This document defines key terms related to industrial crop production and summarizes information about several important industrial crops in the Philippines in the third quarter of 2021. It provides terminology for concepts like crop production, area planted, bearing trees/hills, and industrial crops. It then summarizes abaca fiber production statistics, noting the top producing regions. Finally, it gives brief overviews of the origin, description, uses, and history of rubber trees, sugarcane, and cacao.
This powerpoint presentation gives knowledge about fiber yeilding plants namely, cotton, jute and flax. Also Gives details about their origin and the processing techniques.
This e-material mainly focuses about the introduction, cultivation method of sugarcane, Processing of raw and refined sugar from sugar cane and other concepts.....
The drought-resistant bamboo species, Oxytenanthera abyssinica, can successfully be used for erosion control and windbreaks. It is an efficient tool in the combat of desertification and, because of its numerous applications and high economic value, it has a lot of potentials to alleviate poverty.
The drought-resistant bamboo species, Oxytenanthera abyssinica, can successfully be used for erosion control and windbreaks. It is an efficient tool in the combat of desertification and, because of its numerous applications and high economic value, it has a lot of potentials to alleviate poverty.
This powerpoint presentation gives knowledge about fiber yeilding plants namely, cotton, jute and flax. Also Gives details about their origin and the processing techniques.
This e-material mainly focuses about the introduction, cultivation method of sugarcane, Processing of raw and refined sugar from sugar cane and other concepts.....
The drought-resistant bamboo species, Oxytenanthera abyssinica, can successfully be used for erosion control and windbreaks. It is an efficient tool in the combat of desertification and, because of its numerous applications and high economic value, it has a lot of potentials to alleviate poverty.
The drought-resistant bamboo species, Oxytenanthera abyssinica, can successfully be used for erosion control and windbreaks. It is an efficient tool in the combat of desertification and, because of its numerous applications and high economic value, it has a lot of potentials to alleviate poverty.
The drought-resistant bamboo species, Oxytenanthera abyssinica, can successfully be used for erosion control and windbreaks. It is an efficient tool in the combat of desertification and, because of its numerous applications and high economic value, it has a lot of potentials to alleviate poverty.
The drought-resistant bamboo species, Oxytenanthera abyssinica, can successfully be used for erosion control and windbreaks. It is an efficient tool in the combat of desertification and, because of its numerous applications and high economic value, it has a lot of potentials to alleviate poverty.
The drought-resistant bamboo species, Oxytenanthera abyssinica, can successfully be used for erosion control and windbreaks. It is an efficient tool in the combat of desertification and, because of its numerous applications and high economic value, it has a lot of potentials to alleviate poverty.
The drought-resistant bamboo species, Oxytenanthera abyssinica, can successfully be used for erosion control and windbreaks. It is an efficient tool in the combat of desertification and, because of its numerous applications and high economic value, it has a lot of potentials to alleviate poverty.
1.HEMP which is Scientifically known as Cannabis Sativa , is an annual herb plant grown specifically for industrial or medicinal use.
2.It can be used to make a wide range of products including fiber.
3.Along with bamboo, hemp is among the fastest growing plants on Earth.
Acacia, commonly known as the wattles or acacias, is a large genus of shrubs and trees in the subfamily Mimosoideae of the pea family Fabaceae. this power point explains the production technology of wattle
wattle is a fleshy caruncle hanging from various parts of the head or neck in several groups of birds and mammals. Caruncles in birds include those found on the face, wattles, dewlaps, snoods, and earlobes.
Acacia auriculiformis, commonly known as auri, karuvel in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and aakashmani in West Bengal, is a fast-growing, crooked, gnarly tree in the family Fabaceae.What is acacia used for?
It's a dietary fiber that can dissolve in water. As a medicine, acacia is taken by mouth to reduce cholesterol levels and to help increase weight loss
A brief information about the SCOP protein database used in bioinformatics.
The Structural Classification of Proteins (SCOP) database is a comprehensive and authoritative resource for the structural and evolutionary relationships of proteins. It provides a detailed and curated classification of protein structures, grouping them into families, superfamilies, and folds based on their structural and sequence similarities.
Observation of Io’s Resurfacing via Plume Deposition Using Ground-based Adapt...Sérgio Sacani
Since volcanic activity was first discovered on Io from Voyager images in 1979, changes
on Io’s surface have been monitored from both spacecraft and ground-based telescopes.
Here, we present the highest spatial resolution images of Io ever obtained from a groundbased telescope. These images, acquired by the SHARK-VIS instrument on the Large
Binocular Telescope, show evidence of a major resurfacing event on Io’s trailing hemisphere. When compared to the most recent spacecraft images, the SHARK-VIS images
show that a plume deposit from a powerful eruption at Pillan Patera has covered part
of the long-lived Pele plume deposit. Although this type of resurfacing event may be common on Io, few have been detected due to the rarity of spacecraft visits and the previously low spatial resolution available from Earth-based telescopes. The SHARK-VIS instrument ushers in a new era of high resolution imaging of Io’s surface using adaptive
optics at visible wavelengths.
