Mesta-an orphan crop: Status and perspectives for genetic enhancement for productivity and value addition through frontier science

Abstract

Mesta is one of the most important lingo-cellulosic bast fibre crop providing high amount of biomass, however, fibre yield is exceedingly low. It is a multipurpose crop having both domestic and industrial uses and prospects immensely in biofuel manufacturing, carbon trading and subsequently in maintenance of soil fertility. Unfortunately predominant use of synthetic fibres globally reducing its demand drastically. It is a very hardy crop owing to its vigorous growth with considerable drought tolerance. As it is grown as an orphan crop virtually under near zero management no serious efforts has been made to genetically improvise its productivity except some sporadic efforts through exploration to collect diverse germplasm and selection of superior stocks. Meagre efforts have been made to make superior lines even through hybridization. Deployment of modern tools and techniques as embodied in the frontier science like plant biotechnology is virtually nil. The present article narrates the till date achievements made through some systematic scientific interventions and efforts have been made to display diverse avenues through, which this important crop can be improvised endowed with premium quality fibre and other trait enrichment and thus to harness the benefits of this green technology with concurrent attainment of farm prosperity in a remunerative-scale