Nayar2010.AgBd inKerala (2)
28
RESEARCH ARTICLE Agrobiodiversity in a biodiversity hotspot: Kerala State, India. Its origin and status N. M. Nayar Received: 25 October 2009 / Accepted: 29 March 2010 Ó Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2010 Abstract This paper examines the status and char- acteristics of agrobiodiversity present in Kerala State, India, which is a part of the Western Ghats—Sri Lanka biodiversity hotspot. They show much heterogeneity. The State grows 142 crop plants belonging to 104 genera and 43 families. Almost the entire agrobiodi- versity conservation work is being carried out by the central government, even though the states are also mandated to do this work. This appears to have an adverse effect on agrobiodiversity conservation. Until now, most attention was being paid to only the most important food and commercial crops, and very limited to their wild relatives and the less important crop plants. Keywords Agrobiodiversity Biodiversity hotspots Crop wild relatives conservation India Kerala Introduction The status and characteristics of biodiversity pre- valent in a country/state/region is dependent on the land (soil, topography), climate, and people (their habits and population density) inhabiting the region. Alarmed at the steady loss of biodiversity, con- servationists have accepted the concept of biodiver- sity hotspots originally propounded by Norman Myers in 1988 (Myers 1990), where exceptional concentrations of endemic species undergo excep- tional loss of habitat (IUCN 1990; Myers et al. 2000). To qualify as a hotspot, an area must contain at least 0.5% (or 1500 taxa) of the world’s plant species as endemics. Further, each area may feature a separate biota or community of species that fits together as a biogeographic unit (Myers et al. 2000; Mittermeir et al. 2004). At present, 33 hotspots are recognized in the world (Conservation International 2007). This list contains 2 hotspots from India, the lower eastern Himalayas and the Western Ghats together with Sri Lanka (Fig. 1). The Western Ghats—Sri Lanka region originally covered 1,89,611 km 2 . It contains 5,916 plant species of which 3,049 species (51%) are endemic (Kumar et al. 2004). Incidentally, India is a classical Vavilovian gene centre for cultivated plants (Vavilov 1927). Western Ghats or Sahyadri hills are a chain of mountains that lie along the west coast of peninsular India (8–21 o N), 30–80 km east of the Arabian Sea. It is a north–south stretch of 1,600 km long mountain ranges with an average elevation of 1,500 m above MSL. Anamalai in Kerala State is its highest peak (2,694 m). Western Ghats has a 30 km wide gap in Palakkad region (Fig. 1). The western side of the This paper is dedicated to Dr Peter Hanelt on his 80th birthday with affection and regards. N. M. Nayar (&) Department of Botany, University of Kerala, Trivandrum 695 581, Kerala, India e-mail: [email protected] 123 Genet Resour Crop Evol DOI 10.1007/s10722-010-9555-7
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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Agrobiodiversity in a biodiversity hotspot: Kerala State,India. Its origin and status
N. M. Nayar
Received: 25 October 2009 / Accepted: 29 March 2010
� Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2010
Abstract This paper examines the status and char-
acteristics of agrobiodiversity present in Kerala State,
India, which is a part of the Western Ghats—Sri Lanka
biodiversity hotspot. They show much heterogeneity.
The State grows 142 crop plants belonging to 104
genera and 43 families. Almost the entire agrobiodi-
versity conservation work is being carried out by the
central government, even though the states are also
mandated to do this work. This appears to have an
adverse effect on agrobiodiversity conservation. Until
now, most attention was being paid to only the most
important food and commercial crops, and very limited
to their wild relatives and the less important crop plants.
Keywords Agrobiodiversity � Biodiversity
hotspots � Crop wild relatives conservation �India � Kerala
Introduction
The status and characteristics of biodiversity pre-
valent in a country/state/region is dependent on the
land (soil, topography), climate, and people (their
habits and population density) inhabiting the region.
Alarmed at the steady loss of biodiversity, con-
servationists have accepted the concept of biodiver-
sity hotspots originally propounded by Norman
Myers in 1988 (Myers 1990), where exceptional
concentrations of endemic species undergo excep-
tional loss of habitat (IUCN 1990; Myers et al. 2000).
To qualify as a hotspot, an area must contain at least
0.5% (or 1500 taxa) of the world’s plant species as
endemics. Further, each area may feature a separate
biota or community of species that fits together as a
biogeographic unit (Myers et al. 2000; Mittermeir
et al. 2004). At present, 33 hotspots are recognized in
the world (Conservation International 2007).
This list contains 2 hotspots from India, the lower
eastern Himalayas and the Western Ghats together
with Sri Lanka (Fig. 1). The Western Ghats—Sri
Lanka region originally covered 1,89,611 km2. It
contains 5,916 plant species of which 3,049 species
(51%) are endemic (Kumar et al. 2004). Incidentally,
India is a classical Vavilovian gene centre for
cultivated plants (Vavilov 1927).
Western Ghats or Sahyadri hills are a chain of
mountains that lie along the west coast of peninsular
India (8–21oN), 30–80 km east of the Arabian Sea. It
is a north–south stretch of 1,600 km long mountain
ranges with an average elevation of 1,500 m above
MSL. Anamalai in Kerala State is its highest peak
(2,694 m). Western Ghats has a 30 km wide gap in
Palakkad region (Fig. 1). The western side of the
This paper is dedicated to Dr Peter Hanelt on his 80th birthday
with affection and regards.
