Record Details

Conservation status and utilization of Caralluma edulis: an important threatened medicinal plant species of the Thar Desert, India

KRISHI: Publication and Data Inventory Repository

View Archive Info
 
 
Field Value
 
Title Conservation status and utilization of Caralluma edulis: an important threatened medicinal plant species of the Thar Desert, India
Not Available
 
Creator J. P. Singh
Suresh Kumar
K. Venkatesan
R. N. Kulloli
 
Subject Caralluma edulis
Entomo-philous pollination
In-situ conservation
Medicinal value
Pimpa
Succulent
 
Description Not Available
Caralluma edulis locally known as
‘‘Pimpa’’, is an important food-cum-medicinal plant of
the extreme arid regions of the TharDesert. It is a drought
resistant stem succulent occurring in dry sandy places in
hot arid areas preferably within the large tussocks of
Murath grass (Panicum turgidum). Traditionally, its
succulent stems are consumed raw as greens, vegetable
and is also used as medicinal plant of the Thar
Desert of India. Degradation of rangelands due to high
grazing pressure and changes in land use pattern has
threatened its existence. This study was therefore, taken
up to identify the sites for in-situ conservation of C. edulis
through field survey in Jaisalmer district and also to
characterise/evaluate the collected germplasm ex-situ for
its sustainable utilization in future. The issues related to
both in and ex situ conservation were also investigated.
Field surveys conducted in Jaisalmer in arid part of the
Thar Desert in India during August to October for two
consecutive years (2012 and 2013) revealed its occurrence
in patches in villages such as Khuyiyala, Bahramsar
dham, Deva-II and Chandan. Germplasm of C. edulis
by means of rooted-stems collected from above siteswas
planted in nursery at Central Arid Zone Research
Institute, Regional Research Station, Jaisalmer. Data
were recorded on its growth, reproductive behaviour and
germination. Initial and final germination of seeds of C.
edulis (collected from plants raised by rooted-stems of
Chandan area) recorded in nursery as 32.1 and 87.5 %on
4th and 6th days after sowing, respectively. The statistical
analysis of characters under study revealed the
presence of high co-efficient of variation (CV in %) in
number of branches per plant (51.71) followed by
number of pod (in pair) per plant (49.41) and least in
collar diameter (10.05). The range and mean values of
some important characters are as follows: plant height
(38.0–62.0 and 50.7 cm), number of branches per plant
(1.0–10.0 and 3.9), number of flowers per plant (2.0–7.0
and 4.8), number of seeds per pod (15.0–30.0 and 20.8)
and seed length (4.9–8.7 and 7.0 mm), respectively. As it
flowered and set seeds at nursery in our study, it has
opened avenues for large scale multiplication and future
cultivation of the species. These findings along with its
economic importance are detailed in this paper.
Not Available
 
Date 2019-05-25T10:59:30Z
2019-05-25T10:59:30Z
2016-01-20
 
Type Research Paper
 
Identifier Not Available
Not Available
http://krishi.icar.gov.in/jspui/handle/123456789/19864
 
Language English
 
Relation Not Available;
 
Publisher Springer