Journal of Spices and Aromatic Crops
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Effect of modified atmosphere storage on the shelf life and quality of black pepper and turmeric
Get PDFModified atmosphere packaging and storage of black pepper (var. Panniyur I) and turmeric (var. Prathiba) were studied for a period of 16 months under ambient storage conditions. Whole dry samples of black pepper and turmeric were packaged in three layered metalized polyester covers (12 μ polyester + 12 μ metalized polyester + 80 μ LDPE) under three modified storage atmospheres viz. 100% vacuum, 100% N2, 90% N2 + 10% CO2 and the control samples were stored in small size jute gunny bags. Results indicated that maximum retention of quality in terms of its essential oil and oleoresin contents of black pepper and turmeric was obtained when stored under nitrogen packaging (100% N2), followed by vacuum packaged (100% vacuum) and modified atmosphere storage of 90% N2 + 10% CO2. The essential oil content of stored black pepper reduced from 2.42% to 2.22% (dry weight basis, dwb) in all the three modified atmosphere storage with a loss of 8.26% while control recorded a loss of 16.53% during storage. The oleoresin content decreased from 7.79% to 7.44%, 7.38% and 7.32% in case of black pepper stored in 100% N2 packaged, 100% vacuum packaged and 90% N2 + 10% CO2 packaged storage atmospheres. The quality loss for turmeric in terms of essential oil, oleoresin and curcumin content at the end of storage, when packaged in 100% N2 atmosphere were 36.60%, 16.12% and 9.48%, respectively while the corresponding reduction in control samples were 40.49%, 20.27% and 19.39%
Mycotoxigenic Aspergillus flavus from ginger and turmeric consumed in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria
Get PDFGinger and turmeric sold in the open markets and retail outlets in southern Nigeria were sampled between April and August, 2017. This period coincided with the first bimodal peak of the rainy season of the 2017 cropping season. Malt extract agar (MEA) and Dichloran 18% glycerol (DG18) media were used to isolate fungi from samples with or without surface sterilisation. Aspergillus spp isolated were examined for the production of orange-yellow pigmentation and blue fluorescence on the reverse side of the plate on CAM under UV light. Aflatoxin production by Aspergillus flavus on yeast extract sucrose (YES) was verified quantitatively using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Data showed that Fusarium, Penicillium and Aspergillus spp were the dominant fungal flora. Toxigenic isolates of A. flavus; AFg1, AFg3, AFt1, and AFt3 produced both orange-yellow pigmentation and blue fluorescence on CAM. The production of AFB1 and AFB2 on YES medium was confirmed using HPLC. The occurrence of toxigenic fungi indicates that there is a potential risk of mycotoxin contamination in ginger and turmeric consumed in southern Nigeria and problems can arise from contamination with aflatoxins
Air layering in nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.)
Get PDFNutmeg is an important perennial spice crop, which is dioecious in nature. Vegetative propagation is the norm in commercial propagation of the tree. The existing practice of propagation is grafting and budding which needs good skill and expertise for reasonable success. As an alternative to these two methods, air layering was attempted in matured trees for the first time in the country. Air layering was successful in plagiotropic and orthotropic shoots with 100 per cent survival. This method is cost effective and is easy for adoption
Evaluation of coumarin content and essential oil constituents in Cinnamomum cassia (Nees & T. Nees) J. Presl.
