Ans.
Ethnobotany:- The term ethno botany was coined by J.W. Harshberger in 1895 to include the study of plants used by the primitive and aboriginal people.
Definition:- According to Schultes (1962), ethno botany is defined as the study of the relationships between the people of a primitive society and plants.
Aim and Objective:-
> Proper documentation of indigenous knowlegde about medicinal plants.
> Preservation of unwritten traditional knwoledge about herbal plants.
> Conservation of our national heritage before its extinction.
> To create awareness about its role in cultural social and health of people.
> To train people or students for utilization and conservation of medicinal plants.
> To increase in manufacture of herbal drugs.
> Research and job oppurtunities.
Ans.
Center of Origin of Wheat:-
· Primary Center of Origin:- Near East (Asia Minor)
· Secondary Center of Origin:- Ethiopia
Center of Origin of Rice:-
· Oryza sativa is also called as "Asian Rice" because it originated in south Asia and South East Asia. It is originated from a perennial wild species 'Oryza rufipogon'.
· Oryza glaberrima is also called as "African Rice" because it originated in West Africa.
Ans.
Fibres:-
i. Bast fibre or Soft fibres:- Such fibres, usually characterized by fineness and flexibility, are also known as “soft” fibres. Commercially useful bast fibres include flax, hemp, jute, kenaf, ramie, roselle, sunn, and urena.
ii. Leaf fibers or hard fibers:- Such fibres are a type of plant fiber mainly used for cordage (producing rope). They are the toughest of the plant fibers which is most likely due to their increased lignin content when compared to the other groups of plant fibers. They are typically characterized as being very tough and rigid lending them towards being used in rope production over clothing or paper like other plant fibers.
Ans.
Three Medicinal Plants:-
i. Guggul:-
Botanical Name:- Commiphora wightii
Family:- Burseraceae
ii. Tulsi:-
Botanical Name:- Ocimum sanctum
Family:- Lamiaceae
iii. Sankh Pushpi:-
Botanical Name:- Convolvulus prostratus
Family:- Convolvulaceae
Ans.
Economic Botany:-Introduction:-
> There are three basic needs in the life of a man viz. food, dothing and shelter.
> Pre-historic man could comfortablemeet out theserequirements from the plant kingdom.
> Modem man has increased these requirements many times due to which his lifestyle is comparatively becoming complex and stressful.
> Actually plant kingdom is a very special world of living beings which is able to harvest the inexhaustible radiation energy of the Sun and store it in the form of organic substances.
> All the three basic requirements of a man are met out in various forms and in sufficient quan1ities as food ma1erials, fibres and wood by the plants.
Definition:-
> Those plants from which useful products are obtained by the man areconsidered aseconomically useful plants.
> Study of useful plants and their products is called Economic Botany.
Under economic botany various types of useful plants and their products are studied.
> Some such products are cereaJs, pulses, fruits, vegetables, spices, edible oil, mc?icines. fibres, tea and coffee, rubber, gums, resins, paper, starch and sugars, alcohol i c, beverages, timber and fuel food, furnitories, masticatories and narcotic substances, fodder, ornamental plants, essential oils (volatile oils) and biopesticides etc.
> By looking at this list of useful plant products one can easily estimate that actually the plant community is the real wealth of a nation.
> The subject of economic botany becomes more diversity among the plant kingdom is recorded. This is the reason that the economic prosperily of our country is based on agriculture.
Ans.
Ethnobotany:- The term ethno botany was coined by J.W. Harshberger in 1895 to include the study of plants used by the primitive and aboriginal people.
Definition:- According to Schultes (1962), ethno botany is defined as the study of the relationships between the people of a primitive society and plants.
Aim and Objective:-
> Proper documentation of indigenous knowlegde about medicinal plants.
> Preservation of unwritten traditional knwoledge about herbal plants.
> Conservation of our national heritage before its extinction.
> To create awareness about its role in cultural social and health of people.
> To train people or students for utilization and conservation of medicinal plants.
> To increase in manufacture of herbal drugs.
> Research and job oppurtunities.
Ans.
Origin of Bajra:-
1. Introduction:-
· Common Name:- Pearl millet
· Botanical Name:- Pennisetum glaucum
· Family:- Gramineae or Poaceae
· Chromosome Numbers:- 2n = 2x = 14
2. Species:-
3. Center of Origin:- Sahel zone of Africa
Cultivation of Bajra:-
1. Season:-
> It is grown during summer season in the month of February-May in parts of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat.
