MSc

Floriculture industry is unique among agricultural industries where novelty
is an important attribute. World floriculture is expanding rapidly and new
innovations and introductions are in great demand to feed the ever hungry market
needs. It is in this interest that neglected or underutilized flower crop species (NUS)
comes to the picture from which we could identify and develop diversified uses of
floriculture. Even the present day top charactered crops of the industry are nothing
but just derived and developed only from wild germplasm resourses, the most
prominent among them being rose, chrysanthemum, carnation, gerbera and what
not, the orchids and anthurium.
Thirteen underutilized plants of Kerala were evaluated for use as cut
flowers, dry flower, for essential oil extraction and pigment extraction and
identification of components in their essential oils and pigments using GC-MS by
conducting both field studies as well as postharvest studies.
Out of the 10 plants selected for studying their use as cut flower, none were
found suitable. Five plants were selected for their suitability for dry flower
production. Among them, Cassia fistula got the highest cumulative score followed
byAntigonon leptopus,Calicopteris floribunda and Barleria obtusa. Least
cumulative score was obtained for Clerodendrum paniculatum. In Antigonon
leptopus and Clerodendrum paniculatum best method of drying was microwave oven
drying. Press drying was selected as the best method for Barleria obtusa and
Calicopteris floribunda. Embedded drying was found the most suitable method of
drying in Cassia fistula.
The fragrant flowers selected for extraction of essential oils were Gardenia
jasminoides, Plumeria spp and Quisqualis indica.Maximum essential oil yield was
observed in Gardenia jasminoides (0.61%).
The components in the essential oils were identified by gas chromatography and
mass spectrometry. In Gardenia jasminoides the components identified were
Ascalbin (0.7%), Nonadecane (0.80%), Dendaralasine (0.96%), Alpha famesene
(1.12%), Linalool (1.38%), Beta famesene (2.75%), Famesene (3.04%),
Henecosane (5.26 %), n-Tricosane (6.91%), n-octacosane (10.43%), Pentacosane
(13.19%), Monoethylhexyl phthalate (44.74 %). The volatile components identified
in Plumeria were α-Farnesene (1.08%), Benzoic acid, [(E,E)-3,7,11-trimethyl-
2,6,10-dodecatrien-1-yl] ester (1.08%), 1,6,10-Dodecatriene, 7, 11- dimethyl- 3-
methylene-E(1.17%), Cyclohexasiloxane, dodeca methyl (1.92%). Phenyl ethyl
alcohol (2.20%), 1,3,6,10-Dodecatetraene, 3,7,11-trimethyl-(Z,E)(2.93%), Oxalic
acid, decyl 2-phenyl ethyl ester (4.3%), Triphenyl phosphare (4.3%), Heptacosane
(6.32%), Nonacosane(6.40%) and Z-14-Nonacosane (6.40%) and Z-14-
Nonacosane(11.65%). The components responsible for fragrance in Quisqualis
indica were 2 H- Pyran-3-ol, 6-ethenyl tetra hydro-2,2,6-trimethyl(1.24%),
Heptacosane (1.44%), Cyclotetra siloxane, octamethyl (1.95), Triphenyl phosphate
(2.30%), Nonacosane(2.89%) and 5-Isoquinoline carbonitr (12.5%).
The flowers selected for extraction of pigments were Caesalpinia pulcherrima,
Cassia fistula, Clerodendrum paniculatum and Delonix regia. Two methods of
extraction selected were solvent extraction after fermentation and solvent extraction
after pretreatment with NaOH. In the entire species pigment yield was higher for
solvent extraction after pretreatment. Highest oleoresin yield was observed in
Clerodendrum paniculatum (0.60g), which was followed by Delonix regia (0.5g)
and Cassia fistula(0.39). The lowest yield was observed in Caesalpinia
pulcherrima (0.38g). After fermentation, Clerodendrum paniculatum gave highest
oleoresin yield (0.43g). This was followed by Delonix regia(0.4g), Cassia
fistula(0.3g) and Caesalpinia pulcherrima(0.28g). Highest carotenoid yield was
observed in Cassia fistula (70.04mg/ 100 g) and highest anthocyanin yield was in
Clerodendrum paniculatum (574.76mg/100g)). In Caesalpinia pulcherima
carotenoid
content
was
recorded
as
15.35mg/100g
and
anthocyanin
488.75mg/100g. Anthocyanin yield of Cassia fistula was 0.35mg. Clerodendrum
paniculatum recorded 2.98mg of carotenoid. Delonix regia recorded carotenoid and
anthocyanin yield of 60.2 mg and 510 mg respectively.
In the present study none of flowers were found suitable for use as cut
flower. Out of the 5 plants selected for studying for use as dry flower, Cassia
fistulawas the most suitable one. All the species selected for essential oil extraction
were suitable for the purpose .In pigment extraction, highest oleoresin yield was
observed in Clerodendrum paniculatum (0.60g), which is followed by Delonix
regia (0.5g) and Cassia fistula(0.39).
Future line of work suggested in this aspect based on the light of results are
evaluation of more underutilized ornamental flowers available in our locality with
a view of their commercialisation for specific traits and further evaluation of
extracted pigments for their use in food industry.