The drought-resistant bamboo species, Oxytenanthera abyssinica, can successfully be used for erosion control and windbreaks. It is an efficient tool in the combat of desertification and, because of its numerous applications and high economic value, it has a lot of potentials to alleviate poverty.
The drought-resistant bamboo species, Oxytenanthera abyssinica, can successfully be used for erosion control and windbreaks. It is an efficient tool in the combat of desertification and, because of its numerous applications and high economic value, it has a lot of potentials to alleviate poverty.
The drought-resistant bamboo species, Oxytenanthera abyssinica, can successfully be used for erosion control and windbreaks. It is an efficient tool in the combat of desertification and, because of its numerous applications and high economic value, it has a lot of potentials to alleviate poverty.
The drought-resistant bamboo species, Oxytenanthera abyssinica, can successfully be used for erosion control and windbreaks. It is an efficient tool in the combat of desertification and, because of its numerous applications and high economic value, it has a lot of potentials to alleviate poverty.
1.HEMP which is Scientifically known as Cannabis Sativa , is an annual herb plant grown specifically for industrial or medicinal use.
2.It can be used to make a wide range of products including fiber.
3.Along with bamboo, hemp is among the fastest growing plants on Earth.
Acacia, commonly known as the wattles or acacias, is a large genus of shrubs and trees in the subfamily Mimosoideae of the pea family Fabaceae. this power point explains the production technology of wattle
wattle is a fleshy caruncle hanging from various parts of the head or neck in several groups of birds and mammals. Caruncles in birds include those found on the face, wattles, dewlaps, snoods, and earlobes.
Acacia auriculiformis, commonly known as auri, karuvel in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and aakashmani in West Bengal, is a fast-growing, crooked, gnarly tree in the family Fabaceae.What is acacia used for?
It's a dietary fiber that can dissolve in water. As a medicine, acacia is taken by mouth to reduce cholesterol levels and to help increase weight loss
A brief information about the SCOP protein database used in bioinformatics.
The Structural Classification of Proteins (SCOP) database is a comprehensive and authoritative resource for the structural and evolutionary relationships of proteins. It provides a detailed and curated classification of protein structures, grouping them into families, superfamilies, and folds based on their structural and sequence similarities.
Observation of Io’s Resurfacing via Plume Deposition Using Ground-based Adapt...Sérgio Sacani
Since volcanic activity was first discovered on Io from Voyager images in 1979, changes
on Io’s surface have been monitored from both spacecraft and ground-based telescopes.
Here, we present the highest spatial resolution images of Io ever obtained from a groundbased telescope. These images, acquired by the SHARK-VIS instrument on the Large
Binocular Telescope, show evidence of a major resurfacing event on Io’s trailing hemisphere. When compared to the most recent spacecraft images, the SHARK-VIS images
show that a plume deposit from a powerful eruption at Pillan Patera has covered part
of the long-lived Pele plume deposit. Although this type of resurfacing event may be common on Io, few have been detected due to the rarity of spacecraft visits and the previously low spatial resolution available from Earth-based telescopes. The SHARK-VIS instrument ushers in a new era of high resolution imaging of Io’s surface using adaptive
optics at visible wavelengths.
Earliest Galaxies in the JADES Origins Field: Luminosity Function and Cosmic ...Sérgio Sacani
We characterize the earliest galaxy population in the JADES Origins Field (JOF), the deepest
imaging field observed with JWST. We make use of the ancillary Hubble optical images (5 filters
spanning 0.4−0.9µm) and novel JWST images with 14 filters spanning 0.8−5µm, including 7 mediumband filters, and reaching total exposure times of up to 46 hours per filter. We combine all our data
at > 2.3µm to construct an ultradeep image, reaching as deep as ≈ 31.4 AB mag in the stack and
30.3-31.0 AB mag (5σ, r = 0.1” circular aperture) in individual filters. We measure photometric
redshifts and use robust selection criteria to identify a sample of eight galaxy candidates at redshifts
z = 11.5 − 15. These objects show compact half-light radii of R1/2 ∼ 50 − 200pc, stellar masses of
M⋆ ∼ 107−108M⊙, and star-formation rates of SFR ∼ 0.1−1 M⊙ yr−1
. Our search finds no candidates
at 15 < z < 20, placing upper limits at these redshifts. We develop a forward modeling approach to
infer the properties of the evolving luminosity function without binning in redshift or luminosity that
marginalizes over the photometric redshift uncertainty of our candidate galaxies and incorporates the
impact of non-detections. We find a z = 12 luminosity function in good agreement with prior results,
and that the luminosity function normalization and UV luminosity density decline by a factor of ∼ 2.5
from z = 12 to z = 14. We discuss the possible implications of our results in the context of theoretical
models for evolution of the dark matter halo mass function.
This pdf is about the Schizophrenia.
