The Editors

Dr. Joginder Singh

Assistant Professor & Head
Department of Horticulture, J.V. College, Baraut, U.P., India

Dr. Karma Beer

Scientist (Fruit Science)
Division of Postharvest Management, ICAR-CISH, Lucknow, U.P., India

Dr. Lal Singh

Scientist (Horticulture)
KVK, Rajgarh, RVSKVV, Gwalior, M.P., India

Dr. Saurabh Kr. Singh

Assistant Professor
Department of Horticulture, J.V. College, Baraut, U.P., India

Dr. Anupam Tiwari

Assistant Professor
Department of Horticulture, J.V. College, Baraut, U.P., India

Dr. Rajesh Jatav

Assistant Professor
Department of Horticulture, CoA, RVSKVV, Gwalior, M.P., India
 – Editors –
Dr. Joginder Singh
Dr. Karma Beer
Dr. Lal Singh
Dr. Saurabh Kr. Singh
Dr. Anupam Tiwari
Dr. Rajesh Jatav

2023
BIOTECH BOOKS®
 Smart Horticultural
Technologies

© 2023 EDITORS
ISBN 978-81-7622-533-5

All rights reserved. Including the right to translate or to reproduce this book or
parts thereof except for brief quotations in critical reviews.

The authors are solely responsible for the contents of the bock chapters compiled
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 vi

Preface

Horticulture means garden cultivation. Thus, Horticulture is a part of

plant agriculture which is concerned with cultivation of “garden crops”.
Garden crops traditionally include fruits, vegetables and all the plants grown
for ornamental purposes as well as spices, plantation, medicinal and aromatic
purposes. The cultivation of garden plant is in contrast to the cultivation of
field crops which is practiced in an extensive manner. Horticulture relies
on growing and manipulating plants in a relatively intensive manner. The
horticultural crops require very intense care in planting, carrying out cultural
operation, manipulating growth, harvesting, packing, marketing, storage and
processing. Many horticultural products are highly perishable, their water
content is essential to their quality and hence mostly utilized in living stage. In
contrast, the products of field crop and forestry are often utilized in non-living
state and are usually high in dry matter.
The present book focusing on the smart horticulture technologies viz., Recent
Trends in Postharvest Handling and Management Techniques of Horticultural
Crops, Cryotherapy as a Technique for Eradication of Pathogen in Horticultural
Crops, Guidelines of Quality Planting Material of different Fruit Crops Grown
in Standard Nursery, Layering in Fruit Crops, Intercropping with Flower Crops,
Traditional Medicine: A Way Forward, Floral Oil Industry and Extraction of
Essential Oils, Packaging: Modern Way for Reducing Postharvest Losses of
Horticultural and Agricultural Produce, Processing Techniques for Extending
Shelf Life of Agroforestry Underutilized Fruits, Floral Value Added Products
for Employment Generation, Processing and Value Addition of Economically
Important Non-Wood Forest Products and Fruits, Floriculture: Its Prospects
and Scope, Cultivation of Dragon Fruit, Importance of Conservation of
Horticulture in Jammu Region, Nursery Management of Ornamental Plants,
Scientific Cultivation of Agathi, Export Scenario of Indian Fresh Fruits: Potential
and Promotional Schemes, Opportunities in Floriculture for Livelihood
Security, Modern Technology of Horticultural Crop Production, Postharvest
Handling Practices for Important Flowers, Current Scenario and Scope of
Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Technological Interventions in Floriculture for
Doubling Farmers Income, Production Technology of Bael Fruit, Effect of IBA
Concentration and different Rooting Media on Rooting and Survival of Air
Layers of Guava (Psidium guajava L.) cv. Gwalior 27, Physiological Disorder/
Nutrient Deficiency in Fruit Crops, Drone Technology Used in Agriculture/
Horticulture and Role of Nanotechnology in Horticultural Crops.
This book would be immensely useful to students, teachers, researchers,
progressive farmers and extension workers working in the field of horticulture,
postharvest technology and agricultural extension.
We express indebtedness to authors of books, manuals, periodicals,
magazines, newsletters, journals and websites etc. that helped in the preparation
of this book. It has not been possible to obtain permission for reproduction
of some of the materials for which authors and publishers offer their sincere
apologies. Healthy criticism and suggestions for further improvement of the
book are solicited.

