A survey study on fruit diversity in Chotanagpur plateau region

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Biospectra : Vol. 5 (1), March 2010, pp 97-104
Pla111 Sciences
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j ISSN : 0973-7057 j
A survey study on fruit diversity in Chotanagpur plateau region
Asim Bandopadhyaya• & Bikash Das*
' Indian Institute of Ecology and Environment, Sikkim Mani pal University of Health, Medical and Technological Sciences,
A 15, Paryavaran Complex, South ofSaket, Maidangarhi Marg, New Delhi 110030
bf CAR Research Complex for Eastern Region, Research Centre, Plandu, Ranchi 8340 I 0, Jharkhand
Received 24th December, 2009; Revised I Ith February, 2010
Abstract : In order to' assess avai.lable g:~etic]J\;ersity of different fruit crops in the Chotanagpur pfa eau. ~egiohia .
survey was conducted in l I horticultural ·diversity rich districts in Jharkhand, Purulia and Midn'apur district.of WeSt
Bengal ~d Jasppur d_istrict o.J Ch~51ttisgarp. During the survey, .information on people's percep~ions and priorities ~P. ..
·genetic resources of_f!orticultural .crops in their vicinity were collected -throu~h field visit, personal interaction ~4
collectiqp of data on p[edes,i~ed questionnaire. A- ~otal;of 47 numbers Q.L ltuit species belonging to. 40 geneqt (:Quid be ,
i_dentified in tlie sur\teyed .villages. With respect to availability status, the frii'its like Bae!, Custard apple, t akooch!!,
Papaya, Longan, Ken<.\, Aonla, Fig,' ¥ahµa, Mango, Guava, K11sum, Jamun and ber could be found in almost all the
l.Ocalities surveyed. With respect to extent 6r. consumption; fruits like Guava, Bae!, Banana, Custard Apple, Ber~ Jackfniit
Pear, Litchi, Jharber, Mango, Chironji, Papaya, Tail!ifrind, Citrus, Pomegranate, Aonla, Date Palm and Jamun were responded
.t9)je arnongst_Jhe freq~ently consuqied· f~its. J:.~uits like like.Bae!, Ber, Custard apple, Kadam, Jackfruit~ Harra, Manio;
' Jhar ber,·Chironji; Ken(i. Jungle jalebi, Fig, lmli, Aon la, Paniala, Bahera, Phalsa, Kuswn, Bhelwa and Jamun were responded
to be !laying high variability -~n the Chotan~gpur Rlateau region. As perceived by the respondents;. the frL1its li}ce Gua~
Sh.:igara;"1ackffuit, Haifa, Chironjl; Papaya','.:Kusum ap4 Jamu~ can be considered to have high genetic erosiori.wher~·
fniits like Bae!, Cashew, Cmitard apple, jackfruit; Chironji, ·Papaya, Citrus, Coconut, Aonla, Litchi, 1'1~ngo~ Banan;i, Peach ·
Guava, ~omegrcinate, Pear, .J~~un;,.Tamarind
and Water Chestnut have high potential for commercial cultivation.
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Key words: Fruit diversity, people's perceptions and response, genetic diversity, Chotanagpur plateau
The Indian gene center has rich array of fruits,
vegetables, ornamental, medicinal and aromatic plant wealth
di stributed in diverse agro-ecological ha bitats and
geographical regions. The horticultural biodiversity play a
significant role in food and nutritional security and health
of the growing human population. Hence, a systematic
survey to collect the genetic diversity from natural habitat
and their conservation is the utmost priority in the right
perspective of mankind. Chotanagpur plateau region is one
of the hot pockets of biodiversity of horticultural crops.
The plateau includes many small and high rising hills with
an abundance of flora and fauna making an enriched
plateau. A major part of Chotanagpur plateau comprises
Jharkhand which shares 2.45% area of the country. The
*Correspondent author :
Mobile: 9431169835
plateau is largely under cultivation with greenery throughout
the year. But many places are still virgin and are untouched
from human intervention. The hills like Parasnath, Tundi,
Raj mahal, Dalma, Chutupalu in Jharkhand, Susunia,
Biharinath, Bagmundi, Ayodhya in West Bengal, etc. are
the eminent ones showing diversity of th is land. Rapid
shrinkage of area under agricultural purpose due to the
ever expanding human habitation in this region is resulting
in largescale genetic erosion of horticultural biodiversity in
the region. Being a region with a variety oftri bal populations
inhabiti ng, the region enjoys adequacy of knowledge on
ethnobotany due to the close interaction of the population
with their surrounding nature. However, continuous
utilization ofthe plant biodiversity without their replanting
due to the essentially colle~tion based economy of the
indigenous population, has led to severe erosion state of
plant genetic resources. This warrants for a systematic
Biospcctra : Vol. 5 (1), March 2010
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appraisal of status genetic resource of horticultural crops
in the fragi le ecosystem o f the Chotanagpur plateau region.
