a fine tilth by repeated ploughing and harrowing. Ridges and furrows are then formed at 45-
60 cm spacing. Well decomposed FYM at 10-15 t/ha and basal fertilisers are incorporated in
the furrows. Seeds being very small are mixed with fine sand or soil, sown in furrows and
covered lightly with a thin layer of soil. A fertilizer dose of 80:30:30 kg N, P 2 O 5 and K 2 O/ha
is generally recommended for the crop while 150:40:40 kg/ha is suggested in poor soils for
better yields. The furocoumarin content of Ammi majus is increased by N fertiliser and the N
use efficiency increases with split application of N at sowing, branching and at flowering.
For obtaining high yields it is essential to give one or two hoeings during November to
February which keeps down the weeds. If winter rains fail, one irrigation is essential during
November to January. As the harvesting season is spread over a long period of time, two
irrigations during March and April meets the requirements of the crop (Chadha and Gupta,
1995).
White ants and cut worms are reported to attack the crop which can be controlled by
spraying the crop with 40g carbaryl in 10 l of water. Damping off and powdery mildew are
the common diseases of the crop. Seed treatment with organomercuric compounds is
recommended for damping off. To control powdery mildew the crop is to be sprayed with
30g wettable sulphur in 10 l of water whenever noticed.
The crop flowers in February. Flowering and maturity of seed is spread over a long
period of two months. The primary umbels and the early maturing secondary umbels are the
major contributors to yield. A little delay in harvesting results in the shattering of the seed
which is the main constraint in the commercial cultivation of the crop and the main reason for
low yields in India. Sobti et al (1978) have reported increased yield by 50 - 60% by the
application of planofix at 5 ppm at flower initiation and fruit formation stages. The optimum
time of harvest is the mature green stage of the fruit in view of the reduced losses due to
shattering and maximum contents of furocoumarins. The primary umbels mature first within
35 - 45 days. These are harvested at an interval of 2-4 days. Later, the early appearing
secondary umbels are harvested. Afterwards, the entire crop is harvested, stored for a couple
of days and then threshed to separate the seeds. The seed yield is 900-1200 kg/ha.
Postharvest technology
The processing of seed involves solvent extraction of powdered seeds, followed by
chilling and liquid extraction and chromatographic separation after treatment with alcoholic
HCl. Bergapten, xanthotoxin and xanthotoxol can be separated. Xanthotoxol can be
methylated and the total xanthotoxin can be purified by charcoal treatment in acetone or
alcohol.
Properties and activity
Ammi majus fruit contains amorphous glucoside 1%, tannin 0.45%, oleoresin 4.76%,
acrid oil 3.2%, fixed oil 12.92%, proteins 13.83% and cellulose 22.4%. This is one of the
richest sources of linear furocoumarins. Ivie (1978) evaluated the furocoumarin chemistry of
taxa Ammi majus and reported the presence of xanthotoxin, bergapten, imperatorin,
oxypencedanin, heraclenin, sexalin, pabulenol and many other compounds. Furocoumarins
have bactericidal, fungicidal, insecticidal, larvicidal, moluscicidal, nematicidal, ovicidal,
viricidal and herbicidal activities (Duke, 1988).