> It is also grown post rainy season also known as Rabi season in the month of November-February at a small scale in Gujarat and Maharashtra.
2. Climate:-
> It grows best in warm and dry conditions.
> It is a drought tolerant crop which requires low annual rainfall of 40cm-60cm.
> Optimum temperature for its cultivation is 20°c-30°c.
> During its vegetable growth, moist weather is very beneficial.
> Bajra is grown as Kharif crop in North India and in southern parts it is known as Summer crop under irrigation.
3. Soil Requirement:-
> It is grown in wide variety of soil.
> It grows best in black cotton soil, sandy loam soil which has good drainage system.
> Acidic and water logging soil is not preferred.
> For its cultivation, avoid saturated soil.
> The crop grows well in soil with low pH range.
> It is sensitive to acidic soil.
4. Land Preperation:-
> The field should be finely tilled by 2-3 harrowing followed by a plowing.
> Weeds should be destroyed if any during the land preparation.
5. Sowing Time:-
> In India, it is grown in three seasons
i. Kharif- June-October (rainfed)
ii. Winter- November-February (rainfed)
iii. Summer- March-June
> It is grown in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Punjab and Gujarat during summer as an irrigated crop.
> Sowing should be done with onset of monsoon i.e. first fortnight of July in North and central parts of the country.
> To obtain higher production of summer pearl, it should be sown in the last week of January to 1st week of February.
> For rabi season, first fortnight of October is appropriate in Tamil Nadu.
> The optimum time to sow Bajra is middle to last week of July.
6. Seed Rate:-
> For dibbling method seed rate should be 3-3.5kg/ha.
> For drilling method seed rate should be 4-5kg/ha.
7. Spacing:-
> Row spacing of 40-45cm should be maintained.
> Plant to Plant spacing of 10-12cm should be maintained.
> Depth should be 2-3 cm.
8. Irrigation:-
> It is a highly drought tolerant crop and water requirement is 300-350mm.
> Irrigation at available soil moisture of 50% or ideal IW/CPE ratio 0.4 is sufficient.
> Tillering and flowering are critical stages.
> For panicle initiation three irrigations can be recommended, flag leaf and flowering in addition to sowing irrigation under limited moisture conditions.
> Normally 5 irrigations are recommended.
> Summer irrigated pearl millet requires 6 irrigations for high yields.
9. Plant protection measures:-
a. Insect pests:-
> Stem bores and grasshoppers are serious pests of bajra controlled by two sprayings with 2 litres of Eldrin 20 c.c and grasshoppers may be controlled by dusting the crop with BHC 5 percent.
b. Diseases:-
> Downy mildew- for controlling this disease seed treatment with fungicide like Dithane Z-78 or M-45 @ 2.0kg/ha in 800-1000 lit. of water.
> Smut- Treatment with Ceresan or Thirum @ 1-2 g/kg seeds is effective.
> Ergot- Seed treatment with 20% common salt solution followed by washing with fresh water and then treating with Ceresan or Thirum @ 1-2 g/kg seeds is effective
10. Manures & Fertlizers:-
> If one is cultivating commercial hybrid Bajra, even Bajra needs few nutrients.
> Application of 10-15 tonnes of compost or farm yard manure per hectare is required for requirement of fertilizer of local varieties of Pearl millet.
> For maximum profit on the basis of soil test value, fertilizer should be given.
> Almost 3-5cm below the seed, half dose of nitrogen and full doses of phosphorus and potassium should be applied.
> Foliar spray of 3% urea is also recommended in barani conditions.
11. Harvesting:-
> When grains become hardy and also contain moisture, the crop is ready to harvest.
> Cutting earhead or cutting entire plants by sticks are 2 methods that can be followed in harvesting.
> For 4-5 days in the sun stalk the cut plants for drying grains.
> By beating the earheads, grains can be separated.
12. Yield:-
> Grain-23-35 qtl/ha, Fodder-100-120 qtl/ha, Under Irrigated condition.
> Grain-12-15 qtl/ha, Fodder-70-75 qtl/ha, Under rainfed condition.
Improvement of Bajra:-
1. Pollination:-
Ø Naturally bajra is a cross pollinated crop. It is pollinated by air.
