14 was superior on the basis of fruit weight (3.16g), fruit diameter (17.46mm), and greater pulp content (2.34g) and average total sugar (16.26%) content. Owing to moderate fruit size (21.89mm in length and 15.64mm in diameter) G-4 genotype is also superior on the basis of higher TSS (25.90⁰B), total sugar (13.65%) and reducing sugar (8.23%).  So, the overall findings of the present study conclude that genotypes G-14 and G-4 are superior over the 15 local jamun genotypes

Efficacy of N₂O₂ donor schiff bases and their Zn²⁺ complexes on various morphological and biochemical parameters of <i>Cicer arietinum</i> L.

<p>Schiff-base polydentate ligands types of salen and salophen can form stable complexes with Zn²⁺ and these metal complexes can act as a source of zinc (Zn) to plant's body if they are used as micronutrient supplements. Inspired by these facts, four different Schiff-base ligands and their Zn²⁺ complexes were first synthesized and then characterized by different analytical and spectroscopic techniques. To investigate their effects local chickpea seeds were treated with each ligands and complexes and different morphological and biochemical parameters were monitored. Among all the complexes and ligands it was found that the C4 complex, that is, [N,N'-(o-phenylene)bis-(3-methoxysalicylidenediamine)] monohydrate showed the maximum efficacy when treated as a micronutrient supplement for <i>Cicer arietinum L.</i> So that these complexes especially the C4 can act as an potential source of Zn.</p