ABSTRACT:
Gum is important natural biopolymers derived from biological system under stress situations, being used as principal components in food, pharmaceutical industries and plays a key role in social and livelihood of tribal communities. The joint Expert Committee for Food Additives (JECFA/FAO) defines gum kataya as the dried gum exudates obtained from Sterculia urens Roxb. and other related species of Sterculia family Sterculiaceae. The gum harvesting methods and processing techniques currently used are traditional and injurious. Hence, the sustainable harvesting of biopolymers through scientific techniques is essential to improve the quantity and quality of produce and it also need value addition to improve their marketability. Therefore, the study was undertaken in ICAR network project at IGKV, Raipur (CG) to find out the scientific bio safe techniques to extract biopolymers for potential production in Karaya (Sterculia urens Roxb.), Dhawara (Anogeissus latifolia Roxb.) and Drumstick (Moringa olefera). Plant physiological method (using graded concentration of gum enhancer ethephon by drill method) compared with mechanical and traditional techniques of tapping of biopolymers for the quantitative and qualitative analysis. It was observed that the tree inclination, tree elevation, direction of sun and time of application of ethephon, atmospheric temperature, relative humidity have significant impact on exudation of biopolymers. Injecting ethephon via drill method @ 3.9% in 4 ml applied in two concomitant doses from last week of March to second week of May (temperature > 38-40 "C, RH < 40-45%) in one month intervals was found significantly superior and safe for potential production in Karaya and Dhawara. However, ethephon@0. 39% in 4ml applied during second week of March to May was found significantly superior in drumstick when applied in month of Feb to April. The quality of produce obtained through drill method was also found superior as compared to traditional and mechanical methods of tapping these trees.