Ø Due to the presence of protogyny in bajra, about 80% cross pollination and the remaining 20% self-pollination takes place. Thus bajra is a cross-pollinated crop.
Ø Flowering start from the 1/3 part below of the top of the panicle and progresses on both the upper and the lower directions.
Ø In bisexual flowers, the stigma comes first and the flowering is completed in 2 - 3 days. After this, the anther comes out and it is called the first male phase.
Ø On the 5th day of flowering, the anthers of the stamens come out and this is called the secondary male phase.
Ø The flowering time is between 8pm to 2am.
2. Breeding Objectives:-
a. Higher Yield:- Yield in bajra depends on the following factors-
i. Length of panicles
ii. Compactness of panicle
iii. Weight of 1000 grains
b. Early maturation
c. Photoinsensitivity
d. Higher Forage Yield:- The yield of fodder in bajra depends on the following factors -
i. Leafyness
ii. Digestibility
iii. Forage Quality
e. Disease Resistance:- Several types of diseases can occur in the bajra crop which can cause economic loss. Developing resistance against these diseases is also objective of plant breeding.
i. Downy mildew
ii. Ergot disease
iii. Green Ear disease
iv. Rust disease
Note:- There is no problem of destructive insects in bajra crop.
f. Grain Quality:- Large, shiny, pearl-like amber grains are desirable for human consumption.
3. Breeding Methods:-
a. Introduction:-
· Jamnagar Giant
· Babapuri
· Pusa moti
b. Mass Selection:-
· NO – 37, 54, 59
· CO – 2, 3
· AKP – 1, 2
c. Synthetic and Composite Varieties:-
· Synthetic:- ICMS – 7703
· Composite:- ICMV – 1
d. Variety Hybridization:- AF-3 and S-530 varieties have been developed by hybridising Indian varieties with African varieties.
e. Distant Hybridization:-
· Perennial varieties of fodder have been developed by hybridisation of Pennisetum perpureum (Napier grass) with cultivated bajra.
· Perennial and frost resistant varieties have been developed by hybridisation of Pennisetum squamulatum with cultivated bajra.
· Apomictic varieties have been developed by hybridisation of Pennisetum orientale with cultivated bajra.
f. Hybrid Varieties:- 5 hybrid varieties of millet were developed by hybridizing CMS - line Tift - 23A (as a female parent), with different male parents.
· The above five varieties are sensitive to downy mildew.
· The above five varieties were released between 1965 and 1972.
· Of these, the HB-3 variety became quite popular.
· Other varieties:-
i. NHB – 3
ii. NHB – 4
Both of the above are downy mildew resistant varieties.
Ans.
Coir (Coconut):-
Botanical Name:- Cocus nucifera
Family:- Palmae or Arecaceae
Introduction:-
> It is a tall palm cultivated cheaply in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
> Commercial coir is obtained from the mesocarp of coconut.
> The fibre is known for its light mass, elasticity, high resistance to sea water and for its insulating capacity.
> Coconuts probably originated somewhere in Indo-Malaya and are one of the most important crops of the tropics.
> India and Sri Lanka are the top producers since 2001.
> Kerala and Tamil Nadu are the top producers in India.
> Kerala, popularly known as the God's own country alone accounts for 61% of total coconut production and 85% of total coir products.
Economic Botany:-
> Coir is used in manufacture of mats, cushion seats, bags, packaging material, water-proof and sound proof boards and thermal insulation.
> Using coir peat in horticulture also made demand for coir.
> It is also used for manufacturing ecofriendly horticultural products such as biodegradable planting pots.
Ans.
Cloves (Laung):-
Botanical Name:- Syzygium aromaticum syn. Eugenia caryophyllata (Laung).
Family:- Myrtaceae
Economic Importance:-
> These are the dried flower buds of Syzygium aromaticum.
> These are used as spice and also as a strong aromatic, stimulant and carminative substance.
> These are used in indigestion, vomiting and stopping nausea.
> It is one of the ingredients of betelnut-chew.
> An essential oil (clove oil) is obtained from cloves which is well-known for its antiseptic and preservative properties. It is used in pickles, confectionery and for fermenting beverages.
> Oil is an important ingredient of dentifrices, gargles, chewing gums, toilet water, soaps and perfumery.
> In embryological and histological works, the oil is used as a clearing agent.
> Clove cigarettes are used in Java and some other countries.
Ans.
