J. R. Bahl

Bioactivities of the Leaf Essential Oil of Curcuma Longa (Var. Ch-66) On Three Species of Stored-Product Beetles (Coleoptera)

Abstract Essential oil extracted from the leaves of turmeric, Curcuma longa L., was investigated for contact and fumigant toxicity and its effect on progeny production in three stored-product beetles, Rhyzopertha dominica F. (lesser grain borer), Sitophilus oryzae L. (rice weevil), and Tribolium castaneum Herbst (red flour beetle). Oviposition-deterrent and ovicidal actions of C. longa leaf oil were also evaluated against T. castaneum. The oil was insecticidal in both contact and fumigant toxicity assays. The adults of R. dominica were highly susceptible to contact action of C. longa leaf oil, with LD50 value of 36.71 μg/mg weight of insect, whereas in the fumigant assay, adults of S. oryzae were highly susceptible with LC50 value of 11.36 mg/liter air. Further, in T. castaneum, the C. longa oil reduced oviposition and egg hatching by 72 and 80%, respectively at the concentration of 5.2 mg/cm2. At the concentration of 40.5 mg/g food, the oil totally suppressed progeny production of all the three test insects. Nutritional indices indicate >81% antifeedant action of the oil against R. dominica, S. oryzae and T. castaneum at the highest concentration tested.

Composition of linalool rich essential oil from Lippia alba grown in Indian plains

A field crop of Lippia alba (Mill.) N.E. Br. LAC-2 genotype was raised through stem cuttings at Lucknow. The essential oil yields obtained upon hydrodistillation of leaves harvested between May 1998 and May 1999 varied from 0.6% to 0.8% on fresh weight basis. The GC and GC/MS analyses of the essential oils led to the identification of 15 compounds totalling 85% of the oil: the identified compounds included 4 monoterpene hydrocarbons (2%), 8 oxygenated monoterpenes (82%) and 3 sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (1%). The major constituent of the oil was linalool (65%). Copyright

Variation in Quality of Essential Oil Distilled from Vegetative and Reproductive Stages of Tagetes minuta Crop Grown in North Indian Plains

Abstract The essential oil yield and quality of Tagetes minuta was field tested in north Indian plain conditions of Lucknow, India in winter (rabi) season of November 1997 to April 1998. The shoot oil distilled from the crop of Banuri land race at full flowering stage was rich in dihydrotagetone (32.0%), (Z)-tagetone (16.7%) and (Z)-β-ocimene (133%). In comparison to the oils distilled from flower bearing plants, the oil from plants at vegetative stage(s) of growth contained (E)- and (Z)-tagetenones and (E)- and (Z)-tagetones at higher levels (27.1% and 31.2%, respectively) and dihydrotagetone and (Z)-β-ocimene at lower levels (13.6% and 6.1%, respectively). The oils obtained from the leaves of plants bearing flowers (capitula) at different stages of development were pre-eminent in dihydrotagetone, present in 50-60% concentration. The capitula oils were somewhat similar to leaf oils of reproductively mature plants in their monoterpenoid composition.

Chemical composition of the essential oil from the leaves of Curcuma zedoaria Rosc. of Indian origin

Abstract The essential oil, which was produced by hydrodistillation of Curcuma zedoaria (Zingiberaceae) leaves, was investigated by GC and GC/MS. Twenty-three compounds were identified, accounting for 75% of the oil. The oil of C. zedoaria was made up mainly of mono- and sesquiterpenoids, monoterpene hydrocarbons (2.3%), oxygenated monoterpenes (26%), sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (38%), and oxygenated sesquiterpenes (13.5%). α-Terpinyl acetate (8.4%), isoborneol (7%), dehydrocurdione (9%) and selina-4(15),7(11)-dien-8-one (9.4%) were the major constituents of the leaf oil.

High economic returns from companion and relay cropping of bread wheat and menthol mint in the winter–summer season in north Indian plains

Abstract A total of 17 cropping schedules for the winter (rabi)–summer (zaid) season of north Indian plains were compared for the yield and economics of produce per hectare of land. In comparison to wheat, the sucker-planted mint crop was estimated to bring in a 32% higher income. The co-cultivation of wheat with sucker-planted mint gave 15% more productivity over wheat alone and 70% over mint alone. The relay cropping of wheat followed by transplanted mint had the highest productivity, 45% higher than that of co-cultivated wheat and mint. The cultivar HD 2285 of wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) and Himalaya/Kosi cultivars of mint ( Mentha arvensis L.) were found to fit well in the co-cultivation and relay cropping schedules using wheat and mint crops. The results allowed recommendation of the following rotations for high yield together with resource conservation, permitting intensive agriculture by farmers with small holdings in Indo-Gangetic plains: (1) rice/greengram/blackgram, transplanted basil, wheat+mint, pigeonpea, chickpea, transplanted mint; and (2) pigeonpea, wheat, transplanted mint, rice, transplanted basil, wheat+mint.

