EVERYMAN’S SCIENCEsciencecongress.nic.in/pdf/e-book/dec16-jan17.pdfProf. Swati Gupta-Bhattacharya...

EVERYMAN’S

SCIENCE

Dr. Ashok K. Patra (Bhopal)

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COVER PHOTOGRAPHS

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Vol. LI No. 5 (December’16 - January’17)

Annual Subscription : (6 issues)

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1. Prof. P. Rama Rao (1998)

2. Dr. (Mrs.) Manju Sharma (1999)

3. Dr. R.A. Mashelkar (2000)

4. Dr. R.S. Paroda (2001)

5. Prof. S.S. Katiyar (2002)

6. Dr. K. Kasturirangan (2003)

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD EDITORIAL BOARD

CONTENTS

EDITORIAL :

Oral Rehydration Therapy: Gaps and ChallengesS. Kanungo and M. K. Chakrabarti 284

Scientific Inspirations from NaturePartho Pratim Chatterjee 286

Agroforestry: A Sustainable Land-Use System for Food and WoodAlok Kumar Patra 290

Silvipasture Model of Agroforestry in Augmenting Fodder Production and Livelihood Improvement S.Gunasekaran and K.Viswanthan 297

TN Manohara, Jesminwara Begum and Gayatri Gogoi 300

Molecules Behind FloweringSanjukta Mondal Parui and Amal Kumar Mondal 306

Non Apparel Uses of Textile – A Different Perspective

Chemicals What Life is All AboutPrasanta Kumar Ray 320

th104 Indian Science Congress Awardees for 2016-2017 328

ARTICLES :

KNOW THY INSTITUTIONS 336

CONFERENCES / MEETINGS / SYMPOSIA / SEMINARS 340

S & T ACROSS THE WORLD 342

Prospects of Noni Cultivation in North East India

Vermicomposting at Dairy Farm for Sustainable AgricultureSanjay Kumar, Kaushalendra Kumar, Rajni Kumari, R. R. K. Sinha and Chandramoni 317

Madhu Sharan 311

Everyman’s Science Vol. LI No. 5 December’16 - January’17

ISCA PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS (1998 TO 2003)

President Title of Presidential Address*

Prof. P. Rama Raoth

85 Indian Science Congress 1998, Hyderabad

Dr. (Mrs.) Manju Sharmath 86 Indian Science Congress

1999, Chennai

Dr. R.A. Mashelkarth

87 Indian Science Congress 2000, Pune

Dr. R.S. Parodath 88 Indian Science Congress

2001, Delhi

Prof. S.S. Katiyar th89 Indian Science Congress

2002, Lucknow

Dr. K. Kasturirangan th90 Indian Science Congress

2003, Bangalore

Science and Technology in Independent India: Retrospect and Prospect

New Biosciences: Opportunities and Challenges as We move into the Next Millennium

New Panchsheel of the New Millennium

Food, Nutrition and Environmental Security

Health Care, Education and Information Technology

Frontier Science and Cutting-Edge Technologies

* Available in the Book “The Shaping of Indian Science” Published by University Press (India) Pvt. Ltd., 3-5-819 Hyderguda, Hyderabad 500 029.

A per decision of Council meeting held on May 03, 2014, Presidential Address will not be printed henceforth in Everyman’s Science as they are already printed in the above mentioned book.

283


EDITORIAL


Nearly nine million children under five years of

age die each year throughout the world. Diarrhoea is

second only to pneumonia as the cause of these

deaths, most of which occur in the developing

countries. This is an alarming reminder of the

exceptional vulnerability of the children in these

countries, where lack of safe drinking water,

sanitation and hygiene, along with poor overall

health and nutritional status put these children at

higher risk.

The dehydration caused by severe diarrhoea

requires fluid replenishment, either by intravenous

route or by mouth. But intravenous route requires

intervention and that too through an expert medical

hand. Thus it seems almost impractical and difficult

to combat childhood dehydration at large scale using

intravenous fluid alone. It was in the late 60s and

early 70s, researchers could show that the fluid when

mixed with glucose and salt in appropriate

proportion can be absorbed through intestinal wall.

The combination of electrolytes and sugar stimulates

water and electrolyte absorption from the gut. It

therefore prevents or reverses dehydration and

replaces lost salts in conditions such as diarrhoea and

vomiting. It is an epoch making concept in a way

that anyone suffering from diarrhoea could replace

the lost fluids and salts simply by drinking this

solution. This concept of oral rehydration was

successfully implemented in early 70s among the

war displaced refuges in Bangladesh war, where

more than 90% of the patients suffering from

dehydration due to diarrhoea could be saved through

this simple oral rehydration solutions. Not only that,

home-made versions of ORS are not difficult to make

and can help prevent diarrhoeal dehydration.

Families can also use the rice water from the cooking

pot to prevent dehydration. ORS, however, is the best

to treat dehydration when it occurs, as well as to

prevent it.

Several formulat ions with different

concentration of salt have been developed which

showed equal efficacy regarding reduction of

mortality, especially in children. Oral rehydration

salts contain a variety of salts (electrolytes) and

sugar. During the 1980s, UNICEF launched a

comprehensive program to save children's lives,

targeting four areas such as growth monitoring,

breastfeeding, immunization, and the use of Oral

Rehydration Salts (ORS) -- the best way of

combating the dehydration caused by diarrhoea. .The

Lancet hailed ORS as "potentially the most

important medical advance of this century."ORS is

available in the market in a powder form in sachets/

readymade solutions or one can also easily make it at

home as well. ORS Day is celebrated every year on

29th July to highlight the importance of Oral

Rehydration Salts (ORS) as a cost-effective method

of health intervention. Around half of all diarrhoea

cases in the world's poorest countries are now treated

with Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT). This is a vast

improvement in usage at the beginning of the 1980s.

But there is still an urgent need to make ORT more

accessible.Not only that, there also exists a gap in

knowledge about ORS and its actual use, both among

the medical fraternity as well among primary

caretakers.

In India alone it saves the lives of over 500,000

children every year. Despite this great impact,

diarrhoea still accounts for over 600,000 deaths

every year (1,666 deaths every day) in India. Many of

these lives could have been saved had these children

been given ORS from the onset of diarrhoea. The

Oral Rehydration Therapy: Gaps and Challenges

284


Diarrhoeal Disease Control programme envisioned

that improvement in caregivers' awareness about

home management of diarrhoeal illnesses through

the use of ORS and appropriate food would be the

key to reduce diarrhoea-related mortality. In

practice, however, it did not turn out to be such a

simple solution. For example, although women's

knowledge about ORS packets in India increased

substantially over time, as revealed by different

rounds of National Family Health Survey (43% in

NFHS-1, 62% in NFHS-2 and nearly 75% in NFHS-

3), it did not translate into action. The National

Family Health Survey (NFHS-3, 2005-06) showed

that 39% of under-five children suffering from

diarrhoea received ORT; in fact, ORS solution was

received by only 26%, which again varied greatly

from state to state (65% in Meghalaya and 58% in

Tripura to 15% in Assam and 13% in Uttar Pradesh).

This scenario remained practically unchanged since

NFHS-2 conducted during 1998-99. Even the use of

home available fluid is not great. As World Health

Organization suggested for intake of an increased

amounts of almost any fluid which can also help

prevent dehydration, when ORS is not available, in

India, on the contrary, less than 10% of children with

diarrhoea actually received an increased amount of

fluids, as revealed by World Health Survey

2003.Moreover, during 2000-2007 the UNICEF also

noted that when ORT was considered along with

continued feeding for under-five children suffering

from diarrhoea, India's performance was the poorest

among many of its neighboring countries. Thus,

despite our strong evidence-based knowledge that a

simple measure like ORT can save lives of children

suffering from diarrhoea, more stress should be put

on its use, through inter sectorial approaches,

combining several intervention programs.

S. Kanungo

Dr. M. K. Chakrabarti

NICED, Kolkata

285

A healthy attitude is contagious but don’t wait to catch it from others, Be a carrier.

- Tom Stoppard


ano structured materials are materials

having properties defined by dimensional

features smaller than 100 nm. Aerogel, graphene,

nano bonded refractories, carbon nano tubes, smart

dust, photonic crystal, etc., are some of the

commonly used nano materials. These materials

offer exciting properties like fracture strength,

toughness, reflectivity, electrical conductivity, etc.

These properties can be controlled by altering the

nano scale dimensional features. The advantages of

nano structured materials is that the small elements

allow better control of size, which leads to better

hierarchical organization and structuring. As

smaller object occupies lesser volume and hence

more elements can fit into the given space. Also, in

the case of small spaces, the proportion of empty

spaces is less. Hence strength of the nano material is

more as dislocations face more obstruction in their

motion because of less empty spaces. The better

optical properties in nano materials may be attributed

to the fact that the empty spaces in nano structured

materials are of the dimensional order of the

wavelength of visible light, therefore, diffraction and

selective scattering become easier which is not

possible in large materials. The improved properties

manifest themselves in the form of better fracture

strength, optical properties and local surface

kinetics.

Lotus leaf, chameleon's colour change, moth's

anti reflective eyes, gecko (wall lizard) feet,

salvania's leaf, Namib desert beetle's water

harvesting mechanism, etc., are few naturally

occurring nano structured materials whose imitation

in scientific applications could prove indispensable.

Replicating their excellent properties in real life

applications may be of widespread scientific interest.

As we all know, ductility and strength do not go hand

in hand. To obtain high ductility, strength has to be

compromised and vice-versa. However, in human

bone, both high strength and ductility are found. This

may be attributed to the presence of hydroxyapatite

and collagen in bones. The hydroxyapatite gives rise

to excellent strength whereas the collagen gives rise

to excellent ductility. Emulating the structure,

materials having both high strength and ductility can

be developed. Similarly, lotus leaf possesses

excellent hydrophobic and self cleaning properties

which can inspire water-resistant structures. The

excellent anti-reflective properties of moth's eyes

can inspire better efficiency in solar cells. The

excellent adhesion properties of geckos (wall lizard)

feet can be emulated to give rise to pads which can

adhere to all types of surfaces, whether smooth or

rough. The combination of hydrophobic and

hydrophilic properties in Salvinia's leaf can lead to

Department of Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad- 502285, E mail : [email protected]

INTRODUCTION

SCIENTIFIC INSPIRATIONS FROM NATURE

Partho Pratim Chatterjee

Emulated from nature, many materials can be developed for scientific applications. In this back drop, the

paper dwells upon few nano structured materials found in nature whose emulation for scientific

applications could prove indispensable for benefit of the mankind. A few such inspirations include lotus

leaf, chameleon's colour change, moth's anti reflective eyes, gecko (wall lizard) feet, salvania's leaf,

Namib desert beetle's water harvesting mechanism, etc. The paper attempts to establish that there could

be amazing applications of these bio mimicked imitations in real-life scientific applications if harnessed

techno- economically. The article is followed by possible future applications and suggestions in real life

situations.

N

286


the development of air trapping mechanisms in deep

water. A similar combination can also be used for

effective water harvesting in desert areas, as in

Namib Desert Beetles.

LOTUS LEAF

Lotus leaf has excellent self-cleaning and

water repellent properties. The water repellent

properties are attributed to the combination of

epicuticular wax and the epidermal hairs of the

papillae. The roughness of the hydrophobic papillae

reduces the contact area between the surface and a

liquid drop with droplets residing only on the tips of

the epicuticular wax crystals on the top of the 1papillose epidermal cells .

This is because as the roughness increase,

coefficient of friction increases, which promotes

rolling motion of the droplets instead of sliding.

Lotus has the highest density of papillae. Lotus

papillae have much smaller diameters which reduces

the contact areas with the water droplets. The contact

area between the droplet and the lotus leaf depends

also depends on the velocity with which the droplets

strike the surface of the lotus leaf. Further, the

varying height of the papillae also reduces the

contact area of the droplets, as an inhomogenous

structure prevents the droplet from sticking easily on

the surface.

The hierarchical nanostructure of lotus can be

emulated to make superhydrophobic steels. The hot

dip Galvanized steel or electro galvanised steel can

be coated by nanowires structures of irregular

lengths having a Poly Di Methyl Siloxane (PDMS)

coating. These steels will possess excellent self-

cleaning and superhydrophobic properties. These

steels will find uses in structural steels in humid

areas. The lotus leaf structure can also be copied to

produce anti-fogging glasses, car screens which do

not get wet even during heavy inundations.

CHAMELEON'S COLOUR CHANGE

Chameleon is known for changing colour from

green to red when it encounters dangerous situation.

The colour in chameleon is attributed to the change in

the distance between guanine nano crystals present 2in its skin .

The size of the guanine crystal does not change

in case of a stimulus, but the distance between the

guanine crystals changes. The natural pigmented

skin colour of chameleons is yellow. In the non-

exited state, the distance between the guanine nano

crystals is less. Thus, the light that is reflected from

the guanine nano crystals present in chameleon is of

shorter wavelength i.e blue. Blue combines with

naturally present yellow coloured pigments to form

green colour. But in the exited state, the spacing

between the guanine nano crystals increases. This

causes the selected wavelength to be longer i.e. red

colour. Red combines with naturally present yellow

coloured pigments to exhibit orange/ reddish orange

colour.

Chameleon's colour change from green to red

can be emulated to make cloaks for soldiers and

robots for defence applications where the idea of

camouflaging with the surroundings can be used to

circumvent the enemy. Other applications of this

inspiration include torches which can produce

different colours from the same incident beam.

MOTH'S ANTI-REFLECTING EYES

Moth has anti-reflective eyes on its rear part of

the body, which helps it to disguise itself from

predators. Moth eyes have very fine nanostructures,

and distance between the nanostructures is 3comparable to the wavelength of visible light . This

results in diffraction of the incident light instead of

reflection. Diffraction and the subsequent reflection

from these fine nanostructures confines the incident

light beam to the nanostructure and results in 99.9 %

absorption.

This structure can be emulated for development

of more-efficient solar cells as almost all the incident

sunlight is absorbed instead of getting reflected. This

augments the efficiency of the solar cell. It may also

lead to the development of invisible armours and

cloaks because almost no light is reflected back to the

observer.

GECKO (WALL LIZARD) FEET

Gecko (wall lizard) has structure called spatula

in its feet to increase contact area and maximize

adhesion. Gecko has spatula in the setae which

287


remain parallel to the contact surface to maximize

adhesion. The reason for adhesion is Van Der Walls

Force which acts between the spatula and the

surface4. This enables the gecko to firmly adhere to

any surface (smooth or rough) irrespective of its

nature. Thus, the gecko can easily climb on walls

swiftly against gravity. The detachment mechanism

in gecko is equally interesting. The feet of the gecko

make an acute angle with the surface during

detachment and this leads to stress concentration at

the tip of the spatula, which leads to easy detachment.

The attachment and detachment mechanism of

gecko can be emulated to build human fins, special

gloves, etc. for defence applications. It can also be

used to make robotic arms and feet fins which can

easily move in any terrain, whether rough or smooth,

dry or moist.

SALVANIA LEAF

Salvania leaf shows an exemplary inspiration

of retaining air in water. Salvania has hydrophobic

structure consisting of waxy coating, which prevents

water from entering within the structure and

subsequent damage. On the upper part, Salvania has

egg-beater like structure in which the terminal cells

of the four hairs are compressed to form a patch of 5four dead cells . This results in the formation of a

hydrophilic end at the top and a hydrophobic end at

the bottom. This causes the droplets to remain on top

of the hydrophilic end without penetrating into the

structure. This arrangement prevents air bubbles

from escaping the structure and gives a silvery

appearance to the salvania leaf.

The Salvania leaf structure can be emulated to

make air retaining apparatus in under water and other

marine applications.

NAMIB DESERT BEETLE

Namib desert beetle uses its forewings for

water harvestation, whereas the hind wings are used

for flying. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)

analysis of the beetle shows that it has waxy troughs

but wax free bumps. The wax free bumps give rise to

hydrophilicity (i.e water attraction) and the waxy

troughs give rise to hydrophobicity (i.e water 6repulsion) . The bumps captures the water droplet

which gets propelled by the hydrophobic troughs to

its mouth. During the morning fog, the beetle tilts its

back at different angles with the ground. Greater the

angle of tilt, higher is the probability of adhesion of

the water droplets. Due to higher probability of

adhesion of the water droplets, the probability of

blowing away of water droplets by wind is less. This

ensures that the removal of the water droplet by wind

is more difficult because higher velocity of the wind

is required for large angle of inclination. Also, the tilt

causes the water droplet to trickle down easily from

the fore wings to the mouth.

This arrangement can be emulated in making

desert water harvesters like aquatic mats and desert

water bottles used by military personnel. It can also

be used to make turbines which generate electricity

from atmospheric moisture.

CONCLUSION

The nature inspired materials could be the

elixir for next generation science and technology if

harnessed techno-economically.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The author gratefully acknowledges the

valuable suggestions and insights provided by Dr.

Mudrika Khandelwal, Assistant Professor, Dept. of

Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering,

Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad during

her classroom lectures which greatly influenced the

formulation and shaping of the article. Also, the

author express his heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Pinaki

Prasad Bhattacharjee; Head and to all faculty

members of the Department of Materials Science and

Metallurgical Engineering, Indian Institute of

Technology, Hyderabad for their support.

REFERENCES

1. A. Marmur, Langmuir, 20, 3517–3519, 2004.

2. J. Teyssier, S.V. Saenko, D.V. Marel, M.C.

Milinkovitch, Nature Communications, March

2015.

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3. K.H. Kim, Q.N. Park, Scientific Reports,

August 2012.

4. GS Watson, D.W. Green, L. Schwarzkopf, X.

Li, B.W. Cribb, S. Myhra, J.A Watson, Acta

Biomaterialia, July 2015.

5. W. Barthlott, T. Schimmel, S. Wiertz, K. Koch,

M. Brede, M. Barczewski, S. Walfeim, A.

Weis, A. Kaltenmier, A. Leder, H.F .Bohn,

Advanced Materials, April 2010.

6. T. Norgaard, M. Dacke, Frontiers in Zoology,

July 2010.

289


an's association with forest is much older

than with agriculture. First man was a food

gatherer and hunter in forests. Then he realized that

the seeds of the fruits he collected germinated, grew

into plants and bore the fruits again and thus man

started to cultivate foods. Thus, the process of human

evolution has been from forests when man learnt the

art of domesticating plants and animals. Man's desire

to live in a community created settled agriculture.

But acceleration in growth of human and livestock

population necessitated acquisition of more and

more forest land for cultivation. So the origin of

agroforestry practices, i.e. growing trees and shrubs

with food and fruit crops and grasses is traditional

and very old. Since then the pressure on the

agricultural lands has increased manifolds due to

urbanization and industrialization process.

