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Diversity in Underutilized
Plant Species
– An Asia-Pacific Perspective
R.K. Arora
Former Coordinator, Bioversity International
Sub-Regional Office for South Asia, New Delhi
Bioversity International
National Agriculture Science Centre (NASC), Dev Prakash Shastri Marg,
Pusa Campus, New Delhi 110012, India
Bioversity-india@cgiar.org
November, 2014
© Bioversity International
ISBN No. : 978-92-9255-007-3
Author : R.K. Arora
Reviewed, Enlarged, Consolidated and Edited by:
E. Roshini Nayar, Anjula Pandey & Umesh Srivastava
Citation : Arora, R.K. (2014). Diversity in Underutilized Plant Species – An Asia-
Pacific Perspective. Bioversity International, New Delhi, India 203 p.
Published by:
Bioversity International
National Agriculture Science Centre (NASC), Dev Prakash Shastri Marg,
Pusa Campus, New Delhi 110012, India
Email: bioversity-india@cgiar.org
Website: www.bioversityinternational.org
Contents
Foreword
v
Preface
ix
Acronyms and Abbreviations
xiii
A Tribute to Dr. R.K. Arora
xvii
Obituaries & Reminiscences
xix
I. Introduction
1
Asia-Pacific region: Richness in plant diversity
1
Harnessing underutilized plant species diversity
4
Cultivated plant diversity vis-à-vis underutilized species
4
Concerns on underutilized species
6
Major thrust for R&D: Institutions involved
7
Criteria for identifying underutilized species/crops
8
Importance of underutilized species
9
– Synthesis/Information presented
10
II. Underutilized Species in the Asia-Pacific: Distribution,
Diversity and Use
12
1. Pseudocereals and Millets
14
2. Grain Legumes/Pulses
18
3. Root and Tubers
21
4. Vegetables
28
5. Fruits
51
6. Nuts
91
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7. Miscellaneous
97
8. Industrial Crops
110
III. Priority Species for Research and Development
115
IV. Nutritional Aspects
122
– Pseudocereals and Millets
122
– Grain Legumes/Pulses
125
– Vegetables
125
– Fruits and Nuts
131
V. Emerging Concerns
134
1. Diversity distribution/assessment
134
2. Biotechnology applications
135
3. Documenting indigenous knowledge/Ethnobotanical
information
136
4. Ecological security/habitat protection
137
5. Utilization and conservation aspects
138
6. Benefits and constraints
141
7. Networking and partnership
143
8. Further thrust
144
9. Crops for the future: New global initiative
145
VI. Epilogue
146
References
148
Selected Research Papers & Other Publications of Dr. R.K. Arora
155
Annexures
159
Index
179
Foreword
The Asia-Pacific region is agriculturally diverse and very rich in plant genetic
resources, including those of underutilized species and less known food plants.
Several useful plants have been domesticated in this region and are important
from economic development and food security point of view.
This publication deals with 778 underutilized cultivated food plants, pseudocereals,
millets, grain legumes, root/tuber crops, vegetables, fruits and nuts, and several
other species used as condiments, and for agroforestry development and
multipurpose uses. Besides, it also lists species of industrial use that need further
focus for research and development. In addition to geographical and ecological
coverage, the compilation presents information on utilization of these relatively
less utilised species, providing an analysis of their nutrition/food values. It also
deals with required prioritisation of species for intensive research. Also, emphasis
is laid on the native as well as endemic species needing priority attention for
both research and conservation. The chapter on ‘Emerging Concerns’, brings out
useful synthesis of information concerning the use of genetic diversity through
scientific assessment, use of biotechnology, ethnobotany, ecology, etc. and gives
an account of policy implications. It also points out to the role of different
organizations such as Bioversity International (formerly IPGRI), International
Center for Underutilized Crops (ICUC), and regional fora such as Asia-Pacific
Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI) in networking and setting
up new institutional arrangement, namely, ‘Crops for the Future’ by merging
the Global Facilitation Unit GFU) under Bioversity International and the ICUC.
In the wake of emerging realisation about the importance of underutilised
species, the account presented in this book will be useful in filling the gaps in
research needs, in sorting out species of relatively more importance in different
regions such as : East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia and Pacific/Oceania.
Enormous diversity of underutilized crops exists in the region but their potential
is not fully exploited. Studies on these genetic resources need to be intensified.
