Genetic Resources of Vegetable Crops: A Potential Source of Nutrition and Entrepreneurship in North-Eastern Region of India

Abstract

North-eastern region of India is a part of Indo-Myanmar region of biodiversity hotspot of the world and known for its diverse agro-climate and is also the centre of diversity of numerous conventional and non-conventional vegetable crops. Moreover, majority of the population of the region, especially children and women, suffer from protein energy malnutrition and disorders related to micronutrient (vitamins and minerals), which is essential for sustaining life and physical activities. The major factor for the above-mentioned problems is the use of only few crops in the diet such as potato, cabbage, tomato, cauliflower and brinjal as they are contributing to over 64% of the total production. These problems can be dealt through sensitization about the nutritional value of the potential vegetable crops and diet diversification with nutritionally superior crops like beans (Indian bean, broad bean, winged bean, lima bean, velvet bean, tree bean), cucurbits (chow-chow, teasel gourd), solanaceous crops (bird’s-eye chilli, dalle, chillies, king chillies, tree tomato), cole crops (cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli), Moringa oleifera, leafy vegetables (Brassica juncea, Basella alba, Malva verticillata, Amaranthus spp., Allium spp.), ferns (Diplazium esculentum (Retz.) Sw., Huperzia phlegmaria (L.) Rothm., Huperzia squarrosa (G. Forst.) Trevis. and Nephrolepis cordifolia (L.) C. Presl), bamboo shoots (Bambusa balcooa, Bambusa pallida, Dendrocalamus spp. and Melocanna baccifera), aromatic crops (Ocimum spp., Eryngium foetidum, Murraya koenigii, Zanthoxylum spp.), tuber crops (tapioca, yam, sweet potato and colocasia) and other perennial fruits like jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus), which are well suited for the region. Further, livelihood security of the marginal and small farmers can also be ensured by the production of high-value crops like king chillies, bird’s-eye chillies, capsicum and mushrooms under protected conditions. The diverse genetic resources with unique desirable traits could be utilized for further improvement. Moreover, there is a need to assess the nutraceutical properties of the diverse potential crops of the region and focus on the conservation of the genetic resources in situ under field gene bank in ecological niche areas and also under ex situ conditions.