The document provides details about pyrethrum, including that it is derived from chrysanthemum flowers, has potent insecticidal properties, and is commonly used to control insects like mosquitoes and flies. Pyrethrins excite the nervous systems of insects, leading to paralysis and death. Kenya produces over 80% of the world's pyrethrum. The document also outlines pyrethrum cultivation methods, describing optimal soil and climate conditions, propagation, planting, irrigation, pest and disease management, harvesting, drying, and yield.

2. COLLEGE OF HORTICULTURE
An Assignment Presentation
On
“PYRETHRUM”
Course No.: OTH:6.4 (Medicinal and Aromatic Plants)
Present to:-
Mr. S.K.Acharya
College of Horticulture
S.D. Agricultural University,
Jagudan, 382710
Presented by:
Name :-Shubham Kumar

3. Pyrethrum

4. B.N. –Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium
Fmaily - Asteraceae
Origin - Greek
Plant part used - Flowers
Pyrethrum

5. Medicinal use
The pyrethrins are a class of organic
compounds normally derived from Chrysanthemum
cinerariifolium that have potent insecticidal activity
by targeting the nervous systems of insects. Pyrethrin
is synthetically made by industrial methods, but it
also naturally occurs in chrysanthemum flowers, thus
is often considered an organic insecticide, or at least
when it is not combined with piperonyl butoxide or
other synthetic adjuvants. Their insecticidal and
insect-repellent properties have been known and used
for thousands of years.

6. What are pyrethrins-
Pyrethrins are pesticides found naturally in some
chrysanthemum flowers. They are a mixture of six
chemicals that are toxic to insects. Pyrethrins are
commonly used to control mosquitoes, fleas, flies,
moths, ants, and many other pests.
How do pyrethrins work
Pyrethrins excite the nervous system of insects
that touch or eat it. This quickly leads to
paralysis and ultimately their death. Pyrethrins
are often mixed with another chemical to
increase their effect. This second chemical is
known as a synergist.

8. Origin and distribution-
C. cinerariaefolium is a native of Dalmatia,
Herzegovina and Montenegro and is cultivated
on a commercial scale in Algeria, Yugoslavia
(Dalmatia), Brazil, Bulgaria, Japan, Kenya,
New Guinea, Congo, Tanzania, Ecuador,
Australia, USA, China, France, Italy, Persia,
Russia, Spain, Switzerland, England and India.
o Kenya and its neighbours Tanzania and
Rwanda produce over 80% of the total
pyrethrum produced in the world.

9. Types and varieties-
C. cinerariaefolium, grown on the Eastern Coast of
the Adriatic sea, is called Dalmatian pyrethrum.
While, the Japanese pyrethrum also derived from C.
cinerariaefium, is similar to the Dalmatian pyrethrum
in appearance. The concentration of active principles
(pyrethrin) in the Dalmatian and Japanese type of
pyrethrum flowers range from 0.38 to 0.58 and 0.58
to 1.21%, respectively. The pyrethrum grown in
Kenya and other African countries, known as the
Kenya pyrethrum, has a higher pyrethrin content of
1.43 to 1.89%.

10. Soil-
Pyrethrum thrives best on well-drained,
sandy soil. Red laterite loams and light and
medium loam soils are also suitable. The
yields are considerably lower in poorly-
drained soils. It can grow on mountain slopes
and wastelands, but too rich soils and water-
logged conditions are unfavourable for its
growth.

11. Climate-
Pyrethrum is a temperate crop. It grows best in areas
which have a mild, cool, dry climate with a short,
mild winter and a cool summer. A period of chilling,
in which the temperature falls below 17° C, for
about six weeks, is necessary for flower-bud
initiation. In places where the winters are long
(November to March) and the summers are warm,
there is only one flush of flowering in May and
June. It grows well in places where the annual
average rainfall is about 1000 mm and the elevation
between 1500 to 2400 m.

12. Propagation-
Pyrethrum is propagated by seeds. However, it can
also be raised vegetative by splits. The seeds
required for sowing should be gathered from
selected plants when the flowers are fully mature
and the seeds are about to be shed. The seeds tend
to lose viability on storage. In case of vegetative
propagation, healthy plants are pulled up from the
ground, the splits of which are used for planting. In
certain areas it is better to plant the splits in
nurseries before they are planted in the main field.

13. Planting-
The seedlings are planted at a distance
of 27-45 cm in rows and 45-60 cm
apart. Ridge-planting is preferred to
flat-planting as it facilitates inter
culture and irrigation and avoids
water-logging.

14. Manures and fertilizers-
Application of 40-60 kg N, 40-50 kg/ha
P and 50-80 kg/ha K is optimum for the
good growth of pyrethrum in the first
year. The entire quantity of P and K
should be applied as a basal dose with
50% of the N at the time of planting and
the remaining 50% of N is applied in
split doses.

15. Irrigation-
Pyrethrum does not need irrigation if the
rainfall is well distributed. However, under
irrigated conditions, weekly irrigation during
the peak season gives better results. Under
irrigated conditions, it is observed that the
pyrethrum plants start flowering after 1 year
instead of 2 years under un-irrigated
conditions. The crop should be irrigated
frequently during the dry months. The crop
should also be irrigated after the fertilizer
application.

16. Pests and diseases-
Root-rot - caused by Fusarium solani, can be
controlled by drenching the nursery with 0.15%
Benlate solution or Mancozeb.
Damping-off - is caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.
The application of a solution of copper fungicide to
the base of the plants can control this disease.
Bud disease - is reported to be caused by Rannularia
belluniensis and this can be controlled by spraying
Bordeaux mixture and pereneox.

17. Harvesting and processing-
The plants flower within one year of
transplanting.
The crop gives a poor yield in the first year
and the optimum yields are obtained only
during the 2nd and 3rd year.
The flowers should be picked when ⅔rd of
the disc-florets are pen and the ray-florets are
horizontal.
The harvesting of immature or over-mature
flowers decreases their pyrethrin content.

18. Drying-
The harvested flower-heads are usually dried immediately
in the sun.
They are thinly spread on straw mats and turned over
frequently in order to avoid fermentation. At night they are
kept under cover.
Dehydration is complete in 5-7 days. The ideal method of
drying is to use hot-air driers, in which the temperature
should not exceed 800C.
The loss in weight will be about 65-75%. It is safer to dry
it in the sun when the acreage is small and there is no chance
of rain during the harvesting season.
However, in larger farms, the use of air-driers is essential
in order to dry the harvested flowers in time. Mechanical
driers have been designed for drying pyrethrum flowers.

19. Yield and pyrethrin content-
The average annual yield in Kashmir is
about 250 kg/ha, against 700 kg/ha in
Kenya and 500 kg/ha in Nilgiris.
The yield in the first year, as reported
from Kodaikanal, is about 450 kg/ha.
The total pyrethrin content is reported to
be 1.0-1.5% in India, while the average
content in Kenya is 1.4% and the highest is
2.1%.

20. Ref-
http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/pyrethrins.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrethrin#Produc
tion
file:///D:/Downloads/map%20(1).pdf