PhD

Floriculture is identified as one of the extreme focus areas in the world for
promoting agricultural exports. In the increasingly competitive international cut
flower trade, novelty has always been considered as an important attribute. The
importance of' Speciality cut flowers', in tune with the changing human taste, has
thus been emphasized. Ornamental gingers belong to the group of new
ornamentals which satisfy the changing need of the global flower trade.
Forty one species/varieties of ornamental gingers belonging to SIX
different genera, namely, Alpinia, Costus, Etlingera, Zingiber, Curcuma and
Tapeinochilos, were evaluated for suitability for planting in landscapes, as cut
flower, cut foliage and loose flower, based on various quantitative and qualitative
characters.
Tall growing plants belonging to Etlingera sp, Costus sp. and Zingiber sp.
were suitable as accent plant, for background planting, foundation planting,
screening for privacy, corner planting and border planting. Costus curvibracteatus
and C. osae having different coloured foliage, can be planted in attractive
combinations. Curcuma sp. and Costus sp. were suitable for border planting.
Inflorescences of Etlingera sp., Zingiber sp., Alpinia purpurata and
Curcuma sp. were ideal for use as cut flowers in bouquets and flower
arrangements. Pulsing treatments with various concentrations of BA and HQC
indicated that BA 50 ppm enhanced the vase life of cut flowers. Cold storage at
10°C increased the shelf life of cut flowers up to 23 days.
The acceptability of different species of cut flowers was evaluated for
flower arrangements, bouquet making, as loose flowers for garland making,
tinting and for use as dry flowers. Etlingera sp. scored the highest points as cut
flowers, followed by Curcuma sp., Zingiber zerumbet, Z. ottensi and Alpinia
purpurata. None of the ornamental gingers was suitable for use as loose flower.




Tinting in Curcuma hybrid 'Pathumrat White' using red, yellow and green colours
increased the aesthetic value.
Natural perfumery industry currently depends on a very few flowers like
rose, jasmine and tuberose. Therefore Michelia champaca, Artrabotrys
odoratissimus, Pandanus odoratissimus, Clerodendrum fragrance and Mimusops
elengi were evaluated for extraction of oil., Fully opened flowers were suitable for
oil extraction, compared to flower buds. Among the different methods, only
solvent extraction was suitable for extraction of oil. Concrete oil yield from
flowers was the highest in Michelia champaca (0.48%), which was on par with
Artrabotrys odoratissimus (0.46%), followed by Pandanus odoratissimus
(0.30%). The lowest yield was recorded in Mimusops elengi (0.18%).
Fragrant components identified in Michelia champaca were phenyl ethyl
alcohol (2.82%) and terpinen-t-ol (2.79%). The major components in Artrabotrys
odoratissimus included linalool (4.29%), 2,3-dimethoxytoluene (1.54%), geraniol
acetate (2.8%), benzyl benzoate (26.94%) and caryophyllene (l.21 %), whereas,
those in Pandanus odoratissimus were palmitic acid (14.42%), 9,12-
octadecadienal, (Z) (5.09%) and a-terpineol (4.87%), 2-phenyl ethyl alcohol
(1.34%). In Mimusops eledgi the major components were 3-cyano-3-octyl-l,4-
cyclohexadiene (9.32%), benzyl alcohol (0.76%), oxalic acid, dodecyl 2-
phenyl ethyl ester (8.83%) and E,E) -farnesyl acetate (1.18%).
Bixa orellana, Nyctanthes arbor-tristis, Spathodea companulata and
Hibiscus rosasinensis were evaluated for pigment extraction. The highest
oleoresin yield (10.42%) ~as recorded in Nyctanthes arbor-tristis, which was
significantly supenor, followed by Bixa orellana (6.71 %), Spathodea
companulata (5.28%) and Hibiscus rosasinensis (4.71%). The highest oleoresin
yield was recorded in enzyme cellulase and NaOH treated Nyctanthes arbor-tristis
(13.6%), followed by Bixa orellana (10.0%), Spathodea companulata (10.0%)
and Hibiscus rosasinensis (8.0%). The major components of pigments in all the
species were anthocyanins and carotenoids. The highest yield of carotenoids
(1789mg) as well as anthocyanins (1223.9mg) was recorded in Bixa orellana.