About Me |
|---|
Dr. Merugu Chandra Surya Rao working as Assistant Professor in the Department of Horticulture, M. S. Swaminathan School of Agriculture, Centurion University of Technology and Management, Paralakhemundi campus, Odissa. He has various academic degrees to his credit i.e. B.Sc. (Horticulture), M.Sc. (Horticulture) and Ph.D. (Horticulture) from College of Horticulture, Dr. Y.S.R. Horticultural University, Andhra Pradesh. His area of specialization is on Plantation, Spices, Medicinal and Aromatic Crops. He carried out his masters research on topic entitled “STUDIES ON INFLUENCE OF IRRIGATION METHODS AND CROP FACTOR ON THE PHYSIOLOGICAL, BIOCHEMICAL AND YIELD PARAMETERS IN OIL PALM (Elaeis guineensis JACQ.)” under the guidance of Dr. B. N. Rao, Principal Scientist (Hort.), ICAR-INDIAN INSTITITE OF OIL PALM RESEARCH, Pedavegi, West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh. He did his doctoral research on topic entitled “EFFECT OF PACKING MATERIAL AND STORAGE CONDITIONS ON NATURAL AND VALUE ADDED PRODUCTS OF PALMYRAH (Borassus flabellifer L.)” in the year August, 2020 under the guidance of Dr D V Swami, University Librarian and Principal Scientist & Head, Post Harvest Technology Research Station, Dr YSR Horticultural University. He also qualified ASRB - NET Exam in the year 2018 and 2019 respectively. He has Published 10 research articles in national and international journals, 3 book chapters, 3 conference proceedings and attended for 15 national and international conferences. he was also awarded with BEST RESEARCHER AWARD for the year 2020 by IJIEMR –Elsevier SSRN, OUTSTANDING/ BEST THESIS AWARD (2021) by Society for Scientific Development in Agriculture and Technology, Meerut and KALP-YOUNG HORTICULTURIST AWARD (2021) by Kalp Laboratories (KLCBAS) & The Bouquet Society. |
- Plantation
- Spices
- Medicinal and Aromatic Crops
- Plantation
- Spices
- Medicinal and Aromatic Crops
- Fundamentals of Horticulture and Post Harvest Management in Horticulture Crops
- PALMS
- PLANTATION CROPS
Research Fields
The present investigation entitled Effect of packing material and storage
conditions on natural and value added products of palmyrah (Borassus flabellifer L.)†was
carried out with an objective to investigate the influence of different packing
material and storage conditions on shelf life and keeping quality of natural
and value added products of palmyrah during March 2018 to January 2020 at Postharvest
Technology Research Station, Dr.Y.S.R
Horticultural University, Venkataramannagudem, West Godavari District.
The experiment was conducted in completely
randomized factorial design with two factors at unequal levels and replicated
thrice. LDPE50 micron pouch, HDPE 50 micron pouch, aluminium foil pouches, PET
bottle and glass bottle were the packing
material and ice box, cold storage at 2oC,
cold storage at 4oC, refrigerated storage and ambient conditions
were the storage conditions used during the period of investigation.
Results revealed that, in all the experiments physico-chemical
parameters like total soluble solids (oBrix), reducing sugars (%),
phenolic content (mg), titrable acidity (%), alcohol content (%), physiological
loss in weight (PLW %), spoilage (%), browning (%) and moisture content (%) followed
an increasing trend, whereas parameters such as pH, total sugars (%), non-reducing
sugars (%), shelf life (days), fiber (%), protein (%) and starch (%) followed a
decreasing trend from the initial day to the end of storage. The decreasing
trend was observed for organoleptic parameters like taste, flavour, texture and
overall acceptability.
The maximum total soluble solids (10.80oBrix),
reducing sugars (5.76%), total sugars (9.63%), minimum phenolic content (0.323 mg)
and titrable acidity (1.116%) were recorded when palmyrah neera was packed in HDPE 50 micron pouch. Similarly, the maximum
total soluble solids (10.83oBrix), reducing sugars (5.75%), total
sugars (9.57%), minimum phenolic content (0.322 mg) and titrable acidity
(1.266%) was recorded when palmyrah neera
was stored in cold storage at 2oC.
The maximum total soluble solids (7.16oBrix),
reducing sugars (5.41%), total sugars (8.59%), shelf life (6.10 days), minimum
titrable acidity (0.418%), physiological loss in weight (3.46%), spoilage (34.7%)
and browning (0.026%) were recorded when palmyrah tender fruit endosperm (nungu) was packed in LDPE 50 micron pouch.
