Mohan B. Thapa1*, Tek P. Gotame2 and Sanjay Dhimal3
1 Lalitpur Metropolitan City-23, Dhapakhel, Lalitpur
2 National Horticulture Research Centre, Khumaltar, Lalitpur/NARC
3 Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives, Bagmati Province
*Corresponding authors' email: mbthapa2009@gmail.com
*ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0041-1363
Abstract
Diverse genetic resources-base of fruits in Nepal is contributed by wild, indigenous, and underutilized fruit genetic resources. These wild and underutilized fruits harvested from the forests and farmers' marginal lands can be seen in many local markets even today. Many of these underutilized fruits perform better than exotic species. Fruits such as kafal, lapsi, amla, aiselu etc. harvested from forest are sold in local markets which generate a considerable amount of income to the farmers. Fruits like pummelo, citron are used during special rituals such as for Bhaitika in Tihar and are sold during those festivals. Likewise, bel is used by Newari community during the bel bibah of their daughters. All these fruit germplasms are being maintained in field since other methods have not yet been developed. A National Genetic Resource Centre including underutilized fruit germplasms repository should be established to utilize them. There should be provisions of freeze preservation and cryopreservation, in vitro and field gene banks for conservation. Development of trade related aspect of intellectual property rights system to protect these indigenous and underutilized fruits should be implemented and strengthened by public institution in the country. In situ evaluation of these genotypes using a common protocol could be a worth at initial step whether they are under public or private description.
Keywords: Fruit diversity, conservation, utilization, gene bank, indigenous