Suitable genotypes of underutilized fruit crops for pest management

Abstract

Climate change has become one of the biggest challenges for the sustainable crop production. Prolonged droughts and desertification are among the issues faced by Indian hot arid zone where the rural poor and smallholders are most heavily affected. People have to survive in these types of conditions; thus their crops need to withstand such harsher calamities viz., drought, high temperatures and poor soils (Kumar et al. 2018). Underutilized fruit crops are gaining increasing interest in the world, in particular cactus pear (Opuntia ficus indica (L) Mill.), lasoda (Cordia myxa), phalsa (Grewia subnaequalis), karonda (Carissa canjesta), mulberry (Morus spp.), ker (Capparis decidua), pilu (Salvadora spp.) etc. because of their unique adaptation characteristics which provide resilience to the harsh ecological conditions.