Keepi ng this in view a study was undertaken to assess the
status o f genetic resources d iffe ren t fr uit crops of the
region.
MATERlALS,AN'j:) ~EtHQDS · .
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The Chotanagpur plateau region harnesses a wide
diversity of different fruit crops. However, efforts o n
documentation of available biodivers ity of fruit cro ps in
this region have been meager. The compreh ens ive
description of fruit diversity in the region by Ha ines ( 1910,
1921 -25) is one of the earliest systematic works on this
aspect. A review of the Haines's descri ption indicates the
presence of a wide array of fruit genotypes in d ifferent
parts of the Chotanagpur plateau region. A perusal of the
Haines's description indicates distribution ofdifferent edible
fruits (84 numbers) belonging to 2 1 fam ilies in different
parts of the region during the period of documentation.
The fruits like Mangifera indica, Semicarpus anacardium,
The s tudy was carried out durin g April to
November, 2006. In order to assess availa ble geneti c
divers ity of different frui t crops in the region, a survey
was conducted in 11 horticultural diversity rich districts in
Jharkhand (Ranchi, Gumla, Hazaribagh, Sara ikela, East
Singhbhum, Sahibganj, Palamu, Lohardaga, Simdega, West
Singhbhum, Deoghar), Purulia and Midnapur distri ct of
West Bengal and Jashpur district of Chhattisgarh. During
the s urvey, information on peopl e's perceptions and Spondias mangifera, Carica papaya, Tamarindus indica
priorities on genetic resources ofh0rticultural crops in their etc were reported to be widely distri buted throughout the
vicinity were collected through field vis it, personal reg ion, whereas the fruits like Buchanania latifolia, Rhus
interaction and collection of data on prede s igned semilata, Odina wodier, Dillenia aurea etc have been
questionnaire. In each district, two key informants from reported to be distributed mostly in the hilly tracts of the
each sampled village were interviewed. Data on availability region. Fruits like Hartaki, Jungle Jalebi, Kimbu (Marus
of different fruit genotypes were collected by personal visit laevigata), Narangi (Citrus aurantium), Barsa pakor
to the plants and data on major locations of availabili ty, (G rewia sapida), Bangeb (Dyospyrus cordifolia), katbael
pattern and extent of consumption, -extent of variability . etc are found in the plateau area whereas Dillenia, Caseria,
and genetic erosion status were collected by interacting Ficus comesa, Ficus glomerata, Musa rosea, Eugenia
with the key informants at the local ity. Although, reg ional operculata and Eugenia lanceaeafolia, Citrus aurantium
variation with respect to perceptions about major locations and Citrus rnedica are reported as available in the valley
of availability, pattern and extent of consumption, extent area. Kend, European fig, Guiab jarnun, Khirkhej ur and
of variabi lity and genetic erosion status could be observed, Phalsa (Grewiea asiatica) are found locally scattered in
the maj ority of res ponse under each c r ite ri o n was different places as cultivated, semi-wi ld and w ild varieties.
cons idered for the respective fruit.
Indian Almond is found in the humid tropical area while
Chalta is reported to be found in comparatively dry places
and Kend (Diospyros), in deep rocky ravines.
Variability status in horticultural crops: In
order to asses the present status of fruit biodivers ity in the
region, survey of different biodiversity rich areas of the
region was conducted. Interaction with local residents of
di fferent villages helped in obtaining a better picture about
their perception on available diversity of frui t germplasm
in their locality. A total of 47 numbers of fruit species
belonging to 40 genera could be identified in the surveyed
vi llages of Chhotanagpur plateau reg io n (Table I) .
Acco rding to the perceptions of the local people, the
d ifferent species have different levels of variability and
erosion status. With respect to availability status, the fruits
Fig. l. Map showing Chotanagpur plateau region
I
I
Bandhopadhyaya & Das : A survey Study on fruit d iversity in Chotanagpur platea u r egion
like Bael, Custard apple, Lakoocha, Papaya, Lo ngan, Kend, Kusum, Bhelwa and Jamun were responded to be having
Aonla, Fig, Mahua, Mango, Guava, Kusum, Jamun and high variability in the Chotanagpur plateau region. The
ber could be found in almost all the localities surveyed. moderately diverse fruits were Guava, Singara, Mahua,
Harra, Kadam, Jackfruit, Karambola, Chironji, Pial, Citrus, Oahu, Palmyra palm, Pial, Amra, Papaya, Khirni, Citrus,
Fig, Phalsa, Litchi, Bhelwa, Amra, Tamarind, Behera were Chalta, Longan, Pomegranate, Rose apple, Star apple and
found to be moderately distributed. The fruits like Jharber, Wood apple.
