for tropical fruit tree (tft)

118 Pages·2017·2.33 MB·English

DOCUMENTING DIVERSITY TO DEVELOP COMMUNITY
BIODIVERSITY REGISTER (CBR) FOR TROPICAL FRUIT
TREE (TFT) GENETIC RESOURCES IN CENTRAL
WESTERN GHATS

Thesis submitted to the
University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the
Degree of

Master of Science (Forestry)
in
Forest Genetic Resources

By
VANISHREE M. HEGDE

DEPARTMENT OF FOREST BIOLOGY AND
TREE IMPROVEMENT
COLLEGE OF FORESTRY, SIRSI – 581 401
UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES,
DHARWAD – 580 005

JUNE, 2014
ADVISORY COMMITTEE

SIRSI (VASUDEVA R.)
JUNE, 2014 CHAIRMAN

Approved by

Chairman : __________________________
(VASUDEVA R.)

Members: 1. __________________________
(H. SHIVANNA)

2. __________________________
(A. KRISHNA)

3. __________________________
(RAJESHWARI N.)
CONTENTS

Sl.
Chapters particulars
No.
CERTIFICATE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
LIST OF TABLES
LIST OF FIGURES
LIST OF PLATES
LIST OF APPENDICES
1. INTRODUCTION
2. REVIEW OF LITERATURE
2.1 Importance of tropical fruit tree (TFT) genetic resources
2.2 TFT genetic resources in Asia
2.3 Diversity of TFT genetic resources in major production systems
2.4 Threats to the TFT genetic resources
2.5 Domestication TFTs and conservation of the TFT genetic resources
2.6 Traditional knowledge (TK) and its importance in genetic resource
conservation
2.7 Documentation of traditional knowledge on TFT genetic resources
2.8 Community Biodiversity Register (CBR) and genetic resource
documentation
3. MATERIALS AND METHODS
3.1 Geographical setting
3.2 Methodology
3.3 Four-cell analysis
3.4 Statistical analyses
4. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS
4.1 Diversity of TFT genetic resources in two representative villages of
Uttara Kannada
4.2 Characterization of native varieties of tropical fruit trees (TFT)
4.3 Traditional knowledge (TK) associated with TFTs
4.4 Circa situm conservation of local varieties
5. DISCUSSION
5.1 Diversity of TFT genetic resources in two representative villages of
Uttara Kannada
5.2 Characterization of farmers’ varieties
5.3 Traditional knowledge associated with TFTs
5.4 Conservation values of home-gardens and farmlands
6. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
REFERENCES
APPENDICES
LIST OF TABLES

Table
Title
No.
4.1. List of TFT species, number of individuals and production system (in
which they are found) in two typical villages, belonging to two bioclimatic
zones of Uttara Kannada district
4.2. List of TFT species found in forest/bettaland in two typical villages of
Uttara Kannada district belonging to two bioclimatic zones
4.3. Alpha diversity descriptors of TFT genetic resources in home-garden and
farmland of two villages of up-ghat and coastal villages
4.4. Similarity of TFT genetic resources among home-garden and farmland
as shown by the Jaccard’s index and Sorenson’s index
4.5. List of varieties of Mango and their frequency in two representative
villages of two bioclimatic zones of Uttara Kannada
4.6. List of varieties of Jack and their frequency in two representative villages
of two bio-climatic zones of Uttara Kannada
4.7. Alpha diversity descriptors of Mango genetic resources in home-garden
and farmland of two villages of up-ghat and coastal villages
4.8. Alpha diversity descriptors of Jackfruit genetic resources in home-garden
and farmland of two villages of up-ghat and coastal villages
4.9. Characterization of native mango fruit varieties using farmers’ descriptors
4.10. Characterization of native aromatic pickle mango varieties using farmers’
descriptors
4.11. Farmers’ descriptors of distinguishing characters for the two forms of
Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus)
4.12. Characterization of native jackfruit varieties found in both up-ghat and
coastal villages of Uttara Kannada district
4.13. Use values of tropical fruit tree genetic resources in two typical villages
of Uttara Kannada district
4.14. Cultural Importance Index (C.I.)
4.15. Traditional knowledge (TK) related to culinary use of TFTs
4.16. Traditional knowledge related to medicinal uses of TFTs
4.17. Traditional knowledge related to processing and preservation of TFTs
4.18. Traditional knowledge related to nursery, planting and maintenance of
TFTs
LIST OF FIGURES