Gradually soil is losing its productivity, and the

biodiversity is threatened. To increase the land

productivity, chemical fertilizers and pesticides are

applied in higher proportion, causing environmental

pollution hazards.

In these rapidly changing situations, man has

two ways to live – one is to tolerate the conditions and

the other one is to change them. Now the existence of

life is in danger due to pollution, climate change,

disease, loss of biodiversity and so on. Under all

these circumstances agroforestry has shown that

besides sustainable agriculture it can also help

promote a better environment. Agroforestry has been

recognized as a land-use system which is capable of

yielding both food and wood and at the same time

conserving and rehabilitating the ecosystems. It has

the capability to increase the productivity, maintain

the nutrient balance in the soil as well as protect the

nature. It has two major roles to play, the productive

role and the service role. Trees have the dominant

role to play in all agroforestry systems for sustainable

agriculture and environmental protection.

PREMISES OF AGROFORESTRY

The premises on which the concept of

agroforestry is based are partly biological and partly

socioeconomic.

Biological premises

Agroforestry has a beneficial effect on the soil

through efficient nutrient cycling. The roots of trees

take up nutrients from the soil, convert and utilize

them for the production of plant material and then

return them to the soil in the form of tree litter. This

litter is transformed into humus and later

incorporated into the soil. In a well managed

agroforestry system, the relatively more efficient

nutrient cycle minimizes the leakages of nutrients

from the system. Trees are generally deep-rooted

than agricultural crops and are often able to trap and

utilize nutrients that have been leached from the

upper layers of the soil. Some tree species have the

INTRODUCTION

The enormous population growth during the last few decades has caused considerable reduction in both

crop and forest area, and the requirement of basic needs seems to be inadequately met through the

existing land use system. Agroforestry, a combination of agriculture and forestry, is now recognized as a

land-use system which is capable of yielding food, fruit, fodder, fuel and timber, and at the same time

conserving and rehabilitating the ecosystems. With the modern day crisis of shortage of agricultural and

forest land, agroforestry is well positioned to provide a perfect balance and a solution.

AGROFORESTRY: A SUSTAINABLE LAND-USE SYSTEM FOR FOOD AND WOOD

ndDirectorate of Research, 2 Floor, Administrative Building, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar- 751003, Odisha. E-mail:alokpatra2000@yahoo. co.in / [email protected]

Alok Kumar Patra

M

290


capacity of 'pumping' nutrients from layers that are

not normally tapped by agricultural crops. The

compacting effects of falling rain on the soil are

reduced in an agroforestry system decreasing soil

erosion and thus another possible source of leakage

of nutrients from the system is plugged.

Agroforestry is a system of land management

in which tree crops are grown together with

agricultural crops, one of its objectives being to

optimize and sustain the total yields of the

component crops. Competition among the different

components of the system is not great enough to

affect the total productivity of the system in an

adverse manner. Water, nutrients and light are the

limiting factors in an agroforestry system. The forest

and agricultural species that are utilized in the system

should be compatible and should complement each

other during most stages of their lives. More

specifically, with respect to water they should be

unequal in competitive ability; with respect to

nutrient, they should vary in ability to utilize the

nutrients in different forms; and, with respect to light,

those species should be selected which display

growth patterns, rates of growth, phenology, and

architecture permitting maximum interception of

light by both the agricultural and forest crops at any

one time.

Socioeconomic premises

Forests are being felled in by farmers who

require the land to produce food for their very

existence. These areas are basically unsuitable for

arable agriculture, either because of the inherent

infertility of the soils, or because the sites are prone to

accelerated erosion, or because of a combination of

these two factors. The people who clear the forests to

produce food are often aware of the possible

deleterious effects of their practices upon the

ecosystem. But they persist with such practice due to

lack of suitable alternatives for their survival.

The failure to develop the marginal lands often

leads to retardation in the rate of improvement of the

general economy. The developmental and

technological options are fewer in marginal areas

than in most other ecosystems. When the biological

influences and services of forests are considered

along with the specific socioeconomic problems of

those who exist in marginal areas, the technological

package should include agroforestry systems. If the

economic returns from the agroforestry systems are

significant and if these are designed to optimize the

joint productivity of wood and food from the same

unit of land with careful choice of agricultural and

forest species and suitable management practices,

the socioeconomic developmental problems of the

area would be addressed adequately.

BENEFITS FROM AGROFORESTRY

Benefits from agriculture and forestry are

limited. But benefits from Agroforestry are infinite -

food, fruits, feed, fodder, fuel, fiber, fertilizer,

favourable climate and many others.

l Reduction in pressure on forest

lEfficient recycling of nutrients through mining

by deep- rooted trees

lBetter protection of ecological systems

lReduction of surface run-off, nutrient leaching

and soil erosion

lImprovement of microclimate, such as

lowering of soil surface temperature and

reduction of evaporation of soil moisture

through mulching and shading

lIncrement of soil nutrients through addition

and decomposition of litter-fall

lImprovement of soil structure through

constant addition of organic matter from

decomposed litter

lIncrement in outputs of food, fuel wood,

fodder, fertilizer and timber

lReduction in incidence of total crop failure,

common to single-cropping or monoculture

systems

lIncrease in levels of farm incomes due to

improved and sustained productivity

lImprovement in rural living standards from

sustained employment and higher incomes

lImprovement in nutrition and health due to

increased quality and diversity of food outputs

291


NEED OF AGROFORESTRY

Decreasing land resources

The land resources are decreasing due to

various reasons and there is hardly any scope to

increase food production by increasing the area

under cultivation. A management system therefore,

needs to be devised that is capable of producing food

from marginal agricultural land and is also capable of

maintaining and improving the environment. The

shrinking of per capita land availability, huge

demand supply gap of various kinds of woods, food

products as well as fodders are making agroforestry

viable and an alternative land use option.

Limiting carrying capacity of the land

The carrying capacity of the arid and semiarid

regions is overstressed. The consequence

is destruction of environment leading to

desertification. Agroforestry interventions hold the

key to check soil erosion and leaching loss of

nutrients and to improve the soil productivity

through biological nitrogen fixation, organic matter

addition and efficient nutrient cycling.

Overgrazing

The problem overgrazing is acute in arid and

semiarid regions. Integrating cultivation of fodder

tree species with suitable grasses in the wastelands

would address the problem of overgrazing and thus

check the desertification effectively.

Soil erosion and pollution

Soil erosion is the major cause of land

degradation and loss of productivity. Trees fight soil

erosion, conserve rainwater and reduce water runoff.

Tree roots bind the soil and their leaves break the

force of wind and rain on soil. Trees also absorb

dangerous chemicals and other pollutants that have

entered the soil. Trees can either store harmful

pollutants or change the pollutant into less harmful

forms. Thus, agroforestry practices are most suited

for sustainability of soil productivity.

Overexploitation of land resource

Heavy fertilization coupled with high

irrigation frequencies leads to soil loss, nutrient loss

and degradation of land whereas under forest cover

land upgradation is a continuous process. It restores

soil and conserves moisture and thus, there is a gain

from all angles. Taking advantages from both forest

and agriculture, agroforestry concept itself becomes

a profitable enterprise.

Fuelwood crisis

There is a global crisis of energy and man is

striving hard to find out some alternative source of

energy. Fuelwood is one of the established sources to

meet energy requirement. About 90% people in the

developing countries depend upon wood as source of

fuel. But in these regions deforestation is five times

more than afforestation. So the only solution is to

promote tree plantation through agroforestry.

Depletion of forest

Forest area is decreasing alarmingly due to

population growth and infrastructural developments

causing thereby environmental pollution, ecological

imbalance, global warming and climate change. The

per capita availability of forests in India is one of the

lowest, 0.08 hectares as against an average of 1.07

hectares for developed countries and 0.64 hectares

for the world as a whole. Thus, if both agriculture and

forest are integrated then farmers can very easily

adopt it as there will be no substantial reduction in

agricultural output.

LIMITATIONS OF AGROFORESTRY

lTrees in agroforestry systems often compete

with agricultural crops for light, water and

nutrients from the soil which may reduce crop

yields.

lThe use of farm machines is more difficult in

the confined space in an agroforestry field.

lThis system is very difficult to manage and

needs more accuracy with highly skillful

management practices.

lIncreased susceptibility to pests and diseases

often leads to dependence on potentially

harmful pesticides.

lSome of the ecological functions played by the

trees in the natural forest may be lost when

trees are used in an agroforestry system.

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lDamage to food crops during tree harvest

operations.

lTrees serve as hosts to insect pest and diseases

that are harmful to agricultural crops.

.lRapid regeneration by prolific trees which may

displace food crops and take over the entire

field.

lAgroforestry systems are very labour intensive

which may cause labour scarcity at times of

other farm activities.

lLonger period is required for tree components

to mature and acquire an economic value.

lFarmers are usually unwilling to displace food

crops with trees, especially where land is

scarce.

lAgroforestry is more complex, less understood

and more difficult to apply as compared to

monocropping.

SCOPE OF AGROFORESTRY IN INDIA

lForest cover in the country is 67.71 million ha, constituting 20.60% of its total geographical area against the ideal coverage of 33.33%. Out of this, very dense forest (>70% canopy density) constitutes 5.44 million ha (1.66%), moderately dense forest (40-70% canopy density) 33.26 million ha (10.12%) and open forest (<40% canopy density) constitutes 28.99 million ha (8.82%). The forest cover in the hilly districts is only 35.85% compared with the desired 66.66% area. Thus to bridge the gap between desired and available forest coverage in the country, agroforestry is the best intervention.

lAreas presently not available for arable cropping can be put to agroforestry practices. According to the estimation of National Wasteland Development Board, 123 million hectare area of land is lying as wasteland in India. The extent of degraded forests in the country is more than 40 million ha. Besides, about 50 million ha area is degraded due to mining activity. These areas can be reclaimed by adoption of suitable agroforestry practices.

lLarge area is available in the form of farm

boundaries and field bunds, where also

agroforestry systems can be adopted.

lSince land holding is becoming smaller and

smaller due to demographic pressure, forest

area in the vicinity of the thickly populated

villages is diminishing with increasing human

demands for fuel, fodder, small timber and

other minor products met from the forest.

Thus, by adopting agroforestry in the

community lands near the villages, the

pressure on natural forest could be greatly

reduced.

lThe agroforestry plot remains usually

productive for the farmer and generates

continuous revenue, which is not feasible in

arable land. Agroforestry also allows for the

diversification of farm activities and makes

better use of environmental resources.

lAbout 87% of the annually harvested wood in

India is used as firewood. In addition, at

present in rural India 60-80 million tonnes of

dry cow dung is utilized as fuel, equivalent to

300-400 million tonnes of freshly collected

manure. Thus, there is a vast scope to meet the

acute shortage of fuelwood through

agroforestry.

lThe grazing lands in almost all parts of the

country have to support animals beyond their

carrying capacity. Repeated grazing by

animals hardly leaves any vegetational

element to survive unless specially protected.

Inclusion of fodder tree species with suitable

grasses in the agroforestry system will check

overgrazing.

lAgroforestry provides employment with

relatively less investment and that too for

unskilled rural community. It has a tremendous

potential for rural employment generation due

to great diversity of products from

homegarden which provides opportunities for

development of small scale rural industries and

creation of off-farm employment and

marketing opportunities.

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DIFFERENT AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS IN INDIA

Based on the nature of components,

agroforestry systems can be broadly classified into

agrisilvicultural (agricultural crops + trees),

silvipastoral (trees + forage crops), agrisilvipastoral

(agricultural crops + trees + forage crops) and other

systems like aquaforestry, mushroom in mixed tree

species and apiculture with trees. A few common

agroforestry systems practiced in our country are

given below.

Multispecies tree gardens

In this system of agroforestry, various kinds of

multipurpose tree species (MPTS) are grown. The

major function of this system is production of food,

fodder and wood products. Major woody species

planted in this system are Acacia catechu, Phoenix

dactifera, Artocarpus spp, Cocos nucifera,

Mangifera indica, Syzygium aromaticum, etc.

Alley cropping

Alley cropping, also known as hedgerow

intercropping, involves managing rows of closely

planted (within row) woody plants with annual crops

planted in alleys in between hedges. The primary

purpose is to maintain or increase crop yields by

improvement of the soil and microclimate and weed

control. Tree products are also obtained from the

hedgerows. Right kind of tree species is to be planted

at right spacing, with proper management to reduce

competition between trees and agricultural crops for

nutrients, moisture and light. Alley cropping usually

includes leguminous trees to improve soil fertility

through nitrogen fixation. The suitable species are

Cassia siamea, Leucaena leucocephala, Glyricidia

sepium, Calliandra calothyrsus and Sesbania

sesban.

Multipurpose trees and shrubs on field bunds

MPTs like Acacia nilotica, Acacia albida,

Casuarina equisetifolia, Azadirachta indica, Acacia

senegal, Cocos nucifera, Leucaena leucocephala

and Acacia mangium are planted on field bunds and

boundaries.

Agroforestry for fuel wood production

In this system, fuel wood species are planted in

or around agricultural lands. Tree species commonly

used as fuel wood are Acacia nilotica, Albizia

lebbeck, Casuarina equisetifolia, Prosopis juliflora,

Cassia siamea, Eucalyptus tereticornis, etc.

Protein bank

In this silvipastoral system of agroforestry,

MPTs (protein-rich trees) are planted on or around

farmlands and rangelands for fodder production to

meet the feed requirements of livestock during the

fodder-deficit period in winter.

Fig.1. Gmelina arborea + Arrowroot

Fig.2. Acacia mangium + Pineapple

Fig.3. Acacia mangium + Aloe vera

Fig.4. Acacia mangium + Guinea grass

Fig.5. Aquaforestry (Coconut + Rice + Pisciculture)

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Trees and shrubs on pasture

In this silvipastoral system of agroforestry,

MPTs are scattered irregularly or arranged according

to some systematic pattern, especially to supplement

forage production. Perennial woody fruit crops may

also be included which is called hortisilvipastoral

system.

Home gardens

This is the oldest agroforestry practice. Home

gardens are characterized by a high species-diversity

and usually 3-4 vertical canopy strata. Many species

of trees, bushes, vegetables and other herbaceous

plants are grown in dense and random arrangements.

But some rational control over choice of plants, and

their spatial and temporal arrangement should be

exercised to reduce competition among the plants

and to increase the production. Most home gardens

also support a variety of animals (cow, goat, sheep,

pig) and birds (chicken, duck). Fodder and legumes

are widely grown to meet the daily fodder and feed

requirements. Thus, home gardens represent land-

use systems involving deliberate management of

multipurpose trees and shrubs in intimate association

with annual and perennial agricultural crops, and

livestock within the compounds of individual

houses, the whole crop-tree-animal unit being

intensively managed by family labour.

Apiculture with trees

In this system, various honey or nectar

producing trees frequently visited by honeybees are

planted on the boundary of the agricultural field. The

primary purpose of this system is to produce honey.

Api-silviculture with Eucalyptus, Glyricidia,

Grevillea, Gmelina, Leuceana and Albizia species

were more remunerative and a good source of

generating additional farm income in rural areas.

Aquaforestry

In this system, various trees and shrubs

preferred by fish are planted on the boundary and

around fish ponds. Leaves of these trees are used as

feed for fish. The primary role of this system is fish

production and bund stabilization around fish pond.

Ex. Leucaena leucocephala, Morus alba, etc.

CONSTRAINTS IN AGROFORESTRY

TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION

Institutional constraints

All the forest lands including hilly, deforested

and degraded lands that deserve rehabilitation

through agroforestry systems are under the

jurisdiction of state forestry departments. In many

cases, the forestry officials stick to the classical

forestry concept and regard agroforestry systems as

incompatible. They believe that farmers'

participation is neither suited nor needed. However,

people's participation through agroforestry practices

could be a potent means of restoring both protective

and productive woody vegetation in barren areas.

Government policy related constraints

In India, there is no well defined agroforestry

policy either by the state governments or the central

government. Even there is no specific policy for

felling of trees. Very often the private growers are not

allowed to harvest the trees from their own lands at

their need which discourage strongly to go for tree

cultivation. A clear-cut government policy is also

lacking for inter-state transport of forest products

including timber, small timber and other minor forest

Fig. 6. Acacia mangium + Guava + Colocasia

Fig. 7. Multistoried agroforestry

Fig.8. Acacia mangium in rice field bunds

295


products. Although tree farming requires high initial

investment and return is usually delayed there is no

policy for financial support to the tree growers or

agroforesters through nationalized banks.

Sociocultural constraints

Majority of farmers in developing countries

own or cultivate small sized farms. Their immediate

priority is food production from each inch of land.

They resist displacing food crops with trees. Farmers

prefer only high utility perennial species like

bamboo and coconuts. Agroforestry systems are also

very labour intensive which may cause scarcity at

times for other farm activities. Farm families have

traditionally developed labour strategies to use

family members at various times of the year for

different tasks. Thus, they resist changes in the

labour practices of the farming system into which

they are introduced.

Socioeconomic constraints

Social acceptability of agroforestry is very

closely linked to the economic feasibility of the

system. Direct and immediate income that can be

derived from a land-use system will be an important

criterion in the appraisal of its social acceptability.

However, a longer period is required for trees in an

agroforestry system to grow to maturity and acquire

an economic value. The traditional farmers also do

not prefer agroforestry as it requires high initial

investment and risk factors are involved for

economic returns.

Market related constraints

There are no adequate wood based enterprises

with low to medium range investments which affect

the farmers the most. Marketing is a big issue for

forest products as no privilege is allowed in tree

marketing like in case of agricultural marketing.

Usually minimum support price for the tree products

and other forest products is not fixed by any

government agency.

AGROFORESTRY AND THE FUTURE

National Agricultural Policy, 2000 underlines

the need for diversification in agriculture which will

ensure protection of environment, food and

livelihood securities, poverty alleviation and

mitigation of the adverse impacts of pollution and

health hazards. In spite of the limitations and

constraints, agroforestry has now been recognized as

an effective tool to meet these needs. The only

weapon that can be used in the war against hunger,

inadequate shelter and environmental degradation is

the adoption of agroforestry practices. With the

modern day crisis of shortage of land for forestry and

agriculture, agroforestry is well positioned to

provide a perfect balance and a viable solution.

Agroforestry today has become a sustainable method

to manage forest and agriculture together, while

being economically and environmentally viable.

This has the potential to reduce regional disparity,

bring desirable peace, prosperity and happiness and

ensure an optimistic future for the generations to

come. Thus, the need of the hour is to invest in further

research and development in this new science.

REFERENCES

1. A. K. Patra, Agroforestry: Principles and

Practices, 248, 2013, New India Publishing

Agency, New Delhi.