As perceived by the respondents, the extent of
Singara, Cashew, Palmyra palm, Coconut, Chalta, Jalpai,
util
ization
of the timber from the fruit plants is a major
Rose apple, Star apple, Kaith (Wood apple), Paniala, Khirni,
Banana, Jungle jalebi, Date palm, Peach, Pomegranate, pear measure of the status of genetic erosion of the particular
were found in localized pockets. Apart from this, the name fr uit. Apart from this, uprooting of plants fof;"fulfilling the
of the fruits like Balamkhira, Kanwa, Katai, Papra, Pithor, la nd demand for the growing populatio n was a ls o
Porho, Satau were mentioned by respondents from respond ed to be another cause fo r geneti c eros ion.
different villages to be available in their locality which could Accordin g to the respondents, the frui ts like Guava,
Singara, Jackfruit, Harra, Chironj i, Papaya, Kusum and
not be identified taxonomically.
Jamun
can be considered to have high genetic ~rosion
With respect to extent of consumption, fruits like
Guava, Bael, Banana, Custard Apple, Ber, Jackfruit, Pear, ·whereas fruits like Bael, Amra,Cashewnut, Banana, kadam,
Litchi, Jharber, Mango, Chironji, Papaya, Tamarind, Citrus, Litchi, Karambola, Khirni, Paniala, Mulberry, Kend, Jalpai,
Pomegranate, Aon la, Date Palm and Jamun were responded Aonla, Wood apple, Bhelwa and Bahera have low rate o f
to be amongst the frequentl y consumed fruits whereas genetic erosion.
The potential for commercial cultivation of any
Singada, Cashewnut, Mahua, Oahu, Amra, Palmyra Palm,
Mulberry, Kend, Jungle Jalebi, Coconut, Fig, Rose Apple, fruit species is an indicator of the need fo r intensification
Star Apple, Woodapple and Phalsa were responded to be of genetic resource management activity fo r the particular
moderately consumed. The fruits like Kadam, Peach, species. According to the respondents, fruits like Bael,
Karambola, Pial, Harra, Chalta, Jalpai, Longan, Bahera, Cashew, Custard apple,jackfruit, Chironji, Papaya, Citrus,
Paniala, Khirni, Kusum and Bhelwa were responded to be Coconut, Aonla, Litchi, Mango, Banana, Peach, Guava,
Pomegranate, Pear, Jamun, Tamarind and Water Chestnut
among the occasionally consumed fruits.
The extent of variability of the different fruit have high potential for commercial cultivation. Fruits like
genotypes in the surveyed reg ion varied from low to high. Carambola, Palmyra palm, Longan, Di llenia, Kend, Ber,
Fruits like Cashew, Banana, Peach, Pear, Karambola, Litchi, Rose apple, Star apple, Phalsa, Mahua, Mulberry, Date palm,
Jalpai, Coconut and Date palm were responded to be having Ku su m , B helwa, Bahera and Harra have m edium
low variability whereas, fruits like Bael, Ber, Custard apple, commercial potential and fruits like Kadam, Oahu, Pial,
Kadam, Jackfruit, Harra, Mango, Jhar ber, Chironji, Kend, jalpai, Wood apple, Bat, Fig, Paniala, Khirni, Jungle Jalebi,
Jungle jalebi, Fig, Imli, Aonla, Paniala, Bahera, Phalsa, Amra and Jhar ber have low commercial potential.
