Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
2007 and Walther et al., 2002). Available evidence indicates that spring
emergence has generally been occurring progressively earlier since the
1960s. Such accelerated spring onset has generated noticeable changes
in the phenolgical events of many plant species, such as the timing of
plants' bud bursts, first leafings, first flowerings or first seed, etc. Records
indicate that many plants have started blooming earlier in response to the
earlier occurrences of spring temperatures and weather. There is a concern
made by environmentalists as flowers are losing their scent due to climate
change and air pollution, also their fragrance may be lost forever.
In recent news of Times of India, the total export from Hosur (District
Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu), last season was more than 12 million rose flow-
ers but now it has reduced to 8 million as the nights are extremely cold
while the day is steaming hot thus climate change has had a negative im-
pact on rose production (Shaji and Kumaran, 2013).
According to recent research review it was found that plants have al-
ready begun emitting more smelly chemicals known as biogenic volatile
organic compounds (BVOCs). Higher temperatures not only cause plants
to produce more BVOCs, they also often lengthen their growing seasons,
prolonging the period over which they generate the fragrant compounds
(Hattam, 2010). Penuelas and Staudt (2010) finds that these changed
emissions can lead to unforeseeable consequences for the biosphere struc-
ture and functioning, and can disturb biosphere feedback on atmospheric
chemistry and climate with a direction and intensity that warrants in-depth
investigation.
Absence of required chilled weather during winter and severe heat dur-
ing the summer has adversely hit production of roses in Pune district. The
climate has affected quality of the flowers, thus leading to 50% decline in
their export. The rose producers, which were already facing crisis due to
recession, are now facing additional problem due to the unfavorable cli-
mate. A large number of farmers from Maval taluka in the district produce
export quality flowers, especially roses, in green houses. There are over
50 commercial firms, which are involved in flower production at the 250
hectares Floriculture Park in Talegaon Dabhade (Anon, 2009). The tem-
perature fluctuation has not only affected early production but stunted the
growth of the stems. The roses were blooming before they could grow to
their full size and the stems were shorter. These aberrations in production
found no takers in the export markets and are now being dumped in the do-
mestic market. The flower is known to last only for 10 days after harvest-
