Tapping the potential of arid fruit genetic resources for nutritional security

Abstract

India is considerably rich in biological diversity of arid fruits such as ber (Ziziphus mauritiana), aonla (Emblica officinalis), bael (Aegle marmelos), pomegranate (Punica granatum), jamun (Syzygium cuminii), karonda (Carissa carandas) phalsa (Grewia subinaequalis), wood apple (Feronia limonia), custard apple (Annona squamosa), fig (Ficus carica), tamarind (Tamarindus indica), mulberry (Morus sp.), lasoda (Cordia myxa) etc. The most of them are not commercially grown but provides significant source of livelihood support for many rural communities. These fruit species are immensely productive by surviving harsh arid agro-climatic conditions such as high and low temperature, erratic rainfalls, frequent drought, soils with low nutrients and water holding capacity and require low inputs. Arid fruit crops provide micronutrients (minerals and vitamins) along with macro nutrients with high biological utilization efficiency. These fruits are rich in phyto-chemicals such as anthocyanins, carotenoids, phenols and flavonoids, which provides protection against reactive oxygen species and act as health promoter. Arid fruit production is dependent upon the improvement of diverse genetic resources to obtain uniform, high quality products and to adapt those products to arid environmental constraints and market demands. Untapped genetic resources of arid fruits offer unique potential to develop high yielding varieties with improved quality and high nutritional value. Thus, their systematic exploration, improvement and utilization can provide nutritional and livelihood security to the inhabitants.