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Socio-economic importance, domestication trends and in situ conservation of wild Citrus species of Northeast India

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Abstract

Northeast India is rich in Citrus genetic diversity representing several wild and cultivated species. Besides commercially cultivated species, several wild, semi-wild and domesticated species namely Citrus indica, C. macroptera, C. ichangensis, C. latipes, C. megaloxycarpa and C. assamensis are found to grow in Northeast India. These species have great potential in improvement of Indian Citrus industry being source of genes for combating biotic and abiotic stresses. The natural diversity of these genetic resources is shrinking at alarming rate due to large scale deforestation, shifting cultivation practiced in these areas and climate change scenario in this important hotspot of biodiversity. Socio-economic importance of each species have been studied during surveys and interesting domestication trends were observed based on their cultural and economic significance, which led to “in situ on farm” conservation of C. indica, C. macroptera and threat to C. megaloxycarpa and C. ichangensis. Consequently, genetic resources of most of these species are facing severe threat of extinction necessitating policy interventions and adoption of dynamic conservation and management strategies. Species specific conservation strategy especially through “in situ on farm” conservation has been proposed with suitable sites in Northeastern Indian states based on population structure and suitability of habitat. Farmers’ support through “The Biological Diversity Act, 2002” and “The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act, 2001” of India would bring the required impact on management of these complex genetic resources of Citrus. In the present study, we have documented the current status, socio-economic potential, domestication trends and associated traditional knowledge of these wild and semi-wild Citrus species occurring in Northeast India and enumerated suitable conservation strategies and desired policy interventions for their dynamic conservation and sustainable utilization.

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Acknowledgments

Authors are grateful to Director, NBPGR and Head, Exploration and Collection Division, NBPGR, New Delhi for encouragement and support. Thanks are also due to officers and staff of forest departments and ICAR institutes/centres in Northeast India for assistance and support during exploration and survey trips. Financial support from NATP and NAIP-World Bank is greatly acknowledged for the germplasm collection for this study. Susheel Kumar thanks Department of Biotechnology for awarding Post Doctorate Fellowship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tissue Culture and Cryopreservation Unit, National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), Pusa Campus, New Delhi, 110012, India

    S. K. Malik, Susheel Kumar & Rekha Chaudhury

  2. National Research Centre for Citrus, Nagpur, 440 010, Maharashtra, India

    I. P. Singh

  3. Division of Exploration and Collection, National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Pusa Campus, New Delhi, 110 012, India

    O. P. Dhariwal

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  1. S. K. Malik
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Correspondence to S. K. Malik.

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Malik, S.K., Kumar, S., Singh, I.P. et al. Socio-economic importance, domestication trends and in situ conservation of wild Citrus species of Northeast India. Genet Resour Crop Evol 60, 1655–1671 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-012-9948-x

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