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Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Author ORCID Identifier

DINESHA S 0000-0003-4619-0906

RAHUL DATTA 0000-0001-9001-2555

SEZAİ ERCİŞLİ 0000-0001-5006-5687

RAKESH S 0000-0003-1966-2824

DEEPRANJAN SARKAR 0000-0001-7320-2728

PRAKASH KUMAR JHA 0000-0001-5973-711X

RAGHUPATHI BALASANI 0000-0003-4898-6190

SHIKHA . 0000-0001-6043-6955

SASWAT KUMAR KAR 0000-0002-8075-5301

VISHAL SETH 0009-0001-9905-6615

AMITAVA RAKSHIT 0000-0002-9406-8262

DOI

10.55730/1300-011X.3193

Abstract

Many underutilized edible fruit species (UEFS) are found in the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP), which support food security (FS) for many other dependent communities as well as the indigenous people. Unfortunately, there is little study and fragmented information available about these naturally edible products. The UEFS of the IGP was the subject of a systematic review utilizing the PRISMA Protocol, which produced implications for FS and land degradation neutrality (LDN). This review aims to survey, summarize, and annotate the published information about the angiosperms native and naturalized UEFS of IGP to identify and make use of this species, particularly for the sustainable development of this region. A systematic review confirmed that 371 species of UEFS, of which 62 species were Threatened and Near Threatened (TNT)-UEFS. Among the TNT-UEFS, 41 species were threatened, while 21 species were NT. The threatened species were further categorized as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List in the IGP as Vulnerable (21 species), Endangered (16 species), and Critically Endangered (4 species). This systematic review suggests integration of the native and naturalized UEFS in afforestation and reforestation programmes to aid in various ecosystem services. Calamus inermis, Corypha taliera, Licuala peltata, and Saurauia punduana are examples of multipurpose species that require immediate sustainable conservation and cultivation initiatives to save them from extinction in the near future. Multipurpose species like Aegle marmelos, Buchanania lanzan, Manilkara hexandra, Syzygium cuminii, Tamarindus indica, etc. are immensely constructive and climate-smart by surviving in harsh agro-climatic conditions and have great potential for establishment on marginal and wastelands throughout the IGP region. These resilient fruit species enhance biodiversity, ecosystems, and landscapes. As a result, the study will offer baseline data for the next investigations and be helpful to policymakers in creating sustainable and scientific policies for the IGP.

Keywords

food security, land restoration, Native species, species conservation, underutilized fruits

First Page

443

Last Page

469

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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