Saffron (kesar):-
Botanical Name:- Crocus sativus
Family:- Iridaceae
Economic Importance:- It is a very low-yield crop, which makes it an expensive food ingredient. Stigma and styles, called threads, are collected and dried for use mainly as a seasoning and colouring agent in food.
> Colouring agent (food dye)
> Flavouring agent
> Anti-spasmodic
> Stimulant
Ans.
Unexploited Plants of Potential Economic Value with reference to Rajasthan:- Ans.
Shifting cultivation:- It is a class of primitive subsistence agriculture. In this, a plot of land is cleared by felling the trees and burning them. The ashes are then mixed with soil and crops are grown. After some time, the land is abandoned and the farmers move to a different place.
> The evil effects of shifting cultivation are devastating and far-reaching in degrading the environment
and ecology of these regions.
> The earlier 15–20 year cycle of shifting cultivation on a particular land has reduced to 2–3 years now. This has resulted in largescale deforestation, soil and nutrient loss, and invasion by weeds and other
species.
> The indigenous biodiversity has been affected to a large extent.
To mitigate the environmental loss and to provide other alternatives of livelihood to the local population, we have made an attempt in this paper to suggest environmental management options for shifting cultivation areas.
Impact of shifting cultivation:- The shifting cultivation is generally practised in the following sequence:
i. Selecting a forest patch and clear fell the vegetation normally in December and January
ii. Burning of the vegetation. Small, cut-trunks portion and roots are normally not removed. The herbs, shrubs and twigs and branches (slashed vegetation) are burnt in February and March.
iii. Sowing of seeds, by dibbling, generally of cereals, vegetables and oil seeds in April – May.
iv. Continuing cultivation for a few years.
v. Abandoning the cultivated site and shifting to other forest sites
vi. Returning to the former site, and once again practise shifting cultivation on it.
- With reduction in jhum cycle from 20–30 years to 2–3 years, the land under shifting cultivation looses its nutrients and the top soil.
- With reduction in crop yield, the families start moving to other virgin areas.
- Now a stage has come that it has already affected 2.7 million ha of land, and each year 0.45 ha of land fall under shifting cultivation, in northeast India.
Controlling shifting cultivation:- Various attempts have been made by the Government to settle the tribals involved in shifting cultivation.
a. Arable land is provided to the tribals for carrying out agriculture and also to settle in the area; a few schemes are being implemented under integrated tribal development programme in the districts of Koraput, Keonjhar and Phulbani in Orissa.
- These schemes have however, not yielded the desired results perhaps because of the ignorance of the authorities about the socio-economic and agro-ecological conditions of shifting cultivation and also due
to minimal involvement of Forest Department officials, who are more informed about the above factors, in implementation of the scheme.
- Failure of the scheme led the National Commission of Agriculture to reformulate the schemes only after considering the impact of the forest management.
b. An Agroforestry project known as Nagaland Environment Protection for Economic Development (NEPED) funded by Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) through India–Canada Environment Facility (ICEF) was initiated in 1995 to make Nagaland self-sufficient in agro-forestry.
- The objectives of the project were:
i. Identification of trees by local tribes and demonstration of method leading to more sustainable resource management;
ii. Addressing people’s need, and evolving better management systems;
iii. Promoting marketing initiatives.
- Under this project, experienced Government officials convince the villagers to set aside 6 ha of land, known as test plot, in jhum areas for over two-and-half years.
- Owner of this plot is required to plant 1200 seedlings, along with usual crop, under supervision of village council and project team.
- These test plots become open school-cum-research station, as well as demonstration plots to teach new technology.
- Thus, NEPED project does not aim at eliminating jhum cultivation, but making it more stable and profitable.
- This novel project may give us a more scientific way to tackle tribal–forest conflict.