Figure
Title
No.
4.1. Species abundance curve for all the tropical fruit tree (TFT) genetic
resources in home-gardens and farmlands in the two villages of Up-ghat
and Coastal zones of Uttara Kannada
4.2a. Comparison of up-ghat (Salkani) and the coastal (Murur) villages of
Uttara Kannada district for diversity of major TFT genetic resources
using the Richness value and Shannon’s value
4.2b. Comparison of the up-ghat (Salkani) and the coastal (Murur) villages of
Uttara Kannada district for diversity of mango varieties using the
Richness value and Shannon’s value
4.2c. Comparison of the up-ghat (Salkani) and the coastal (Murur) villages of
Uttara Kannada district for diversity of jackfruit varieties using the
Richness value and Shannon’s value
4.3. Per cent introduced and native varieties of mango in a. Up-ghat b.
Coastal zones
4.4. Per cent individuals belonging to introduced and native mango varieties
in a. Up-ghat b. Coastal villages of Uttara Kannada district
4.5. Per cent of fruit and appe varieties of mango in a. Up-ghat b. Coastal
villages of Uttara Kannada district
4.6. Per cent individuals belonging to fruit and appe varieties of mango in a.
Up-ghat b. Coastal villages of Uttara Kannada district
4.7. Per cent of crispy-flake type and gummy-flake type varieties of jackfruit
in a. Up-ghat b. Coastal villages of Uttara Kannada district
4.8. Per cent individuals belonging to crispy-flake type and gummy-flake
type varieties of jackfruit in a. Up-ghat b. Coastal villages of Uttara
Kannada district
4.9. Varietal abundance curve for all the mango varieties in home-gardens
and farmlands in the two typical villages of Coastal and Up-ghat
bioclimatic zones of Uttara Kannada district
4.10. Varietal abundance curve for all the jackfruit varieties in home-gardens
and farmlands in the two typical villages of Coastal and Up-ghat
bioclimatic zones of Uttara Kannada district
4.11. Association between the cultural importance index (C.I.) value of a
tropical fruit tree species to its frequency in the home-garden/farmlands
of coastal and up-ghat villages of Uttara Kannada
LIST OF PLATES

Plate
Title
No
3.1. Pictures showing typical farm settings with tropical fruit trees (TFT)
species in Uttara Kannada district
3.2. Pictures showing general settings of up-ghat and coastal villages of Uttara
Kannada district
4.1a. Pictures of tropical fruit tree species recorded in home-garden and
farmlands of Uttara Kannada district
4.1b. Pictures of tropical fruit tree species recorded in different production
systems of Uttara Kannada district
4.2a. Pictures of fruit mango varieties recorded in home-garden and farmlands
of Uttara Kannada district
4.2b. Pictures of aromatic pickle mango varieties recorded in home-garden and
farmlands of Uttara Kannada district
4.3. Pictures showing jackfruit varieties recorded in home-garden and
farmlands of Uttara Kannada district
4.4a. Pictures showing traditional knowledge related to tropical fruit tree species
4.4b. Pictures showing traditional knowledge related to Garcinia butter
extraction

LIST OF APPENDICES

Appendix
Title
No.
I. Questionnaire used for data collection
II. Description of traditional knowledge related to tropical fruit tree
species recorded in the up-ghat and coastal villages of Uttara
Kannada district
INTRODUCTION