Dr. Joginder Singh

Dr. Karma Beer
Dr. Lal Singh
Dr. Saurabh Kr. Singh
Dr. Anupam Tiwari
Dr. Rajesh Jatav
 vi

Contents

Preface v
1. Recent Trends in Postharvest Handling and Management
Techniques of Horticultural Crops 1
Abhay Bisen, Rahul Dongre, Vinamarata Jain and Shwati Pardhi
2. Cryotherapy as a Technique for Eradication of Pathogen
in Horticultural Crops 21
Shubranil Das, Sumit Sow and Shivani Ranjan
3. Guidelines of Quality Planting Material of different Fruit
Crops Grown in Standard Nursery 35
Abhay Bisen, Shwati Pardhi, S.S.Porte and Rahul Dongre
4. Layering in Fruit Crops 53
Intjar Singh Dawar, Lalita Nargawe, Nilesh Sharma and Damodar Jatav
5. Intercropping with Flower Crops 63
Chander Prakash and Krishan Pal Singh
6. Traditional Medicine: A Way Forward 77
Jayashree Behera and Saurabh Sharma
7. Floral Oil Industry and Extraction of Essential Oils 85
Mukesh Kumar Sahu, Abhay Bisen, Toshima Kushram and Gaurav Sharma
8. Packaging: Modern Way for Reducing Postharvest Losses of
Horticultural and Agricultural Produce 99
Jyoti Patel, Abhay Bisen, Anchal Jaishwal and Ayushi Sahu
9. Processing Techniques for Extending Shelf Life of
Agroforestry Underutilized Fruits 117
Anchal Jaiswal, Sanjeev Gurjar, Sonali Harinkhere and Abhay Bisen
10. Floral Value Added Products for Employment Generation 129
Neerja Sharma, Vinod Gupta, Saurav Gupta, A.K. Sinha and
Vijay Kumar Sharma
11. Processing and Value Addition of Economically Important
Non-Wood Forest Products and Fruits 135
Anchal Jaiswal, S.L. Swamy, Jyoti Patel and Payal Vyas
12. Floriculture: Its Prospects and Scope 151
Neerja Sharma, Vinod Gupta, Saurav Gupta, A.K. Sinha and
Vijay Kumar Sharma
13. Cultivation of Dragon Fruit 157
Poonam, Pushpendra Rajput and Shubham singh Rathore
14. Importance of Conservation of Horticulture in Jammu Region 163
Neerja Sharma, Vinod Gupta, Saurav Gupta, A.K. Sinha and
Vijay Kumar Sharma
15. Nursery Management of Ornamental Plants 169
Neerja Sharma, Vinod Gupta, Saurav Gupta and A.K. Sinha
16. Scientific Cultivation of Agathi 175
Ankit Kumar Goyal, Nirankar and Rajmani Singh
17. Export Scenario of Indian Fresh Fruits: Potential and
Promotional Schemes 181
L.R. Dubey, Yash Padhiyar, Deepa Hiremath, Mahin Sharif and
Sandeep More
18. Opportunities in Floriculture for Livelihood Security 191
Neerja Sharma, Vinod Gupta, Saurav Gupta, A.K. Sinha and
Vijay Kumar Sharma
19. Modern Technology of Horticultural Crop Production 197
Tejendra Kumar, Neetu Saini and Joginder Singh
 ix
viii

20. Postharvest Handling Practices for Important Flowers 207

Neerja Sharma, Vinod Gupta, Saurav Gupta, A.K. Sinha and
Vijay Kumar Sharma
21. Current Scenario and Scope of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants 213
Priyal Choudhary, Amit Kumar Sharma and S.B. Das
22. Technological Interventions in Floriculture for
Doubling Farmers Income 217
Neerja Sharma, Vinod Gupta, Saurav Gupta, A.K. Sinha and
Vijay Kumar Sharma
23. Production Technology of Bael Fruit 225
Niharika Rathore and Poonam Bhadoriya
24. Effect of IBA Concentration and different Rooting Media
on Rooting and Survival of Air Layers of Guava
(Psidium guajava L.) cv. Gwalior 27 231
Shri Kunwar, Rajesh Lekhi and Pooja Ojha
25. Physiological Disorder/Nutrient Deficiency in Fruit Crops 239
H.K. Singh, Abhishek Singh and Rahul Singh Raghuvanshi
26. Drone Technology Used in Agriculture/Horticulture 249
Shrikunwar, Abhishek Anand and Reena Rawat
27. Role of Nanotechnology in Horticultural Crops 261
Nilesh Sharma and Intzar Singh Dawar
Index 273
Chapter 16