For more details visit on YouTube; @SELF-EXPLANATORY;
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAiarMZDNhe1A3Rnpr_WkzA/videos
Thanks...!
(May 29th, 2024) Advancements in Intravital Microscopy- Insights for Preclini...Scintica Instrumentation
Intravital microscopy (IVM) is a powerful tool utilized to study cellular behavior over time and space in vivo. Much of our understanding of cell biology has been accomplished using various in vitro and ex vivo methods; however, these studies do not necessarily reflect the natural dynamics of biological processes. Unlike traditional cell culture or fixed tissue imaging, IVM allows for the ultra-fast high-resolution imaging of cellular processes over time and space and were studied in its natural environment. Real-time visualization of biological processes in the context of an intact organism helps maintain physiological relevance and provide insights into the progression of disease, response to treatments or developmental processes.
In this webinar we give an overview of advanced applications of the IVM system in preclinical research. IVIM technology is a provider of all-in-one intravital microscopy systems and solutions optimized for in vivo imaging of live animal models at sub-micron resolution. The system’s unique features and user-friendly software enables researchers to probe fast dynamic biological processes such as immune cell tracking, cell-cell interaction as well as vascularization and tumor metastasis with exceptional detail. This webinar will also give an overview of IVM being utilized in drug development, offering a view into the intricate interaction between drugs/nanoparticles and tissues in vivo and allows for the evaluation of therapeutic intervention in a variety of tissues and organs. This interdisciplinary collaboration continues to drive the advancements of novel therapeutic strategies.
Introduction:
RNA interference (RNAi) or Post-Transcriptional Gene Silencing (PTGS) is an important biological process for modulating eukaryotic gene expression.
It is highly conserved process of posttranscriptional gene silencing by which double stranded RNA (dsRNA) causes sequence-specific degradation of mRNA sequences.
dsRNA-induced gene silencing (RNAi) is reported in a wide range of eukaryotes ranging from worms, insects, mammals and plants.
This process mediates resistance to both endogenous parasitic and exogenous pathogenic nucleic acids, and regulates the expression of protein-coding genes.
What are small ncRNAs?
micro RNA (miRNA)
short interfering RNA (siRNA)
Properties of small non-coding RNA:
Involved in silencing mRNA transcripts.
Called “small” because they are usually only about 21-24 nucleotides long.
Synthesized by first cutting up longer precursor sequences (like the 61nt one that Lee discovered).
Silence an mRNA by base pairing with some sequence on the mRNA.
Discovery of siRNA?
The first small RNA:
In 1993 Rosalind Lee (Victor Ambros lab) was studying a non- coding gene in C. elegans, lin-4, that was involved in silencing of another gene, lin-14, at the appropriate time in the
development of the worm C. elegans.
Two small transcripts of lin-4 (22nt and 61nt) were found to be complementary to a sequence in the 3' UTR of lin-14.
Because lin-4 encoded no protein, she deduced that it must be these transcripts that are causing the silencing by RNA-RNA interactions.
Types of RNAi ( non coding RNA)
MiRNA
Length (23-25 nt)
Trans acting
Binds with target MRNA in mismatch
Translation inhibition
Si RNA
Length 21 nt.
Cis acting
Bind with target Mrna in perfect complementary sequence
Piwi-RNA
Length ; 25 to 36 nt.
Expressed in Germ Cells
Regulates trnasposomes activity
MECHANISM OF RNAI:
First the double-stranded RNA teams up with a protein complex named Dicer, which cuts the long RNA into short pieces.
Then another protein complex called RISC (RNA-induced silencing complex) discards one of the two RNA strands.
The RISC-docked, single-stranded RNA then pairs with the homologous mRNA and destroys it.
THE RISC COMPLEX:
RISC is large(>500kD) RNA multi- protein Binding complex which triggers MRNA degradation in response to MRNA
Unwinding of double stranded Si RNA by ATP independent Helicase
Active component of RISC is Ago proteins( ENDONUCLEASE) which cleave target MRNA.
DICER: endonuclease (RNase Family III)
Argonaute: Central Component of the RNA-Induced Silencing Complex (RISC)
One strand of the dsRNA produced by Dicer is retained in the RISC complex in association with Argonaute
ARGONAUTE PROTEIN :
1.PAZ(PIWI/Argonaute/ Zwille)- Recognition of target MRNA
2.PIWI (p-element induced wimpy Testis)- breaks Phosphodiester bond of mRNA.)RNAse H activity.
MiRNA:
The Double-stranded RNAs are naturally produced in eukaryotic cells during development, and they have a key role in regulating gene expression .