Asia is an epitome of Tropical Fruit Tree (TFT) genetic resources harboring over 500 species
(Ramanatha Rao and Bhagmal, 2002). TFT genetic resources are a part of the culture of the local
indigenous communities of Asia and Oceania. TFT species have diverse uses; they contribute
considerably to food and nutritional security, ecosystem services, income generation to communities
and, thus, play an important role in poverty reduction. These TFT genetic resources are found
adapted to diverse ecosystems and are a major component of multi-crop farming systems including
home-gardens of the Western Ghats. Some of the species such as mango, citrus, jackfruit etc. are
well adapted to marginal lands and the agro-forestry systems (Verheij and Coronal, 1991). In addition
to the native fruit trees, a large number of introduced species have become adapted and have added
to the diversity.
The Western Ghats of India is a rich repository of TFTs which are deeply embedded in the
culture of local people. Native TFT genetic resources have been used as food, medicines and timber
by the communities. Wild TFT genetic resources especially of mango, garcinia, jackfruit, have been
domesticated and deployed into farming systems. For instance, wild aromatic pickle mango (popularly
known as appe midi) is very unique to the central Western Ghats and is a commodity of commerce. At
least 300 unique types of this TFT have been identified from the riverine habitats by farming
communities and have been inducted to the agro-forestry systems in Uttara Kannada district alone, as
reported by Vasudeva and Rajeshwari (2014). Very recently ‘appe midi’ has been given the GI
(geographic indication) status by the National Biodiversity Authority (Usharani and Kishore, 2013).
However, large scale deforestation because of rapid agricultural expansion, changing land
use patterns accompanied by other social pressures have resulted in the depletion of diversity of
tropical fruit tree genetic diversity. Fortunately there is resurgence of interest in the traditional land use
practices in the wake of these threats (Leakey and Ajayi, 2007). Therefore conservation of TFT
genetic diversity in the surroundings where they developed their distinctive properties is one of the
best practical solutions available.
Farmers, all over the world have been identifying unique variations from the wild trees that
satisfy their specific needs/preferences and induct them to the farming systems. This practice is
unique to a specific community and its culture. Such indigenous knowledge has strong links with TFT
genetic resources of India (Ajay and Pratap, 2009). Combining Traditional Knowledge (TK) with
modern science is helpful in conserving the genetic resources, in creating new medicines and
alleviating poverty in under-developed countries (Sayna, 2010). However, TK is constantly under
threat because it is orally transferred from one generation to another. If the knowledge passed on is
not so useful or there is no recipient to receive the knowledge or the concerned genetic material is no
longer available, TK loses its purpose (Subedi et al., 2005a). Therefore, it is essential that this
knowledge is documented and the genetic resources are regularly monitored for their status.
Documentation is primarily a process by which Traditional Knowledge (TK) is identified,
collected, organized, registered and recorded in order to constantly maintain, manage, use,
disseminate and protect against bio-piracy. It is also important that the community members
themselves must realize the worth of the genetic resources and TK and get involved in their
protection. Documentation of TFTs in Uttara Kannada district has helped in identifying unique
varieties of ‘Citrus reticulata’ and ‘Spondias pinnata’ that are becoming rare (Bhat, 2013).
Community Biodiversity Register (CBR) is a record, kept in a register by community
members, of the genetic resources in a community, including information on their custodians, data,
agro-ecology, cultural and use values (Sthapit and Quek, 2006; Rijal et al., 2003). CBR aims to
document the TK of local people and help them realize their biodiversity assets and the values. It is
an important means to monitor the maintenance, management, usage, exchange of local genetic
resources and the associated traditional knowledge.
Subedi et al. (2005a) surveyed 480 different bio-resources in Nepal and registered in 17
CBRs in 2004. High richness in rice, finger millet, taro, pulses and citrus fruit varieties, was noted
reflecting the diverse agro-ecological conditions of study areas. A unique diversity in local plant
genetic resources which were used exclusively for medicine and therapeutic cure by local
communities was also observed. According to the study by Sthapit and Jarvis (2005), developing CBR
in Nepal had helped to provide information to the local people in identifying, locating conserving rare
and unique varieties, and then to add value for enhancing people’s livelihood by building local
capacity to search, select, maintain and exchange the genetic materials that address the needs of
local community. CBR is the best community-based management strategy for the conservation of TFT
genetic resources.
CBR is an important initiative to document local genetic resources and the empower
communities in conservation. According to Sthapit and Quek (2006), CBR is expected to eventually
enhance recognition of value of TK, supporting its preservation by encouraging exchange of genetic
materials among different communities. Ultimately, CBR program taken in different countries is aimed
at promotion, conservation, sustainable use and documentation of biological diversity.
Uttara Kannada has a rich diversity of TFT genetic resources (Bhat, 2013). The local
communities have direct dependence on the available TFTs. This is even reflected in their traditional
food habits and farming system. Today TFTs are gaining more popularity for their diverse use values.
Many of the major TFT species like mango and jackfruit have their origin in this part of Uttara
Kannada which have been cultivated in the traditional production system. More than 55 TFT species
were recorded in Uttara Kannada of which about 70 per cent of the total species were native to this
part of the Western Ghats (Bhat, 2013). However, documentation of TFT genetic resources and the
associated traditional knowledge have not been done in Uttara Kannada yet. With this background the
present study was taken for the following objectives.
1. To document the diversity and indigenous traditional knowledge associated with TFT genetic
resources among focal village communities of up-ghat region and coast in the Central
Western Ghats.
2. To develop elements of Community Biodiversity Register (CBR) with respect to tropical fruit
tree (TFT) genetic resources.
3. To develop a conservation plan for rare genetic resources of tropical fruit trees.
REVIEW OF LITERATURE

