Genetic Resources of Fruit Crops : Achievements and Gaps

Abstract

The Indian sub-continent is the home ofmany fruits such as mango, Citrus, banana and jackfruit. In the past few centuries in particular, several fruits-custard apple, guava, papaya, pineapple, pomegranate, grape, sapota, apple, pear, peach, plum, almond and other nuts, got introduced in different agro-c/imatic regions. The paper deals with this diversity of introduced and native fruits now prevalent in tropical, sub-tropical, temperate areas and in stress prone climatic zoneS such as the arid regions. Gaps in diversity exist and needfor collectionfrom'other areas of diversity are indicated. Through in situ conservation, the maintenance of fruit crops in 78 centres in the
national context is highlighted. It is also stressed that less known native types and wild useful species i.e. bel', limes, jackfruit, aonla, bael, jamun, karonda, (Carissa congesta), phalsa (Grewia subinequalis) and others need to be collected, utilised and conserved.