Allium roylei Stearn ─ An Uncharted Precious Gene Reservoir of North-West Himalayas

Abstract

Allium roylei Stearn belonging to family Alliaceae is a lesser known plant of economic importance. The species
is reportedly a repository of genes imparting resistance to various harmful fungal diseases. As per Hooker, the
species in India is distributed along the Himalayan, sub-Himalayan ranges and Garhwal Himalayas. In Jammu and
Kashmir, except for some plants growing along Gilgit slopes of Ladakh, there were no reports of its occurrence
till 2002. Since then, explorations to several regions have unfolded two more populations from the state. The
germplasm base of the taxon is likely to widen if extensive explorations are undertaken in Jammu and Kashmir
(J&K) and its adjoining regions.