The review of literature related to the objectives of the research topic has been presented in
the following sections.
2.1 Importance of Tropical Fruit Tree (TFT) genetic resources
TFT genetic resources have been important for food and nutritional security and income
generation for local people even though they are unknown in the international market (Akinnifesi et
al., 2008; Franzel et al., 1996). They provide nutritious fruit for consumption and sale to rural
communities (Simitu et al., 2009). Indigenous fruits are highly valued by farmers and consumers in
developing countries for food and nutritional value, and also for other values like medicine, fodder and
religious uses etc. TFTs also perform an important ecosystem function as habitat components for
pollinators, which include a wide range of insects, birds, bats and other animals (Soepadmo, 1989).
Several reports have indicated that there exist intricate but harmonious interrelationship between
TFTs and feeding behaviour of pollinators (Baker and Baker, 1983; Faegri and Pijl, 1979; Proctor and
Yeo, 1973). TFTs provide critical food resources for animals during periods of food scarcity, which
may otherwise cause extinction of those species that depend on them. Reduced food resources may
impact animal abundance and foraging behaviour which, in turn, could have an effect on forest
regeneration (Whitmore, 1990; Terborgh, 1986).
United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) had estimated that that more than 55% of the
Asian fruit species are gathered by tribal and other people living in close proximity to forests and other
common lands for supplementary income and nutrition (Anon, 1998).
2.2 TFT genetic resources in Asia

Asia is characterized by rich fruit tree diversity. About 500 species of tropical fruit trees are
distributed in diverse ecosystems (Verheij and Coronel, 1991). Arora and Ramanatha Rao, (1995)
have suggested that in addition to over 70 native fruit tree species that have been domesticated,
exotic fruit species that are well acclimatized to this region have added to the diversity of TFT
distributed in different production systems. Citrus, mango, papaya, durian, rambutan, custard apple,
passion fruit etc. are some of the major fruit trees in Asia (Arora an Ramanatha Rao, 1995; Singh,
1993; Verheij and Coronel, 1991).
According to Kostermans and Bompard, (1993) the genus Mangifera is the richest which
comprises of 58 species. About 26 species have edible fruits, either eaten as fresh fruits or used in
general culinary uses, of which mango is the most important species (Bompard, 1992).
In an independent survey (Anon, 2004), it was identified that the region of South, Southeast
and East Asia are important regions for tropical fruit tree production. India, Indonesia, Thailand and
China account for 50% of the total global fruit production. Also TFTs account for 30-59% of total farm
income, especially for marginal farmers. Most of these species have multi-purpose use for food,
shelter, timber, fuel, medicine and other uses as understood from the studies of Bhagmal and
Ramanatha Rao (2003) and Hodel and Gessler (1999).
2.3 Diversity of TFTs in major production systems

