Basil herb agronomy and processing doc.pptx

Teaching material

1. Basil 'The King of herbs'

2. The Beginning…….. Basil originated in India and was brought to the Mediterranean via the spice route 1 12/26/16

3. The Greek word for basil means ‘ royal’ I t was believed that the king himself should harvest this herb only using a golden sickle. 2 The King of herbs...

4. The Lovers leaf…. In Romania basil took a more romantic turn.When a man accepts a basil from a woman , he is officialy engaged ... 3

5. 4 The Old Impression ... The French call basil ‘ herb royal ( Basilic ) ’ Jewish believe it adds vigor while fasting Basil was found in christ tomb after resurretion.

6. In Europe and India , basil is placed in the hand of dead to ensure safe and swift journey to the spirit world . The Egyptians and Greek believe it would actually open the gates of heaven for the person passing on to afterlife . The old Impression...

7. The Names…. S c ie n tif i c English French German Indian Italian Spanish Ocium Basilicum Basil Basilic Basilikum Tulsi Basilico Albahaca

8. The Leaders…. Italians were the first to use basil in cookery and incorporated its unique and erotic flavour to foods…..

9. Where can you find them ? Basil is an annual herb and is cultivated exstensively in : F r anc e Egypt Hungary Indonesia Morocco United States Greece

10. Sweet basil : Sweet,Genovese,mamoth,large leaf . Purple foliage basil : Dark opal,Purple ruffle Lemon basil : Lemon scented,sweet dani Types of basil..

11. Other varieties.. Cinnamon basil Spicy basil Camphor basil Licorice basil Anise basil

12. Culinary uses... Used as a herb as well as a condiment Flavours : Vinegar Confectionery products Liquers Soups Sauces Stews V e ge t ab l e s Poultry

13. Culinary uses Used as a preservative for its antioxidant properties . For flavouring and making of oil . Excellent for tomato ,spinach and squash . Used exstensively in Thai,Vietmnamese and Italian cookery.

14. Medicinal applications.. Antido t e for poison . Herbal remedy to diseases related to brain,kidney,heart,lungs and bladder . B asil used for its anti- asthmatic properties.

15. Medical application .. Seeds used as a laxative . Used in cosmetics for toning body . Used in conjugation with wine in enlarging the pores of the skin

16. Taxonomy and Botany of Basil Kingdom: Plantae Order : Lamiales Family: Lamiaceae Genus : Ocimum Species : O. basilicum Binomial name Ocimum basilicum L .

17. Basil is an annual herb cultivated for its leaves and flowers. Depending on the variety, plants can reach heights of 30 - 150  cm.  Its leaves are richly green and ovate . Basil grows a thick, central  tap root . Its flowers are small and white , and grow from a central  inflorescence , or  spike, that emerges from the central stem of the plant. Taxonomy and Botany of Basil ( Cont …)

18. Basil leaves

19. Basil tap root Basil flowers

20. Basil can be direct seeded or transplanted . Germination rate of the seed is 8 5 % . Soil must be kept moist to hasten germination . The cultivation process….

21. More on cultivation .. Seeds should be sown shallow . Emergence occurs within 8 - 14 days. Initial growth is slow ,only until the onset of leaves. Basil is a warm weather plant. Regular and even supply of water is essential.

22. The best fertilizer for basil plants is given by an equal mix of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. Liquid fertilizer is preferred as easier to apply. Apply every 2-3 weeks if outdoor due to their different rate of growth. Fertilizing basil…………

23. Pest management in basil Cercospora leaf spot

24. Avoid overhead irrigation and splashing plants with water , I nstead water plants from the base and apply a layer of mulch around the plants to reduce water splash ; R emove and destroy any symptomatic leaves ; Spraying with a fungicide containing potassium bicarbonate. Management

25. Downy mildew

26. Grow tolerant varieties . A pply protective fungicide . E nsure good air circulation around greenhouse grown plants. U se drip irrigation to avoid wetting foliage. Management

27. Gray mold

28. No chemical treatment available. A void working in field in rainy conditions. R emove infested leaves and/or plants Avoid overhead irrigation. Management

29. Aphids Cut worms Flea beetle Grasshoppers Insect Pests

30. H a rv e stin g .. The harvest depends on the projected use . For fresh and dried leaves - cut prior to appearance of flowers. For essential oil - Harvest during full bloom.

31. Processing…. The quality of basil is assosiated with colour and aroma retention. The leaves are dried at 35 degree centigrade . Then the leaves are cleaned. Later grinded to marketable size.

32. Processing for oil.. The basil is cut. Field dried Collected and distilles.

33. 12 / 26 / 1 6 Thank you