Scientific Cultivation of Agathi

Ankit Kumar Goyal1, Nirankar1 and Rajmani Singh2
1
Research Scholar, Department of Vegetable Science,
C.S.A.U.A.&T., Kanpur, U.P.
2
Research Scholar, Department of Horticulture, Babasaheb Bhimrao
Ambedkar University (A Central University), Lucknow, U.P.

Introduction
Agathi is generally known as vegetable hummingbird, West Indian pea,
Flamingo Bill, Swamp pea Tree, August Flower or Katurai and belongs to the
genus Sesbania in the family Leguminosae. It is a fast growing tree. Leaves,
pods, seeds and flowers are its economic parts. Agathi flowers and flower based
processed products such as its jelly have many health enhancing properties.
Agathi leaves contain a non-poisonous saponin which have laxative, diuretic
anthehelmintic and alixeteric properties. Agathi is grown in very limited scale
throughout the world. Major growing countries are Indonesia, Thailand, India,
Philippines and Laos. In India, Agathi is grown in many states, like Kerala,Tamil
Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana Orissa, West Bengal and Assam.

Origin
It is believed that agathi is originated from South East Asia and specially
Malaysia, India and Philippines region. Some literature also presents that agathi
is originated from India and linked it with the name of Vedic sage Agastya. One
Australian species Sesbania formosais most close to Sesbania grandiflora.
176 | Smart Horticultural Technologies

Some other common names of agathi in different Indian language:

Sl.No. Language Name
1 Marathi Heta
2 Gujrati Agathio
3 Telegu Avisha
4 Tamil Sevvagatti
5 Bangla Bokful
6 Oriya Agastee
7 Kannada Agase
8 Sanskrit Agasti

Botanical Description
Agathi is perennial in nature, deciduous or evergreen tree, grow up to about
10-15 meter high. Its life cycle is about 20 years. Its roots are heavily nodulated
and some floating roots may develop in waterlogged field. The trunk is straight
with some branches. The leaves are pinnately compound with oblong leaflets.
Agathi flowers colours are white, yellowish, pink or red and borne in axillary
racemes style. Agathi pods are 50-60 cm long, glabrous and indehiscent, and
hang vertically. Seed appears bean like, elliptical, brown red in a 6-8 mm pod
and weighing 1 g.

Uses
1. Culinary: Several dishes are prepared from its young leaves, flowers,
tender pods and seeds. Young white agathi flowers closed with petals
are used as vegetable. In some areas agathi leaves are also added in
coconut milk soup. In Myanmar sour soup is prepared from agathi
flower.
2. Fodder: Agathi leaves and pod are used as fodder for animals. Leaves
contain 9600 IU/100gm. Generally when plant attain height of 90-120
cm it cut and feed to animals with rice straw.
3. Fuel: Agathi wood becomes very lighter weight (500 kg/m2) so it burn
very rapidly without much heat.
4. Soil improvement: As already discussed Sesbenia grandiflora is a fast
growing tree this is why, it is used as a green manuring crop. Falling
leaflets, fruits and flowers work as mulch and improve soil fertility
very well.
5. Ornamental value: Agathi is used as live fence and live support for
vegetables crops like bottlegourd and spices too such as vanilla and
pepper. Its flower and long shaped pods give beautiful attraction and
plant near the cities.
Scientific Cultivation of Agathi | 177

6. Medicinal uses: Agathi is used in treatment for the various kind of

diseases it acts as purgative, worm killer, purgative anti ligament,
anti- helmintic and anti bacteria. Ethenol content of agathi flowers
and leaves is effective in hindering the tumor growth.

