OCCURRENCE, DISTRIBUTION AND DIVERSITY OF SOFT FRUITS IN N-W AND W-HIMALAYA AND PROSPECTS OF THEIR CONSERVATION AND UTILIZATIO

Abstract

Soft fruits, constituting genera of Rubus, Ribas and Fragaria have rich species
diversity in the N-W and W- Himalaya due to the high ecological diversity. There
occur 32 species and 4 varieties of Rubus, seven species of Ribas and four
species of Fragaria. Some of these have good horticultural potential. Prospects
of their commercial cultivation, conservation and utilization have been discussed