Why some plants disappoint us?

 Why some plants disappoint us?

It is a painful sight to see friends lamenting that the Jasmine cuttings / Rose cuttings so affectionately carried to our place in Nainital or Simla, lack the distinct fragrance [known for their flowers in their places] is missing despite superior climate and all agronomic care bestowed on to them. I can only sympathize with them because, they are honest in their care of the plant; but, the plant is not any disloyal to the caretakers. Either are performing to their best.  But, what goes wrong? To put the record straight, some clarity about plant growth and the role of climate over their ‘products’ m nature deserve understanding.

Humans seldom review themselves for any change in them since their settling in some place like England/ US A/ Australia from their original abode at Paramakkudi or Uththirakosamangai down South. But, they want Aruppookkottai Jasmine to bear fragrant flowers in Minnesota or Vermont. True the plant taken from our tropical homeland are gregarious in foliage in new place but disappoint us by flowers. Why+?

One more disappointment of which migrants to US from India avoid discussion [like the proverbial scorpion-stung thieves] is the less tasty vegetable from US departmental stores, fielding massive Brinjals, cute Ladies finger and similar stuff [home-grown in US]. Back home some of them muster courage to fight with the wife that ‘you are no good a cook compared to my mom’; obviously many lament in silence , lest domestic peace should get torn  to pieces and a ready retort  as to “why not you get your mom to cook for us here?”

Another occasion when these India-born Diaspora let their emotions emerge at a weak moment –tasting the items –‘rasam’, ‘Murukku’ or similar stuff served in weddings ; after a sumptuous tasting of them, they reveal – ‘whatever we may try , the taste of Items in India’ are indeed mouth-watering’ and the same TASTE does not come about in USA. People who are on a high key decibel talking about living conditions, civic quality and silent society around in their area, drop into eerie silence to speak about the inability in improving the taste of food even by the most accurate recipe.  The missing factor in all the above instances pertain to soil minerals and climate. These two determine a variety of plant features.

Yes, biological systems –plants/ animals tune themselves to the conditions of soil and climate prevalent in the ‘new home’. Plants obtain the elements from the soil and assemble their structures through proteins and generate carbohydrates, proteins and sugars typical for their species. It is the precise assembly of such minerals that is responsible for the ‘fidelity’ in taste and aroma of each vegetable. However, the size of the fruits or flowers of a species get determined by the water content and ‘freedom’ of growth permissible by climate. Tropical climate [warm through the best part of the year] places a restriction over fruit or flower size. General freedom for such growth is a balance between genetic potential and the freedom from climate. Conducive cold climates encourage bigger dimensions for structures through accumulation of water and consequent enlargement in size. Recall how the massive brinjal fruits give off water when put in the frying pan and attain a low volume upon cooking.

Tropical warm geographic territories restrict growth in size and the water content thereof. At the same time the fruits, vegetables or seeds have minerals and low water content. In order to hold the water in the cells, the flowers /fruits have water-binding substances. To attract pollinators, the flowers secrete ethereal oils with typical fragrance. Also, when fruits of tropical plants ripen they give off ‘fruity smell’  by the evaporating substances and ethylene. In cold climates, the oil content and the readiness to evaporate are  very low and so hill station flowers and fruits do not draw attention by fragrance. The problem is compounded by an inherent low content of evaporable oils. We can try to grow plants / flowers / fruits in our territory with no control over their mineral uptake/ quantum of water held within and the assembly of rich oils of  vapourizing ability. Better not to lament over what cannot be altered or alerted by us.

Prof. K.Raman