Similarly, the maximum total soluble solids (8.94oBrix), reducing
sugars (5.39%), shelf life (7.50 days), minimum titrable acidity (0.429%), physiological
loss in weight (3.52%), spoilage (35.15%) and browning (0.028%) were recorded
when palmyrah tender fruit endosperm (nungu)
was stored in cold storage at 2oC.
The maximum total soluble solids (9.07oBrix),
reducing sugars (5.72%), total sugars (8.30%) and minimum phenolic content
(0.195 mg) of palmyrah jaggery was recorded when packed in LDPE 50 micron pouch.
Similarly, the maximum total soluble solids (9.00oBrix), reducing
sugars (5.75%), total sugars (8.08%) and minimum phenolic content (0.192 mg) of
palmyrah jaggery was recorded when stored in cold storage at 2oC.
The maximum total soluble solids (6.60oBrix),
reducing sugars (10.20%), total sugars (15.23%), protein content (2.53%), fibre
content (10.96%), minimum titrable acidity (1.42%) and phenolic content (15.73
mg) were recorded for palmyrah tuber flour packed in LDPE 50 micron pouch. Similarly,
the maximum total soluble solids (6.63oBrix), reducing sugars (10.12%),
total sugars (15.05%), protein content (2.49%), fibre content (10.45%), minimum
titrable acidity (1.40%) and phenolic content (15.61 mg) of palmyrah tuber
flour was recorded in cold storage at 2oC.
The organoleptic score for the palmyrah neera, palmyrah tender fruit endosperm (nungu) and jaggery followed a decreasing trend during the period
of storage, and the best score for taste, flavour, texture and overall
acceptability was recorded for products packed in LDPE 50 micron pouch and
stored in cold storage at 2oC.
The highest benefit cost ratios were obtained in the
treatment combination of HDPE 50 micron and cold storage at 2oC in neera (2.01), LDPE 50 micron pouch and cold storage at 2oC in nungu (1.93), jaggery (1.32) and tuber flour (1.20).
The present investigation revealed that, the superiority for physico-chemical, sensory parameters and benefit cost ratios of neera were recorded when packed in HDPE 50 micron pouch and stored in cold storage at 2oC whereas, for palmyrah tender fruit endosperm (nungu), jaggery and tuber flour were recorded when packed in LDPE 50 micron pouch and stored in cold storage at 2oC.
Recent Publications (International Journals)
| Sl. No. | Title | Issuer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | IJIEMR ELSEVIER SSRN RESEARCH AWARD UNDER THE CATEGORY OF BEST RESEARCHER AWARD FOR THE YEAR 2020 | IJIEMR ELSEVIER SSRN RESEARCH AWARD |
| 2 | 2) OUTSTANDING/ BEST THESIS AWARD (2021) | Society for Scientific Development in Agriculture and Technology, Meerut |
| 3 | Kalp-Young Horticulturist Award (2021) | Kalp Laboratories (KLCBAS) & The Bouquet Society |
| 4 | Adjudged 1st position for oral presentation at National Seminar on “Climate Resilient Technologies for Sustainable Agriculture - Interventions and Approaches” held at MSSSoA, CUTM, Odisha | MSSSoA, CUTM, Odisha |
Academic Honors & Awards
Influence of different methods and levels of irrigation on vegetative growth and yield of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.)
Physiological and Biochemical Responses of Oil Palm (Elaeis Guineensis Jacq.) in Relation to Fresh Fruit Bunch Yield under the Influence of Irrigation at different Crop Factors
Influence of different methods and levels of irrigation using crop factor on physiological responses of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) in relation to fresh fruit bunch yield
Influence of Different Methods and Levels of Irrigation on Photosynthetic Pigments in Relation to Yield of Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.)
Influence of different levels and methods of irrigation on biochemical responses in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.)