2. A. K. Patra, Science Horizon, 1, 7, 24-27, 2011.

3. A. M. Filius, Agroforestry Systems, 1, 29-39,

1982.

4. D. E. Mercer, and R. P. Miller, Agroforestry

Systems 38, 177-193, 1997.

5. K. G. Tejwani, Agroforestry in India, 233,

2001, Concept Publishing Company, New

Delhi.

6. P. K. R. Nair, An Introduction to Agroforestry,

499, 2008, Springer (India) Pvt. Ltd., New

Delhi.

7. www.overstory.org

8. www.worldagroforestry.org

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ivestock rearing is one of the major

occupations in India and is making

significant contribution to the country's GDP. The

livestock population has shown a steady growth (i)

increase in the number of stall feeding based

livestock viz. buffaloes and hybrid cattle, and (ii)

increase in the number of free grazing based

livestock like goats and sheep that can survive on the

fast degrading pasture. India has a long history of

shortage of fodder for livestock which is the result of

low productivity, ruthless exploitation of available

grazing resources and preference by the farmers in

raising cash crops than fodder crops.

To overcome this shortage, growing food and

fodder crops on the same unit of land in rain fed

situations and integrating trees and grasses with crop

farming on marginal and sub marginal land with

improved technology deserve high priority. The

solution to combat the challenge of sustained food

security and meet the energy requirement for

domestic purpose lies in encouraging scientific

agroforestry techniques in available land resources.

Agroforestry will play very effective roles in the

utilisation of the natural resources in a most effective

manner for sustainable crop production and socio –

economic upliftment of farmers.

SILVIPASTURE MODEL OF AGRO-

FORESTRY

Important agroforestry models are agrisilvi

culture, silvihorti culture, silvi pasture, hortipasture,

agrisilvi pasture. One of the agroforestry models

namely silvipasture is commonly defined as growing

ideal / suitable combination of grasses, legumes and

preferably fodder trees for producing forage, timber

and firewood on a sustainable basis by optimizing

land productivity, conserving plants, soils and

nutrients. This system combines livestock and trees

that offer two main advantages for the animals. First,

trees modify microclimatic conditions including

temperature, water vapour content or partial

pressure, and wind speed, which can have beneficial

effects on pasture growth and animal welfare.

Second, trees also provide alternative feed resources

during periods of low forage availability.

A significant role of woody vegetation is its

contribution to a pastoral economy by providing

arboreal fodder. Among the various sources of feed

for livestock, tree fodder is the cheapest one. Tree

leaves are useful as protein supplements for ruminant

animals. So the concept of integrating the fodder

tress in the above land without affecting the cash crop

production (agroforestry system) is getting

momentum.

ANIMAL INTEGRATION STUDIES IN

AGROFORESTRY

The project AICRP on agro-forestry with

integration of livestock was initiated at Institute of

Animal Nutrition, Kattupakkam, is the only centre

where a livestock is integrated in agroforestry system

which is coordinated by National Research Centre

for Agroforestry, Jhansi, during the year 1996.

Tree Fodders

Depending on rainfall and soil fertility, fodder

trees like Acacia nilotica, Acacia leucocephala,

Albizzia lebbeck, Leucaena leucocephala, Lannea

*Institute of Animal Nutrition, Kattupakkam, Tamil Nadu,

Veterinary and Animal Sciences University Email: gunaj2

@gmail.com, / [email protected]

This article deals with fodder production for livestock through Silvipasture model of Agroforestry.

INTRODUCTION

SILVIPASTURE MODEL OF AGROFORESTRY IN AUGMENTING

FODDER PRODUCTION AND LIVELIHOOD IMPROVEMENT

S.Gunasekaran* and K.Viswanthan

L

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coromandalica could be integrated in silvipasture.

These trees / shrubs grow well even under drought

conditions and produce fodder in two years. About

10 MT of leaf fodder can be obtained annually from

trees raised in one hectare. The shrubs like Leucaena

leucocephala, Gliricidia etc could be harvested for

leaf fodder for 6-7 times annually. As leaves and pods

of Acacia trees contain about 11-15% of crude

protein, such fodders are very good for livestock,

especially sheep and goat.

Pasture grasses

Cenchrus grass can also be grown in rainfed

condition between the fodder trees. They can be

raised with seeds or slips. As seeds fall down and

grow on their own, no reseeding is required. Initially,

about 7-10 kg of seeds is required per hectare. This

grass yields forage of about 15-20 t/ha. As it contains

9% crude protein and sufficient amounts of calcium,

it is a good source of green fodder for livestock.

Leguminous plants like Stylosanthus can also be

integrated along with fodder trees. About 20-25 kg of

seeds is needed per hectare. About 10-20 MT of

forage per hectare can be obtained in drylands. This

fodder contains 18-20% of crude protein.

In silvipasture, it is possible to get about 18-20

MT of green fodder per hectare by integrating

Cenchrus with Stylosanthus together with fodder

trees. With this about 12-16 sheep/goat can be raised

annually which will fetch Rs. 36,000 income per

hectare to the farmers.

Animal integration

Browse from trees and shrubs plays an

important role in feeding ruminants in many parts of

the World, particularly in the tropics, and there has

been considerable research into the nutritional

potential and limitations of many tropical fodder 3species . Feeding mixture of tree leaves containing

equal proportion of Albizia lebbeck, Ficus

bengalensis and Leuceana leucocephala along with

green grass at 1:1 ratio significantly improves the

feed efficiency by 27 percent in sheep. Mixed

silvipasture (Leucaena leucocephala, Gliricidia

sepium, Azadirachta indica, Stylosanthus) system

was able to support about 53g of daily weight gain in

sheep when compared to 35g daily weight gain in

natural grazing land without supplementation.

Leuceana leucocephala leaves and grass were fed at

50% level each, the sheep gained 49.1 g body weight

per day against 41.5g when fed with grass alone.

ECOLOGICAL BENEFITS

Alternate land use systems such as

agroforestry, agro-horticultural, agro-pastoral, and

agro silvipasture are more effective for soil organic 4matter restoration . Tree -based agro ecosystems

have more closed nutrient cycles that help conserve

soil productivity. Planting and pruning N-fixing

legumes is a feasible way to add nitrogen to the

systems .There is robust evidence that agroforestry

systems have potential for improving water use

efficiency by reducing the unproductive components 6of the water balance . Trees and shrubs in

agroforestry models play a vital role in maintaining

an ecological balance and improving the livelihood

of people in the arid regions. These prevent soil

erosion supply, forage for livestock and act as source

of fuel wood and timber.

LIVELIHOOD IMPROVEMENT

The livelihoods improvement through natural

resource management seeks to understand individual

or household strategies through which they make 2,5long term progress towards a better quality of life .

The adverse impact of climate change may be more

severely felt by poor people who are more vulnerable

than rich. Appropriate policy responses combining

the agro ecosystems as key assets can strengthen

adaptation and help build the resilience of

communities and households to local and global 1change . It has been shown in different studies that

the multiple use silvipastoral system is more

economically attractive in addition to multiple

ecological benefits. Leucaena leucocephala

,Gliricidia sepium and Cenchrus ciliaris silvipasture

in dry land yielded 10.47 t dry fodder biomass/ha.

When 30 lambs were fed with the fodder harvested

from silvipasture for 9 months, the growth rate of

lambs was increased by 68% and the animal holding

capacity was increased by 50% as compared to

natural grazing land. By integrating the livestock

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with agroforestry the farmers can improve their

livelihood by increase in their revenue.

CONCLUSION

lPopularising the agroforestry models among

farmers can reduce the fodder shortage crisis

for livestock

lAgroforestry model can bring about better

livelihood in farmers.

REFERENCES

1. AFD, ADB, DFID et al., Poverty and Climate

Change: Reducing the Vulnerability of the

Poor Through Adaptation, DFID, London,

2003.

2. B. M. Campbell and J. A. Sayer (eds.),

Integrated Natural Resource Management:

Linking Productivity, the Environment and

Development, CABI Publishing, Wallingford,

UK, 315 pp, 2003.

3. C. Devendra, Nutritional potential of fodder

trees and shrubs as protein sources in ruminant

nutrition. In: Speedy, A., Pugliese, P.L. (Eds.),

Legume Trees and Other Fodder Trees as

Protein Sources for Livestock. FAO, Rome,

1992.

4. M. C. Manna, P. K. Ghosh and C. L. Acharya,

Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, 21, 87-

116, 2003.

5. J. N. Pretty, J. I. L. Morison, and R. E. Hine,

Agricultural Ecosystem Environment, 95,

217-234, 2003.

6. N.C Turner, and P.R. Ward, Agricultural.

Water Management, 53, 271-275, 2002.

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orinda citrifolia L. (Noni) Family:

Rubiaceae is an important food and

medicinal plant, native to Indonesia and Australia.

Noni has a long history related to medical uses in

Southeast Asian countries. In India it is found

naturally in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It is

introduced to Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and

Andhra Pradesh. Different parts of the plant such as

leaves, stem and roots are used as medicine. In

Polynesia and Southeast Asia it is used to cure cough, 1cold, pain, liver disease, malaria and blood pressure .

Considering the medicinal value of the plant,

National Medicinal Plant Board, Govt. of India, has

included noni in the list of plants approved for

cultivation. Noni is found to contain 196

nutraceutical compounds, is rich in health attributes

as antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticancer and has

vitamins and amino acids. Noni is also useful for

relieving the misery of rheumatoid arthritis. There is

a great demand for noni products- noni juice, noni

capsules and noni creams in the market and their cost

is very high. Noni juice is available in market for @

Rs. 1500/- per 800 ml. In North East India there is no

commercial cultivation of noni. NE India with

tropical humid climate is very much suitable for noni

cultivation.

Recently, under National Medicinal Plant

Board, New Delhi funded project Rain Forest

Research Institute, Jorhat, has introduced some elite

clones of noni from Central Agricultural Research

Institute (CARI), Port Blair in Assam, Mizoram and

Tripura. The plants are showing promising results.

RFRI has standardized the nursery techniques and

developed package of practice of noni cultivation. As

noni is new to this region, RFRI is making efforts to

popularize noni among the local populace and to

promote noni cultivation in NE India.

PROPAGATION OF NONI

Noni is propagated through seeds or stem

cuttings.

NURSERY AND CULTURAL PRACTICES

Seed collection and storage:

Noni fruits are climacteric and mature on plant

itself. Only soft, ripened noni fruits should be chosen

for seed collection. The seeds must be separated from

the fibrous fruit flesh by rubbing the fruit fragments

and vigorous washing with water. One kg of fruit

yields around 200g of clean seeds. Noni seeds are

reddish-brown, oblong-triangular, and have a

conspicuous air chamber. They are buoyant and

hydrophobic due to this air chamber and their

durable, water-repellent, fibrous seed coat. The seed

PROSPECTS OF NONI CULTIVATION IN NORTH EAST INDIA

TN Manohara, Jesminwara Begum and Gayatri Gogoi

Morinda citrifolia L. popularly known as 'Noni' is an important food and medicinal plant. It contains

about 196 nutraceuticals and has good antioxidant potential. It is reported to have antidiabetic,

anticancer, anti arthritis properties and help to reduce the blood pressure. Rain Forest Research Institute

has introduced some elite planting materials of noni from Central Agricultural Research Institute

(CARI), Port Blair in Assam, Mizoram and Tripura and they are showing promising results. North East

India has a rich diversity of medicinal plants and a majority of the rural population depends largely on

herbal medicines. As noni has huge market potential and health benefit, promoting its cultivation and

consumption of noni juice will help the farmers to increase their income on the one hand and also gain

health benefits.

INTRODUCTION

Rain Forest Research Institute, Jorhat, Assam -785001. Email: [email protected]

M

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coat is very tough, relatively thick, and covered with

cellophane-like parchment layers. Germination

percentage ranges from 65-90%. The viability of the

seeds can be prolonged for one year if stored in

sealed bottles and kept in refrigerator.Seed treatment: Mechanically scarified seeds

treated with 800 ppm GA for 24 h will shows 80-3

85% germination in 20-30 days. Nursery beds with

Sand: Soil: FYM in 1:2:1 ratio will be ideal. 30 days

old seedlings (~10 cm in height) can be transplanted

to the poly bags with sand: soil: FYM in 1:1:1 ratio.

Vegetative propagation: Semi-hard stem cuttings

(5-7cm dia, 12-18cm length with 2-3 nodes) with a

dip in IBA (4000 ppm) for 15-30 seconds shows good

rooting and shooting in about 3-4 weeks. 90-120

days old seedlings (20-25cm height) and cuttings are

ideal for field transfer. The best season for planting is

May-July.

RAISING OF PLANTATIONS

Noni cultivation

Soil: Noni can be grown in a variety of soils and

environmental conditions except water-logging and

frost. Well drained sandy loam soil rich in humus is

ideal.

Climate & Temperature: Noni can be grown in

wide climatic conditions such as tropical,

subtropical, dry and humid climates. It comes up overy well between 20-38 C temperatures. It can be

grown from sea level to 2000 m above mean sea

level.

Planting Season: The ideal season for planting is

May to September or it can be planted in February to

April where irrigation facilities are available.

Plantation practices

Planting design: Block planting at 3m x 3m spacing

is preferable. Needs about 1111 seedling / hectare

and pit size is 1 cubic foot (length x width x height).

Preparatory Cultivation: Ploughing and leveling

the land to optimum field condition is necessary.

Irrigation: Noni plant thrives with moderate

irrigation and can survive even in drought conditions

once the plant is established. Regular irrigation

during the early stage of the planting enables the

plant to establish better.

Weeding: It can be controlled by intercropping and

weeding when necessary.

Harvest: Noni plant starts flowering 8-10 months

after planting. Seed raised plants will start flowering

and fruiting after 3 years. But it is suggested for

removing all the flowers up to 18 months for better

growth and bushy plant. Flowering and fruiting

occurs from April to November. But 60% of the yield

will be from August to October. Noni Plant (3 years

old) is capable of giving up to 5-7 kg/plant under

ideal cultivation as observed in RFRI noni

plantation. It is a perennial crop and gives yield up to

40 years and yield will be maximum during 10-25

years age (as observed in other parts of India). Noni

fruits can be harvested when they change their colour

from green to yellowish green or creamy white.

Fruits are at this stage harvested by hand picking the

individual fruits with pedicel from the branches.

Noni fruits do not bruise or damage easily and need

not be refrigerated.

Nutrient management: Noni requires only limited

application of fertilizers. Use of 20-30 kg Neem cake

and compost per hectare in two doses per annum

once during February – March and again in

September-October will be effective.

INTERCROPS

Noni cultivation should be purely organic. In

order to diversify the income sources as well as

permit polycultural options it is suggested to grow

beneficial companion crops and / or intercrops which

do not demand pesticide- insecticide application.

Depending upon their tolerance to root and light

competition, the compatible crops can be grown.

Farmers are suggested to grow intercrops such as

Areca nut, Ginger, Turmeric, Stevia, Gymnema,

which are used as additives in various beverages and

also the rare wild fruit plants like Flacourtia

jangamos, Garcinia semialata, Dimocarpous

longan, Rhus semialata on the bunds, as they are in

great demand, thereby helping in conservation and

sustainable utilization of bioresources.

301


PESTS, DISEASES AND THEIR

MANAGEMENT

Plant protection: Noni is resistant to pests and

diseases. Grass-hoppers, larvae of moths and

coleopteran beetles are the common insect-pests

encountered which feed on leaves. The damage is

negligible. Regular weeding and application of neem

cake and sprinkling with neem cake soaked water

will help to deter the pests. In case of severe attack of

insect-pest neem oil (15ml/L+ 2-3 drops of

detergent) spray will be effective.

DISEASES OF NONI

Noni anthracnose

Pathogen: Colletotrichum sps.

Symptoms

Large expanding leaf spots with dark to tan centres

and diffuse irregular margins. Infected leaves may

drop prematurely. Fruits and stems are not

susceptible to infection.

DISEASE DISTRIBUTION

This disease is likely to become established

wherever noni is grown in areas that receive frequent

or high rainfall.

Epidemiology

Noni anthracnose is favoured by warm, wet weather

and high relative humidity. The fungal spores are

dispersed primarily by wind and splashing rain

water.

Control: Sanitation, moisture and humidity

management, protective spray applications of

approved fungicides and avoiding spread of

pathogen through hands and tools during harvest

operations.

BLACK FLAG OF NONI

Pathogen: Phytophthora sps.

Symptoms: Severely diseased plants have

characteristic “black flags” wherein the blackened,

wilted, or completely necrotic leaves hang from

blackened petiole and stems. Advanced fruit

infections may result in dry, shrivelled fruit

“mummies”, they may have a fuzzy or silvery

surface.

. . . . . . . DISEASE DISTRIBUTION

Black flag outbreaks occur during prolonged

periods of wet weather. The disease subsides during

dry spells. Water congestion of tissues enhances

infection and disease development. Sporangia and

zoospores of the pathogen are dispersed between

plants by flowing water. Noni plants can recover

from the disease during dry periods by resprouting

new growth from previously diseased stems.

Epidemiology

Phytohthora has the ability to infect plants during

very wet periods and to survive over dry periods by

producing oospores.

Control: By integrated cultural and preventive

methods such as pruning, sanitation, avoidance, and

an appropriate cropping system, providing good air

circulation to ensure rapid drying of leaves and fruits,

by maintaining wider spacing between the plants;

reducing relative humidity; planting of disease-free

plants; maintaining good plant nutrition and foliar

spray application of phosphorous acid.

MINERAL NUTRIENT DEFICIENCY

DISEASES

Molybdenum (Mo) deficiency: Narrow leaves

with interveinal yellowing on older leaves.

Treatment: application of Ammonium molybdate / Sodium molybdate.

ECONOMICS OF CULTIVATION

Output /Return: th Harvest starts from 24 month onwards (seed

raised plants) with increased fruit yield year after

year. Noni plant yields up to 40 plus years. Noni is a

highly profitable crop compared to other commercial

orchard crops like mango, sapota, etc.

Table. 1. Estimated yield of noni plants

......

Month Yield per treeUp to 24 months No

2nd

year 5 - 6 kg

3rd

year

4th

year

10 -

15 kg

5th

year

25 - 30 kg

15 - 20 kg

302


UTILITY AND POTENTIALS

Noni is distributed in more than 50 countries

across the globe. Its health benefits have been

realized by millions of consumers. All parts of noni

are marketed as different products sold as noni juice,

soap, capsules, cosmetics etc. Over 200 companies

are marketing the noni products. As there is

substantial profit to the farmers who cultivate noni, it

can be considered as blessing for the farmers of all

categories. Noni is one of most important botanical

and dietary supplement traded in international

market. Noni is considered as miracle drug plant.