Table 4. Perception of local people about fruit diversity in their locality
Botanical
name of
fruits
Common Major locations
name
of availability
(Districts)
Mostly Back Agricul Major
found in yard tural Pattern of
Forest
land consump
tion
Aegle
marmelos
Bael
v'
Ranchi, Palamu,
West Singbhum;
Deoghar, Purulia
Anacardium Cashew Saraikela,
Hazaribagh
souamosa nut
v'
v'
v'
·Extent Extent
of consu of varia
mption bility
Potential
High
Low
for
com mer
cial culti
vation
High
Medium Low
Low
High
Fresh fruit, High
Sherbat
Fruit and
nut
Status
of
genetic
erosion
Biospectra : Vol. 5 (1), March 2010
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Annona
Custard
squamosa apple
Hazaribagh,
West Singbhurn,
Gurnla, Saraikela,
Palamu, Lohardaga,
Deoghar, Jashpur
Ranchi, Lohardaga,
Hazaribagh, Purulia
Anthoceph Kadam
a/us
kadamba
Artocarpus Jackfruit Ranchi, Gumla,
Palamu, Ramgarh,
heterophy
Hazaribagh,
Deoghar, Jashpur
Ranchi, Hazaribagh
Artocarpus Dahu
Gumla, Saraikela,
lakoocha
Palamu, Lohardaga,
Purulia
Averrhoa CaramOOla Ranchi, Hazaribagh
Gum la, Lohardaga,
carambo/a
Purulia
Palmyra Purulia
Borasus
flabel/ifer palm
./
./
Fresh
High
Medium High
./
./
./
./
./
./
./
I/us
./
./
./
Ranchi, Gumla,
Palamu; Saraikela;
Hazaribagh, Purulia
Papaya Ranchi, Hazari bagh
Carica
papaya
Gum la, Saraikela,
Palamu, Lohardaga,
Deoghar, Purulia,
Midnapur
./
Citrus spp Citrus
Ranchi, Palamu,
(Lime, Sahebganj, Deoghar
Lemon, Purulia, Jashpur
Orange,
Chutney
Low
High
Low
Low
Fresh as
vegetable
and fruit,
pickle
Fresh
High
High
High
High
Medium Medium Medium Low
Fresh fruit, Low
Chutney
Low
Low
Medium
./
Consumed Medium Medium Medium Medium
fresh, sap
consumed
fresh and
orocessed
Fresh, piclded High
High
High
High
dried seed
for use in
confectionaf'
Fresh fruit Low
Medium Medium Low
./
./
Fresh fruit
(green and
ripe)
High
Medium High
./
./
Fresh,
Pickled,
Juice
High
Medium Medium High
./
./
Fresh,
Processed
Medium Low
./
Buchnania Chironj i Ranchi, Gurnla,
langens
Simdega, Lohardag
Buchnania Pia I
latifolia
High
./
High
Ptmnelo)
Cocos
nucifera
Coconut Deoghar
--------
Low
High
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Bandhopadhyaya & Das : A survey Study on fruit d iversity in C hota nagpur plateau reg ion
./
Fresh
./
./
./
Ranchi. Gumla,
Palamu, Sarai kela;
Hazari bagh,
Sahebganj , Godda,
East Singhbhum,
West Singbhum,
Purulia, Jhargram
./
Hazaribagh
Fresh as
Low
Medium Medium Medium
vegetable
Medium
Fresh fruit Medium High
Low
./
Fresh fruit
./
./
Fresh fruit, High
High
Low
High
dehydrated
powder,
pickle,
Murrabba
Fresh fruit Medium Medium Medium Medium
./
Fresh fruit Medium Medium Medium Medium
./
./
Processed
Medium Medium Low
./
./
Fresh fruit
Low
High
Medium Low
./
./
Fresh as
fruit and
vegetable
Medium High
Medium Low
./
./
Fresh
Low
Low
./
Hazaribagh,
West Singbhum,
Ranchi, Hazari bagh,
Lohardaga, Gumla,
Palamu, Deoghar,
Jashpur
Ranchi, Sarai kela, ./
Hazaribagh, Gu~1 la,
West Singbhum,
Deoghar, Purul ia.
