Genetic Diversity in Rosaceous Fruits of Jammu and Kashmir State: Apple, Apricot, and Almond

Abstract

The Jammu and Kashmir State, located at the confluence of Holarctic and Paleotropical Floristic Realms, is endowed with rich floristic diversity, including agro-biodiversity. Rosaceae is one of the most important families and constitutes the economic backbone of the State. The State is ideally suited to the cultivation of different kinds of fruits. The present chapter aims at assessment of germplasm of rosaceous fruits grown in the region. A variety of rosaceous fruits like apple, apricot, almond, pear, plum, and cherry are grown in the State. Apple, ranking first in area and production, is represented by ca. 190 genotypes. The most prominent cultivars include Red, Royal, Shimla, Kullu, and Mollies Delicious; American Trel; Maharaji; Razakwari; and Kesri. Due to the monoculture of Delicious group, many indigenous cultivars, including Ambri, Kashur Farash, and Shireen Dahan, are at the verge of extinction. Kashmir Valley and particularly Ladakh region also host a rich diversity of apricot germplasm. Some of the important apricot genotypes include Afghani, Raktsey-Karpo, Halman, Australian Sweet, and Charmagz. Almond is yet another important stone fruit of Kashmir. Broadly, three types of almonds, sweet hard-shelled, bitter hard-shelled, and paper-shelled, are cultivated in the State. Some important almond varieties include Shalimar, Makhdoom, Waris, Nonpareil, and Kagzi. Due to high economic returns in apple, cultivation of other rosaceous fruits in Kashmir has not received due attention. As a result, precious germplasm of the traditional cultivars of these fruits have suffered genetic erosion.