Different parts of the tree, including the fruit, have

been used traditionally as a folk remedy for many 2,4diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and cancer .

The Polynesians utilized the whole Noni plant in

various combinations for herbal remedies5,6 such as

arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, muscle aches

and pains, menstrual difficulties, headaches, heart

disease, AIDS, cancers, gastric ulcers, sprains,

mental depression, senility, poor digestion,

antherosclerosis, blood vessel problems and drug

addiction. The damnacanthol, a compound found in

noni is able to regulate certain types of malignancies.

Noni also finds application in treatment of arthritis,

as a pain reliever and as detoxifier. Noni proved that

it is the most powerful antioxidant because it

contains all the antioxidant vitamins like vitamin-A,

vitamin-E, vitamin-C, and rich with antioxidant

betacarotenoids.

Planting cost

Seedling @

? 10/-

and transpo -r

tation

Land preparation

and making

plot ready; pit

digging and

planting cost. (20 labours

@ ?

300/-

)

Manure

(Compost + Neem cake 2:1 ratio 500 -

1000g per plant

in two dose.

Neem-cake ?

40/-

Kg)

Weeding and

watering

02 labours once in 15 days= 40 labours

(Winter months Dec. -

January weeding

not required).

Total expenditure

(?

Total

values of fruits (?

Total values of

Juice

(?

Profit

( ?

1st

year

? 15,000 ? 6,000

? 15,000

? 12,000

? 48,000

Nil

NA

(-)

? 48,000

2nd

Year NIL

NIL

? 15,000

? 12,000

? 27,000

Nil

NA

(-)

? 27,000

3rd Year

onwards

NIL

NIL

? 15,000 ? 12,000

? 27,000

? 1,10,000

(procuring of fruits)

? 2,00,000

(Transportation, value-

addition and

marketing).

5500 kg fruit @

? 20 per kg

? 1,10,000

500-600 L juice

valued at ? 7,25,000

(+) ? 3,13,000

Table 2. Estimated expenditure of noni cultivation per hectare of land

))

)

)

303


BIOPROSPECTING AND DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNOLOGIES

Preparation of Noni juice:

Freshly harvested ripened fruit can be directly

used for the preparation of juice or it can be subjected

to fermentation/aging to give good quality juice.

Freshly picked noni fruits after washing are allowed

to air dry and they are processed for juice. Fruit juice

is extracted by crushing the fruit pieces and straining

the pulp through muslin cloth. The Total Dissolved

Salt (TDS) can be recorded with TDS meter and

adjusted <500 ppm with suitable dilution. The pH of

juice is to be recorded with pH meter. The pH of juice

shall be 3 to 4. If the pH of the juice is >5 it indicates

contamination. Product development, value addition

and by product utilization and developing quality

standards needs to be looked. The ripe fruit is

characterised by a large amount of carboxylic acids,

especially octanoic and hexanoic acids. During aging

a large percentage of the over-ripe fruit simply

disappears into the juice; the residual fruits are

mashed into a puree, and the juice is filtered to

remove any remaining sediment. The dark brown

juice is then ready for use. The changes which take

place during the fermentation/aging process are

gradual. The major acids, octanoic and hexanoic,

and methyl esters gradually decrease in their

concentration, while alcohols and ethyl, butyl and

hexyl esters increase during the process. At 60 days

there occurs stability in the composition (volatile

compounds). The noni juice contains a low amount

of oil, simple sugars mainly glucose and fructose and

traces of sucrose besides many minerals, alkaloids,

active molecules and protein.

CONCLUSION

The cultivation of Noni in NE India has a huge

potential to generate livelihood and impart health

benifits to the local populace. However, there is need

for greater support from all stakeholders, farmers,

NGOs and other enthusiasists in popularisation and

large scale cultivation Noni in NE India.

Noni Juice Preparation

Fresh ripened fruit

Washing with clean water and surface sterilizing with ozone

Air dying at room temperature

Storage in air tight glass container for 3-6 months

Filtration

Noni Juice ready to use- after dilution and value addition

Flow chart of Noni juice preparation.

304


ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The authors are grateful to the National

Medicinal Plant Board, New Delhi, for providing

grant-in-aid to carry out the research work on Noni.

Thanks are due to Director, RFRI, for the

unwavering support and facilities.

REFERENCES

1. A.R. Dixon, H., McMillen and N.L. Etkin,

Ecological Botany, 53, 51–68, 1999.

2. S. Sang, et al. Chemical components in noni

fruits and leaves (Morinda citrifolia L.). p. 134-

150. (ACS Symposium Series, 803) ACS

Publications, Washington: 2002.

3. Y.C. Blanco, et al. Journal of food Composition

and Analysis, 19, 645-654.

4. O. Potterat and M. Hamburger, Planta Med,

73, (3), 191-199, 2007.

5. M.Y. Wang, et al. Acta Pharmacologica Sinica,

23, 1127-1141.

6. W. McClatchey, Integrative Cancer Therapies,

1, 110–120, 2002.

305


mong God's most beautiful creations are the

colourful flowers blooming around us,

adding to the ecstatic beauty of our surroundings. But

what is it that makes the buds bloom? Is it 'Florigen' –

the signal that causes plants to flower? The identity

of this putative stimulus - 'Florigen' is still one of the

closely guarded secrets of Nature.

The subject of flowering has long fascinated

our scientists because of its considerable theoretical

as well as practical significance. Understanding the

flowering concepts has immense importance in

agriculture, as flowers are the precursors of fruits. If

flowering can be controlled, plants can be

manipulated to remain in the vegetative or flowering

state. Not only that, flowering can be accelerated,

which can eventually lead to a much shorter growing

season, an important advance for plant breeders as

well as growers. Last but not the least, understanding

flowering has no doubt immense significance for the

floriculture industry.

Florigen is the term used for the hypothesized

hormone-like molecules that control and/or trigger

flowering in plants. Florigen was first described by

Russian plant physiologist Mikhail Chailakhyan in

1937, who demonstrated that floral induction can be

transmitted through a graft from an induced plant

(flowering plant) to one that has not been induced to 2

flower (non-flowering plant) .He first coined the

name 'florigen' and it was 46 years later that he

patented a method of extracting florigens. However

in spite of his prolific scientific effort, he did not

succeed in the chemical identification of florigen.

The question that arises now is what exactly is

florigen? Is it a peptide, a protein, a nucleic acid, or

any other molecule? Is it synthesized as such or as a

larger precursor? Is it modified later after synthesis

or does it consist of two molecules? The only thing

that we knew about the florigen hypothesis is that

sunlight invokes a leaf-generated stimulus and there

is simultaneous availability of an active meristem for

evocation and flower induction. Thus, an analysis of

the phloem sap could give an answer to our queries.

Recent advances and development of new

sophisticated and sensitive techniques such as

microbore, capillary HPLCs (high performance

liquid chromatography) and mass spectrometers

have helped in detection and identification of small

molecules, peptides, proteins and nucleic acids apart

from sugars in the phloem.

Majority of the grafting experiments in

Nicotiana sp. proved the existence of florigen – the

signal necessary for stimulation of flowering or for

suppression of flower formation, and generated

MOLECULES BEHIND FLOWERING

Sanjukta Mondal Parui* and Amal Kumar Mondal**

*Department of Zoology, Lady Brabourne College, Kolkata-700

017, Email: [email protected],**Department of Botany

& Forestry, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore-72112, Email:

[email protected],

Florigen the flowering hormone has long bedeviled and tantalized our scientists. Earnest efforts are being

made to identify and characterize this flowering stimulus. The following paper reports the recent

developments into the identity of the chemical nature of this floral stimulus, the mechanism of its

functioning and the genetic basis of flowering.

INTRODUCTION

A

Box 1. The effect of a brief exposure of red light during dark and light periods on flowering in ashort day plant.

306


within the leaves. Nicotiana sylvestris is a long day

plant and Nicotiana tabacum var. Maryland

Mammoth (M.M.) is a short day plant. Most other 6

Nicotiana tabacum species are day – neutral . It was

found that if N. sylvestris was cultivated under short-

day conditions, it did not flower. However if a leaf of

N. tabacum M.M., that was cultivated under short-

day conditions is grafted to N. sylvestris, then it was

stimulated to flower. This result shows that the leaf of

N. tabacum M.M. had produced a substance that was

transferred to the recipient N. sylvestris after

grafting, and that caused its flower formation. This

proved the existence of florigen. Similar results were

obtained by grafting leaves of N. sylvestris grown

under long day conditions on to N. tabacum M.M.

cultivated under long day conditions. Not only this,

experiments with other species from several other

genera also yielded similar results.

Plants use the phytochrome system to sense

day length or photoperiod. Many flowering plants

use this system to regulate the time of flowering

based on the length of day and night

(photoperiodism) and to set circadian rhythms.

Phytochrome is a pigment, which acts as a

photoreceptor, and the plant uses it to detect light. It

is sensitive to light in the red and far-red region of the

visible spectrum. Two isoforms of phytochrome

have been identified5. These are Pr (inactive form)

and Pfr (active form). Phytochrome is synthesized in

the Pr form in plants. The Pr isoform absorbs red light

(at 660 nm) while the Pfr form absorbs far-red light

(at 730 nm). The chromophore of phytochrome

absorbs light, and as a result changes conformation,

thereby changing from one isoform to the other.

During the day, as sunlight contains a lot of red light,

the Pr form is converted to Pfr form. Alternatively,

during night, as moonlight produces a greater

percentage of far-red light than sunlight, Pfr form is

slowly converted into its inactive Pr form. Thus more

phytochrome is converted to its inactive form in a

longer night, allowing the plant to measure the length

of the night. This is how phytochromes helps in.

detecting the length of day and night. The

phytochromes are synthesized in the cytosol as Pr,

which is inactive. When Pr form is converted to its

Pfr form on light illumination, it is translocated to the

cell nucleus. This implies that Pfr passes on a signal

to other biological systems in the cell and has a role in

controlling gene expression.

So the florigen hypothesis implicates three

crucial factors for flowering. Firstly, the synthesis of

floral stimulus, which is synthesized in a cyclic way

in the leaves. Secondly, the preponderance of the

floral stimulus over the flower inhibitors. After the

onset of the floral cycle, flowering is delayed or

prevented if the inhibition activity is stronger than

the stimulus. Thirdly, the activity of the bud in

synchrony with the floral cycle. The role of

phytochromes thus being established, the question

that now arises is, what exactly is this floral stimulus

or florigen?

Box 2. Structure of the Pr and Pfr forms of the chromophore (phytochromobilin) of phytochrome and the peptide region bound to the chromophore through a thioether linkage.The chromophore undergoes a cis-trans isomerization at carbon 15 in response to red and far-red light.

Box 3. Structure of the phytochrome dimer, based on a type of X-ray scattering that does not require crystallization. The monomers are labeled I and II. Each monomer consists of a chromophore-binding domain (A) and a smaller protein domain (B). The molecule as a whole has an ellipsoidal rather than globular shape.

307


Studies of Anton Lang and others in the 1950s,

put forward gibberellins (GAs), a candidate for

florigen. However this view of the role of

gibberellins as floral stimuli, has been disputed on

the grounds that flowering occurred under conditions

where there was no stem elongation, thus no

gibberellin action. However measurements of the

changes in endogenous content of gibbererellin at the

minute apex of the grass shoot of Lolium 4temulentum , support the claim that gibberellins are

at least one of the floral stimuli in long day flowering

responses. Of the various bioactive gibberellins Ga5

and GA6 have been found to meet the requirements

to be called floral stimuli in grasses and increase in

the apex at the time of long day – induced floral

evocation. Later Chailakhyan proposed two classes

of flowering hormones in his florigen hypothesis.

These include gibberellins and anthesin. He

postulated that during noninducing photoperiods,

long-day plants produce anthesin, but no gibberellin

while short-day plants produce gibberellin, but no

anthesin. The floral stimuli are generated in the

leaves and move to the shoot apex where they evoke

flowering. Although the florigen hypothesis has been

tested in several herbaceous, photoperiod-sensitive

species, this hypothesis has not been generally

accepted for the woody perennial species because

flowering in trees is regulated in several ways

different from the herbaceous annuals. However,

strongest support for the florigen hypothesis in tree

fruits has been provided in mango. Experiments have

shown that vegetative receptors of several cultivars

can be graft-induced to flower in off-season by

grafting on donor, off-season cultivars. The flower-

inducing stimulus has been found to emanate from

the leaves to the donor.

A major breakthrough in the identification of

florigen has recently come from the studies of Brian

Ayre, a faculty member at the University of North

Texas and his postdoctoral advisor, Robert Turgeon,

Cornell professor of plant biology. According to a

report published by them in the journal Plant

Physiology in the August, 2004 issue, a plant protein

CONSTANS may be the signal florigen or plays an

important role in generating the signal. Turgeon's

research focus has been to understand how

molecules move in the phloem1. He was working

with the promoter of the galactinol synthase gene, a

genetic factor that drives expression of genes

specifically in the vein of the leaf so that they can

enter the phloem. Their studies involved two

approaches, from which they finally concluded that

CONSTANS is a signal involved in flowering. In the

first approach, they introduced a copy of the

CONSTANS gene under the control of the galactinol

synthase promoter, which causes the protein to be

synthesized only in a leaf, into an Arabidopsis plant

in which all CONSTANS protein had been

abolished. They found that CONSTANS was

synthesized in the Arabidopsis plant and had a

dramatic effect on flowering. Their results suggest

Box 4. The absorbance spectra of the two isoforms of Phytochrome (Pr and Pfr).

Fig. 1. The mystic beauty of the rose in full bloom.

Fig. 2. The full bloomed flower of Hibiscus flowering almost round the year

308


that either CONSTANS is moved to the site of

flowering through phloem or CONSTANS reacts

with another factor inside the phloem that is

transported to the site of flowering. In the second

approach they grafted Arabidopsis plants that

contained no CONSTANS protein onto plants

synthesizing CONSTANTS in their leaves. They

found that CONSTANS or another factor that it

interacts with moved through the graft junction to

signal flowering in parts of the plant that previously

did not contain any of the protein. From these studies

it is clear that CONSTANS, or another downstream

factor such as a protein called FT with which it reacts,

is an important factor in generating the flowering

signal.

Flowering is thus caused by a stimulus

generated in the leaves in a cyclic way. This stimulus

is transmitted across phloem to the site of flowering.

The actual result depends on qualitative/ quantitative

strength of the inhibitory and promontory factors.

Sunlight is one of the common factors necessary for

the synthesis of the floral stimulus and the inhibitory

factors seem to be the light. However, light effect is

non photosynthetic. The floral stimulus is labile and

during the floral cycle if the buds are not active to

perceive it, they escape the stimulus resulting only in

vegetative flush later. Florigen thus conducted to the

shoot meristems stimulates them to pass

fromvegetative growth to flower formation .

Florigen is not species- specific. It can be easily

transferred to members of the same species, or from

members of one genus to members of different

genera. Florigen is also physiologically not specific.

It can be easily exchanged between short-day, long-

day and day-neutral plants. It also seems quite likely

that another transferable substance called

antiflorigen, which appear to be an antagonist of

florigen, exists in several long-day plants that is

produced under short-day conditions and suppresses

flower formation.

There is another aspect to this flowering

process, which cannot be overlooked. One may

wonder how plants know that it is time to bloom. This

question has also long baffled plant scientists. From

the genetic point of view, two phenotypic changes

that control vegetative and floral growth are

programmed in the plant. The first genetic change

involves the switch over from vegetative to floral

state and the second involves the commitment of the

plant to form flowers. This sequential development

of the various organs of the flower suggests that there

exists a genetic mechanism, in which a series of

genes are turned on and off sequentially. Coming to

the first genetic change i.e. switch over from

vegetative to floral state, scientists have reported a

gene VIN3 in the plant Arabidopsis, which is widely

used as a model organism in plant biology and

Fig. 3a. The seasonal flowers of (a) Chrysanthimum- short day plant.

Fig. 3b. The seasonal flowers of Dahlia – short day

plant.

Fig. 4. The buds of Fuchsia hybrida- yet to receive the message to flower.

309


genetics. This VIN3 gene is expressed only after

plants are exposed to cold i.e. to conditions effective

for vernalization. Once activated, the gene starts the

process of vernalization whereby the plant becomes

competent to flower after exposure to cold. This

suggests that VIN3 gene functions as an alarm clock

rousing biennial plants to bloom. Similarly scientists

at CSIRO Plant Industry have recently identified a

gene called WAP1, which is the major gene

responsible for determining the timing of flowering

in cereal crops, like wheat and barley. Likewise FLC

gene is the master flowering gene that operates in the

Brassica family including canola and mustard. Both

WAP1 and FLC genes respond to information about

the plants developmental stage and external

environmental conditions like temperature changes

and day length, to determine when to trigger

flowering. Coming to the second aspect i.e.

commitment of the plant to form flowers, similar

responsible genes have also been identified,

particularly in Arabidopsis3. Researchers have

identified a mutant in Arabidopsis called LEAFY,

which do not develop floral meristems and when the

commitment to a floral meristem is made, flower

develop but they partially resemble normal flowers.

The flowers contain sepal and carpel-like structures

but lack petals and stamens. This suggests that the

LEAFY gene is responsible not only for the floral

meristem development but also for the development

of petals and stamens. An analogous gene of LEAFY

has been identified in snapdragon called floricaula

(flo). The flo mutants fail to undergo the transition

from inflorescence to floral meristem and the flowers

have the appearance of an inflorescence shoot.

Similar other mutants have also been discovered like

CAULIFLOWER, APETALA1, etc., which do not

show the normal floral development.

With so many questions yet to be answered and

with such a wide lacunae still remaining in the

physiology of flowering, the search for florigen and

its identity has thus become the 'holy grail' for our

plant scientists.

REFERENCES

1. B.G. Ayre and R. Turgeon, Plant Physiology,

135, 2271–2278, 2004.

2. M. K. Chaïlakhyan, Biologia Plantarium,

27,4–5, 292–302, 1985.

3. D. H. Kim, and S. Sung, Plant Cell, 25, 2,

454-69, 2013.

4. K. E. King, T. Moritz, and N.P. Harberd,

Genetics, 159, 2, 767-76, 2001.

5. T. S. Walker, and J.L. Bailey, Biochem J. Apr;

107, 4, 603–605, 1968.

6. J. A. D. Zeevaart, Annual Review of Plant

Physiology and Plant Molecular Biology 27,

321–348, 1976.

Fig. 5. A flowering twig of Fuchsia hybrida showing both the buds and a flower in full bloom.

Fig.6. Arabidopsis- A plant Guinea pig.

