a b s t r a c tGroundnut seeds are prone to quality deterioration and damage due to improper storage. Hermetic storage of pods offers a novel, sustainable and ecologically safe alternative over traditional methods. In this paper, we demonstrate the efficacy of triple-layer "Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS)" bags, (that comprises of two inner high density polyethylene bags and one outer woven polypropylene bag), for protecting pods from quality deterioration, damage by bruchids (Caryedon serratus) and aflatoxin contamination (Aspergillus flavus). Custom made triple-layer bags were used and pods (of cv ICGV 91114) were placed @ 2 kg/bag. Over four months of storage under ambient conditions, triple-layer bags supported retention of seed weight, germinability and oil content significantly better than cloth bags. Further, under both natural and artificial infestations with A. flavus, seed aflatoxins levels were lower in PICS bags compared to cloth bags. Toxin accumulation in PICS bags deliberately infested with bruchids and A. flavus was less compared to cloth bags under similar conditions. Bruchid damage to pods was less in PICS bags versus cloth bags in all cases. Our results suggest the superiority of triple-layer PICS bags over cloth bags in protecting seed viability, seed weight and oil content while safeguarding the groundnuts from bruchids and retarding toxin accumulation.

Essential oils of the leaf and root of Eryngium foetidum L. from Port Blair (Andaman and Nicobar) and Nadugani (Tamil Nadu) in India were investigated by GC and GC-MS analyses. The oils of the leaf and root from the two locations were found to contain alkanes, alkanals, alkenals, fatty acids, aromatic aldehydes, mono-, sesqui-and diterpenes, aromatic aldehydes and terpene aldehyde esters. The main components of the oil of the leaf from Port Blair were identified as a trimethyl benzaldehyde (16.5 %), dodecanal (4.7 %), muurola-4,10(14)-dien-1α-ol (10.2 %), neophytadiene isomer (4.5 %), hexahydrofarnesyl acetone (5.5 %), palmitic acid (4.6 %) and phytol (4.9 %). The composition of the root oil from Port Blair was found to be qualitatively similar to that of leaf oil, having the major constituents two isomers of trimethyl benzaldehydes (4.00 % and 57.0 %) and 2-formyl 1,1,5-trimethyl 2,5-cyclohexadien-4-yl-2-methylbutenoate (4.9 %). The leaf and root oils from Nadugani were found to be qualitatively similar but differed widely in their composition from the oils of Port Blair origin. The principal constituents of the oils of the leaf and root from Nadugani were found to be a trimethyl benzaldehyde (14.3 % and 24.1 %), (E)-2-dodecenal (2.8 % and 14.3 %), τ-cadinol (5.1 % and 7.3 %) and α-cadinol (6.9 % and 10.2 %). Many compounds which were hitherto not reported in the essential oils of E. foetidum were identified in the oils from the two locations in India.

An in vitro protocol has been developed for rapid multiplication of mature flowering plant of E. foetidum. The nodal and scape explants derived from 10-12 day old inflorescence explant were cultured on Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium supplementing with different concentrations and combinations of BAP and Kinetin. Both the explant types produced direct adventitious shoots varying in their number. Each adventitious shoot possessed a rosette of leaves with apical or axillary inflorescence or both inflorescence with well-developed rooting system. The entire process of adventitious shoot formation and mature plantlet development occurred within 3-4 weeks of culture. The well-organized shoots were individually excised and potted in the soil. Up to 95% of the plants survived under field conditions.