Strategies:-
i. Providing employment opportunities and income generation on a regular basis through proper utilization of the land resources, i.e. by equitable distribution of waste land among the tribals. But, the various schemes of the Government, under the tribal plan, will have to pump in sufficient resources for proper reclamation and development of the wasteland through agro-forestry and silvi-pasture practices.
ii. By encouraging cooperative efforts for carrying out forest-based activities, i.e. basket making, rope making, cane furniture processing of minor forest produce, honey collection, etc. have to be made commercially viable by providing proper marketing facilities. This will not only discourage tribals from practising shifting cultivation but will also help them monetarily.
iii. By forming Village Forest Committees for the protection and development of the degraded forests. These committies by providing suitable incentives to the tribals, after the time of harvest can divert some of the tribals away from the shifting cultivation. Generating employment opportunities during the lean season of forestry operations will also prevent tribals from shifting to other areas. Employing the tribals for collection of kendu leaves and sal seeds and also involving the tribals in the various rural employment schemes is also the need of the hour.
iv. By ensuring implementation of total literacy campaign; which due to remoteness and un-supportive attitude of tribals, has not been successful. For educating tribal women and children, services of various non-Governmental organizations and voluntary agencies, besides the regular Government machinery, are on required sustainable basis rather than with a targeted approach.
Ans.
Oil Yielding Plants:- Fatty oils are obtained from different plant parts such as stem, fruit and seeds.
1. Mustard:-
Botanical Name:- Brassica campestris
Family:- Cruciferae or Brassicaceae
Introduction:-
> It is an herb and is grown as an oil seed crop mainly in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Bihar and Assam.
> The oil content is 32 to 40%.
> Erucic acid is the characteristic fatty acid of mustard oil.
> The oil is extracted by expression or solvent.
Economic Botany:-
> The oil is used for cooking and burning.
> It is also used in ayurvedic medicines as liniment or for massage in paralytic diseases and in gum diseases.
> It is used in tanning process.
> The oil cake is used as cattle feed and as a fertilizer.
2. Sesame:-
Botanical Name:- Sesamum indicum
Family:- Pedaliaceae
Introduction:-
> Sesame is an important and oldest grown oilseed crop in the world.
> It is also known as til or gingely apartment from various other local names in India.
> Sesame is reported to be originated in South Africa and was introduced to India by migrants prior to the Indus valley civilization.
> India is the largest producer of sesame.
> It is widely preferred for its qualities of high drought tolerance and the highest oil content in the seeds.
> There mainly two distinct types of sesame seeds are popular viz., white and black though a few other varieties varying from red to rose or from brown or grey are also available.
Economic Botany:-
> Seeds:- Sesame seeds are used in various food and snack preparations as well as in salad dressing.
> Oil:- Sesame seeds contain the highest oil compared to any other oilseed to an extent of 50% and above. The unique qualities of sesame oil are stability and resistance to rancidity, with long shelf life due to the presence of the high level of natural antioxidants.
> Meal:- Sesame seeds are rich in protein with about 25% of their weight. Sesame meal contains 35-50% protein and used as feed for poultry and livestock.
3. Groundnut:-
Botanical Name:- Arachis hypogaea
Family:- Papilionaceae
Introduction:-
> Groundnut, a native to Brazil, is an important source of oil.
> It is a low growing herb of tropical and sub-tropical regions.
> The crop is largely grown in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Rajasthan.
> The oil is expressed from seeds both by hydraulic presses and expellers.
> Oil content of seeds varies from 40 to 50%.
> It is also rich in phosphorus and vitamins.
> Oil contains mainly oleic acid.
Economic Botany:-
> It is predominantly used for culinary purposes.
> It is used for the manufacture of vegetable ghee by hydrogenation.
> The oil is used as a laxative and emollient.
> It is also used in soap making, in leather dressings, furniture creams and in making shaving creams, cold creams, candles etc.
> The oil cakes are used as feed for animals and as a manure.
4. Soybean:-
Botanical Name:- Glycine max
Family:- Fabaceae
Introduction:-
> It is an important oil seed crop.
> Brazil is projected to be the largest producer of soybeans in the world followed by the United States & Argentina.
> Cultivated soybean seeds have an oil content of approximately 18–22%, whereas wild soybean seeds contain about 8–10% oil.
> The leading producer of soybean in India is Madhya Pradesh, followed by Maharashtra and Rajasthan.
Economic Botany:-
> Soybean oil is a vegetable oil extracted from the seeds of the soybean.
> It is one of the most widely consumed cooking oils and the second most consumed vegetable oil.
> As a drying oil, processed soybean oil is also used as a base for printing inks (soy ink) and oil paints.
> An edible oil pressed from the seeds is used to make margarine and as a stabilizing agent in the processing of food and the manufacture of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
> The oil is employed in such industrial products as paint, varnish, printing ink, soaps, insecticides, and disinfectants.