310


extile is a global text which has the extra

style of applications in all fields-feel it and

endure it”. Mankind knows textiles by generations.

The history of textiles can be traced back to the age

when human beings tried to cover their body for

safety and protection- even well before the

production of fabrics and other products started on

machines. On a broad outlook it appears that textiles

have no application other than apparel purposes. The

time of thinking fibres as a source of producing

clothing and home textile products is still vibrant in

the market, however, the wave of innovation is

inundating higher. Land, water and air all are 1witnessing the fascinating services of textiles .

Today, it is one of the gigantic disciplines of product

development for non-apparel applications. In terms

of the material performance, textiles can be seen

working at the interdisciplinary level by offering the

several technical advantages that may not be

accumulated in a single material traditionally known.

But as a matter of fact, there are also non-apparel uses

of textiles such as technical applications.

Textile materials are generally lightweight,

flexible and unique in many ways as compared to

other materials. Most importantly, they are

omnipresent in our lives. Textiles are necessary next

to our skin as well as in our environment. They are

used for comfort and protection as well as for

fashion. All the textile materials possess some type of 2performance and function . Performance is generally

defined as the resistance against a physical

stimulus ad /or chemical stimulus caused by different

constraints. On the other hand function is the action

of induction or conversation of quality under the

influence of an outer stimulus. Today applications of

textiles have crossed many barriers beyond the

regular use which man never expected. What has

turned the textile materials to be in demanding

position for out of home articles? It is the functional

character in producing the desired performance.

There are several factors supporting the increased

consumption of textiles in special applications. Over

the past several decades, textile fibres have captured

an inevitable position in composition and as an

integral part of product structure. In the near future,

almost all textile products including what we wear

and walk on, seem destined to be transformed from

their present to multifunctional, adaptive and

responsive systems. It is well known that textiles

have their own language that is tactile, sensorial as

well as visual, which textile and fashion designers

have traditionally exploited to engineer or express a

look, a concept or idea, by carefully composing and

manipulating the many facets of its special

vocabulary.

All textile materials possess some type of

performance and function. Based on the performance

and function, the textiles can be classified into four

categories, which are;

1) Apparel textiles,

2) Home textiles,

3) Interior textiles,

4) Technical textiles.

Textiles that is primarily used for its

NON APPAREL USES OF TEXTILE – A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE

Textile has n invented, researched, modified for apparels initially. Its versatility has extended the application to many other areas. This article gives an over view of the non apparel use of the textiles.

bee

Madhu Sharan

INTRODUCTION

Clothing and Textiles Department, Faculty of Family and

Community Sciences, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of

Baroda, Vadodara, E-mail : madhusharan @ yahoo.co.in

“ T

311


performance or functional not for its appearance or

aesthetic is known as technical textile3. The market

of technical textile is significant and expanding as

the products are being put to and even increasing

umber of end uses in various industries. Technical

textiles in the form of fabrics account for about

70%of product consumption. Of this, nonwovens

have the lion's share due to their better economy and

suitability for varied applications. Fiberfill is popular

for residential and industrial applications where

unspun fibers are used. Only about 29% of technical

textiles manufactured worldwide are made from

natural fibers such as cotton, silk and wool. The rest

is from man-made/organic fibers. The projected

global market size of technical textile by 2010 is in

the region of $20-$130 billion. The technical textiles

industry is growing. The textile industry of

developed countries are focusing on technical

textiles for high-specification products partly in

response to the approaching end of the multi-fiber

arrangement. The integration of smart functionality

into clothing and other textile products will

fundamentally change cultures of clothing and

interior products. As an emerging economic power,

India has tremendous potential for production,

consumption and export of technical textiles.

Presently technical textiles are classified into 13

groups as per their field of application. They are:

1. Agriculture and forestry,

2. Air and space,

3. Armaments and defense,

4. Construction,

5. Engineering works,

6. Fisheries and marine,

7. Health and medicine,

8. Information and communication,

9. Packaging and conveyance,

10. Production,

11. Traffic and transport,

12. Sport and leisure,

13. Smart textiles.

AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY

Application of textile materials in agriculture

field is known as agro textile. The practice of textiles

is also now widen to safeguard the agro products like

plants, vegetables and fruits from weather, weed and

birds. Agriculture and textiles can play a duo by

complementing the strengths of each other, to

produce a new evolution of 'agro textiles' revolution.

Applications of agro textiles:

1. Sunscreens

2. Bird protection net

3. Plant net

4. Ground cover

5. Windshield

6. Insect meshes

7. Turf protection net

8. Packaging material for agricultural products

Wide varieties of agro textile products are available

and the selection of suitable type of products depend

on the protection that the crop requires and is greatly

influenced by the geographical location. For

agricultural products man made fibres are preferred

over the natural fibres due to their favourable price

performance ratio, ease of transport, space saving

storage and long service life.With the use of high

quality agro textiles quality and yield of agro

products can be enhanced.

Properties required for agro-textiles:

1. Withstand ultra- violet radiation,

2. Withstand solar radiation,

3. Bio degradability,

4. High potential to retain water,

5. Protection property.

Man made textiles in the form of knitted

fabrics are extensively used for many agricultural

end uses. Warp knitting is the major technology route

for Agrotech. Nylon, polyester, polyethylene and

polyolefin are the fibre materials for agro tech.

AIR AND SPACE

The design, manufacture and applications of

textile composites in space and aerospace have

become one of the most predominant aspects in

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present-day textiles.

The astronauts travel to the space with the help

of spacecraft, which is designed using high

performace metals and textile composites. Based on

3D reinforcement, a narrow range of materials is

used as textile composites. Today almost all

commercial jets, military aircrafts and space crafts

encompass a wide range of textile composites in

them. The aer spacing uses the broad range of

polymer composite materials with textile

reinforcements from woven, non-crimp fabrics to 3D

textiles.

The most required properties of textile

composites in aerospace structural applications are:

1. High specific modulus

2. High specific strength

3. Resistant to chemicals and organic solvents.

4. Good fatigue

5. Thermal insulated and thermal resistant

6. Impact and stress resistant

7. B e t t e r d i m e n s i o n a l s t a b i l i t y a n d

conformability

8. Low flammability

9. Non-sensitive to harmful radiations

Various researchers , designers and

manufactures are involved in the development of

new products with textile composites. Some of the

textile materials are used for manufacture of

aerospace structure are carbon fibres. kevlar fibres,

alumina-boria-silica fibres and Nylon6,6 material.

Based on the properties like strength, resistance to

heat and chemicals, these textiles have a wide range

of applications when concerned with aerospace

structures e.g.

1. Carbon fibre, which is lightweight and non-

flammable, with it's advantage of the stiffness

and strength can be used for construction of

light weight aircraft combined with other high

performance fibres.

2. Jets have their brakes made from carbon

composites as they are the only ones which can

withstand the high temperature generated, if

the take off is aborted all of sudden.

3. Nonwoven felt liners are used as fire barriers to

cover the urethane foam seats on all the

aircrafts.

4. Carbon and other high performance fibres are

used in the rocket exhausts and nose cone

covers for space shuttles.

ARMAMENTS AND DEFENCE

With the new advancements, the utility of textile composites in various aircrafts predominantly increased. These textile composites are reinforced in the chasis, seats, wings, fans and other parts of the aircraft. Though the percentage of usage may vary, they vastly improve the strength, performance and fuel economy which are the basic for the aircraft.

Armaments include the weapons and supplies of war with which a military unit is equipped and the act of defending or the state of being defended ,protected is the defence. Textile products for defence and armaments includes: Bulletproof jackets. Helmet, armor, ballistic vest etc.

Packaging and conveyance: Textiles have been used for packaging since ages. It ranges from heavy weight woven fabric used for bags, packaging sacks, flexible packaging, wrapping for textile bales and carpets to the light weight non woven used as durable papers, tea bags and other food and industrial products wrapping.

The demand for packaging material is directly proportional to economic growth, industrial production and trade as goods are produced and then distributed both locally and internationally. Industries which uses packaging textiles are: cement, fertilizer, chemical, paper, sugar etc

Packaging textiles are also known as packtech

and it includes :

1. Flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBC) for powdered and granular materials.

2. Laundry bags and other bulk packaging products

3. Sacks for storage

4. Woven fiber strapping, lightweight mailbags.

5. Soft luggage.

6. Twine and string for tying packages (non-

agricultural).

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7. Non-paper tea bags and coffee filters.

8. Food soaker pads.

9. Net packaging for storing, packing,

transporting, retailing foodstuffs and toys.

The current wave of economic developments

in India is being seen from all over the world. As

infrastructure, manufacturing ,agriculture and

services grow at high rates the packaging industry is

also showing great variety and depth in its growth.

Today, packaging is produced more quickly and

efficiently. It is generally lighter in weight, uses less

material, is easier to open, dispense from reseal, store

and dispose. Packaging has evolved from a relatively

small range of heavy, rigid containers made of glass,

steel or wood to a broad array of rigid and flexible

packaging options increasingly made from

specialized lightweight material.

FISHERIES

The term fishing is applied to catching of fish

and aquatic animals. In addition to providing food,

modern fishing is also a recreational sport. Materials

required in fisheries include – Nets, hooks, floats,

reels, rods, ropes, wire and line. Textile components

in this industry include :

1. Fluorocarbon and nylon filaments ---- for

fishing reels

2. Fiberglass and carbon fiber ---- for

fishing rods

3. Nylon, wool and silk fiber ---- for

fishing net

SMART AND INTELLIGENT TEXTILE

Shifts in the textiles, electronics and

information and communication technology sectors

have given rise to the area of smart, intelligent

textiles and clothing. There is a substantives

difference between the terms. The material and

structure which have sense or can sense the

environmental conditions or stimuli are smart

textiles whereas intelligent textiles can be defined as

textile structures which not only can sense but also

react and respond to environmental conditions or

stimuli. These stimuli as well as response could be

thermal, chemical, mechanical, electric, magnetic or

from other source.

The promise of smart fabrics is that every day

clothing will be able to perform the task of comfort

and protection more effectively . The role of smart

textiles have now come along far away from only

protection of body from harsh temperature. These are

next generation textiles.

Smart textiles can be constructed from almost

any kind of textiles-from organza to lycra.

Conductive polymers and nanocomposites are used

to make sensors. The sensors placed anywhere on the

garment that's logic can take readings of a person's

heart rate, body temperature, odor etc. and then users

can manipulate that data to be used for any purpose

they would like.

New smart textile and clothing systems can be

developed by integrating sensors in the textile

constructions. Application fields for these added-

value products are protective clothing for extreme

environments, garments for the health care sector,

technical textiles, sport and leisure wear, wearable

technology for bio-chemical analysis of body fluids

during exercise, electroactive fabrics for distributed,

comfortable and interactive systems, health

monitering fabric,clothes that sense and interprets

movements, clothes that relieve itch and prevents

bacteria build up, intelligent clothing inspired by

pine cones to control body temperature, clothing that

shields from germs, smart fabric glowing in response

to allergens and strain sensing fabric for hand posture

and gesture monitoring Some products have already

been introduced on the markets, but generally it can

be stated that the development is only in its starting

phase, and the expectations for the future are big. The

integration part of the technologies into a real SFIT

product is at present stage on the threshold of

prototyping and testing.

ELECTRONIC TEXTILE

Electronic textiles can be described as textile

products with integrated electronic capabilities. It

involves the use of conductive fibres to produce

fabric in many applications. Conductive fibre as

electric yarns is used where a polymer fiber is given a

metalized coating. Multiple fibre are then wrapped

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together to form light, supple strands that conduct

electricity. These fibres can carry virtually any

necessary current. Coupled with lightness and

flexibility, this is very useful in space applications

where electronics battle small space and severe

stress, these properties are also ideal for EMI

shielding, aerospace wiring and other applications

that need strong, lightweight conductivity.

Conductive fibres also reduces the cost of metal

wiring, maintenance cost of commercial planes,

military aircraft and missile guidance wires. These

are used in powerlines, lightweight deployable

antennas and airbag wiring in cars. Textile product

and fabric level integration of electronics seem to be

more common today. Electronic textiles are being

developed for many applications, including

biomedical sensing, wearable computing and large

a r e a s e n s o r s .

Based on the current state of electronic textiles

research it can be assumed that in the short term, the

field of electronic textiles would involve attachment

of electronic devices, sensors etc. to conductive

elements integrated into a textile to form flexible

electronic products. The future electro textiles

products not only include wearable to address

individual needs but also sensor arrays useful for

civilian and military applications.

SAFETY TEXTILES

Not only the defense but the safety clothing

covers garments and accessories intended to protect

people from dangerous or hazardous materials and

processes during the course of their work or leisure

activities. These textiles enhance performance by

ensuring wind or water proofing, flame retardancy , 4breathability lightness etc. in the clothing . The

major applications are:

lTents, sleeping systems, weapon rolls,

bandoleers to combat foul weather.

l Fire service equipment, bullet-proof jackets,

army tents, parachutes, extinguishing blankets.

lFabrics with waterproof and breathable

membrane.

lMountain safety ropes, climbing harness.

lClothing for protection from fire, bullet etc.

lSpecial jackets, attire to combat severe

temperatures.

lFabrics for disposable garments worn to provide

protection against harmful chemicals and gases,

pesticides etc.

lFluorescent and phosphorescent fabrics for

trousers.

GEO TEXTILE

Geo textile is a synthetic permeable textile

material used with soil, rock or any other geo

technical engineering related material. The needle

punched, staple fibre manufacturing technique

produces geo textile which exihibits high strengths,

superior puncture resistance and greater

survivability.

These are generally made up of woven, non-

wovens and knitted type of fabrics. Geo-textiles are

the largest group of geo-synthetics in terms of

volume and are used in geo-technical engineering,

heavy construction, building and pavement

construction, hydro-geology, environment

engineering.

Uses of different types of geo-textiles

1. Woven geo-textile- are generally preferred for

applications where high strength properties are

needed, but where filtration requirements are less

critical and planar flow is not a consideration.

Under heavy traffic and construction loads,

woven geotextile reduce localized shear failure in

weak subsoil conditions, improving construction

over soft subsoil and providing access to remote

areas through separation. Concrete bases used

for coastal works, water ways, and in forming

geo cell for roads.

2. Non-woven geo-textiles- is needle puched,

continous filament engineering fabric capable of

providing palanar water flow in addition to their

soil stabilization and separation functions. used

for filteration, drainage, reinforcement between

soil stone and aggregate ad in roads, railways

works, erosion prevention and separation, as the

filter fabric for dams, under drainage system

liners for pile foundatio.

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3. Knitted geo-textiles- Knitted bags for protection

of dams riverbank. Warp knitted fabric used in

automobile and marine application.

NANOTECHNOLOGY

Already nanotechnology is being used to

improve the functionability of many consumer

products. Nanotechnology improved products rely

on a change in the physical properties when the

feature sizes are shrunk.

Nanotechnology in Textiles

One trend in the textile industry is that more and

more clothes are manufactured in low-cost countries.

High-cost countries like western Europe can only

compete in this industry if they produce high-tech

clothes with additional benefits for users. This

includes windproof and waterproof jackets, where

nanotechnology already plays a role. For the future,

clothes with additional electronic functionalities will

be“smart clothes,wearable electronics”, etc.

Nanotechnology, could provide features like

sensors (which could monitor body functions or

release drugs in the required amounts), self-repairing

mechanisms or access to the internet. Simpler

realisations are readily available, which make

clothes water-repellent or wrinkle-free. A ski jacket

based on nanotechnology is produced . The

windproof and waterproof properties are not

obtained by a surface coating of the jacket but by the 5use of nanofibres .

Wrinkle Resistant Nanotechnology Fabrics:

Wrinkle-resistant and stain-repellent fabrics are

produced by attaching molecular structures to cotton

fibres. Textiles with a nanotechnological finish can

be washed less frequently and at lower temperatures.

High-performance functional clothing is an

increasingly important feature of the workplace.

Nanotechnology has been used to integrate tiny

carbon particles membrane and guarantee full-

surface protection from electrostatic charges for the

wearer.

Nanotechnology in Sports Equipment

A high-performance ski wax, which produces a

hard and fast-gliding surface, is already in use. The

ultra thin coating lasts much longer than

conventional waxing systems. The racket

manufacturers have introduced a racket with carbon

nanotubes, which lead to an increased torsion and

flex resistance. The rackets are more rigid than

current carbon rackets and pack more power. Long-

lasting tennis-balls are made by coating the inner

core with clay polymer nanocomposites. These

tennis-balls have twice the lifetime of conventional

balls.

CONCLUSION

Each new step forward is paving the way to

further advancements. At the present time, these

kinds of textiles are making a significant

contribution to the increasing market of textiles.

Hence, with the progressing steps and emerging

trends in the textile industry, greater attention will be

drawn from every nook and corner of the world,

which ultimately improves the economic strategy of

the world to a larger extent, proving that textiles are

not only linked to the regular use of protection and

safety but also to technological advances satisfying

the needs of mankind globally.

REFERENCES

1. P. Ghose, Fibre Science and Technology, Tata

Mc Graw Hill, Publishing Company Ltd, New

Delhi.

2. L. Jules, Textile origins and usage, The

Macmillan Co., New York.

3. S. Mishra, Fibre Science and Technology, New

age International publisher, New Delhi.

4. S. Roy, Fundamentals of Textile Fibre,

Random Publications, New Delhi.

5. V. Arora, Textile Chemistry, Abhishek

Publication, New Delhi.

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ermicomposting is a simple biotech-

nological process of composting in which

certain species of earthworms are used to enhance the

process of waste conversion and produce a better end

product. Vermicomposting differs from composting 1in several ways . It is a mesophilic process, utilizing

microorganisms and earthworms that are active at 0

10-32 C (not ambient temperature but temperature

within the pile of moist organic material). The

process is faster than composting ; because the

material passes through the earthworms gut, a

significant but not yet fully understand

transformation takes place, whereby the resulting

earthworm castings (worm manure) are rich in

microbial activity and plant growth regulators and

fortified with pest repellence attributes as well. In

short, earthworms, through a type of biological

alchey are capable of transforming garbage into 2,3

“gold” .

Million tons of livestock excreta are produced

every year in India. This is causing concern due to

odour and pollution problems. The US geological

survey found that the increase in in-stream loads of

nitrogen and phosphorous was strongly correlated

w i th i nc r ea sed an ima l concen t r a t i ons .

Eutrophication from animal waste run off has been

linked to the outbreak of toxic microorganisms and

has been implicated in massive destruction and

diseases. Animal wastes also significantly contribute

to the excess bacteria and nitrates that are frequently

found in ground water.