Richard's entangled aventures in wonderlandRichard Gill
Since the loophole-free Bell experiments of 2020 and the Nobel prizes in physics of 2022, critics of Bell's work have retreated to the fortress of super-determinism. Now, super-determinism is a derogatory word - it just means "determinism". Palmer, Hance and Hossenfelder argue that quantum mechanics and determinism are not incompatible, using a sophisticated mathematical construction based on a subtle thinning of allowed states and measurements in quantum mechanics, such that what is left appears to make Bell's argument fail, without altering the empirical predictions of quantum mechanics. I think however that it is a smoke screen, and the slogan "lost in math" comes to my mind. I will discuss some other recent disproofs of Bell's theorem using the language of causality based on causal graphs. Causal thinking is also central to law and justice. I will mention surprising connections to my work on serial killer nurse cases, in particular the Dutch case of Lucia de Berk and the current UK case of Lucy Letby.
Richard's aventures in two entangled wonderlandsRichard Gill
Since the loophole-free Bell experiments of 2020 and the Nobel prizes in physics of 2022, critics of Bell's work have retreated to the fortress of super-determinism. Now, super-determinism is a derogatory word - it just means "determinism". Palmer, Hance and Hossenfelder argue that quantum mechanics and determinism are not incompatible, using a sophisticated mathematical construction based on a subtle thinning of allowed states and measurements in quantum mechanics, such that what is left appears to make Bell's argument fail, without altering the empirical predictions of quantum mechanics. I think however that it is a smoke screen, and the slogan "lost in math" comes to my mind. I will discuss some other recent disproofs of Bell's theorem using the language of causality based on causal graphs. Causal thinking is also central to law and justice. I will mention surprising connections to my work on serial killer nurse cases, in particular the Dutch case of Lucia de Berk and the current UK case of Lucy Letby.
3. Crop production - refers to the quantity produced and
actual harvested for a particular crop during the
reference period. It includes those harvested but
damaged, stolen, given away, consumed, given as
harvester’s share, reserved, etc.
It excludes those produced but not harvested due to
low price, lack of demand, force majeure, or fortuitous
events, etc.
4. Area planted - refers to the actual physical area
planted. This generally applies to area reported
for permanent crops and multi-harvest
temporary crops.
On the other hand, area harvested refers to
the actual area from which harvests were
realized. This excludes crop areas which were
totally damaged. It may be smaller than the
area planted. In crops statistics, this applies to
temporary crops.
5. Bearing trees/hills - refer to trees/hills
where harvesting has been made in
the past and may or may not have
borne productive fruits during the
reference period due to cyclical
production pattern of the crop.
6. Industrial crops - is a designation given to
an enterprise that attempts to raise farm
sector income, and provide economic
development activities for rural areas.
Industrial crops also attempt to provide
products that can be used as substitutes for
imports from other nations.
7. Abacca - a large herbaceous Philippine
plant of the banana family that yields
Manila hemp.
8. Coconut - edible fruit of the coconut palm
(Cocos nucifera), a tree of the palm family
(Arecaceae)
9. Coffee - the shrub of the bedstraw family
that yields the coffee seeds, two of which
are contained in each red berry. Native to
the Old World tropics, most coffee is grown
in tropical America.
10. Rubber tree or rubber plant - is a flowering
plant belonging to the spurge family
Euphorbiaceae. It is the most economically
important member of the genus Hevea
because the milky latex extracted from the
tree is the primary source of natural
rubber.
11. Sugarcane or sugar cane - is a species of
(often hybrid) tall, perennial grass (in the
genus Saccharum, tribe Andropogoneae)
that is used for sugar production
12. Tobacco - any of a genus (Nicotiana) of
chiefly American plants of the
nightshade family with viscid foliage
and tubular flowers
- manufactured products of tobacco (such
as cigars or cigarettes)
13. Cacao - a tree having small yellowish
flowers followed by fleshy pods from
which cacao is obtained
-a dried, fermented, fatty seed of the fruit
of a South American evergreen tree
(Theobroma cacao of the family
Sterculiaceae) that is used in making cocoa,
chocolate, and cocoa butter
17. Abaca
The production of abaca fiber from July to September 2021
at 15.68 thousand metric tons decreased by -21.9 percent, from
the 20.09 thousand metric tons output in the same quarter of the
previous year. (Table1)
Eastern Visayas was the top abaca fiber producer with
3.34 thousand metric tons or 21.3 percent share of the total
production this quarter. Bicol Region and Davao Region followed
with 20.2 and 17.3 percent shares, respectively.(Figure 2 and
Table 2)
39. Hevea brasiliensis, the Pará rubber tree, sharinga tree, seringueira, or most commonly,
rubber tree or rubber plant, is a flowering plant belonging to the spurge family Euphorbiaceae. It
is the most economically important member of the genus Hevea because the milky latex
extracted from the tree is the primary source of natural rubber.
H. brasiliensis is a tall deciduous tree growing to a height of up to 43 m (141 ft) in the
wild, but cultivated trees are usually much smaller because drawing off the latex restricts the
growth of the tree. The trunk is cylindrical and may have a swollen, bottle-shaped base. The
bark is some shade of brown, and the inner bark oozes latex when damaged. The leaves have
three leaflets and are spirally arranged. The inflorescence include separate male and female
flowers. The flowers are pungent, creamy-yellow and have no petals. The fruit is a capsule that
contains three large seeds; it opens explosively when ripe.
