Tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.) is a versatile and multipurpose tropical tree species used as a fruit, seed and fuel wood; it is grown in various topo-edaphic conditions. The tree widely grows along road sides, with extensive cultivation by farmers and forest departments. Tamarind is utilized as food additives especially in south India; it is predominantly grown in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra, Bihar and Chhattisgarh. Tamil Nadu stands highest in the fruit production in India, with well established processing and marketing channels. The present book enlightens the production, processing, value addition, by-product development and marketing of tamarind. The objective of the book is to create awareness about the different products developed through tamarind pulp and seeds. The information detailed in the book will serve as a reference material for students, researchers, traders and farmers.

This work offers comprehensive, current coverage of preharvest and postharvest handling and production of fruits grown in tropical, subtropical and temperate regions throughout the world. It discusses over 60 major and minor crops, and details developments in fruit handling and disease control, storage practices, packaging for fruit protection, sizing equipment, conveyors, package fillers, refrigeration methods and more.

Spices are high value, export-oriented crops used extensively in food and beverage flavourings, medicines, cosmetics and perfumes. Interest is growing however in the theoretical and practical aspects of the biosynthetic mechanisms of active components in spices as well as the relationship between the biological activity and chemical structure of these secondary metabolites. A wide variety of phenolic substances and amides derived from spices have been found to possess potent chemopreventive, anti-mutagenic, anti-oxidant and anti-carcinogenic properties. Representing the first discussion of the chemical properties of a wide cross section of important spices, this book covers extensively the three broad categories of plant-derived natural products: the terpenoids, the alkaloids and the phenyl propanoids and allied phenolic compounds. Spice crops such as black pepper, ginger, turmeric and coriander are covered with information on botany, composition, uses, chemistry, international specifications and the properties of a broad range of common and uncommon spices.

Many herbs and spices, in addition to their culinary use for taste, contain chemical compounds which have medicinal uses. For this reason, herbs and spices have been used for treating various ailments since ancient times. Modern scientific methods have enabled researchers to isolate bioactive compounds from herbs and spices and perform chemical analyses, which can be used to develop medicines to treat different diseases. This book series is a compilation of current reviews on studies performed on herbs and spices. Science of Spices and Culinary Herbs is essential reading for medicinal chemists, herbalists and biomedical researchers interested in the science of natural herbs and spices that are common part of regional diets and folk medicine. The third volume of this series features the following reviews: 1. Anthelmintic Properties of Cinnamon for the Control of Agricultural and Public Health Pests 2. Nutraceutical Attributes of Tamarindus indica L. - Devils’ Tree with Sour Date 3. An Overview of the Tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.) Fruit: A Potential source of Nutritional and Health promoting Phytoconstituents 4. The Clinical Overview of Turmeric, Turmeric-based Medicines, and Turmeric Isolates 5. Origanum majorana: The Fragrance of Health 6. Black Pepper (Piper nigrum L.): The King of Spices 7. Coriander: A Herb with Multiple Benefits 8. Flax Seed (Linum usitatissimum) a Potential Functional Food Source.

While products such as bananas, pineapples, kiwifruit and citrus have long been available to consumers in temperate zones, new fruits such as lychee, longan, carambola, and mangosteen are now also entering the market. Confirmation of the health benefits of tropical and subtropical fruit may also promote consumption further. Tropical and subtropical fruits are particularly vulnerable to postharvest losses, and are also transported long distances for sale. Therefore maximising their quality postharvest is essential and there have been many recent advances in this area. Many tropical fruits are processed further into purees, juices and other value-added products, so quality optimisation of processed products is also important. The books cover current state-of-the-art and emerging post-harvest and processing technologies. Volume 1 contains chapters on particular production stages and issues, whereas Volumes 2, 3 and 4 contain chapters focused on particular fruit. Chapters in Volume 4 review the factors affecting the quality of different tropical and subtropical fruits from mangosteen to white sapote. Important issues relevant to each product are discussed, including means of maintaining quality and minimising losses postharvest, recommended storage and transport conditions and processing methods, among other topics. With its distinguished editor and international team of contributors, Volume 4 of Postharvest biology and technology of tropical and subtropical fruits, along with the other volumes in the collection, are essential references both for professionals involved in the postharvest handling and processing of tropical and subtropical fruits and for academics and researchers working in the area. Along with the other volumes in the collection, Volume 4 is an essential reference for professionals involved in the postharvest handling and processing of tropical and subtropical fruits and for academics and researchers working in the area Reviews factors affecting the quality of different tropical and subtropical fruits, concentrating on postharvest biology and technology Important issues relevant to each particular fruit are discussed, such as postharvest physiology, preharvest factors affecting postharvest quality and pests and diseases

Postharvest management of food crops is an important part of food safety and security across the supply chain. It includes processing of agricultural produce, storage, packaging and coating, postharvest disease management, extending shelf life, and maintaining food quality and safety. Postharvest Technology - Recent Advances, New Perspectives and Applications discusses some important aspects of postharvest technologies. Chapters address such topics as postharvest preservation technology, postharvest disease management, and postharvest processing and packaging.