Midnapur
./
Fresh
Medium High
Medium Medium
Fresh
High
Low
Ranchi, Hazaribagh,
Demiccopus Dhela
longan
(Longan) Lohardaga, Palamu,
Purulia
Dillenia
Chaita
Ranchi, Sahebganj
indica
Diospyrus Kend
tomentosa
Elaeocarpus Jalpai
f/oribundus
Emblica
Aonla
officinalis
./
Ranchi, Gumla,
Palamu; Lohardaga,
Saraikela, Hazaribagh,
Purulia
Rose
Gumla
apple
Star apple, Sahibganj
malaxensis Jamrul
Feronia
Kaith
Hazaribagh,
limonia
Sahibganj
Ficus
Bat
Found throughout
bengfdansis
Chotanagpur region
Ficus
Fig
Ranchi, Gumla,
carica
Sahebganj, LOOudaga,
Hazaribagh,
West Singbhum,
Purulia
Flacourtia Paniala Purulia
Eugenia
jambos
Eugenia
indica
Grewia
asiatica
Litchi
chinensis
Madhuca
indica
Phalsa
Litchi
Mahua
I
./
./
./
Low
Low
Low
Low
High
Low
Medium Medium
Low
Low
Low
Low
High
Fresh fruit, Medium Medium Med ium Medium
processed
flower for
alcoholic
drink
Biospectra : Vol. 5 (1), March 2010
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Ranchi, Hazaribagh
Gumla, Saraikela,
Palamu, Lohardaga,
West Singbhum,
Deoghar, Purulia,
Midnapur, Jashpur
Sahebganj
./
./
./
Fresh fruit Low
Mulberry Sahebganj, Deogha1
./
./
Fresh fruit Medium Low
Low
Medium
Fresh fruit High
Low
Low
High
Fresh fruit Medium High
Low
Low
Mangifera Mango
indica
Mias ops
hexandra
Marus
indica
Musaspp
Khimi
Banana
Pethocelo
biu dulce
Phoenix
dactvlifera
Prunus
persica
Jungle
Jalebi
Date
oalm
Peach
Psidium
zuaiava
Punica
wanatum
Pyrus
pyrifolia
Schleichera
Guava
Pomeg
ranate
Pear
Kus um
trijuga
West Singbhum,
Deoghar
Barharwa in
Sahebganj
Deoghar, Purulia
./
Fresh,
processed
High
High
Medium High
-
./
./
,/
./
./
,/
./
Palamu, Ranchi,
Sahebganj,
Lohardaga
Found throughout
the region
Gumla, Deoghar
Low
Low
Medium Medium
Fresh fruit Low
Low
Medium High
Medium High
./
./
Fresh
,/
,/
./
Fresh fruit, High
processed
Fresh fruit High
Fruit and
Low
seeds
consumed
fresh (l"CXNed
and seeds
.
used for oil
extraction
Fresh fruit, Low
arxlmediciral
purpose
Fresh fruit High
High
./
,/
Ranchi, Gumla,
Simdega, Palamu,
Purulia
./
./
,/
./
./
./
./
./
,/
Pickle
./
,/
Fresh fruit, High
processed
,/
Medium Low
Fresh fruit High
Palamu, Jashpur
Ranchi, Gumla,
West Singbhum,
Purulia
Sizygium Jamun
Found throughout
the region
cuminii
Ranchi,
Spondias Amra
amaras
West Singbhum,
Purulia
Tamarindw Tamarind Found throughout
indica
Chotanagpur region
Semicarpus Bhelwa
anacardiwn
./
High
Medium Medium High
Low
Medium High
High
High
Medium
High
Low
Medium
High
High
High
Medium Medium Low
Low
High
Medium High
Bandhopadhyaya & Oas : A s urvey Study on fruit diversity in Chotanagpur plateau region
[erminalia Bahera
bellirica
./
Ranchi , Gumla,
Lohardaga, Purul ia
Terminalia Harra
chebula
Ranchi, Lohardaga, ./
Hazaribagh, Purulia
Trapa
Singhara Deoghar
orientalis
Zizyphus
Ber
Ranchi, Gumla,
mauritiana
Hazaribagh,
Zizyphus
nummularia
./
./
./
./
./
Sahebganj, Godda,
East Singhbhum,
Palamu,
West Singbhum,
Deoghar, Purulia
Jhar ber Hazaribagh, Purulia ./
Used as
medicinal
preparation
after drying.
Used after
processing
for medicinal
purpose
Fresh fruit,
Processed
Fresh fruit,
Pickle,
Low
High
Low
Medium
Low
High
High
Medium
Medium Medium High
High
High
High
Medium Medium
Fresh fruit, High
Pickle
High
Medium Low
: · ~NCE
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Haines H.H., ( 1910) Forest flora of Chotan agpur
(including Santhal Parganas and Gangpur). Periodical
Experts. Yivek Vihar, Delhi 32
2.
Haines H.H., ( 1921-25) Botany ofBihar and O rissa, Yol 1Yl, Jayyed Press, Ballimaran, Delhi 6
3.
4.
Nath Vishal, Devendra Pandey and Bikash Das (2005)
Diversity of bael (Aegel marmelos Corr.) in east central
India. Indian Journal of Plant Cenelic Resources.
16(3 ):222-225
5.
Rai Mathura, Vishal Nath, Bikash Das, Ashok Rai and
Manoj Kumar (2003) Evaluation of jackfruit genotypes
for yield and quality attributes under Eastern Indian
conditions.Grisso Journal of Horticullure. 3( 1):1 -6
Nath Vishal, Baleswar Singh and Mathura Rai, (200 I)
Horticultural biodivers ity in Santhal Parganas . Indian
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***