Get PDFThe use of cinnamon bark from commercial sources has raised concerns globally, as it is widely adulterated with Cinnamomum cassia which possesses coumarin that is established as a hepatotoxic chemical in animal trials. The current study reveals the availability of C. cassia trees with high levels of cinnamaldehyde but low in coumarin. The estimated level of coumarin in three trees by HPLC analysis was found to be <100 mg kg-1 of dry bark which is below the stipulated upper levels put forth by the European Food Safety Authority and Food Safety Standards Authority of India. Considering the internationally accepted flavor of cassia oleoresin and the low coumarin levels, the C. cassia of Indian origin can be widely propagated and may be popularized along with C. verum
Trade competitiveness and export performance of Indian cardamom
Get PDFIndia is one of the major producers and consumer of cardamom. The export performance of cardamom has witnessed several changes over the past few decades. This paper analyses the trends and performance of cardamom commodity from India. Using secondary data from the Spices Board and the Ministry of Commerce along with international trade data from the United Nations International Trade Statistics Database, the trend in the domestic production and export markets is clearly drawn out. The changes in Revealed Comparative Advantage in cardamom exports over the years is used to study the level and changes in the export competitiveness of the commodity. The study identifies a revival in export competiveness in the recent years along with an increase in the share of global cardamom exports. The highly concentrated production of cardamom, the preference for Indian cardamom in Middle East economies and the revival of export competitiveness can benefit the Indian cardamom producers. The study argues for strengthening research investments in cardamom for sustaining and enhancing the benefits from cardamom exports from the country
Root-knot nematode in garlic caused by Meloidogyne species: first record from Karnal district of Haryana state
Get PDFGarlic (Allium sativum L.) is an important spice crop cultivated all over the country during Rabi season except in Ooty hills of Tamil Nadu where it is grown during rainy season. Garlic suffers from various fungal, bacterial as well as viral diseases causing severe yield loss in different cultivated areas in the country. During a survey in garlic fields at village Muradgarh, Tahsil-Indri of Karnal district of Haryana in November, 2016, a number of small, medium and big root galls mostly formed in root tips were observed in six week old garlic plants on local cultivar-Sankar. The infestation of root-knot nematode in garlic was severe and noticed in patches in the field. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of root-knot nematode affecting garlic from Karnal district of Haryana
Post-flood outbreak of Xylosandrus crassiusculus and Diuncus corpulentus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae: Xyleborini) on tree spices in Kerala
Get PDFMassive outbreak of Xylosandrus crassiusculus and Diuncus corpulentus (Coleopera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae: Xyleborini) on clove (Syzygium aromaticum) and nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) is reported from Kerala, India. Infestation results in drying up of branches and death of trees. This is the first report of the ambrosia beetle genera Xylosandrus and Diuncus on clove and nutmeg
Competitiveness in spice export trade from India: A review
Get PDFSpices are one of the most traded agricultural commodities across the globe. India, as the world’s leading producer and exporter of spices is a significant stakeholder in spices export trade. The paper reviews the studies conducted on the spices export sector with special focus on India and the policy issues applicable to this sector. The review focuses on the history, trade competitiveness and issues related to regional trade agreements, trade barriers and food safety in the export trade of spices. Research gaps on issues like linkages between economic development and spice export are identified. The review concludes with suggestions for promoting growth and development of the spice export sector in India
Development of diagnostic assays for rapid and sensitive detection of Phytophthora infecting major spices and plantation crops
Get PDFPhytophthora, the ubiquitous stramenopile phytopathogen is a major threat to several economically important horticultural crops including spices and plantation crops. Trans-seasonal survival of Phytophthora in plant debris and soil continuum has considerable epidemiological significance as the quiescent propagules often serve as primary foci of infection with inherent potential to trigger epiphytotics in the succeeding season favoured by conducive environmental conditions. Hence, early and rapid detection of over summering propagules is highly imperative to manage Phytophthora induced diseases efficiently and economically. Twelve isolates representing different species of Phytophthora (P. capsici, P. tropicalis, P. palmivora. P. citrophthora and P. meadii) representing hosts such as black pepper, cardamom, nutmeg, coconut, arecanut and cocoa were used to develop nucleic acid-based diagnostic tools viz., polymerase chain reaction (PCR), real-time PCR, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and real-time LAMP. Phytophthora genus-specific primers were designed from the conserved region of nuclear ribosomal DNA. Each of the assays was specific and detected different species of Phytophthora and not other pathogens (Rhizoctonia solani, Pythium vexans, Fusarium oxysporum and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides) and plant samples. Sensitivity assays indicated that, real-time PCR detected Phytophthora upto 1.3 fg, followed by LAMP (13 fg) and PCR (13 pg)
Efficacy of new generation insecticides for the management of shoot borer (Conogethes punctiferalis Guen.) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.)
Get PDFThe efficacy of nine insecticides and a natural product was evaluated in the field at Peruvannamuzhi (Kerala) for the management of shoot borer (Conogethes punctiferalis), a major insect pest on turmeric (Curcuma longa). Pooled analysis of data for two years showed that chlorantraniliprole 0.01% treatment had the lowest mean pseudostem damage (0.3%) that was on par with lambda-cyhalothrin 0.01% (1.0%) and flubendiamide 0.02% (1.8%), when these insecticides were sprayed at fortnightly intervals from the second fortnight of July to the first fortnight of November. Fresh rhizome yield was highest in plots treated with lambda-cyhalothrin 0.01% (9.7 kg bed-1) that was on par with flubendiamide 0.02% (9.5 kg bed-1), chlorantraniliprole 0.01% (9.0 kg bed-1) and spinosad (9.0 kg bed-1). The trials indicated that reduced-risk/low-toxic insecticides such as chlorantraniliprole and flubendiamide can be utilized for the management of the pest with less hazard to the environment