Record Details

Managing Agrobiodiversity of Indian Drylands for Climate Adaptation

KRISHI: Publication and Data Inventory Repository

View Archive Info
 
 
Field Value
 
Title Managing Agrobiodiversity of Indian Drylands for Climate Adaptation
Not Available
 
Creator OP Yadav
JP Singh
RK Kakani
HR Mahala
MP Rajora
Akath Singh
PR Meghwal
Archana Verma
 
Subject Agrobiodiversity
Arid and semi-arid regions
Climate change
Genetic resources
Indian drylands
 
Description Not Available
Agrobiodiversity in drylands consisting of large number of field crops, horticultural crops, grasses, shrubs and
multi-purpose trees plays a very critical role in providing food, fodder, nutritional and environmental security
to the inhabitants of drylands. Despite several bio-physical constraints, the drylands support high human and
livestock population with limited resources resulting in over-exploitation of the natural resources. moreover,
drylands are more vulnerable to global warming-mediated climate changes such as intense drought, sudden
rainfall burst, high ambient temperature and appearance of new unforeseen diseases and pests. In addition to
other technological interventions, the management of agro-biodiversity in drylands is expected to be a key factor
for sustainability, food and fodder security and for improving livelihood in drylands.
Genetic resources of dryland species include local landraces, improved elite material, traditional cultivars, genetic
stocks and wild relatives of coarse cereals (pearl millet, barley, sorghum, maize and small millets), legumes
(chickpea, mungbean, mothbean, clusterbean), horticultural crops, grasses, shrubs, medicinal plants and multipurpose trees. A large numberof exotic and indigenous germplasm accessions are conserved in National Gene
Bank or Field Gene Banks at the ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NPBGR) and elsewhere
across globe. Characterization of genetic resources using prescribed descriptors has largely indicated existence of
large variation for phenotypic, phenological, nutritional and stress-adaptation traits among available germplasm.
research conducted so far has indicated that the genetic resources from drylands hold a unique advantage as they
have evolved over centuries by natural and human selection under drought, high temperature or saline conditions.
they are better adapted to the local conditions and would contribute in enhancing the resilience at the farm level.
these resources could be of immense importance especially as sources of native genes conditioning resistance
to various biotic and abiotic stresses and also make unique study material to understand the mechanism of
adaptation to abiotic stresses. they could also serve as an excellent genomic resource for isolation of candidate
genes for tolerance to climatic and edaphic stresses for accelerating further genetic improvement. However, only
a very small fraction of these accessions has been utilized so far because of operational difficulties in dealing
with large number of germplasm accessions. the development of core and mini-core in recent past is expected
to improve this situation. Formation of trait-specific gene pools is also likely to enhance the utilization of genetic
resources to a greater extent.
there are multiple and complex challenges for agrobiodiversity in drylands due to habitat destruction, high
grazing/browsing pressure, invasion of other species, unsustainable exploitation of natural resources and dilution
of customary conservation practices. Critical assessment is needed for identifying geographical and trait-diversity
gaps using GIS and other modern tools.
additional explorations are needed in the regions where collection gaps have been indicated. Ex situconservation
of genetic resources from such regions and distribution of germplasm to the stakeholders on regular basis would
remain very crucial especially in the present scenario of climate change. Developing e-resources with detailed
information like passport data, characterization and evaluation data with respect to individual accessions would
certainly help in enhancing the utilization of genetic resources to broaden crop genetic base which is very
essential to reduce the chances of disease epidemics and to adapt to the effects of climate change.
Not Available
 
Date 2021-08-23T05:58:42Z
2021-08-23T05:58:42Z
2020-01-01
 
Type Review Paper
 
Identifier Not Available
Not Available
http://krishi.icar.gov.in/jspui/handle/123456789/59090
 
Language English
 
Relation Not Available;
 
Publisher Not Available