The publication amply highlights such concerns. Overall, major emphasis has
been laid on the effective and efficient utilization of these underutilized and less
known cultivated species mainly grown by native communities, often in home
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gardens and marginal lands, towards food security, addressing malnutrition,
poverty alleviation and income generation – thereby helping towards meeting
the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Late Dr. R.K. Arora had earlier written a book on ‘Genetic Resources of Less
Known Cultivated Food Plants’, presenting worldwide analysis, which was published
by the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) with support from
International Board on Plant Genetic Resources (IBPGR). This publication stems
from that initiative. The work embraced in this book is confined exclusively to
Asia-Pacific region, considering the importance of this region in the global
context. I am sure, this well synthesized account will generate further interest
on research and development of underutilized crops for widening our food
basket in the region.
I highly appreciate the dedicated efforts made by late Dr. Arora, just prior
to his demise, in bringing out this very thought-provoking book on a subject
which needs much greater attention of all concerned. The National Agricultural
Research Systems (NARS) in Asia-Pacific region, regional fora like APAARI,
members of national and international organizations, researchers, teachers and
students will find this publication immensely useful and rewarding. I greatly
appreciate the sincere efforts made by Drs. Roshini Nayar, Anjula Pandey
and Umesh Srivastava in finalising the manuscript which Dr. Arora attempted
but could not finish, by adding some useful information, where necessary and
revising the same to enhance its utility. I also appreciate very much the funding
support extended by Bioversity International, mainly through special efforts of
Dr. P.N. Mathur, South Asia Coordinator for bringing out this publication. Help
of Dr. Bhag Mal, Senior Consultant, APAARI in perusing the manuscript and
advising the final layout is also acknowledged.
Raj Paroda
Executive Secretary
APAARI
The book commemorates his passion and dedication to the field of
underutilized crops and useful wild relatives of crop plants.
Dr. R.K. Arora
Preface
Nature has provided different sources of life forms on which human survived
on planet Earth. Primitive man ate all types of fruits, leaves, roots and tubers
of plants collecting from wild; before he learnt to grow plants. Many wild
edible plants are nutritionally rich and supplement nutritional requirements of
human and livestock, especially the vitamins and micronutrients. Underutilized
plant species have great potential for contribution to food security, health
(nutritional and/or medicinal), income generation and environmental services,
but these have remained underexploited. One important reason for their
underutilization is that they are neglected by mainstream research which
did not provide solutions to agronomic and post-harvest constraints, nor did
it develop attractive value added products for a broader market. In recent
years, however, underutilized plant species have received increased attention
by National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS), policy-makers and funding
institutions, recognizing their importance for diversification of farming systems,
and thus mitigating the impacts of environmental and economic disasters on the
rural poor. These increased efforts need direction and focus to yield significant
and visible impact. The International Centre for Underutilised Crops (ICUC),
the Global Facilitation Unit for Underutilized Species (GFU) and the Bioversity
International (earlier IPGRI) had a wide consultation process with the aim of
developing a strategic framework to guide future work on underutilized species.
The world is presently over-dependent on a few plant species. Diversification
of production and consumption habits to include a broader range of plant
species, in particular those currently identified as ‘underutilized’, can contribute
significantly to improved health and nutrition, livelihoods, household food security
and ecological sustainability. In particular, these plant species offer enormous
potential for contributing to the achievement of the Millenium Development
Goals (MDGs), particularly in combating hidden hunger and offering medicinal
and income generation options.
The Asia-Pacific region holds rich biodiversity in underutilized plant species. It
is a centre of diversification and domestication of crop plants. Being culturally,
ethnically and ecologically very diverse, several underutilized species are
grown here and maintained by native farmers under subsistence agriculture.
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Four regions of diversity, namely, Chinese-Japanese, Indochinese-Indonesian,
Australian/Pacific and Indian region are located in this region. Also, eight
out of the 17 mega-biodiversity countries namely Indonesia, Australia, China,
India, Malaysia, PNG, the Philippines and Thailand are in this region.
Dr. R.K. Arora, during his long career as plant collector, was instrumental in
locating underexploited and underutilized domesticated/semi-domesticated and
wild plants particularly those used by ethnic communities in north-eastern and
other regions of India. He had earlier written a book on ‘Genetic Resources of
Less Known Cultivated Food Plants’ presenting world wide analysis in the year
1985. This publication stems from that account but Dr. Arora, in the present
book, extended the scope of his study and documentation within the Asia and
Pacific region, an area known to have rich ethnic diversity and historically linked
biogeographic regions of plant diversity, both native and introduced. Actually,
the account was mostly prepared by him but unfortunately, he could not do
the final consolidation and editing during his life time due to prolonged illness.
Dr. Raj Paroda desired that his left over work may be completed, published
and dedicated in his remembrance and also to commemorate his passion and
dedication to the field of underutilized crops and useful wild relatives of crop
plants. At his instance, the unfinished work was reviewed critically, information
added where necessary, consolidated and edited by his colleagues Drs. E. Roshini
Nayar, Anjula Pandey and Umesh Srivastava to bring it to its present shape
while the text as close to the original manuscript as possible.
