Production & Protection of Seed Spices

Seed spices are the winter season annuals whose fruit (seed) is used as spice. About twenty seed spices are cultivated and almost all of them are grown in India, four of thse namely coriander, cumin, fennel and fenugreek are cultivated extensively and hence are called major seed spices. India is the leader in production, consumption and export of seed spices. Among the Indian states, Gujarat and Rajasthan lead in the area and production of these spices. Unfortunately these crops are still cultivated on marginal lands with almost nil to little inputs. In many a cases, local varieties are still cultiviated with very low production potential. It is therefore right time we take the stock of the situation. In an effort to know the status of seed spices research and development, eminent researchers from across the country have been invited to contribute their findings and views which led to the present compilation. The present book contains chapters that are written by who’s who in seed spices research in India. The opening chapter “Seed spices research: path less treated” tries to analyze the problem of seed spices research vis-à-vis with the research in cereals. The available germplasm collection in India are analyzed critically in the chapter on “Evaluation and coservation of seed spices Genetic resources: status and issues”. The research and accomplishments of All India Coordinated Research Project on Spices in seed spices sphere is very well presented in a chapter “Research efforts of All India Coordinated Research Project on Spices for productivity of seed spices. The need for good agricultural practices has been presented in chapter on ‘Good agricultural practices: Need for clean seed spices production”, similarly an analysis on quality aspects is presented in chapter by “Quality aspects of seed spices for export”. “Studies on seed spices improvement” looks at the methods adopted for genetic improvement and ways to modify the same for better genetic gains. Besides these, several chapters devote to look at the research findings on organic way of production of seed spices, Nutrition management, disease and pest management in seed spices. Unless the findings of researches reach the farmers and are adopted by them they are of little value. Hence several chapters are devoted to understand the problem of adoption of improved methods of seed spices cultivation. Similarly a chapter on “Marketing of important seed spices in Rajasthan” looks at the marketing of seed spices. Seed spices contain essential oils which are extracted and marketed as value added product. The commercial exploitability of the essential oils of seed spices is discussed in “Commercial exploitation of essential oils obtained from seed spices for use in aromatherapy”. The book is expected to be of much help to all those connected with seed spices. It is hoped that this book will find acceeptance with scientists, industrialists, lanners as well as students connected or interested in seed spices.