Soil fauna and dairy farm waste play a

prominent role in regulating soil processes and

among these the earthworms play a vital role in

maintaning soil quality and managing efficient

nutrient cycling. Microorganism and earthworms are

important biological organisms helping nature to

maintain nutrient flows from one system to another

and also minimize environmental degradation.

Earthworms from a major component of the soil

system have been efficiently ploughing the land for

millions of years assisting in the recycling of organic

nutrients for the efficient growth of plants. The

effects by earthworms on plant growth may be due to

several reasons apart from the presence of

macronutrients and micronutrients in their secretions

and in vermicompost in considerable quantities.

Certain metabolites and vitamins release into the soil

by earthworms may also be responsible to stimulate

plant growth. Now there is a growing realization that

the adoption of ecological and sustainable farming

practices can only reverse the declining trend in the 4,5,6global productivity and environment protection .

VERMICOMPOSTING AT DAIRY FARM FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

21Sanjay Kumar, Kaushalendra Kumar, Rajni Kumari , R. R. K. Sinha and Chandramoni

In India, the integration of crops and livestock and use of manure as fertilizer were the basis of farming

systems. But development of chemical fertilizer industry during green revolution period created

opportunities for low-cost supply of plant nutrients in inorganic forms which led to rapid displacement of

organic manures derived from livestock excreta. The deterioration of soil fertility through loss of

nutrients and organic matter, erosion and salinity, and pollution of environment are the negative

consequences of modern agricultural practices. Animal wastes also significantly contribute to the excess

bacteria and nitrates that are frequently found in ground water.

INTRODUCTION

1Department of Animal Nutrition, BVC, Patna-14, DLFM, 2ICAR-RCER, Patna-14, Department of Livestock Production

and Management, Bihar Veterinary College, Patna-800014,

E-mail: [email protected]

V

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It is estimated that in cities and rural areas of India

nearly 700 million ton organic waste is generated 7

annually which is either burned or land filled .

In recent years efforts have been made by

scientist to exploit earthworms in recycling of

nutrients, waste management and development of

vermicomposting systems at commercial scale. The

benefits and preparation of vermicompost at dairy

farm presented in brief.

BENEFITS OF VERMICOMPOST

1. When added in clay soil, vermicompost

loosens the soil and provides the passage for

the air.

2. The mucus associated with the cost being

hygroscopic absorbs water and prevents

water logging and improves water holding

capacity.

3. In the vermicompost, some of the secretions

of worms and the associated microbes act as

growth promoter along with other nutrients.

4. Improves physical, chemical and biological

properties of soil in the long run on repeated

application.

5. The organic carbon in vermicompost releases

the nutrients slowly and steadily in to the

system and enables the plant to absorb these

nutrients.

6. The multifarious effects of vermicompost

influence the growth and yield of crops.

7. Earthworm can minimize the pollution

hazards caused by organic waste by

enhancing waste degradation.

METHOD OF VERMICOMPOSTING AT

DAIRY FARM

In general, following method of vermi-

composting at dairy farm using dung and other waste

is most common.

Pits: The optimum sized of ground pits is 10 X 11 X

0.5m (L X W X D) can be effective for

vermicomposting bed. Series of such beds are to be

prepared at one place as per the requirement / waste

materials availble at farm.

THE STEPS FOR PREPARATION OF

VERMICOMPOST ARE AS FOLLOW

I. Selection of site:

It should preferably black soil or other areas

with less of termite and red ant activity, pH

should be between 6 to 8.

II. Collection of wastes and sorting:

for composting, raw materials are needed in

large quantities. The waste available should

be sorted in to degradable and non-degradable

(be rejected) parts.

III. Pre-treatment of waste: a. Dungs and waste materials dumps in layers,

sandwiched with soil followed with watering

for 10 days to make the material soft and

acceptable to worm.

b.Mixing animal dung properly for

vermicomposting.

IV. Insecticidal treatment to site:

Treating the area as well as beds with

chlorpyriphos 20 EC @ 3.0 ml/ litre to reduce

the problem of ants, termites and ground

beetles.

V. Filling of beds with organic wastes: Wastes are to be filled in the pits layer by layer

and each layer should be made wet while

filling and spray water as per the requirement

continuously for next 10 days.

Excepting 3rd and 4th layer (which is the

material to be degraded) each layer should be 3 to 4

A layer of Dung

(Top of bed)

(Top of bed)

(Top of bed)

(Top of bed)

(Top of bed)

(Top of bed)

(Bottom of bed)

th7 layer

th6 layer

th5 layer

th4 layer

rd3 layer

nd2 layer

st1 layer

A thick layer if mulch with fodder straw

A layer of fine soil

A layer of Dung

Waste of a green fodder

Dry fodder waste material

Dry and green fodder waste material

318


inch thick so that the bed material is raised

above the ground level. Sufficient quantities

of dry and green wastes are to be used in the

beds.

VI. Introduction of worms in to beds:

The optimum number of worms to be

introduced @ 100 No. / m. length of the bed.

The species of earthworms that are being used

currently for compost production world wide

are Eisenia foetida, Eudirlus eugeniae,

Perionyx excavatus, Lumbricus rubellus etc.

VII. Provision of optimum bed moisture and

temperature:

Bed moisture: By watering at regular

intervals to maintain moisture of 60 to 80%

till harvest of compost Temperature o

requirement for optimal results is 20 to 30 C

by thatching (during summer).

VIII. Monitoring for activity of natural enemies

and earthworms and management of enemies

with botanicals, Promising products: Leaf

dust of neem, Acorus calamus rhizome dust,

neem cake etc.

IX. Harvesting of vermicompost and storage:

Around 60-90 days after release of worms,

the beds would be ready for harvest. Stop

watering 7 days prior to harvest so that worms

settle at the bottom layer. Collect the compost,

shade dry for 12 hours and bag it in fertilizer

bags for storage.

X. Harvest of worm bio-mass:

The worms are to be collected and used for

subsequent vermicomposting.

REFERENCES

1. M. Gandhi, V. Sangwan, K. K. Kapoor and N.

Dilbaghi, Environment and Ecology, 15, 432-

434, 1997.

2. http://www.vermico.com/summary.htm3. http://www.dainet.org/livelihoods/default.

htm.4. Jim.Aveyard, Journal of Soil Conservation,

New South Wales, 44, 45-51,1988.5. S. P. Wani, and K. K. Lee, Fertilizer

D e v e l o p m e n t a n d C o n s u l t a t i o n

Organisation, New Delhi, India, 91-

112,1992.6. S. P. Wani, O.P. Rupela and K. K. Lee, Plant

and Soil, 174, 29-49, 1995.7. M. R. Bhiday, Indian Farming, 43, 12, 31-

34,1994.

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hemistry and chemicals are very

fundamental to our understanding of Life.

All living matters are composed of chemical 1elements, in pure and/or in compounded form .

BIOLOGICALLY IMPORTANT ELEMENTS

a. There are 92 naturally-x occurring,

biologically important elements like Sodium

(Na), Calcium (Ca), Potassium (K) etc.

b. At least 25 of them are very essential for our lives.

i. It has been learnt that elements like C

(Carbon), O (Oxygen), H (Hydrogen) and

N (Nitrogen) make 96% of all living

matters.

ii But Ca ( Calcium), P (Phosphorus), K

(Potassium), S (Sulphur), Na (Sodium), Cl

(Chlorine), Mg (Magnesium) and other

trace elements—are also needed by the

remaining 4%.

iii.Trace elements—A group of element

which are needed in very low quantities,

but are absolutely essential for the

sustenance of life processes. Some of

themare –B (Boron), Cr (chromium), Co

(Cobalt), Cu (Copper), F (Fluorine), I

(Iodine), Fe (Iron), Mn (Manganese), Mo

(Molybdinum), Se (Selenium), Si

(silicon), Sn (strontium), V (Vanadium)

and Zn (Zinc) etc. apart from others.

The elements gradually made complex

compounds by combining two or more elements

together, but in a fixed ratio, such as water (H O) with 2

two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.

Interestingly, compounds, such as NaCl - sodium

chloride, also known as common salt, has unique

properties that differ from the elements they were

formed, such as Na and Cl.

Let us try to know why we need various

elements.

Oxygen (65%) and hydrogen (10%) are

predominantly found in water, which makes up about

60 percent of the body by weight. It's practically

impossible to imagine life without water.

Carbon (18%) is synonymous with life. Its

central role is due to the fact that it has four bonding

sites that allow for the building of long, complex

chains of molecules.

Nitrogen (3%) is found in many organic

molecules, including the amino acids that make up

proteins, and the nucleic acids that make up DNA.

Calcium (1.5%) is the most common mineral

in the human body — nearly all of it arefound in

bones and teeth. Ironically, calcium's most important

role is in bodily functions, such as muscle

contraction and protein regulation. In fact, the body

will actually pull calcium from bones (causing

problems like osteoporosis) if there's not enough of

the element in a person's diet.

Phosphorus (1%) is found predominantly in

bone but also in the molecule ATP, which provides

energy in cells for driving chemical reactions.

Potassium (0.25%) is an important electrolyte

(meaning it carries a charge in solution). It helps

regulate the heartbeat and is vital for electrical

signalling in nerves. Sulphur (0.25%) is found in two

amino acids that are important for giving proteins

their shape. Sodium (0.15%) is another electrolyte

that is vital for electrical signalling in nerves. It also

regulates the amount of water in the body. Chlorine

(0.15%) is usually found in the body as a negative Ex- Director, Bose Institute, Kolkata, E-Mail: pkray2000@ yahoo.com

CHEMICALS WHAT LIFE IS ALL ABOUT

Prasanta Kumar Ray

INTRODUCTION

C

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ion, called chloride. This electrolyte is important for

maintaining a normal balance of fluids. Magnesium

(0.05%) plays an important role in the structure of the

skeleton and muscles. It also is necessary in more

than 300 essential metabolic reactions. Iron

(0.006%) is a key element in the metabolism of

almost all living organisms. It is also found in

haemoglobin, which is the oxygen carrier in red

blood cells. Half of women don't get enough iron in

their diet. Fluorine (0.0037%) is found in teeth and

bones. Zinc (0.0032%) is an essential trace element

for all forms of life. Several proteins contain

structures called "zinc fingers" help to regulate

genes. Zinc deficiency has been known to lead to

dwarfism in developing countries. Copper

(0.0001%) is important as an electron donor in

various biological reactions. Without enough copper,

iron won't work properly in the body.Iodine

(0.000016%) is required for making of thyroid

hormones, which regulate metabolic rate and other

cellular functions. Iodine deficiency can lead to

goiter and brain damage. Selenium (0.000019%) is

essential for certain enzymes, including several anti-

oxidants. Chromium (0.0000024%) helps regulate

sugar levels by interacting with insulin. Manganese

(0.000017%) is essential for certain enzymes, in

particular those that protect mitochondria.

Molybdenum (0.000013%) is essential to

virtually all life forms. In humans, it is important for

transforming sulfur into a usable form.

Cobalt (0.0000021%) is contained in vitamin

B12, which is important in protein formation and

DNA regulation.

Some terminologies would help in our

understanding the topic we are discussing here.

Matter - anything having mass and occupying space

is called matter.

Mass - it is a measure of the amount of matter that an

object contains.

Mass Weight - Weight is the measure of how strongly

an object is pulled by the Earth's gravity and

consequently varies as a function of distance from

the Earth's Centre. Mass does not vary with its

position.

EVOLUTION

The modern theory of evolution was 3developed by Charles Darwin , an amateur English

naturalist, in the 19th century. He proposed that all of

the millions of species of organisms present today,

including Humans, evolved slowly over billions of

years, from a common ancestor by way of Natural 3Selection . This theory further explained that the

individuals best adapted to their habitat passed on

their Traits ( Genetic Characteristics) to their

offspring.

Over a period of time these advantageous

qualities accumulated and transformed the

individual into a species entirely different from its

ancestors (e.g. humans from apes, birds from

reptiles, whales from bears etc.).

THE EVOLUTIONIST'S PERSPECTIVE ON

THE HISTORY OF EARTH

According to the theory of evolution, earth

was formed 4.6 billion years ago. Its atmosphere

probably contained very little of free oxygen, but a

lot of water vapour and other gases, such as carbon

dioxide and nitrogen were there. The atmosphere

was extremely hot at that time. By about 3.9 billion

years ago, earth cooled down enough for water

vapour to condense, allowing millions of years of 3rain that formed the Earth's oceans .

THE ORIGIN OF LIFE

In the 1930s, a Russian Scientist, Alexander 4Oparin hypothesized that life began in the Oceans

on early earth between 3.9 to 3.5 billion years ago. He

suggested that first, simple organic molecules

containing carbon was formed.

Today we know that Carbon is the most

important element to living organisms because it can

form large compounds by joining one carbon with

another through its four bonds.

ALL LIVING THINGS CONTAIN CARBON

IN ONE FORM OR OTHER

Carbon is the primary component of

macromolecules (larger molecules) including

proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates. All

of them are very large compounds.

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Carbon's molecular structure allows it to bond

in many different ways and with many different

elements.

The carbon cycle shows how carbon moves

through the living and non-living parts of our

Environment.

CARBON CYCLE

The physical cycle of carbon through the

earth's biosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and

atmosphere etc. includes such processes as

photosynthesis, decomposition, respiration and

carbonification. Carbon is one of the most

Fig. 1. shows how the carbon is cycled from one

form to another- From atmosphere plants fixes it

through a process called Photosynthesis. Through

microbial decomposition and respiration carbon

dioxide is released in the atmosphere. Ocean

uptake of carbon dioxide is returned again in the

atmosphere.

abundant element in the Universe and is the building

block of life on earth. On earth, carbon circulates

through the land, ocean, and atmosphere, creating

what is known as the “Carbon Cycle”.

In a non-living environment, carbon can also

exist as carbon dioxide (CO ), carbonate rocks, coal, 2

petroleum, natural gas, and dead organic matter.

Plants and Algae convert carbon dioxide to organic

matter through a process known as Photosynthesis,

the energy from light is drawn in the process.

The diagram above shows the movement of

carbon between land, atmosphere, and oceans in

billions of tons per year. Yellow numbers are natural

fluxes, red are human contributions, white indicate

stored carbon. Note this diagram does not account for

volcanic and tectonic activity, which also sequesters

and releases carbon.

CARBON IS PRESENT IN ALL LIFE-

FORMS

Carbon exists in many forms in a plant leaf,

including in the Cellulose to form the leaf's structure

and in Chlorophyll, the pigment which makes the leaf

green.

How does the Chlorophyll molecule (the

green colouring matter) on the plant leaves make

plant foods (carbohydrates) using carbon dioxide

and tapping energy from the sun, has been a mystery

before the scientists for a long time.

Fig. 2. Chlorophyll molecule on the plant leaves

make plant foods using carbon dioxide and

tapping energy from the sun.

CARBON IS IMPORTANT TO LIFE

In its metabolism of food and during

respiration, an animal consumes Glucose (C H O - 6 12 6

the energy- giving molecule), which combines with

Oxygen (O ) to produce carbon dioxide (CO ), water 2 2

(H O), and energy, which is given off as heat. The 2

animals have no need for the carbon dioxide and so it

releases it into the atmosphere.

A plant, on the other hand, uses the opposite

reaction to that of an animal through a process called

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Photosynthesis. It takes in Carbon dioxide, water,

and energy from the sun to make its own Glucose

(food or energy giving molecule). Thisglucose is

used for chemical energy, which the plant

metabolizes in a similar way to an animal. The plant

then emits the remaining Oxygeninto the

environment. We use this Oxygen during our

Respiration. Nature has made this system of GIVE

and TAKE for the living beings.

WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE

CARBON DIOXIDE AND OXYGEN CYCLE

TO THE SURVIVAL OF PLANTS AND

ANIMALS?

The carbon dioxide and oxygen cycle is

critical to life on Earth. Humans, and most

otherorganisms, need oxygen to survive. When we

inhale, oxygen moves from our lungs into ourblood.

Oxygen travels through the blood to all the cells in

the body. The cells use oxygento complete important

jobs. For example, you are using oxygen right now as

you read thissentence. The muscles that control your

eyes use oxygen. Without oxygen, you could notuse

any of your muscles. In fact, our cells die quickly if

they do not receive oxygen. That iswhy it is so

important to help someone who cannot breathe by

providing them with oxygen.

Plants and other organisms that perform

photosynthesis rely on animals for carbon

dioxide.Every time you exhale carbon dioxide, you

are providing a plant with a building block itneeds to

make its own food.So you can appreciate that

MotherNature balances itself by absorbing the toxic

carbon dioxide from the environment that we release

during our respiration and gives us back Oxygen that

we breathe in for our very survival.

GLOBAL WARMING

Human usage of fossil-fuel burning, plying

too many vehicles on the roads, increasing industrial

operations, cement-industry operations, petroleum

industries etc. are causing serious damages to our

environmental conditions, releasing Green- house

gases (see diagram below). As a result, the World is

facing “GLOBAL WARMING” phenomenon, due to

the increase in various harmful gases such as Carbon

dioxide, Methane, Nitrous oxide, Chloro-fluoro

carbons, and other gases.

Fig. 3. Major Greehouse gases from People`s

Activities.

COMPOSITIONS OF ANIMAL AND PLANT

CELL

Animal and Plant Cells are made up of many

complex molecules called Macromolecules, which

include proteins, nucleic acids (DNA and RNA),

carbohydrates, and lipids. The macromolecules are a

subset of organic molecules (any carbon-containing

liquid, solid, or gas) that are especially important for

life. The fundamental component for all of these

macromolecules is Carbon as have been said above.

The carbon atom has unique properties that

allow it to form covalent bonds to as many as four

different atoms, making this a versatile element ideal

to serve as the basic structural component, or

"backbone," of many different macromolecules.

STRUCTURE OF CARBON

The Carbon atoms can form up to four

covalent bonds with other atoms. The Methane

molecule provides an example: it has the chemical

formula CH . Each of its four hydrogen atoms forms 4

a single covalent bond with the carbon atom by

sharing a pair of electrons. This results in a filled

outermost shell.

Structure of Methane molecule (Fig 4) where

with one Carbon four Hydrogen atoms are bound

It has been learnt that Energy from the sun,

lightning, and earth's heat triggered chemical

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reactions to produce small organic molecules from

substances present in the atmosphere. These

molecules were organized by chance into complex

organic molecules such as proteins, carbohydrates,

and nucleic acids that are essential to life.

Fig. 4. Pictorial Demonstration of the Structure

of Methane.

Thus, there exists tremendous importance of

Chemicals and Biochemicals and their reactions and

interactions, not only in the very early formation of

matter, but it has also tremendous importance in our

everyday life. In fact, Life itself started through

reactions and interactions between and among 3chemical elements and compounds .