It deals with the enumeration of 778 species of underutilized and less
known minor food plants grown in different regions of Asia-Pacific. It has
6 chapters and information presented has been classified under use-based
categories such as cereals/pseudocereals (28 species), grain legumes/pulses
(14 species), roots and tubers (55 species), vegetables (213 species), fruits
(261 species), nuts (34 species), industrial crops (25 species) and those
providing spices, condiments, and of multi-purpose use (148 species) including
agro-forestry species and environment-friendly species. The choice for the
priority species for R&D needs has also been suggested/discussed and the
role of native/endemic diversity dealt with. Also information has been added
to provide relative analysis of food/nutritional values of selected underutilized
species. A thought-provoking need-based focus is also given for the use of
other disciplines in meeting the growing need to promote and assess this
diversity: use of biotechnology, ethnobotany and documenting indigenous
knowledge, diverse uses and conservation of such species. The greater need
for partnership/networking at national, regional and international level for
realizing the full potential of underutilized species has also been stressed
a great deal.
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We express our gratitude to Dr. Raj Paroda, Former Secretary, Department of
Agricultural Research & Education (DARE) and Director General, Indian Council
of Agricultural Research (ICAR), currently Executive Secretary, APAARI and
Chairperson, Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS), New Delhi
for his constant encouragement in bringing out the book and also for writing
the ‘Foreword’ to this book. Our sincere thanks to Dr. Prem Mathur, Regional
Director, APO Office and South Asia Coordinator, New Delhi of Bioversity
International for taking keen interest in the book and also funding etc, and
Dr. Bhag Mal, Senior Consultant, APAARI for constant guiding, pursuing and
advising throughout the finalization of manuscript. Furthermore we would like
to acknowledge our colleagues in NBPGR ( Drs. K.C. Bhatt, K. Pradheep, S.K.
Malik, Anuradha Agrawal, K.V. Bhat, Soyimchiten and Mr. O.P. Dhariwal) for
providing certain photographs. In addition, Bioversity International has kindly
provided permission to use their resources. We acknowledge this gesture. We
would also like to appreciate the efforts of Mr. Vinay Malhotra of Malhotra
Publishing House, Kirti Nagar, New Delhi who has taken up the task of printing
the present publication satisfactorily.
It is felt that APAARI member-NARS and other members including concerned
CG centres, researchers, teachers, students and all those engaged and
interested in the subject will find this well documented/synthesised information
both useful and rewarding. We are sure, the book will generate further
interest on this upcoming subject for widening the food basket to feed the
growing population.
E. Roshini Nayar
Anjula Pandey
Umesh Srivastava
Acronyms and Abbreviations
ACIAR
Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
ADB
Asian Development Bank
AFCP
AgriFood Charity Partnership
AFLPs
Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism
APAARI
Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions
APO
Asia, Pacific & Ocenia
AVRDC
Asian Vegetable Research & Development Center
BI
Bioversity International
BMZ
German Federation Ministry for Economic Cooperation and
Development
BSI
Botanical Survey of India
CBD
Convention on Biological Diversity
CGIAR
Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
EST-SNP
Expressed Sequence Tag- Single Nucleotide Polymorphism
EST-SSR
Expressed Sequence Tag- Simple Sequence Repeat
FAO
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
FAO-RAP
Food & Agriculture Organization-Regional Office for Asia and the
Pacific
GCDT
Global Crop Diversity Trust
GFAR
Global Forum on Agricultural Research
GFU
Global Facilitation Unit
GPA
Global Plan of Action
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IARI
Indian Agricultural Research Institute
IBPGR
International Board of Plant Genetic Resources
IBS
Indian Botanical Society
ICAR
Indian Council of Agricultural Research
ICARDA
International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas
ICRISAT
International Crops Research Institute for Semi Arid Tropics
ICUC
International Centre for Underutilized Crops
IFAD
International Fund for Agricultural Development
IIHR
Indian Institute of Horticultural Research
IIVR
Indian Institute for Vegetable Research
IJPGR
Indian Journal of Plant Genetic Resources
IK
Indigenous knowledge
INRC
Italian National Research Council
IPGRI
International Plant Genetic Resources Institute
ISPGR
Indian Society of Plant Genetic Resources
ISSR
Inter Simple Sequence Repeat
MDG
Millenium Development Goals
MSSRF
M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation
NAAS
National Academy for Agricultural Sciences
NARS
National Agricultural Research Systems
NAS
National Academy of Sciences, India
NAS
National Academy of Sciences, USA
NBPGR
National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources
NHRI
National Horticultural Research Institute
PGR
Plant Genetic Resources
PNG
Papua New Guinea
PROSEA
Plant Resource of South-East Asia
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QRT
Quinquinnial Review Team
RAPD
Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA
RFLP
Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism
SSR
Simple Sequence Repeats
TAAS
Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences
UNESCO
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
USDA
United States Department of Agriculture
UTFANET
Underutilized Tropical Fruits in Asia Network
WHO
World Health Organization
A Tribute to Dr. R.K. Arora
(14 December, 1932 – 3 March, 2010)
Dr. Rajeshwar Kumar Arora was an able and eminent plant scientist. He was
born in Kamalia, Lyallpur (presently Faisalabad in Pakistan) on 14 December,
1932. He received his graduation (1954), post-graduation (1956) and doctorate
(1961) degrees in Botany from Panjab University. He devoted his entire career
to the field of plant systematics, ethnobotany, phytogeography and plant genetic
resources. He was a visionary and a modest human par excellence.
