Euryale ferox Salisb. and Nuphar japonica DC. (Nymphaeaceae) micromorphology study from the Amur region

The article presents the results of a micromorphological study of two species of nymphaeans, Euryale ferox Salisb. and Nuphar japonica DC, fam. Nymphaeaceae Salisb. Detailed descriptions of the leaf blade and petiole are given. The main histological and topographic complexes and their proportions, and the histochemical features have been determined.

Impacts of Covid-19 on Makhana (Euryale ferox Salisb.) Food Industry in India

Background: Makhana or gorgon nut has popular and nutrition rich pop across India and many parts of the world. In the light of the recent makhana food production, there is now considerable concern about the crop management, processing and marketing of makhana pop. Due to Covid-19 spread, many agriculture sectors in India as well as in the World were badly affected because of restriction of movement of workers, changes in demand of consumers and restricted food trade policies and financial instability. Hence, the objective of this present experiment was to assess elaborately about impacts of Covid-19 spread on the production and marketing system of makhana. Methods: Crop management system was monitored and problems were detected by field visits and taking observations. The sample size was greater than 10 at each location for market analysis. Multistage random sampling at each stage and ‘Conventional method’ were adopted for per cent loss and gain. Result: According to August-2020 survey, Covid-19 spread and subsequent lock-down situation in India might reduce the total makhana production due to less labor involvement in the production process and would have adverse effect in the marketing system as well as on the export balance in the international market. Accordingly, a case study was also performed from the farmer field of Manigachhi, Darbhanga, Bihar, where crop losses occur from leaf blight due to improper crop management during lock-down situations and they farmers felt an existing weak marketing system. However, during the second survey in November (2020), it was evident that makhana industry got an sudden and impulsive change, due to increase in mass awareness about makhana as a nutrition dense medicinal food and immune booster. Early negative impact of Covid-19 was redressed and finally the makhana food industry became profitable on account of having medicinal and pharmaceutical value.

Synthesis, characterization, and antioxidant activity in vitro of selenium-Euryale ferox Salisb. polysaccharide

In order to obtain and explore selenide composed of selenium and polysaccharide, three parameters were selected to optimize the synthesis process of selenium-Euryale ferox Salisb. polysaccharide (Se-ESPS) by Box-Behnken design. Furthermore, ESPS-B1 separated from ESPS was selenitized to Se-ESPS-B1 by the optimal synthesis process, then the characterization, and antioxidant activity in vitro of Se-ESPS-B1 were explored. The result manifested that the Se content of Se-ESPS was (2.915 ± 0.03) mg/g according to the optimal synthesis process of Se-ESPS (reaction time at 5 h, reaction temperature at 81 ℃, weight ratio of Na2SeO3 to ESPS at 0.9 g/g). A series of detection results indicated that the characterizations of Se-ESPS-B1 were apparently distinguished from that of ESPS-B1. Moreover, the antioxidant experiments in vitro demonstrated that Se-ESPS-B1 could exert antioxidant activity by scavenging DPPH, ABTS,·OH, and increasing reduction ability. In conclusion, the synthesis process is an effective approach to harvest selenium-polysaccharide, and Se-ESPS-B1 may be utilized as a potential antioxidant or selenium nutritional supplement.

​Acknowledging Women’s When Gender Diversity in Foxnut Cultivation Makes More Productive: A Review

Foxnut (Euryale ferox) is considered an aquatic cash crop in India. It is one of the important states of India for the production of makhana. It is cultivated in several districts in North Bihar, where it is the main support for the livelihood of the poor people. Foxnut is mainly cultivated and processed by the fishing community. Studies on women in makhana production conducted in India and other countries concluded that women contribute far more to the production and processing. The involvements of women in growing foxnuts are impoverished and backward. Women with whole family members are occupied for generations and have acquired unique skills in processing which determines the quality of Makhana pop. Women also perform numerous labor-intensive activities such as weeding, collections, cleaning, drying, gradation, roasting, frying, popping, rubbing, storage and transportation. They also engaged in trading of guris and makhana pop and wages laborers for support in family income and livelihood.