5. Sunflower:-
Botanical Name:- Helianthus annuus
Family:- Compositae or Asteraceae
Introduction:-
> It is an important oil seed crop of India.
> Sunflower seeds contain 42 to 50% oil.
> In India it is cultivated mainly in Karnataka Maharashtra Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
> The oil contains mainly unsaturated fatty acids (oleic and linoleic acids).
Economic Botany:-
> Sunflower oil is a very good cooking medium.
> Sunflower oil contains protein and vitamin A.
> It is easily digested.
> It is also used in making paints and soap.
Ans.
1. Gwar (Cluster Bean):-
Scientific name:- Cyamopsis tetragonoloba
Family:- Fabaceae
Origin:- India
Economic importance:-
> It is grown for green pods used as vegetable and dry seeds.
> It is also grown as forage and green manure crop.
> Some of the varieties are used for extraction of gum (Guar gum).
> It is one of the most important vegetable crops in northern India.
> Among leguminous crops it is comparatively more drought resistant and is cultivated on a large scale as a forage crop in dry regions.
> The gum obtained from this crop is used in various industries particularly textiles, cosmetics, explosives, paper and food processing industries.
> Today it is one of the significant foreign exchange earners of the country.
> Fresh pods contain 82.5% water, 9.9% carbohydrate, 3.7% protein, 0.2% fat, 2.3% fiber and 1.4% mineral matter.
2. Rubber:-
Botanical Name:- Hevea brasiliensis
Family:- Euphorbiaceae
Economic Importance:-
> Para rubber is a tall trees, 25-35 mtr.; stem smooth, straight, un-branched up to a considerable height and then forming a leafy canopy; bark greyish with copious milky latex.
> In India rubber plantations were first started in Kerala in 1905 from seeds obtained from Ceylon.
> Ceylon was however the first country in Asia to start cultivating Hevea brasiliensis from seedlings sent from Royal Botanic Garden, Kew in 1876.
> The latex of H. brasiliensis is obtained by tapping the bark of the trunk. The overflowing latex is collected in a plastic or enamel cup containing a small amount of preservative viz. Ammonia or Sodium sulphite or Formaldehyde to prevent coagulation.
> As the latex stops flowing the cups are emptied into buckets which are carried to the factory. The liquid is strained first through a course sieve to remove the dirt and other impurities. It is then diluted and strained for second time through a fine sieve. The latex is an aqueous serum with a colloidal suspension of rubber particles.
3. Tea:-
Botanical Name:- Camellia sinensis Syn. Thea sinensis
Family:- Theaceae
Economic Importance:-
> It is the most common non-alcoholic beverage, used by more than one-half of the world’s population.
> It is obtained from the dried leaves of Camellia sinensis, a native of Assam or China.
> Tea plant is a small shrub with leathery, lanceolate leaves having serrate margin and many oil glands.
> A volatile oil, tannin (13 to 18%), and an alkaloid theine (2-5%), are present in tea.
> Tea leaves, when infused in hot water, dissolve their alkaloid and oil, and the beverage thus resulted has a stimulating effect. If boiled for a longer period, tannin dissolves making the beverage less beneficial.
> India is a leading tea-exporting country.
> For preparing green tea, the leaves are steamed and dried without fermenting, while for black tea the leaves are withered, rolled, fermented and dried.
> Tannins of tea waste are used in plywood industry.
> Assam, Darjeeling, Nilgiris, Dehradun and Kumaon are the main tea-producing regions in India.
4. Coffee:-
Botanical Names:- Coffea arabica (Arabian Coffee); C. canepbora syn. C. robusta (Congo Coffee); C. liberica (Liberian Coffee).
Family:- Rubiaceae
Economic Importance:-
> It is an important non-alcoholic beverage, like tea.
> More than 90% coffee is obtained from the berries of Coffea arabica.
> Coffee beans are roasted for developing the aroma, flavour and colour and finally ground before they reach to the consumer.
> “Beans” contain caffeine (0.75 to 1.5%), a volatile oil, glucose, dextrins, proteins and a fatty oil.
> Caffeine provide stimulating effect while the volatile oil (caffeole) is responsible for aroma and flavour.
> Leaves and fruits of Coffee also contain some alkaloids.
> In India, C. arabica is grown in Nilgiris and Kamataka.
> Seeds of C. canepbora (syn. C. robusta), a robust evergreen shrub, are used in making “instant coffee”.
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