Influence of packing material and storage conditions on quality and sensory attributes of Palmyrah (Borassus flabellifer L.) tender fruit endosperm
Physico-Chemical Properties of Palmyrah (Borassus flabellifer L.) Natural and Value Added Products
“Influence of packing material and storage conditions in extending shelf life and quality attributes of Palmyrah (Borassus flabellifer L.) Jaggery”
“Influence of different storage temperatures and packing material in extending shelf life and quality attributes of Palmyrah (Borassus flabellifer L.) Neera”
Effect of packing material and storage conditions on storage stability of Palmyrah (Borassus flabellifer L.) tuber flour
“Scope, Nutritional Importance and Value Addition in Palmyrah (Borassus flabellifer L.): An Under Exploited Crop”
Management and Processing of Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq) The Crop For Future
India is one of the largest producers and consumers of edible oils and fats in the world which contributes about 7-8% of the world oilseeds, 6-7% of the global vegetable oils and is the fifth largest edible oil economy in the world. Even though India occupies a prominent position in the global oilseeds production, its average yield for major oilseeds is 40-60 per cent below the world average and has been growing at a slow pace. India is having rich agro-ecological diversity and ideally suited for growing all major oil seed crops. It is reported that the bulk of edible oil imports in India are palm oil from Malaysia and Indonesia and soybean oil from Argentina because for the reason that the average yield of many of these oil seed crops (ground nut, mustard or rape seed, sunflower, sesame, safflower and niger) are very low, compared to other crops like oil palm. On the contrary even after that edible oil per capita consumption levels in India are far below when compared to world average due to various reasons such as high demand-supply gap, higher prices and low agricultural production of oil seeds. This stressful situation is further aggravated by some traders who indulge in malpractices of adulteration of these oils with cheaper oils and synthetic colors for economic benefit. The present chapter discusses state-of-art of crop management and processing of oil palm which is considered as the crop for future.
Medicinal Plants: Retrospective and Prospective
Medicinal plants or medicinal herbs have been used for humankind to cure
different ailments since long back. It has a fascinating history intertwined
with the culture, tradition, and well-being of human civilizations across the
world. Plants synthesizing secondary metabolites known as phytochemicals
were identified to use in different therapeutic actions. These phytochemicals
are essentially the active constituents present in different parts of the
medicinal plants with immense biological properties. With all these attributions
over the time and wisdom of human civilization, these special groups
of plants and their products have been gradually elevated from their folkloric
usage to modern medicinal essentialities. Phyto-chemical contents and pharmacological
actions of the plants need to be reassessed thoroughly by means
of scientific research keeping their efficacy and safety as the main focus.
Both for biodiversity enrichment and increased human empowerment, widespread
growing, and processing of medicinal plants is altogether necessary.
Post Harvest Management, Processing And Value Addition of Seed Spices
The most remunerative commodities of the arid and semi-arid regions
of India are seed spices which are high value and low volume crops.
This group of spices is consists of crops like coriander, cumin, fennel,
fenugreek, ajwain, nigella, dill, celery, anise, caraway etc. India being
the world leader in seed spice production, consumption and export
has to go a long way in the overall development of these crops and
their growers. However, horticultural produce are highly perishable
with a post harvest loss of estimates between 30-50%. The losses are
due to poor pre production and post harvest management as well as
lack of appropriate processing and marketing facilities. These post
harvest losses have several adverse impacts on farmer’s income,
consumer prices and nutritional quality of the produce. Now - a - day’s
quality has become the key word and focal point for spices production,
processing, transport and retailing. The consumption of spices is
increasing with the improvement in the living standards of the countries
all over the world. The expansion of trade in spices will be invariably
achieved by means of induction of value added spice products in the
market. The post harvest handling activities start after the harvesting of crop as a part of primary processing first with drying of freshly
harvested crop, threshing, seed drying, cleaning, grading, packing and
transportation of whole seed to market, processing plant or storage
place. The production, processing, value addition and export, need a
set of good action plans. The post harvest technology of spices
comprises of a whole group of operations such as pre treatments, drying,
cleaning, sorting, grading and packing. These aspects are briefly
covered in this chapter.
Scope, Nutritional Importance and Value Addition in Palmyrah (Borassus flabellifer L.): An Under Exploited Crop
Palmyrah palm has great economic potential and every part of the palm is useful
in one way or the other is considered as ‘kalpaga tharu’. The palm is found growing
widely in southern states of India. As the value addition in palmyrah is not standardized,
the palmyrah products viz. tender fruit endosperm (nungu), neera, jaggery
and tuber flour are not commercialized so far. Even though palmyrah is an
economically important palm for its nutritional aspects, it has not received proper
attention from the agricultural research workers, probably on account of the fact
that it is very slow growing palm and mostly found in the wild state. In this context,
knowing the physico-chemical properties and development of value added products
and popularizing the same is essential.
Processing of Medicinal And Aromatic Crops
The medicinal and aromatic crops are firmly emerging on the scene in
Indian agriculture from three different perspectives. First, the
traditional health system under Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani have
become popular mainly due to the holistic treatment, cost of
treatment and least side effects. This has spurred the demand for
medicinal herbs and aromatic plants. Second, the herbs and plants
were collected from the natural habitat and under minimal supervised
environment. As a result, the density of medicinal and aromatic plants
in the natural habitat started declining at a faster rate. This over
exploitation of these plant species has led to the cultivation of these
under field conditions. Lastly, medicinal and aromatic crops have
better economic opportunities as against the traditional field crops.