Dr. Arora started his professional career at the Botanical Survey of India where
he served in various capacities till 1968 when he joined the then Division of
Plant Introduction, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi as
Senior Scientist, where, besides conducting research on collection and evaluation
of economically important plants, he taught post-graduate courses in systematic
botany and economic botany. After the elevation of Plant Introduction Division
to a full-fledged institute, the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources
(NBPGR), Dr. Arora served as the Head, Division of Plant Exploration and
Germplasm Collection and later as the officiating Director. In 1989, Dr. Arora
joined International Board of Plant Genetic Resources (later as International Plant
Genetic Resources Institute and now Bioversity International), Office for South
Asia, New Delhi as Associate Coordinator and later as South Asia Coordinator.
After retirement, he continued to work with the Bioversity International as
Honorary Research Fellow till middle of 2009 when his ill health forced him
to work from home.
With his vast knowledge of Indian flora, Dr. Arora made pioneering contribution
to collection and documentation of economically important plants of India,
particularly wild crop-related species. He brought to public knowledge several
less-known and under-utilized plants including Digitaria cruciata, Moghania vestita
and Inula racemosa, and led major collection missions to several distant and
unexplored areas of the country. His surveys contributed very significantly to
our knowledge of agricultural biodiversity in India. Keenly aware of the richness
of the Indian crop gene centre, he made exceptional efforts in coordinating
activities on collection, conservation and use of plant genetic resources.
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Dr. Arora was a prolific writer which combined with a deep understanding of
plant genetic resources led him to produce a number of original and highly
informative publications like “Wild Relatives of Crop Plants in India”, “Genetic
Resources of less-known cultivated Food Plants”, “Wild Edible Plants of India:
Diversity Conservation and Use”, and “Plant Genetic Resources Conservation
and Management: Concepts and Approaches”. These have become reference
books for researchers, students and policy makers engaged in plant genetic
resources collection, conservation and utilization. Besides, he published over
160 articles in national and international journals and presented papers in
several national/international conferences and scientific meetings.
During his tenure with Bioversity International, Dr. Arora devoted himself to
promoting conservation and use of genetic resources at the international level.
In addition, he associated himself with the Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural
Research Institutions (APAARI) and lent a helping hand in the promotion of
agricultural research for development in the entire Asia-Pacific region. He
contributed very significantly towards publication of success stories, conference
reports and the newsletter brought out by Bioversity International and APAARI.
Dr. Arora was the founder Editor-in-Chief (1987-88) of the Indian Journal of
Plant Genetic Resources (IJPGR) published by the Indian Society of Plant Genetic
Resources (ISPGR). He was honoured with the “Dr. Harbhajan Singh Memorial
Award” by the ISPGR and the “Harshberger Medal in Ethnobotany” by Society
of Ethnobotany for his life-time contribution to research on economic plants. He
was elected as Fellow of National Academy for Agricultural Sciences (NAAS),
India; National Academy of Sciences (NAS), India; Indian Ethnobotanical
Society; and Indian Botanical Society.
He was very keen to revise his earlier publication on this subject and started
the work in this direction but could not complete the task during his lifetime.
The publication partially prepared by him was again viewed and revised by
his collegues Drs. Roshini Nayar, Anjula Pandey and Umesh Srivastava to give
final shape to it. This is being published and dedicated in his remembrance and
also to commomerate his passion and dedication to the field of underutilized
crops and useful wild relatives of crop plants.
Excerpts from obituary written by Drs. Raj Paroda and E. Roshini Nayar and published in Current
Science 98(12): 1640 (2010)
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