Nutritive Value of Agathi Flower and Leaves

As per the USDA nutrient database, 100g of agathi flowers having
Water 91.58gm Energy 27 kcal
Protein 1.28gm Fat 0.04gm
Ash 0.38gm Carbohydrates 6.73gm
Calcium 18mg Iron .84gm
Magnesium 12mg Phosphorous 30mg
Potassium 184mg Sodium 15mg
Vitamin C 73mg Thiamin 0.083mg
Riboflavin 0.081mg

According to the book, “Nutritive Value of Indian Foods,” in 100g agathi

leaves
Energy 93kcal Moisture 73gm
Protein 8gm Fat 1gm
Minerals 3g m Fiber 2gm
Carbohydrates 12g m Calcium 1130mg
Phosphorous 80mg
Iron 4mg

Varieties
There is no improved variety available in agathi which released through
systmetic breeding programme. But on the basis of the flower colour, agathi
can be classified into four distinct groups, which are given as:
1. Sita: This group produce white colour flowers
2. Peeta: This is a yellow flowered strain.
3. Neela: This group of plants produce blue colour flowers
4. Lohita: It is a red flowered strain.

Among these groups of varieties, white and red flowered groups are used
as vegetable and other groups are more popular for their medicinal uses. Red
flowered strain is more nutritious than white flowered one due to their high
content of phenolic compounds.
178 | Smart Horticultural Technologies

Climate and Soil

Agathi grows best in those area where annual rainfall range between 2,000
to 4,000 mm. It is adapted to the 1,000 m mean sea level and with temperature
22-30ºC. Agathi is frost sensitive and drought tolerant crop. Agathi require
plenty of sunshine. It comes up well in all types of soil but the grows the best in
black cotton soils. Agathi may also be grow in alkaline, saline, poorly drained,
less fertile soils. It comes up quickly when surface is loose and uneven.

Propagation
Commercially agathi is propagated through seeds. It also may be propagated
through stem and branch hardwood cuttings. Best time of seed collection is in
month of May. Seed viability of agathi seed is six months and weight of 1 kg
seed contains about 16000 seeds. The seeds are sown in the month of May- June
in polythene bags or in nursery beds. The seeds of agathi are germinated in a
week. The seedlings of agathi will be ready for transplanting after 30 to 45 days
of after sowing. The seedlings of agathi should be planted in pit size of 30cm x
30 cm x 30 cm. at the spacing of 100 cm x 100cm.

Nutrition Management
Application of nitrogenous fertilizer are beneficial to the crop.

Irrigation
Mostly agathi is cultivated as a rainfed crop but regular irrigation helps in
proper growth and development specially in summer season. Flower
development stage is noted as a critical stage of water requirement in agathi.

Pruning and Weeding

Aim of pruning in agathi is to provide dwarf stature to plant which is
helpful in harvesting of flowers leaves and pods. At least one pruning is done
once in a year.

Harvesting and Yield

Leaves, flowers and pods of the agathi plants are harvested for consumption
as vegetables at proper maturity stage. Leaves are produced throughout the
year in agathi. 3-4 harvests of leaves can be done in one year at the interval of
3-4 months. The full developed flowers are harvested for vegetable purpose.
Flowering time in agathi is September – December. Depending upon the cultural
practices and soil types, on an average a tree produce 100- 300 flowers per year.
A tree also produce 4.5 – 9.1 kg leaves per year.
Scientific Cultivation of Agathi | 179

Plant Protection
Insect Pests
Leaf Webbers
Symptoms
✰ Infest initially on the young leaves later on older leaves, buds and
pods, and develop webbings
✰ Defoliation of plant.
Management
✰ Remove and destroy badly infested part of plants.
✰ Apply spray of anyone insecticides such asphosalone 35 EC @ 2 ml/l
or fenvalerate 20 EC 0.5 ml/lit.
Stem Borers
Symptoms
These are wood-boring and most destructive pests of agathi plants. These
causes girdling, branch dieback, structural weakness, decline and eventual
death of susceptible plants. Infested sites of plants provide entry points for
plant pathogens.
Management
✰ Apply insecticides only during, when borers are vulnerable.
✰ Practice mulching around the plants
✰ Pruning the trees on the time
✰ Inject any organophosphate such as monocrotophos 36 WSC.
✰ Use carbaryl 50 Wp.
✰ Use kerosene oil.

Diseases
Collar Seedling Blight
Symptoms
✰ Infected at underground plant parts
✰ It is a fungal infection that causes the seed or seedling to rot and die.
✰ It can be signed by patches in the field that fail to germinate.
Management
✰ Seed should be treated with Trichoderma viride 4 g/kg of seed or Thiram
3 g/kg of seed.