TRAINING ON TAMIL NADU NEW TEXT BOOK

+2 BOTANY

Unit X: Economic Botany

Economically Useful Plants

and

Entrepreneurial botany

​

​

​

​

.

Learning objective

• The learner will be able to Acquire knowledge about origin, area of cultivation and uses of various food yielding plants.
• Describe the different spices and condiments and their uses.
• Elicit the uses of fibre, timbers, paper and dye yielding plants.

… Learning objective

• Acquires knowledge about the active principles, chemical composition and medicinal uses of plants.
• Develops skill of mushroom cultivation, knowledge of SCP production and sea weed liquid fertilizers.
• Gains knowledge of organic farming- bio fertilisers and bio pest repellants. Learn to make terrarium and bonsai.
• Acquires knowledge of cultivation of medicinal plants.

​

Chapter outline

10.1 Food Plants

10.2 Spices and Condiments

10.3 Fibre

10.4 Timber

10.5 Latex

10.6 Pulp wood

10.7 Dye

10.8 Cosmetics

10.9 Traditional system of medicines

10.10 Medicinal plants

10.11 Entrepreneurial Botany

Food plants

Currently about 10,000 food plants are being used of which only around 1,500 species were brought under cultivation.

Cereals .

1. Greater adaptability and successful colonisation on every type of habitat.
2. The relative ease of cultivation.
3. Tillering property that produce more branches which results in higher yield per unit area.
4. Compact and dry grains that they can be easily handled, transported and stored without undergoing spoilage.
5. High caloric value that provides energy.

​

​

Oryza sativa

Triticum aestivum

Zea mays

Eleusine coracana

Pennisetum americanum

Sorghum vulgare

Vigna mungo

Cicer arietinum

Cajanus cajan

Vigna radiata

Panicum sumatrense

Setaria italica

Paspalum scrobiculatum

Solanum tuberosum Abelmoschus esculentus Cucumis sativus

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Mangifera indica Musa x paradisiaca Artocarpus heterophyllus

Saccharum officinarum

Stevia rebaudiana

Borassus flabellifer

Anacardium occidentale

Prunus dulcis

Oil Seeds

Fatty acids in Oils

Arachis hypogaea

Premium cooking oil

Sesamum indicum

This oil is the basis of most of the scented oils used in perfumes.

Cocos nucifera

This is an edible-industrial oil.

Camellia sinensis�

Coffea arabica�

Caffeine enhances release of acetylcholine in brain, which in turn enhances efficiency.

green tea lowers the bad cholesterol and increases the good cholesterol.

Theobroma cacao �

Rich in fibres, minerals and antioxidants, thus preventing cancer,cardiovascular diseases, premature ageing.

‘food of the Gods’.

Beverages

Spices and Condiments

Elettaria cardamomum

Piper nigrum�

Curcuma longa�

Capsicum annuum

Tamarindus indica

Fibres

Fibres

Cotton

• Gossypium spp.

(1) G. hirsutum

(2)G.barbadense

are the New world species

(3) G. arboretum

(4) G. herbaceum

​

​

Jute

Corchorus spp.

From the two cultivated species (1) Corchorus capsularis - Indo-Burmese origin.

(2) C.olitorius -African origin

Coconut / Coir

Cocos nucifera

It is used in manufacture of mats, cushion seats, bags, packaging material, water-proof and sound

proof boards and thermal insulation.

​

Timber

Native to South east Asia.

The heartwood is golden yellow to golden brown when freshly sawn, turning darker when exposed to light. Known for its durability as it is immune to the attack of

termites and fungi.

​

​

​

Tectona grandis

Native to India.

Indian rosewood has yellowish sapwood and dull brown to almost purple coloured heartwood.

Dalbergia latifolia

The heartwood is jet black with a metallic lustre when smoothened and is resistant to attack by

insects and fungi.

Diospyros ebenum

Latex - Rubber

Hevea brasiliensis

Pulp Wood

The term paper is derived from the word ‘papyrus’ a plant (Cyperus papyrus) that was used by Egyptians to make paper-like materials.

The Chinese discovered the paper that was prepared from the inner bark of paper mulberry in 105 A.D.

Indigo�

• Indigofera tinctoria is native to India.
• A brilliant dark blue dye ‘indigo’ was extracted from the leaves of several species of Indigofera.

