Describes the contribution of Food industry sector in human health and nutrition Covers the eco-friendly approaches to reduce negative impacts of food processing on environment Discusses the use of advanced techniques such as nanotechnology, non-thermal techniques etc. to improve food processing

Describes the contribution of Food industry sector in human health and nutrition Covers the eco-friendly approaches to reduce negative impacts of food processing on environment Discusses the use of advanced techniques such as nanotechnology, non-thermal techniques etc. to improve food processing

Salicylic acid (SA) chemically known as 2-hydroxy benzoic acid, is a ubiquitous endogenous plant growth regulator of phenolic nature, synthesized by plants which acts as a vital endogenous signaling molecule in plant immune response. SA is recognized as a multifaceted element that have crucial roles in various plant physiological processes such as seed germination, seedling growth, photosynthetic activity, nutrient absorption and transport, respiration, nitrogen metabolism, thermogenesis, stomatal closure, flowering, expression of senescence-related genes, inducing antioxidant defense system and resistance to a broad spectrum of pathogens. SA mode of action varies with plant species, plant developmental phase, its mode of application, and its endogenous level in the plant. SA have high metabolic and physiological activity therefore, involved in the activation of plant defense responses against biotic and abiotic stress factors and also involved in the transcriptional reprograming and in controlling transcription and expression of several defense related genes. SA in minor quantities provide plant stress tolerance, but high amounts of SA triggers oxidative stress due to generation of plethora of ROS which ultimately lead to cell death. Under stress conditions, SA interplays with reactive oxygen species (ROS) as crucial signaling molecules for inducing genetically controlled defense-related mechanisms and expression of genes that cause defense against stress. Keeping these points in mind, various aspects like significance of SA for plants, its stress mitigation properties as well as cross-talk with other plant growth regulators have been mentioned. The book has seven chapters which deal with the role of phytohormone salicylic acid in plants, its mechanism of synthesis, signaling & homeostasis in plants, its crosstalk with ROS in mitigation of stress and its interaction with other plant growth regulators. We believe that this book comprises a wealth of knowledge to botanists, agriculturists, students and researchers of colleges and universities.

Brassica juncea is a salient oilseed crop and contributes highest in domestic edible oils. It belongs to Brassicaceae family (Cruciferae). This annual herb is widely known for its adaptation to varying climatic conditions and manifest tolerance to diverse soil types. Most of Brassica species are diploid and amphidioploid. Brassica juncea (n=18) which is commonly known as Indian mustard. It is Asiatic in origin with prime centre of its diversity found in china from where it migrated to India via Afghanistan and other countries. Mustard is largely self-pollinated rabi season crop of temperate region, which relatively requires cool temperature for its growth and thrive well in irrigated and rainfed conditions. Seeds of mustard serve as a cheapest and healthiest source of oil in regular diet. Apart from its culinary purposes, it is also used in preparation of soaps, hair oils, lubricants, paints and as a condiment in pickles. Mustard oil extracted from this plant leads to the creation of by-product known as mustard cake, which is used as manure. This oil cake is used as cover crop for animal fodder due to its high protein and glucosinolate content. Brassica juncea plants are medicinally important source of phytochemical compounds of therapeutic significance. Brassica plants are studied for their bioactive potential and are reported to contain several other classes of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, anthocyanins, phytosterols, chlorophyll, glucosinolates, phytosteroids, terpenoids, glycosides, vitamin C, vitamin E, aliphatic and aromatic amines. Due to presence of these compounds, the plant displays anti-bacterial, anti-malarial, anti-hyperglycemic, anti-aging, anti-proliferative, anti-ulcer, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-genotoxic, neuroprotective, antidiabetic and antioxidant activities. Brassica juncea has the potential to eliminate, detoxify or sequester heavy metals from polluted soil. Sequestrating ability of Brassica juncea pivots upon mobility of toxic substance, plant attribute and crop management aspects. The crop management aspects include above surface biomass of plants, intercropping, amendment of organic matter and incorporation of legumes for better phytoextraction via India mustard through boosting growth and soil metal dissipation. Brassica juncea are described as hyperaccumulator, as they are able to uptake high amount of heavy metals such as lead, copper, nickel from contaminated sites. The metal uptake by Brassica juncea is influenced by heavy metal availability in surroundings, rate of metal accumulation by roots, percentage of heavy metal fixed in the roots, rate of metal storing in xylem and transferring heavy metals to shoots and resistance of cells for heavy metals. Brassica juncea can effectively be cultivated and render soils contamination free. Assorted agronomic practices comprising irrigation, weed management, addition of fertilizers and chelators augments Brassica juncea potential. It exhibits noteworthy contribution in the world. Keeping these points in mind, various aspects like the botanical description, economic importance, cultivation practices, therapeutic potential and phytoremediation capacity of Brassica juncea has been described in this book. Apart from this, various breeding methods, genetic and molecular approaches have been well explained to improve the quality of this crop.