40. In the wild, the tree can reach a height of up to 140 feet (43 m). The white or yellow latex occurs in
latex vessels in the bark, mostly outside the phloem. These vessels spiral up the tree in a right-handed helix
which forms an angle of about 30 degrees with the horizontal, and can grow as high as 45 ft.
In plantations, the trees are generally smaller for two reasons:
1) trees grow more slowly when they are tapped for latex, and
2) trees are generally cut down after only 30 years, because latex production declines as trees age,
and they are no longer economically productive.
The tree requires a tropical or subtropical climate with a minimum of about 1,200 mm per year of
rainfall, and no frost.If frost does occur, the results can be disastrous for production. One frost can cause the
rubber from an entire plantation to become brittle and break once it has been refined.
41. • Latex tapping
Latex being collected from an incised rubber tree and a
bucket of collected latex
The natural rubber tree takes between seven and ten years to
deliver the first harvest. Harvesters make incisions across the latex
vessels, just deep enough to tap the vessels without harming the
tree's growth, and the latex is collected in small buckets.
This process is known as rubber tapping. Latex production
is highly variable from tree to tree and across clone types
42. Wood harvesting
As latex production declines with age, rubber trees are generally
felled when they reach the age of 25 to 30 years. The earlier practice was to
burn the trees, but in recent decades, the wood has been harvested for
furniture making.
43. History
• The South American rubber tree grew only in the Amazon rainforest
• Increasing demand and the discovery of the vulcanization procedure in 1839 led to the rubber boom in
that region, enriching the countries Brazil and Peru from 1840 to 1913
• In Brazil, before the name was changed to 'Seringueira' the initial name of the plant was 'pará rubber
tree', derived from the name of the province of Grão-Pará.
• In Peru, the tree was called 'árbol del caucho', and the latex extracted from it was called 'caucho'. The
tree was used to obtain rubber by the natives who inhabited its geographical distribution
• Early attempts were made in 1873 to grow H. brasilensis outside Brazil. After some effort, 12 seedlings
were germinated at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. These were sent to India for cultivation, but died.
• A second attempt was then made, some 70,000 seeds being smuggled to Kew in 1875, by Henry
Wickham, in the service of the British Empire. About four percent of these germinated, and in 1876,
about 2,000 seedlings were sent, in Wardian cases, to Ceylon (modern day Sri Lanka) and 22 were sent
to the Botanic Gardens in Singapore.
• By 1898, a rubber plantation had been established in Malaya, with imported Chinese field workers
being the dominant work force in rubber production in the early 20th-century
• The cultivation of the tree in South America (Amazon) ended early in the 20th century because of
indigenous blights that targeted the rubber tree
• Today, most rubber tree plantations are in South and Southeast Asia, the top rubber producing
countries in 2011 being Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, India and Vietnam
44.
45. Origin
Saccharum officinarum was first domesticated in New Guinea
and the islands east of the Wallace Line by Papuans, where it is the
modern center of diversity.
Beginning at around 6,000 BP it was selectively bred from the
native Saccharum robustum. From New Guinea it spread westwards
to Island Southeast Asia after contact with Austronesians, where it
hybridized with Saccharum spontaneum
46. Description
Saccharum officinarum, a perennial plant, grows in clumps consisting of a number of
strong unbranched stems. A network of rhizomes forms under the soil which sends up
secondary shoots near the parent plant. The stems vary in colour, being green, pinkish, or
purple and can reach 5 m (16 ft) in height.
They are jointed, nodes being present at the bases of the alternate leaves. The
internodes contain a fibrous white pith immersed in sugary sap. The elongated, linear, green
leaves have thick midribs and saw-toothed edges and grow to a length of about 30 to 60 cm
(12 to 24 in) and width of 5 cm (2.0 in).
The terminal inflorescence is a panicle up to 60 cm (24 in) long, a pinkish plume that
is broadest at the base and tapering towards the top. The spikelets are borne on side branches
and are about 3 mm (0.12 in) long and are concealed in tufts of long, silky hair. The fruits are
dry and each one contains a single seed.
Sugarcane harvest typically occurs before the plants flower, as the flowering process
causes a reduction in sugar content
47. Uses
Portions of the stem of this and several other species of sugarcane have been
used from ancient times for chewing to extract the sweet juice. It was cultivated in
New Guinea about 8000 years ago for this purpose. Extraction of the juice and boiling
to concentrate it was probably first done in India more than 2000 years ago.
Saccharum officinarum and its hybrids are grown for the production of sugar,
ethanol, and other industrial uses in tropical and subtropical regions around the world.
The stems and the by-products of the sugar industry are used for feeding to livestock.
Pigs fed on sugarcane juice and a soy-based protein supplement produced
stronger piglets that grew faster than those on a more conventional diet. As its specific
name (officinarum, "of dispensaries") implies, it is also used in traditional medicine
both internally and externally
48.