​

​

Indigenous to North Africa and South-west Asia. Principal colouring matter of leaves ‘lacosone” is harmless .��

Henna

Lawsonia inermis

Spices and Condiments

• Provide personal care services .
• ‘Aloin’ (a mixture of glucosides)

Premium cooking oil

Cocos nucifera

Sesamum indicum

Arachis hypogaea

the oil is the basis of most of the scented oils used in perfumes.

Cosmetics �Aloe vera

• Provide personal care services .
• ‘Aloin’ (a mixture of glucosides)

​

​

Perfumes

• Perfumes are manufactured from essential oil which are volatile and aromatic.
• Essential oils are found at different parts of the plant.

Santalum album Santalum album Santalum album Santalum album

Rosa X damascena

Santalum album

Jasminum grandiflorum

Traditional Systems of Medicines

• TSM in India can be broadly classified into institutionalized or documented and

non-institutionalized or oral traditions.

• Institutionalized Indian systems include Siddha and Ayurveda.
• Non- institutional systems are practiced by rural and tribal peoples across India. The knowledge is mostly held in oral form.
• TSM focus on healthy lifestyle and healthy diet for maintaining good health and disease reversal.

Siddha system of medicine

• It is based on the texts written by 18Siddhars.
• Siddha is principally based on the Pancabuta philosophy. According to this system three humors namely Vatam, Pittam and Kapam that are responsible for the health of human.
• The drug sources of Siddha

include plants, animal parts,

marine products and minerals.

• This system uses about 800

herbs as source of drugs.

Ayurveda system of medicine

• The core knowledge is documented by Charaka, Sushruta and Vagbhata in compendiums written by them.
• This system Uses more of herbs

and few animal parts as drug

sources.

• The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of

India lists about 500 plants used

as source of drugs.

Folk system of medicine

• Folk systems survive as an oral

tradition among innumerable

rural and tribal communities

of India.

• Major tribal communities in

Tamil Nadu who are known for

their medicinal knowledge include Irulas,

Malayalis, Kurumbas, Paliyans and Kaanis.

Medicinal Plants

• India is a treasure house of medicinal plants.
• They are linked to local heritage as well as to global-trade.
• 90% collection of medicinal plants is from the non-cultivated sources.
• Medicinally useful molecules obtained from plants that are marketed as drugs are called Biomedicines.

Phyllanthin

Vascin

Andrographolides

Curcumin

n

Psychoactive Drugs

Phytochemicals which alter an individual’s perceptions of mind by producing hallucination are known as psychoactive drugs.

Papaver somniferum

​

​

​

​

​

Used to induce sleep and for relieving pain. Opium yields Morphine, a strong analgesic which is used in surgery.

Cannabis sativa – specimen

trans-tetrahydrocanabinal

It is an effective pain reliever and reduces hypertension. THC is used in treating Glaucoma, reducing nausea of cancer patients undergoing radiation and chemotherapy, provides relief to bronchial disorders, especially asthma as it dilates bronchial vessels.

Entrepreneurial Botany

• Study of how new businesses are created using plant resources as well as the actual process of starting a new business.
• An entrepreneur is someone who has an idea and who works to create a product or service that people will buy, by building an organization to support the sales.
• To create new ventures among the young people.
• In the present scenario students should acquire ability to merge skills and knowledge in a meaningful way.

Mushroom cultivation

Two kinds of mushrooms are cultivated

namely button and oyster.

​

Single Cell Protein (SCP) Production

Single cell protein has a high nutritive value due to higher protein, vitamin, essential amino acids and lipid content. Hence it can form a good protein supplement. However it cannot completely replace the conventional protein sources due to their high nucleic acid content and slower in digestibility.

Seaweed Liquid Fertilizer

Seaweed is rich in trace elements and potassium, which makes it ideal to add to compost in its raw state, to work in as a mulch, or to create a liquid fertilizer.

A terrarium is a collection of small plants growing in a transparent, sealed container.

Terrarium

Cultivation of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants

Government of India has identified medicinal and aromatic plants as one of the sectors that can make India a global leader in the 21st century owing to the treasure of about 8,000 medicinal and 2,500 aromatic plants.

Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) has developed a number of high yielding varieties and processing technologies to promote cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants.

​

​

​

​

Cultivation of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants

• Cultivation of medicinal/aromatic plants offers following advantages:
• Generate employment through development of ancillary industries.
• Foreign exchange earnings through exports. Crops are not damaged by domestic animals or by birds.
• Technologies are farmer and eco-friendly.

​

​

​

Gloriosa superba

Cymbopogon citratus

THANK YOU