From time immemorial, and during the early

stage of EVOLUTION, there existedsome basic

elements, such as Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen,

Carbon, Sulphur and Phosphorous. Simple molecule

like Water was formed by combining Hydrogen

withOxygen. Carbon did bind with Oxygen to form

Carbon dioxide; and Nitrogen bound with hydrogen

to form Ammonia, hydrogen also formed hydrogen

sulphide binding with sulphur. These are known to be

some of the early and simple forms of chemical

compounds.

Gradually, as a result of chemical reactions

and their interactions, large number of chemical

molecules came into existence which supported the

life processes. It took hundreds and thousands of

years when smaller animals, plants and then larger

animals, and ultimately human beings surfaced on

this planet, earth.

OTHER USEFUL CHEMICALS WE NEED

IN OUR EVERYDAY LIFE

Drugs we use are nothing but chemical compounds.

Plants and fruits which we use as our food are

composed of a large number of chemical

compounds. They provide us with vitamins, proteins,

fats and oils, minerals etc. These are all chemical

compounds. Many of them have also medicinal

values. In fact, all the biological molecules are

c o m p o s e d o f c h e m i c a l c o m p o u n d s .

Right from the animals, plants and humans,

all of our foods are composed of complex chemical

molecules like Carbohydrates, Proteins, Vitamins,

Fats and Oils and various minerals - all are nothing

but chemical compounds including Spices, Fats and

Oils which we use every day to cook food, in order to

make it delicious and palatable .

We use Pesticides/insecticides/weedicides/

rodenticides etc. to kill cockroaches, mosquitoes,

insects, mice etc. to save our produce in the field as

well as ourselves from various types of infections.

We use soaps, detergents, paints, varnishes,

steel, various engineering goods etc. almost every

day. These are all chemicals and everything comes

under the science of Chemistry. In fact, Chemistry

forms the very root of life. Without chemicals we

would not be where we are today.

We use ink to write and paper is used for

printing books; pencils, rubber, various colours etc.

are used by every of us every day. These are all

composed of chemicals. We use preservatives to

store our food items for a long time. These are all

chemicals.

It is quite apparent that chemicals have made

our life possible and made us comfortable as well.

Sometimes these chemicals become responsible for

rendering various types of toxicities in our body as

well, and could be very dangerous at times.

H O W D O E S L A R G E R C H E M I C A L

M O L E C U L E L I K E P R O T E I N S A R E

FORMED?

Please note that larger chemical compounds

like Proteins, Carbohydrates, Nucleic acids, Fats and

oils etc. are grouped under BIOLOGICAL

MOLECULES as they occur in the biological

systems like animals, plants, microbes etc.

324


It is now known that smaller molecules like

amino acids join together to form larger molecules

like Proteins.

HOW DO FATS AND OILS ARE FORMED?

These are formed by joining various fatty

acids .

How do the carbohydrates form? They are

formed by joining sugar molecules (known as

glucose, fructose, mannose etc.).

Larger molecules were intriguing the minds

of scientists for a long time .Large molecules like

haemoglobins, which supply oxygen in each and

every of our cells are nothing but proteins, so also are

various hormones that transmit instructions from the

glands and brain to carry out certain operations in the

body; Thyroid hormones, Sex hormones etc. have

individual functions in the human body. They

transmit orders to ask cells either to do something or

not to do.

Modern knowledge in Biotechnology and

Genetic Engineering helped considerably in the

understanding of how to manipulate many wonder

molecules to our advantage.

MAKING OF PROTEINS

We now know that Genetic information is

stored in the DNA (Deoxy-Ribo-Nucleic Acid)

molecule, and the expression of this information

requires several steps that flow in one directionas

shown below:

India-born Scientist, Dr.Hargovind Khurana

received Nobel Prize for synthesizing a Gene

(segment of DNA) structure in the laboratory for the 6first time . Various genes direct the production of

RNA (Ribo Nucleic Acid) molecules from DNA to

serve a variety of functions that include-

ldictating the synthesis of proteins as per

instruction received from segments of DNA

to perform a wide variety of functions in the

body.

lregulating (turning on or turning off) the

expression of other genes.

lforming structures in the cell -- Ribosomes --

that are critical for the 'manufacturing' of

proteins

ltransporting amino acids (known as TRNA)--

the building blocks of proteins -- to ribosomes

Fig. 5. Structure of the Wonder Molecule DNA.

The molecular structure of DNA forms a double helix

with a "backbone" of each strand of the helix

consisting of a repeating ...sugar-phosphate-sugar-

phosphate... polymer; the sugar is deoxyribose 7(James Watson and Crick Model). Watson and Crick

received Nobel Prize for their work describing the

double helix structure of DNA molecule.

Fig. 6. A-T and G –C Base Pairs.

Attached to the sugar ring is one of four

nitrogen-Containing bases: adenine (A), guanine

(G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T) (Fig 6). Adenine

binds with Thymine and Guanine binds with

Cytosine in the long chain of DNA structure. (For

details the readers may consult any text book of

Biochemistry).

Scientists later got interested to study the

human DNA structure. The famous Human Genome

325


8,9Project (where many countries were involved to

work together) has revolutionised the DNA studies

and has confirmed that the human DNA contains a

little over 3 billion bases, and over 99% of them are

the same in all people.

In 2001, a detailed working draft of the 7sequence of human DNA was published . The

combination of one of these nitrogenous bases, a

sugar molecule, and a phosphate molecule is called a

nucleotide -- the basic building block of the DNA

molecule.

The two strands of DNA wind around each

other, forming a double helix structure that is held

together by weak hydrogen bonds between each

thymine and adenine base, as well as between each

guanine and cytosine base; each of these pairs of

bases is called a base pair, or "bp" for short. The two

strands of DNA, then, are complementary; that is, if

one strand has the sequence GCATGCCTA, the

other strand would be CGTACGGAT. DNA is

coiled very tightly -- in order to fit into the nucleus of

a cell -- into structures calledChromosomes. The

DNA from an adult human would actually stretch out

to be more than 5 feet long though only 50 trillionths

of an inch in width.

Fig. 7. Double Helix structure of DNA.

The DOUBLE HELIX structure of DNA

(Fig 7) has several important features:

lit offers a means of storing and coding vast

amounts of information captured by the

sequence of bases present in the DNA strand; 9humans have about 3 × 10 base pairs

(or 3,000,000,000 bp) in their genome (the

complete set of genetic information);

lthe complementary structure allows for the

faithful replication of DNA as cells divide --

one strand serves as a template for the

synthesis of the other;

lA mechanism for preventing loss of

information is built into the structure -- a base

that is lost or altered on one strand can be

replaced using the complementary strand to

direct its own repair.

You may know that we all carry our familial

chemical/biochemical messages with us. This gives

us the pride of either having blue blood or keeps us

behind many others because of the caste system

prevailing in various parts of the world. It is the

DESTINY!

DNA is the Software of life. DNA pack all the

genetic information of a cell. DNA and the genes

within it are where mutations (changes in DNA

structure) occur, enabling changes that create new

species.

RNA is the close cousin to DNA. More

accurately, RNA is thought to be a primitive ancestor

of DNA. RNA can't run a life-form on its own. But 4

billion years ago it might have been on the verge of

creating life, just needing some chemical fix to make

the leap. In today's world, RNA is dependent on DNA

for performing its roles, which include coding for

proteins.

RNA to DNA --Some scientists believe that

RNA is in fact the ancestor to DNA, and then they

have figured they could get RNA to replicate itself in

a lab without the help of any proteins or other cellular

machinery.

Some researchers synthesized RNA enzymes

that can replicate themselves without the help of any

proteins or other cellular components, and the

process could proceed indefinitely. The scientists

called them "Immortalized" RNA at least within the

limited conditions of a laboratory. The scientists then

mixed different RNA enzymes that had replicated,

along with some of the raw material they were

326


working with, and let them compete in what's sure to

be the next big hit: "Survivor: Test Tube."When these

mutations occurred, "the resulting recombinant

enzymes also were capable of sustained replication,

with the fit replicators growing in number to

dominate the mixture.

INDEED THE SCIENTISTS ARE KNOCKING

ON THE DOOR OF LIFE10Professor Gerald Joyce , under whom this

work was going on, reiterated that while the self-

replicating RNA enzyme systems share certain

characteristics of life, they are not life as we know it.

"What we've found could be relevant to how life begins, at that key moment when Darwinian evolution started," Joyce said in a statement. Joyce's restraint, clear also on a report of the finding, has to be appreciated. He allows that some scientists familiar with the work have argued that this is life. Another scientist said that what the researchers did is equivalent to recreating a scenario that might have led to the origin of life.

Joyce insists he and Lincoln have not created

life: "We're knocking on that door," he says, "but of

course we haven't achieved that.”

“Only when a system is developed in the lab

that has the capability of evolving novel functions on

its own can it be properly called life”, Joyce said. In

short, the molecules in Joyce's lab can't evolve any

totally new tricks. He said. “Search is going on and

on.”

Principles of chemistry and /or chemical/

biochemical reactions, therefore, are guiding us in

every moment. It is because of that we are what we

are. However, sometimes the chemicals may be

harmful and dangerous too as has been discussed

earlier.

CREATING LIFE IN THE LABORATORY- A

GREAT STEP FORWARD

These days, with the advent of Genetic

Engineering and Biotechnology, scientists are able to

insert genes from one species to another and get them

expressed. These technologies have opened a new

chapter in the areas of Biology as well as Medicine.

“Test-tube baby”, surrogate mothers carrying

somebody else's “Conceptus” etc. are some of the

realities in modern Biology, Genetic Engineering,

Biotechnology and Medicine to-day. Next

generations will see many miracles of these

techniques to cause both benefits as well as harms to

mankind.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

My heartfelt thanks are due to all those whose

work were consulted during the preparation of this

manuscript.

REFERENCES

1. Pearsall, Judy; Hanks, Patrick, eds..

"Abiogenesis". The New Oxford Dictionary,

Earth's Beginnings: The Origins of Life,

1998.

2. Eric McLamb, September 10, Dictionary of

English (1st Ed.). Oxford, UK: Oxford

University Press. p. 3. ISBN 0-19-861263-X,

2011.

3. Charles Darwin, "On the Origin of Species by

Means of Natural Selection, or the

Preservation of Favoured Races in the

Struggle for Life,", John Murray, London, p.

155, 1859.

4. A. Oparin and V. Fesenkov. Life in the

Universe. New York: Twayne Publishers,

1961.

5. Boundless. “The Chemical Basis for

Life.”Boundless Biology. Boundless, 20 Sep.

2016. Retrieved 13 Oct. 2016 from https://

www.boundless.com/biology/textbooks/

boundless-biology-textbook/the-chemical-

foundation-of-life-2/carbon-52/the-chemical

-basis-for-life-288-11421.

6. H. G.. Khorana, Science. 203, 4381, 614–625,

1979 .

7. J. D Watson and F. H. C. Crick, Nature 171,

737–738, 1953.

8. Eric S. Lander, et al, Nature, 409, 860- 921,

2001.

9. Svante Pääbo, Science, 291, Feb. 16, 2001.

10. MP Robertson, G. F. Joyce, Chem Biol. 21,

238-245, 2014.

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1. ASUTOSH MOOKERJEE MEMORIAL AWARD

Dr. Ashok Kumar Saxena Sir Asutosh Mookerjee Fellow (ISCA) and

Former Emeritus Fellow, U.G.C., Kanpur.

2. C.V. RAMAN BIRTH CENTENARY AWARD

Professor K. ByrappaVice Chancellor, Mangalore University,Mangalagangotri.

3. S R I N I VA S A R A M A N U J A N B I RT H CENTENARY AWARD

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No Award.

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Dr. N. R. Jagannathan Professor and Head, Department of N.M.R. &

MRI Facility, All India Institute of Medical

Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi.

6. BIRBAL SAHANI BIRTH CENTENARY AWARD

Prof. Arun KumarDepartment of Earth Sciences, Manipur

University, Imphal.

7. S. S. BHATNAGAR MEMORIAL AWARD

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No Award.

9. D. S. KOTHARI MEMORIAL AWARD

Dr. I. SathyamurthyInterventional Cardiologist , Director,

Department of Cardiology, Apollo Hospitals, Chennai. 10. M. K. SINGAL MEMORIAL AWARD

No Award. 11. PROF. R. C. MEHROTRA MEMORIAL

LIFE TIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Prof. B. P. ChatterjeeEmeritus Professor, Maulana Abul Kalam AzadUniversity of Technology, Kolkata.

12. J AWA H A R L A L N E H R U B I R T H CENTENARY AWARDS

Dr. Baldev RajDirector, National Institute of Advanced Studies,Indian Institute of Science Campus, Bangalore.

Prof. Om PrakashKurukshetra.

13. MILLENNIUM PLAQUES OF HONOUR

Prof. Appa Rao PodileVice Chancellor, University of Hyderabad,Hyderabad, Telangana.

14. G.P.CHATTERJEE MEMORIAL AWARD

Prof. Ramachandra Mohan MDepartment of Zoology, Bangalore University, Bangalore.

15. B.C.GUHA MEMORIAL LECTURE Dr. B. B. Kaliwal

Vice – Chancellor, Davangere UniversityShivagangothri, Davangere.

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16. PROF. SUSHIL KUMAR MUKHERJEE C O M M E M O R AT I O N L E C T U R E – A G R I C U LT U R E A N D F O R E S T RY SCIENCES

No Award.

17. PROF. S. S. KATIYAR ENDOWMENT

LECTURE – CHEMICAL SCIENCES / NEW BIOLOGY

Dr. P. VenkatesuDepartment of Chemistry, University of Delhi,Delhi.

18. P R O F E S S O R R . C . M E H R O T R A C O M M E M O R AT I O N L E C T U R E – CHEMICAL SCIENCES

No Award.

19. PROF. G. K. MANNA MEMORIAL

AWARD - ANIMAL, VETERINARY AND FISHERY SCIENCES

Prof. Mohammed Hafeez18-1-589/B, I Floor, NAZ VILLA,Bhavani Nagar, Tirupati – 517 501.

20. PROF. ARCHANA SHARMA MEMORIAL

AWARD – PLANT SCIENCES

Dr. Jitendra Kumar ThakurStaff Scientist IV, National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi.

21. DR. V. PURI MEMORIAL AWARD – PLANT SCIENCES

Prof. K. R. ShivannaINSA Honorary Scientist & ATREE, Honorary Senior Fellow, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, Bangalore.

22. JAWAHARLAL NEHRU PRIZE

No Award.

23. EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AWARD

No Award.

24. PROFESSOR HIRA LAL CHAKRAVARTI

MEMORIAL AWARD – PLANT SCIENCES

Dr. Supriya TiwariDepartment of Botany, Institute of Science,

Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi.

25. PRAN VOHRA AWARD – AGRICULTURE

AND FORESTRY SCIENCES

No Award. 26. DR. B. C. DEB MEMORIAL AWARD FOR

SOIL/PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY

Dr. Biswajit PalAssociate Professor, Department of Chemistry, St. Paul's Cathedral Mission College, Kolkata.

27. DR. B. C. DEB MEMORIAL AWARD FOR POPULARISATION OF SCIENCE

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Dr. Sanjeev Das Staff Scientist – V, Molecular Oncology Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi.


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29. P R O F. R . C . S H A H M E M O R I A L LECTURE– CHEMICAL SCIENCES

Dr. Vinod KumarAssistant Professor (Organic Chemistry),

Department of Chemistry, M. M. University,

Mullana, Ambala, Haryana.

30.PROF. (MRS.) ANIMA SEN MEMORIAL

LECTURE -ANTHROPOLOGICAL

BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCES

Dr. Sibnath DebProfessor, Dept. of Applied Psychology,

Pondicherry University ( A Central University),V. R. Nagar, Kalapet, Puducherry

31.D R . ( M R S . ) G O U R I G A N G U LY MEMORIAL AWARD FOR YOUNG SCIENTIST – ANIMAL ,VETERINARY AND FISHERY SCIENCES

No Award.

32.PROF. WILLIAM DIXON WEST MEMORIAL AWARD – EARTH SYSTEM

Prof. J. P. ShrivastavaProfessor, Department of Geology,

University of Delhi, Delhi.


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S. No. Section Name of the Awardee

Agriculture and Forestry Sciences

Animal, Veterinary & Fishery Sciences

Anthropological and Behavioural

Sciences (including Archaeology,

Psychology, Education and Military

Sciences)

Chemical Sciences

Earth System Sciences

Engineering Sciences

Environmental Sciences

Information and Communication Science & Technology (including Computer Sciences)

Materials Science

Mathematical Sciences (including Statistics)

Medical Sciences (including Physiology)

Bappa Das

G-7, Natural Resource Management,ICAR – Central Coastal Agriculture Research Institute, Old Goa.

Sreekanth G. B.

Fisheries Sciences, ICAR – Central Coastal

Agriculture Research Institute, Old Goa .

Nivedita SomBiological Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata.

Satyabadi Martha

Centre for Nano Science and Nano Technology,ITER, Siksha O Anusandhan University, Bhubaneswar.

Shital P. GodadCSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Goa.

Nandini Bhandaru

Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur.

Praveen Dhyani

G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development,Kosi-Katarmal, Almora.

Abhirup Banerjee

Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata

Anjilina Kerketta

Defence Materials & Stores Research & Development

Establishment, G.T. Road, Kanpur , U.P.

No Award.

Sabyasachi Das

Immunology and Microbiology Laboratory,

Dept. of Human Physiology with Community Health,Vidyasagar University, Paschim Medinipur.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

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S. No. Section Name of the Awardee

New Biology (including Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology and Biotechnology)

Physical Sciences

Plant Sciences

Bodhisattwa Saha

Bose Institute, Division of Plant Biology, Kolkata.

Dharmendra Pratap Singh

Liquid Crystal Research Lab, Department of Physics,

University of Lucknow, Lucknow.

Neha Pandey

CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal & Aromatic

Plants, Lucknow.

12

13

14

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S. No. Section Name of the Awardees

Agriculture and Forestry Sciences 1. Ganajaxi MathUniversity of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Karnataka.

Animal, Veterinary & Fishery Sciences 1. Yashika AwasthiUniversity of Lucknow, Lucknow

2. Yogita Y. FalakNorth Maharashtra University, Jalgaon

Anthropological and Behavioural Sciences (including Archaeology, Psychology, Education and Military Sciences)

1. Sangeeta DeyUniversity of Delhi, Delhi

2. Nandini GangulyUniversity of Calcutta, Kolkata

Chemical Sciences 1. Aarti DalalKurukshetra University, Kurukshetra.

2. Pradeep Kumar BrahmanK L University, Guntur.

Earth System Sciences No Award.