49. Theobroma cacao, also called the cacao tree and the cocoa
tree, is a small (4–8 m (13–26 ft) tall) evergreen tree in the family
Malvaceae. Its seeds, cocoa beans, are used to make chocolate
liquor, cocoa solids, cocoa butter and chocolate.
The largest producer of cocoa beans in 2018 was Ivory Coast,
with 37% of the world total.
50. Taxonomy and nomenclature
Cacao (Theobroma cacao) belongs to the genus Theobroma classified under the
subfamily Byttnerioideae of the mallow family Malvaceae. Cacao is one of 17 species of
Theobroma.
The generic name is derived from the Greek for "food of the gods"; from (theos),
meaning 'god', and (broma), meaning 'food’.
The specific name cacao is the Hispanization of the name of the plant in
indigenous Mesoamerican languages.
The cacao was known as kakaw in Tzeltal, Kʼicheʼ and Classic Maya; kagaw in
Sayula Popoluca; and cacahuatl in Nahuatl as "bean of the cocoa-tree".
51. Distribution and domestication
T. cacao is widely distributed from southeastern Mexico to the Amazon
basin. There were originally two hypotheses about its domestication; one said
that there were two foci for domestication, one in the Lacandon Jungle area of
Mexico and another in lowland South America. More recent studies of patterns
of DNA diversity, however, suggest that this is not the case. One study sampled
1241 trees and classified them into 10 distinct genetic clusters.
The evergreen cacao tree is thought to be native to Central and South
America, not particularly big, up to 30 feet tall, and thrives growing in the
shade of larger trees.
52. Cultivation
In 2016, cocoa beans were cultivated on roughly 10,196,725 hectares
(25,196,660 acres) worldwide. Cocoa beans are grown by large agro-industrial
plantations and small producers, the bulk of production coming from millions of
farmers with small plots.
A tree begins to bear when it is four or five years old. A mature tree may
have 6,000 flowers in a year, yet only about 20 pods. About 1,200 seeds (40
pods) are required to produce 1 kg (2.2 lb) of cocoa paste.
53. Historically, chocolate makers have recognized three main cultivar
groups of cacao beans used to make cocoa and chocolate: Forastero, Criollo
and Trinitario.
The most prized, rare, and expensive is the Criollo group, the cocoa
bean used by the Maya. Only 10% of chocolate is made from Criollo, which is
arguably less bitter and more aromatic than any other bean.
54. The cacao bean in 80% of chocolate is made using beans of the
Forastero group, the main and most ubiquitous variety being the
Amenolado variety, while the Arriba variety (such as the Nacional variety)
are less commonly found in Forastero produce.
Forastero trees are significantly hardier and more disease-
resistant than Criollo trees, resulting in cheaper cacao beans
Major cocoa bean processors include Hershey's, Nestlé and Mars,
all of which purchase cocoa beans via various sources
55.
56. Nicotiana tabacum, or cultivated tobacco, is an annually grown
herbaceous plant. It is found in cultivation, where it is the most commonly
grown of all plants in the genus Nicotiana, and its leaves are commercially
grown in many countries to be processed into tobacco.
It grows to heights between 1 and 2 meters (3' to 6'). Research is
ongoing into its ancestry among wild Nicotiana species, but it is believed to be
a hybrid of Nicotiana sylvestris, Nicotiana tomentosiformis, and possibly
Nicotiana otophora
57. History
The plant is native to the Caribbean, where the Arawak/Taino people
were the first to use it and cultivate it.
In 1560, Jean Nicot de Villemain, then French ambassador to
Portugal, brought tobacco seeds and leaves as a "wonder drug" to the
French court.
In 1586 the botanist Jaques Dalechamps gave the plant the name of
Herba nicotiana, which was also adopted by Linné. It was considered a
decorative plant at first, then a panacea, before it became a common snuff
and tobacco plant.
58. Description
It is an annual plant that grows 1 to 3 m high and is sticky hairy on all parts. The stems are thick and not
very branched. The leaves can be over 50 cm long with the blades ovate to elliptical, or obovate, pointed towards
the front and, at the base, run down the stem or are sessile, encompassing the stem.
The scented inflorescences are multi-branched panicles. The flower stalks are 5 to 15 mm long. The calyx
is 12 to 18 mm and is covered with uneven 4 to 8 mm narrow pointed calyx lobes shorter than the calyx tube. The
crown is plate-shaped, the coronet is white, pink or red, the corolla tube greenish-cream, pink or red. The corolla
tube has a total length of 3.5 to 4.5 cm and is 3 to 5 mm wide in the lower part and widens to 7 to 12 mm in the
upper part. The coronet is lobed or pentagonal.
The stamens are designed unevenly and start below the center of the corolla tube. The anthers of the
four longer stamens are close to the opening of the corolla tube or are slightly above it. The fifth stamen is
significantly shorter than both longer pairs. The stamens have a length of 2.5 to 3.5 cm, significantly longer than the
anthers, and are hairy at the base.