Variability in the Chemical Composition of the Essential Oil of Coleus forskohlii Genotypes

ABSTRACT Ten genotypes including nine diploids (2n=30) and one auto tetraploid (2n=60) of Coleus forskohlii were multiplied and their root oils were examined by GC/MS. The major constituents of the oil from these genotypes are: 3-decanone (7.0%), bornyl acetate (15%), a sesquiterpene hydrocarbon (7.5%), β-sesquiphellandrene (13.15%) and γ-eudesmol (12.5%).

NEW PRACTICES IN THE CULTIVATION OF THE MINT, MENTHA ARVENSIS IN THE INDO-GANGETIC PLAINS

India is the worlds dominant producer of crude Mentha arvensis oil, and exporter of its processed derivative, natural menthol. This status has been achieved through superior product price competitiveness resulting from progressive agronomic improvements that include a transition from cultivation of this mint as a semi-perennial to an annual crop. This paper describes and analyses recent developments in Indian M. arvensis cultivation. Observations were made during 1998/99 and 1999/2000 in the fields of 295 farmers in the central Indo-Gangetic plains area. The criteria recorded included: mint cultivars used; the planting, weeding, irrigation, pesticide application and harvesting schedules; crop health in relation to diseases and pests; yields of the harvested herb and the distilled essential oil; the oil menthol content; and the net income. Most of the farmers used the cultivar, Kosi. The performance and returns of Kosi transplanted in April had proved superior to Kosi and Shivalik suckers and to transplanted Shivalik. The returns from late-transplanted Kosi were in the range of Rupees (Rs) 25 000 to Rs 40 000 ha −1 (Rs 50≈US

Direct planting of the short-duration summer crop using cold stored suckers of menthol mint Mentha arvensis

1), similar to those from Kosi suckers and much higher than for both transplanted and suckers of Shivalik. This survey revealed that rotations of rice ( Oryza sativa ) with chickpea ( Cicer arietinum ) and mint, and pigeonpea ( Cajanus cajan ) with wheat ( Triticum aestivum ) and mint could be profitable in the central Indo-Gangetic plains. They also conserved inputs and were preferable to the conventional rice-wheat rotation. A re-survey in the summer of 2002 confirmed that recommendations made to farmers have led to the adoption of the Kosi and Himalaya cultivars in 80% of the survey region and that 70% of mint cultivation in the area occurs in the summer season.

A New Agro-technology for Increasing Oil Yield and Yield Contributing Characters of Menthol Mint (Mentha arvensis L.)

Summary Suckers of menthol mint Mentha arvensis cultivars Himalaya and Kosi were harvested on 15 February 2001. Half of the suckers of each cultivar were cut into pieces and sown to raise plantlets in nursery. The remaining suckers were cold stored at 6 ± 2°C. The plantlets were transplanted and cold stored suckers were direct planted in the field on 17 and 26 March and 10 April 2001. The 12 treatments were arranged as randomized blocks and replicated three times. The mint crops were harvested 100 d after planting to record yields of herb, essential oil and menthol. The transplanted and sucker sown crops of all three planting dates gave similar yields in both the varieties. Yields were lower as planting dates advanced. The cold stored ‘Himalaya’ sucker retained their regenerability for eight weeks. ‘Kosi’ suckers maintained equal regenerability for up to six weeks, whereas about 30% loss of regenerability was apparent over next two weeks. To overcome marginal loss of regenerability on longer storage, the planting rate of ‘Kosi’ suckers sown needs to be increased by about 30%. It is concluded that cold stored suckers are suitable for direct sowing in the field to obtain late sown summer crops of mint.

Development of Technology for Large-Scale Economic Production of Propagules in the Rose-Scented Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens)

Abstract A pot experiment were conducted at the research farm of Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant, Research Centre, Pantnagar (Udham Singh Nagar) Uttarakhand, India, during 2013 to ascertain the response of nipping (cutting of apical portion in each branch of mint) on yield and yield contributing characters of mint (Mentha arvensis). The results revealed that, nipping of mint (Mentha arvensis L.) at 35 day after transplanting (T) recorded the highest plant height (89.3 cm), no. of branches/plant (99), leaf: stem ratio (1.31:1), fresh herb yield of mint (272.67 q/ha), oil content (1.20%) and oil yield (326.27  kg/ha) as compared to others and the lowest was found in T - control (no nipping).