Survey and conservation of indigenous fruits of Western Ghats.

Abstract

Western Ghats region of India is one of the biodiversity hot spots of the world. The topography, wide rainfall variation and varied temperature conditions enable inhabitancy of several plant species. This plant wealth is being used in various forms by tribal and natives of the area for centuries. These gain further importance due to the fact that fruits ripe and serve as a source of food and medicine to tribal’s throughout the year. These wild fruits are source of minerals and vitamins in the diet of the rural people. The potential productivity and floristic diversity of the area has attracted the experts. There are more than 50 wild edible fruit species are available in Western Ghats region. These belong to 25 families and 38 genera. Out of the 25 families the important ones as a source of fruits are Apocynaceae, Anacardiaceae. Euphorbiaceae, Moraceae, Sapotaceae and Sapindaceae. The fruiting period of different species ranges between two to six months. The highest number of species mature from April to May .The availability of these fruits greduces after October. Some of these fruits such as Mangifera indica , Artocarpus heterophyllus, Carissa carandas, Emblica officinalis and Syzygium cuminii have been given emphasis in order to identify superior clones, production technologies. The collection, conservation and utilization on some of the fruits such as Garcinia indica and Garcinia gummigutta have started at various research organizations. Some other fruits namely Chrysophyllum roxburghii (Family Sapotaceae), Canthium parviflora Lamk syn. Plectronia parviflora (Lam.) Bedd. (Family Rubiaceae), Elaeagnus conferta Roxbsyn , E.latifolia L (Family Elaeagnaceae), Securina leucopyrus syn. Flueggea leucopyrus (Family Euphorbiaceae), Elaeocarpus tuberculatus Roxb (Family Elaeocarpaceae ), Nephelium stipulacum Bedd syn.Doratoxylon stipulatum, (Family sapindaceae) have potential for commercial cultivation.Some of these fruits were collected and analyzed at CHES, Chettalli and planted for conservation and evaluation in future. Few plants were also provided to local growers on farm conservation. The continuous depletion of forest and the increasing human disturbance resulted in losses of these species. There is need to conserve these fruits for future.