59. The fruit is a 1.5 to 2 cm long capsule that is narrowly elliptical to egg-shaped. It can stand out
over the chalice or be enclosed by it. The seeds are spherical or broadly elliptical and are up to 0.5 mm
long with a wavy networked surface.
Habitat and ecology
N. tabacum is a native of tropical and subtropical America but it is now commercially cultivated
worldwide. Other varieties are cultivated as ornamental plants or appear as a weed.
N. tabacum is sensitive to temperature, air, ground humidity and the type of land. Temperatures
of 20–30 °C (68–86 °F) are best for adequate growth; an atmospheric humidity of 80 to 85% and soil
without a high level of nitrogen are also optimal.
60. Main use
All parts of the plant contain nicotine, which can be extracted and used as an
insecticide. The dried leaves can also be used; they remain effective for 6 months
after drying. The juice of the leaves can be rubbed on the body as an insect repellent.
The leaves can be dried and chewed as an intoxicant.
The dried leaves are also used as snuff or are smoked. This is the main species
that is used to make cigarettes, cigars, and other products for smokers. A drying oil is
obtained from the seed
61.
62. Abacca, binomial name Musa textilis, is a species of banana native to the
Philippines, grown as a commercial crop in the Philippines, Ecuador, and Costa
Rica.
The plant, also known as Manila hemp, has great economic importance,
being harvested for its fiber extracted from the leaf-stems. Abacá is also the
traditional source of lustrous fiber hand-loomed into various indigenous textiles in
the Philippines like t'nalak, as well as colonial-era sheer luxury fabrics known as
nipís.
They are also the source of fibers for sinamáy, a loosely woven stiff
material used for textiles as well as in traditional Philippine millinery.
The plant grows to 13–22 feet (4.0–6.7 m), and averages about 12 feet
(3.7 m). The fiber was originally used for making twines and ropes; now most is
pulped and used in a variety of specialized paper products including tea bags, filter
paper and banknotes. It is classified as a hard fiber, along with coir, henequin and
sisal.
63. Description
The abacá plant is stoloniferous, meaning that the plant produces runners or shoots
along the ground that then root at each segment. Cutting and transplanting rooted runners is
the primary technique for creating new plants, since seed growth is substantially slower.
Abacá has a "false trunk" or pseudostem about 6–15 inches (15–38 cm) in
diameter. The leaf stalks (petioles) are expanded at the base to form sheaths that are tightly
wrapped together to form the pseudostem.
There are from 12 to 25 leaves, dark green on the top and pale green on the
underside, sometimes with large brown patches. They are oblong in shape with a deltoid
base. They grow in succession. The petioles grow to at least 1 foot (30 cm) in length.
64. When the plant is mature, the flower stalk grows up inside the
pseudostem. The male flower has five petals, each about 1.5 inches (3.8 cm)
long. The leaf sheaths contain the valuable fiber. After harvesting, the coarse
fibers range in length from 6–12 feet (180–370 cm) long. They are composed
primarily of cellulose, lignin, and pectin.
The fruit, which is inedible and is rarely seen as harvesting occurs before
the plant fruits, grows to about 2–3 inches (5.1–7.6 cm) in length and 1 inch
(2.5 cm) in diameter. It has black turbinate seeds that are 0.167 inches (0.42 cm)
in diameter
65. Uses
Mats made from woven abacá fibers from the
Philippines due to its strength, it is a sought after product and is
the strongest of the natural fibers.
It is used by the paper industry for such specialty
uses such as tea bags, banknotes and decorative papers. It
can be used to make handcrafts such as hats, bags, carpets,
clothing and furniture.
Abacá rope is very durable, flexible and resistant to
salt water damage, allowing its use in hawsers, ship's lines and
fishing nets. A 1 inch (2.5 cm) rope can require 4 metric tons
(8,800 lb) to break.
Abacá fiber was once used primarily for rope, but this
application is now of minor significance. Lupis is the finest
quality of abacá. Sinamay is woven chiefly from abacá.
66. Textiles
The traditional t'nalak cloth of the T'boli dream weavers are
made from abacá fibers A T'boli dream weaver using a traditional
loom
The inner fibers are used in the making of hats, including the
"Manila hats," hammocks, matting, cordage, ropes, coarse twines,
and types of canvas. Abacá cloth is found in museum collections
around the world, like the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and the
Textile Museum of Canada.
Philippine indigenous tribes still weave abacá-based textiles
like t'nalak, made by the Tiboli tribe of South Cotabato, and dagmay,
made by the Bagobo people.
67. Cultivation
The plant is normally grown in well-drained loamy soil, using rhizomes
planted at the start of the rainy season. In addition, new plants can be started by
seeds. Growers harvest abacá fields every three to eight months after an initial
growth period of 12–25 months.
Harvesting is done by removing the leaf-stems after flowering but before
fruit appears.The plant loses productivity between 15 and 40 years.The slopes of
volcanoes provide a preferred growing environment. Harvesting generally includes
several operations involving the leaf sheaths:
•tuxying (separation of primary and secondary sheath)
•stripping (getting the fibers)
•drying (usually following the tradition of sun-drying).