Engineering Sciences No Award.

1. Partha KarakVisva-Bharati, Santiniketan.

2. Priyanka PriyadarshaniICFAI University of Jharkhand, Ranchi.

1. Mayank AgarwalIndian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi.

2. Ajish K. AbrahamAll India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Manasagangothri, Mysore.

1

2

3

4

5

6

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Environmental Sciences

Information and Communication Science & Technology (including Computer Sciences)

Materials Science No Award.

7

8

9


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S. No. Section Name of the Awardees

New Biology (including Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology and Biotechnology)

Medical Sciences (including Physiology)

1. Nandini B.University of Mysore, Manasagangotri, Mysuru.

No Award.

Physical Sciences 1. Swarniv ChandraJIS University, Agarpara, Kolkata.

2. Ajaz HussainUniversity of Lucknow, Lucknow.

Plant Sciences 1. Debleena RoyLady Brabourne College, Kolkata.

12

11

10

13

14

Mathematical Sciences (including Statistics)

1. Rishikesh Dutta TiwaryIndian School of Mines, Dhanbad.

TH104 INDIAN SCIENCE CONGRESS, TIRUPATILIST OF ISCA BEST POSTER AWARDEES FOR 2016-2017

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TH104 INDIAN SCIENCE CONGRESS, TIRUPATIINFOSYS FOUNDATION – ISCA TRAVEL AWARD 2016-2017

LIST OF AWARDEES

Sl No. Name of Student Name of School

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Tushar Agarwal Seth Anandram Jaipuria School, Kanpur.

Sheen Parimoo

Shourya Singh

Subhanjali Saraswati

V. Manaswini

Sanjay

S. Vidhayini

Jithendra

Praneeth Kumar G

P. Kapileshwar

Seth Anandram Jaipuria School, Kanpur.

Seth Anandram Jaipuria School, Kanpur.

Mahadevi Birla World Academy,Kolkata.

Montessori English Medium High School, Mahabubabad.

Bhartiya Vidyabhavan, Tirupati.

Sree Vidyanikethan International School, Tirupati.

Bhartiya Vidyabhavan, Tirupati.

Sree Vidyanikethan International School, Tirupati.

Marg Chinmaya Vidyalaya,Tiruchnoor Byepass Road, Tirupati.

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KNOW THY INSTITUTIONS

Defence Institute of Bio-Energy Research

(DIBER), erstwhile Defence Agricultural Research

Laboratory, (DARL) is working under the aegis of

Defence Research & Development Organisation

(DRDO), Ministry of Defence, Government of India.

It has a glorious history of beginning high altitude

agricultural research in India. It was started at

Almora as Technical Cell in April 1960 and was

transferred to DRDO in July 1962, thereby heralding

a new approach in the endeavours of DRDO in

support of men behind the machines. In January

1970, the Technical Cell was upgraded to an

independent Agricultural Research Unit (ARU). The

ARU was upgraded to the status of a Laboratory and

re-designated as Defence Agricultural Research

Laboratory (DARL) in the year 1984. In accordance

with the re-defined and re-scheduled area of work

with the mandate of R&D on bio-energy and bio-

fuel, DARL was rechristened as Defence Institute of

Bio-Energy Research (DIBER) in 2008 with its head

quarter at Haldwani. The Institute is having 03 field

stations in the remote border areas of Uttarakhand

namely DIBER High Altitude Research Station Auli

(Joshimath) at an altitude of 3142msl, Harshil

at3243msl and Field Research Station, Pithoragarh,

located at an altitude of 1524msl for multi-location

trials.

Conscious of its societal mission as well as the

requirement of progressive farming communities at

forward areas to adopt the evolved technologies that

in turn can ensure availability of fresh food items to

the troops, the Institute has been disseminating the

technologies to local farmers and had also adopted

few villages for technology demonstration. The

institute is dedicated to undertake research and

development work in frontier areas on Bio-energy

and is having core competence in Bio-resource

conservation, improvement and its judicious

utilization, making bio-products from Himalayan

herbs and R&D on Bio-diesel for defence use.

Notwithstanding its changed mandate, this Institute

still forging ahead in continuing it's over five decade

old legacy of development and dissemination of

suitable agro technologies in support of troops.

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS

DIBER in its endeavor of meeting the

DEFENCE INSTITUTE OF BIOENERGY RESEARCH (DIBER), DRDO, HALDWANI (UTTARAKHAND)

336


objectives of its assigned charter of duties in

consonance with its vision, mission and core

competence has made significant and pioneering

scientific contributions in a multitude of

technologies like:

lBiofuel technology

lGreenhouse technology for hills

lHydroponics

lDeveloped various vegetable hybrids and

varieties

lMushroom cultivation technology

lHerbal products from Himalayan

medicinal plants

lBiotechnology for cold tolerant crops

lAngora rabbit breeding for fur and wool

lPisciculture for hills

Some of the salient features of important

achievements in the form of technologies, products

and processes developed in the area of agricultural

sciences, environmental sciences, herbal medicine

and biotechnology as well as the accomplishments

made under DRDO-Army bio diesel programme are

as under:-

VEGETABLE SCIENCE

lDeveloped various high yielding

varieties/hybrids in different vegetables

like capsicum, cucumber, cabbage, Bitter

gourd, Bottle gourd and Tomato.

lDeveloped package of practices for

undertaking vegetable cultivation in high

altitude cold desert (Pooh and Lahul Spiti-

HP).

lDeveloped low cost green house

technology for off season vegetable

cultivation.

HYDROPONICS

lSuccessfully standardized and demon-

strated growing of vegetable crops without

soil, in nutrient solution.

lThis system has proved very useful in snow

bound hilly and high altitude boarder areas.

Use of a single solution developed by

DIBER made this technology user friendly.

lA number of protocols have been

developed and demonstrated for growing of

vegetables in various altitudes.

lThe Institute has participated in various

Antarctica missions during 90s and

successfully demonstrated vegetable

cultivation technology.

HERBAL MEDICINES

lDeveloped herbal products viz; .Lukoskin

for treatment of Leucoderma, Eczit for

treatment of Eczema, Amtooth, for

treatment of dental problems, Hridyasakti

an anti hypertensive herbal preparation,

Herbocare cream, Herbal honey, Herbal

health drink, Hridyamrit.

lLukoskin for treatment of Leucoderma,

being the flagship product earning huge

amounts of royalty to DRDO.

lConserved more than 50 important RET

(Rare, Endangered & Threatened) species

of medicinal plants.

MEDICINAL MUSHROOMS

lDeveloped in vitro culture protocol of

Cordyceps sinensis and this technology was

transferred to Biotech International limited,

New Delhi for its commercialization.

lTwo new species of Cordyceps namely C.

kurijimiansis and C. nirtoli were identified

from Central Himalayan region and their

accession numbers were obtained from

International Mycobank.

lDeveloped lab cultured Cordyceps

mycelium based products named CORDY

POWER and CORDYVIT. Optimized a

new protocol for cultivation of Ganoderma

lucidum on. Saw dust of Alnus nepalensis

(Utis).

ANIMAL SCIENCES

lDeveloped packages & practices for cattle

rearing in hills and evaluated the

performance of cattle breeds.

lThe cross bred cattle (Holstein friesian x

Sahiwal) were found suitable for middle

hills.

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lEstablished a circular hatchery and

breeding of exotic carps was carried out.

lTechnology for composite fish culture

hasbeen developed and standardized.

lThree species, namely, silver carp, grass

carp and common carp culture in the ratio of

30:30:40, have been found suitable so as to

utilize the feeding materials available in all

the niches of the pond for maximum

productivity. Maximum fish production has

been achieved to the tune of 3500 to 4000

kg/ha/year under this system of farming.

ANGORA WOOL

lAngora rearing and wool production

technology from Angora rabbit developed

and standardized by DIBER.

lDeveloped Munsiyari (Pithoragarh), as

wool village by providing wool production

technology from Angora rabbit to the

farmers.

BIOFUEL TECHNOLOGIES

lIdentified high oil yielding cultivars of

Jatropha coupled with higher productivity

for semi arid zone and foothills.

lStandardized Micro-propagation protocol

for mass multiplication and transferred to

TERI.

lUpgradation of trans-esterification plant at

project site MF Secunderabad has been

carried out in colloboration with Anna

University.

lDeveloped new methodology for

detoxification of Jatropha cake and the

detoxified JCM at 5% in animal feed is

found to be safe and non toxic.

lDeveloped protocol for storage and shelf

life enhancement of biodiesel for extreme

environment (From 06 months to 18

months for hot environment). Anti-freezing

agent was found highly effective to enhance

the storage life in extreme cold condition 0(up to – 200 C).

lTechnical trials on use of biodiesel in

Defence vehicles completed. Camelina, a

short duration non edible oil yielding (40%)

crop introduced through NBPGR (ICAR)

as per protocol.

lDuring International Fleet Review -2016,

Biodiesel prepared by DIBER was trialed

successfully in navy vehicles.

lStandardized inter-cropping of Jatropha

with Camelina. Scenedesmus sp. has been

identified as promising strain having

biomass yield as dry weight (450

Kg/ha/day) and total lipid productivity of

17.7 mg/l/day.

PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY

lCollected 2958 multi crop accessions (Plant

bio-diversity) from central Himalayas for

exploitation in crop improvement prog-

ramme through molecular biotechnological

tools.

lScreened salt tolerant vegetable genotypes

for cultivation in saline eco system of Thar

desert.

lCloning and characterization of cold

tolerant and nutritionally important genes

LlaNAC, LlaCIPK, LlaDREB1b, LlaGPAT,

LlaPR, LlaIPK, LlaRan, LlaDRT from

indigenous plant species i.e. Lepidium

latifolium were carried out and genes

transformed in tomato and model plant

tobacco.

THRUST AREAS

lBio-diesel for Defence use.

lBio-resource conservation improvement

and judicious utilization.

lBio-products from Himalayan Herbs.

lMicrobiology and Plant Pathology.

HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

lDIBER is contributing towards the

development of skill and technical

manpower of the country.

lHRD includes training to PG students in life

sciences, Research opportunities for

research fellows in different disciplines of

life sciences.

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lThis Institute is affiliated with Bharathiyar

University, Coimbatore, for Ph.D. Degree

programme.

RELIEF OPERATIONS DURING NATURAL

DISASTERS

Coordinated and contributed in various relief

operations namely Malpa disaster (18-26 Aug 1998),

Odisha cyclone (12 Oct 1999), Chamoli Earthquake

(April 1999) and Kedarnath-Badrinath disaster (June

2013) with the support of other DRDO laboratories.

PATENTS PUBLICATIONS, AWARDS

This Institute has 12 patents, over 400 research

papers in national and international journals, 10

technical bulletins and 36 technical folders and

various prestigious awards. Institute also publishes

DIBER newsletter and one Hindi magazine

“Devbhoomi” annually.

CONTACT :

Director

DIBER (DRDO) Goraparao, P. O. Arjunpur,

Haldwani-263139, Nainital (Uttarakhand), Phone :

05946-232532, Fax : 05946-232719 Email. :

[email protected]/[email protected],

Website: www.drdo.gov.in/drdo/labs/DIBER.

lDIBER Field Research Station,Pithoragarh-

262501 (Uttarakhand),Phone : 05964-256156,Fax :

05964-256166

lDIBER High Altitude Field Station,Auli

(Joshimath)-246443,Chamoli (Uttarakhand),Tele-

fax: 01389-223224

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Researchers at National Environmental

Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) in Chennai

have reported desalination of sea water using a

microbial desalination cell (MDC) that utilizes

activated carbon from coconut shells, a widely

available biomass waste. Sea water is salty due to the

presence of sodium chloride. Technologies, such as

reverse osmosis, are currently used to make such

water potable. These technologies are energy

intensive and extensive. MDC, a modified microbial

fuel cell, has a middle compartment to hold saline

water with in anode chamber and a cathode chamber

on either side. It has graphite rods acting as

electrodes. Its working principle is as follows: the

anode chamber is filled with a liquid medium to

support microbial growth. Microorganisms growing

on the anode surface form a biofilm and oxidize the

organic matter in the medium releasing electronics,

which move towards the cathode. To maintain electro

neutrality, cations (positively charged sodium ions)

of the saline solution migrate into the cathode

chamber and anions (negatively charged chloride

ions) move into the anode chamber. The saline water

in the middle chamber is thus desalinated. The

researchers loaded activated carbon derived from

coconut shells into the anode chamber to find higher

desalination and power generations than that from a

normal anode chamber. Further research using

different types of carbon from other biomass sources

might yield interesting results. This may lead to

techno-economically feasible designs that can be

used for simultaneous salt removal from sea water

and electricity generation.

(Source: Nature India Update, 3rd October 2016)

Levels of a hormone circulating in a pregnant

woman predict how closely she'll bond with her ba-

by, researchers have found.

Humans are hard-wired to form enduring bonds with

others; key among these is the mother-infant bond.

Evolutionarily speaking, it's in a mother's interest to

foster her child's well-being—but some mothers

seem a bit more maternal than others do.

In animals, oxytocin, dubbed the hormone of

love and bonding, is elicited during sexual inter-

course; is involved in maintaining close relation-

ships; and is critical for parenting. Animals with low

oxytocin levels are slower to retrieve wandering

pups, for instance.

But the hormone's role in human bonding has

been studied little, according to Ruth Feldman, a psy-

chologist at Bar-Ilan University in Ramat-Gan, Isra-

el.

Feldman and colleagues measured levels of ox-

ytocin in the bloodstream of 62 women during their

first and third trimesters of pregnancy, and in their

first month after giving birth.

They also watched the mothers and children in-

teract, rating attachment levels in four categories:

gaze, touch, affect (expression) and vocalization.

The mothers also completed a survey and interview

on their bond-related thoughts, feelings, and behav-

iors. The researchers then computed the link between

oxytocin levels and bonding.

Mothers with high oxytocin early in pregnancy

engaged in more bonding after birth, the researchers

found. Moms with higher levels of oxytocin across

the whole time period, they added, reported more be-

haviors that help form exclusive relationships, such

as singing a special song to the baby, or bathing and

feeding them in a special way. These mothers were

also more preoccupied by thoughts of checking on

the infant, its safety when they weren't around, and its

future.

S & T ACROSS THE WORLDDESALINATION USING COCONUT SHELL CARBON


342

HORMONE FOUND TO PREDICT MOTHER-CHILD BONDING

The work, published in the November issue of

the research journal Psychological Science, shows

oxytocin is related to both the mental and the behav-

ioral aspects of bonding—and that it functions simi-

larly across species, Feldman said.

(Courtesy Association for Psychological Science

and World Science staff Oct. 15, 2007)

Bioinformatics scientists calculate the number

of theoretically possible fatty acids with help from

the Fibonacci sequence.

Bioinformatics scientists at Friedrich Schiller

University in Jena (Germany) have discovered that

the number of theoretically possible fatty acids with

the same chain length but different structures can be

determined with the aid of the famous Fibonacci

sequence. As they explain in 'Scientific Reports', the

number of possible fatty acids with increasing chain

length rises at each step by a factor of approximately

1.618, and therefore agrees with what is called the

'Golden Mean'. The ability to calculate the number of

possible fatty acids is of great importance for their

chemical analysis ('lipidomics'). This finding can

also be used in synthetic biology and in other

applications.

Mild in flavour and of great nutritional value:

the light-yellow vegetable oil pressed from

sunflower seeds has a wide range of uses and is

extremely healthy, as it contains a large proportion of

unsaturated fatty acids. These are fatty acids with

hydrocarbon chains that contain one or more double

bonds. "As these double bonds can occur at different

places in the molecule, there are fatty acids with the

same chain length, but a different structure," explains

Prof. Stefan Schuster of Friedrich Schiller University

Jena (Germany). The work of the professor for

Bioinformatics and his team is driven by the question

of whether and how the total number of structural

formulas of fatty acids with a given chain length can

be calculated, so as to be able to use this quantity for

analytical processes.

The efforts of the Jena University researchers

recently led to an interesting discovery. They were

able to prove not only that the number of naturally

occurring fatty acids with increasing chain length can

be predicted in an elegant fashion, but in the

respected journal 'Scientific Reports', they also show

that this number is in line with the well-known

Fibonacci sequence (DOI: 10.1038/srep39821). In

this sequence, named after the Italian mathematician

Fibonacci (around 1170 to 1240), each number is the

sum of the two previous numbers: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13,

21, etc. "In the case of fatty acids, this means that the

number of possible fatty acid structures increases by

a factor of approximately 1.618… with each

additional carbon atom," explains Schuster. The

longer the chain, the closer the sequence gets to this

factor. While only one structure is possible for chain

lengths with one or two carbon atoms, when there are

three or more carbon atoms, this number increases to

two, three, five, etc. "Six atoms already give us eight

possibilities, with seven carbon atoms there are 13

possible structures, and so on."

The "Golden Mean" in flowers, snail shells and

the human body.

The factor 1.618… describes a ratio that is

known as the 'Golden Mean' (also called Golden

Ratio or Golden Section) and can be observed in

nature, but also in art. It can be found, for example, in

architectural masterpieces, such as the old town hall

in Leipzig, but also in flowers, snail shells, and even

in the human body. If the proportions of parts of

buildings, plants or bodies are in a ratio of 1.618 to

one another, the human eye experiences this as

particularly balanced and 'harmonious'.

“The leaves of many plants or the seeds of the

sunflower are also arranged according to this rule,"

says Prof. Severin Sasso of the Institute of General

Botany and Plant Physiology of the University of

Jena. The Assistant Professor for Molecular Botany

is one of the authors of the recent publication,

alongside doctoral candidate Maximilian Fichtner.

"It is interesting that specific substances contained in

sunflowers - the fatty acids - follow this principle."

However, sunflower oil contains by no means all

DIVERSE NATURAL FATTY ACIDS FOLLOW 'GOLDEN MEAN'


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possible fatty acids. It consists mainly of fatty acids

with a chain length of 16 or 18 carbon atoms.

According to the calculations done by the

bioinformatics researchers in Jena, there could be

just under 1000 variants of fatty acids with a chain

length of 16 atoms or over 2500 variants for those

with 18 atoms. "Similar correlations also occur in

certain classes of amino acids," adds Maximilian

Fichtner.

The findings relating to the Fibonacci sequence

in fatty acids can be applied above all in the field of

lipidomics - the comprehensive analysis of all fats in

a cell or an organism. "An exact knowledge of the

substances that can theoretically occur is essential for

this work," notes Prof. Schuster. Lipidomics is used

to study the metabolic processes and interactions

with other cellular substances in which fats and their

constituent elements are involved.

(Source: Universität Jena - Research News 30 Jan

2017)


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