Sthapit et al. (2007) have reported that traditionally tropical fruit trees were managed in a
variety of production system such as in natural forests, protected areas, buffer zones, home-gardens
and commercial orchards. As a component of the home-gardens, tropical fruit tree species are grown
to serve the cultural and economic needs of farming communities. Home-gardens have also been
identified as the repository of the genepool of TFT species taken and cultivated from the forest areas
especially for communities occupying fringes of forest ecosystems or protected areas (Sthapit et al.,
2007).
According to Manuel et al. (2007), the pattern of wild edible plant usage appear to depend
mainly on socio-cultural factors rather than biological ones such as climate or richness of edible flora.
There was a clear preference for edible fruits that were consumed raw or used to make jams and
liqueurs.
In agricultural areas, tropical fruit trees were important component of multi-crop systems such
as home-gardens, a characteristic feature in many Asian rural landscapes. In the humid tropics which
hold very rich species diversity, TFTs were a major component of multi-crop system including home-
gardens. Such farms and home-gardens were rich in tropical fruit tree species and had a number of
economic, social, cultural, aesthetic and ecological functions important to livelihood (Trinh et al., 2003;
Leakey, 1999).
In India, more than 120 undomesticated plant species had been recorded in home-gardens
(Singh et al., 2001). Mangifera species constituted a fairly large component of several natural riverine
forests in India (especially of the pickle mango type), Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia (Bompard,
1995; Bompard and Schaffer, 1993; Mukherjee, 1985). A survey of Kohima and Mon town markets in
Nagaland found that about 40 of 68 plant products were harvested from home-gardens. A large array
of Citrus diversity was maintained in home-gardens of Meghalaya state (Singh et al., 2001).
Rahman et al. (2013) recorded that fruit crop species like Mangifera indica, Artocarpus
heterophyllus, Citrus limon, Psidium guajava, Zizyphus mauritiana, Citrus grandis, and Carica papaya
etc., were usually preferred for planting in the front yard of the house in Bangladesh. Fruit trees
like Aegle marmelos, Annona squamosa, Areca catechu, Averrhoa carambola, Carica papaya,
Carissa carandas, Cocos nucifera, Dillenia indica, Elaeocarpus floribundus, Mangifera indica,
Phyllanthus acidus, Phyllanthus emblica, Psidium guajava, Spondias pinnata, Syzygium cumini,
Tamarindus indica and Zizyphus mauritiana were recorded from the urban and rural homestead
gardens of Bangladesh.
In a study taken by Roy et al. (2013), a total of 62 species belonging to 36 families were
recorded from 80 home-gardens of Northern Bangladesh. Majority of the species were food-providing
fruit trees. Mango and jackfruit were the major fruit tree species found, valued for their multiple uses.
According to a study by Varadaranganatha and Madiwalar (2010) in Uttara Kannada district of
Karnataka, horti-silviculture system was the major production system. TFTs were the prominent
species and showed high diversity and density. Mango, jackfruit, papaya, black berry, sapota and 15
other fruit trees were the dominant species in the higher elevations whereas, cashew along with
mango, jackfruit, aonla etc. were the pre-dominant fruit tree species in the coastal region.
Rahman et al. (2009) recorded 28 TFT species belonging to 18 different families. Jackfruit
(Artocarpus heterophyllus), mango (Mangifera indica), guava (Psidium guajava), black berry
(Syzygium cumini), date palm (Phoenix sylvestris), Bullocks heart (Annona reticulata), papaya (Carica
papaya), tamarind (Tamarindus indica), jujube (Zizyphus mouritiana) were cultivated in more than
80% of the homesteads. Among them mango and jackfruit were the dominant species in homesteads
at all locations and had the most diverse utility among all other fruit species. It was observed that
there was increase in the number of fruit tree species in the homestead gardens but at a slow rate.
Kumar (2006) studied the traditional home-garden systems of Kerala. It was recorded how the
traditional fruit crops have given the essential food security and nutritional value for the local people.
Mannan et al. (2004), also identified fifty-seven different fruit varieties in 150 homestead
gardens of Bangladesh. Tropical home-gardens are spectacular examples of fruit tree richness and
diversity.
Several authors have shown that homestead gardens play a potential role in biodiversity
conservation as well as uplifting the socio-economic condition by contributing families or household’s
annual income and providing nutritional diet to families. Most of the households were found to prefer
mostly food or fruit species (45%) because of the income incentives and family needs (Roy et al.,
2013; Masum et al., 2008; Siddiqui and Khan, 1999; Mustafa, 1997).
In addition to the home-garden grown fruits, the local people also collect an array of wild fruits
for food and medicinal purposes from nearby forests. Domestication process may conserve the
genetic diversity of indigenous species and ease pressure on the wild population. Once an
appropriate species/population has been identified, the best types are multiplied by vegetative
propagation means like Garcinia gummi-gutta (Nair et al., 2005), Indian gooseberry (Tewari and
Bajpai, 2005), mango (Arora and Ramanatha Rao, 1998) and jack (Kelaskar et al., 1993). Over long
periods in the history of tropical land use, home-garden systems have remained as repositories of
indigenous fruits and nuts. In certain cases, demand for indigenous fruit was partly satisfied by
gathering from the wild. Home-gardens are also endowed with considerable genetic diversity, which is
an important aspect of biodiversity conservation. Participatory approaches for locating promising
genotypes and their domestication are suggested as corrective measures to augment fruit tree
production in tropical home-garden.