When the processing is complete, the bundles of fiber are pale and lustrous
with a length of 6–12 feet (1.8–3.7 m)
68.
69. Origin
Modern genetic studies have identified the center of origin of coconuts as being the Central Indo-
Pacific, the region between western Southeast Asia and Melanesia, where it shows greatest genetic
diversity. Their cultivation and spread was closely tied to the early migrations of the Austronesian peoples
who carried coconuts as canoe plants to islands they settled.
The similarities of the local names in the Austronesian region is also cited as evidence that the
plant originated in the region.
For example, the Polynesian and Melanesian term niu; Tagalog and Chamorro term niyog; and the
Malay word nyiur or nyior.
Other evidence for a Central Indo-Pacific origin is the native range of the coconut crab; and the
higher amounts of C. nucifera-specific insect pests in the region (90%) in comparison to the Americas (20%),
and Africa (4%)
70. Distribution
Coconuts have a nearly cosmopolitan distribution thanks to human
action in using them for agriculture. However, their historical distribution
was likely more limited.
71. Domestication
Wild coconuts are naturally restricted to coastal areas in sandy, saline soils. The fruit is adapted for
ocean dispersal. Coconuts could not reach inland locations without human intervention (to carry seednuts,
plant seedlings, etc.) and early germination on the palm (vivipary) was important.
Coconuts today can be grouped into two highly genetically distinct subpopulations: the Indo-
Atlantic group originating from southern India and nearby regions (including Sri Lanka, the Laccadives, and
the Maldives); and the Pacific group originating from the region between maritime Southeast Asia and
Melanesia
Linguistic, archaeological, and genetic evidence all point to the early domestication of Pacific
coconuts by the Austronesian peoples in maritime Southeast Asia during the Austronesian expansion (c. 3000
to 1500 BCE). Although archaeological remains dating back to 1000 to 500 BCE also suggest that the Indo-
Atlantic coconuts were also later independently cultivated by the Dravidian peoples, only Pacific coconuts
show clear signs of domestication traits like dwarf habits, self-pollination, and rounded fruits.
72. Cultivation
Coconut palms are normally cultivated in hot and wet tropical climates.
They need year round warmth and moisture to grow well and fruit. Coconut palms
are hard to establish in dry climates, and cannot grow there without frequent
irrigation; in drought conditions, the new leaves do not open well, and older leaves
may become desiccated; fruit also tends to be shed
73. Uses
The coconut palm is grown throughout the tropics for decoration, as well as for
its many culinary and nonculinary uses; virtually every part of the coconut palm can be
used by humans in some manner and has significant economic value.
Coconuts' versatility is sometimes noted in its naming. In Sanskrit, it is kalpa
vriksha ("the tree which provides all the necessities of life"). In the Malay language, it is
pokok seribu guna ("the tree of a thousand uses"). In the Philippines, the coconut is
commonly called the "tree of life".
It is one of the most useful trees in the world.
74.
75. Coffea is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. Coffea species
are shrubs or small trees native to tropical and southern Africa and tropical Asia. The
seeds of some species, called coffee beans, are used to flavor various beverages and
products. The fruits, like the seeds, contain a large amount of caffeine, and have a
distinct sweet taste and are often juiced.
The plant ranks as one of the world's most valuable and widely traded
commodity crops and is an important export product of several countries, including
those in Central and South America, the Caribbean and Africa.
76. Cultivation and Uses
There are over 120 species of Coffea, which is grown from seed. The two most popular
are Coffea arabica (commonly known simply as "Arabica"), which accounts for 60–80% of the
world's coffee production, and Coffea canephora (known as "Robusta"), which accounts for
about 20–40%.
C. arabica is preferred for its sweeter taste, while C. canephora has a higher caffeine
content. C. arabica has its origins in the highlands of Ethiopia and the Boma Plateau of Sudan,
and was the result of a hybrid between C. canephora and C. eugenioides.
77. Cultivation and Uses
The trees produce edible red or purple fruits, which are described either as epigynous
berries or as indehiscent drupes. The fruit is often referred to as a "coffee cherry," and it contains
two seeds, called "coffee beans.“
Despite these terms, coffee is neither a true cherry (the fruit of certain species in the
genus Prunus) nor a true bean (seeds from plants in the family Fabaceae).
In about 5–10% of any crop of coffee fruits, only a single bean is found. Called a pea
berry, it is smaller and rounder than a normal coffee bean.
78. Cultivation and Uses
When grown in the tropics, coffee is a vigorous bush or small tree that usually grows to
a height of 3–3.5 m (9.8–11.5 ft). Most commonly cultivated coffee species grow best at high
elevations, but do not tolerate freezing temperatures.
The tree of Coffea arabica will grow fruits after three to five years, producing for an
average of 50 to 60 years, although up to 100 is possible. The white flowers are highly scented.
The fruit takes about nine months to ripen.