N. M. Nayar (&)
Department of Botany, University of Kerala,
Trivandrum 695 581, Kerala, India
e-mail: [email protected]
123
Genet Resour Crop Evol
DOI 10.1007/s10722-010-9555-7
Western Ghats receives 1400–6,000 m annual rain-
fall, with 50–65% received during south-west mon-
soon (June–September).
Kerala State lies on the southwestern corner of
India (Fig. 1). It is 38,855 km2 in area and its
population is 31.8 million (All India Census 2001). It
is the most densely populated State in India (819
persons/km2; in India, 324 persons/km2; c. 1200/km2,
if forests and wetlands are deducted from net area). It
receives one of the highest rains anywhere:
2,990 mm annually. The topography is very undulat-
ing (Fig. 2).
The object of this study was to assess the present
status, characteristics, and conservation status of
agrobiodiversity present in Kerala State (which is
part of the Western Ghats—Sri Lanka biodiversity
hotspot). The possible explanations for being a
biodiversity hotspot will also be sought. Such a study
does not appear to have been conducted before.
Materials and methods
The available information on the physiography,
climate, and agrobiodiversity prevalent in Kerala
was collected from published documents, visits to
various institutions, and field observations. The
collected data were collated and inferences were
drawn. The particulars of the institutions from where
data have been collected and of the documents
consulted are given in the text.
Results
Physiography of Kerala State
Kerala is one of the 28 states/union territories of India
(Fig. 1). It lies between 8�180–12�480 North latitude
and 74�040–77�500 East longitude. It is hemmed in
between the Western Ghats on the east side and
Arabian Sea on the west side from 2,694 m above
mean sea level to 2 m below sea level. Kerala is a
long (c. 600 km) and narrow (30–80 km wide) strip
of land sloping broadly from east to west. The annual
average rainfall is 2,990 mm (range: 1,400–
6,000 mm) (Fig. 2). The rainfall is monsoonal, and
predominantly bimodal in distribution with southwest
(June–September, c. 60% rain) and northeast (Octo-
ber–December, c. 30% rain) monsoons, and the rest,
summer rains (January–May, c. 10%) (KSG I 1986).
The soil of the State is also highly variable. It consists
broadly of coastal alluvium, acid saline, acid sul-
phate, laterite, red soil, hill soil, black cotton soil, and
forest soil (Fig. 2). There are 44 rivers in the State, 41
west-flowing, and 3 east-flowing. All these charac-
teristics contribute to enhancing the biodiversity of
the region (Fig. 2).
Plant biodiversity of Western Ghats
The high levels of physical, climatic, and edaphic
heterogeneity bestow the region with a great variety
of vegetation patterns (Kumar et al. 2004). They
consist of scrub forests in low lying rain-shadow
regions and plains, deciduous and tropical rainforests
up to 1,500 m elevation, a unique mosaic of montane
forests and rolling grasslands (shola) above 1500 m
elevation, and also rainforests (Pascal 1988; Conser-
vation International 2007).
Western Ghats is home to about 5,000 angiosperm
species belonging to 2,200 genera and 217 families.
Of these, about 1,700 species (34%) and 58 genera
are endemic. The latter includes 49 monospecific
genera. Some genera are represented by large
Fig. 1 Western Ghats—Sri Lanka biodiversity hotspot show-
ing Kerala
Fig. 2 Kerala State showing a physical, b physiography,
c soils, and d riversc
Genet Resour Crop Evol
123
Genet Resour Crop Evol
123
numbers of endemic species: e.g., Impatiens: 76/86,
Dipterocarpus 12/13, Calamus 23/25 (Kumar et al.
2004).
Species diversity is highest in the southern-most
region of Western Ghats. For instance, 87% of the
region’s species occur in the region south of the
Palghat Gap (which is in Kerala) (Fig. 1), and of
these, 37% occur exclusively in this region. As much
as 60% of the species are found in the Nilgiris, and of
these, 5% are endemic to this region. Agasthyamala
peak in southern Kerala shows the highest levels of
species diversity and endemism (Kumar et al. 2004).
Thus, the regions having the highest levels of species
diversity and endemism in the Western Ghats—Sri
Lanka biodiversity hotspot are located in Kerala
State.
Agrobiodiversity of Kerala
Agrobiodiversity refers to the nature and extent of
variability present in the domesticated plants and
their wild relatives.
The net agricultural area sown in the State is
2.13 Mha (54.8%) out of the total geographical area
of 3.89 Mha. The cropping intensity is 171.4% (Farm
Guide 2009). Two characteristics of the State most
relevant to agrobiodiversity are the high population
density (819 persons/km2) and the home-garden or
homestead living and farming conditions practised
here.
Homesteads or home-gardens are intimate multis-
torey combinations of various trees and crops,
sometimes in association with domestic animals,
including occasionally, with fishes. They provide
ecological and socioeconomic sustainability. They
are found throughout the tropics, but are more
common in some regions: Java, Thailand, Kerala,
east Africa, and parts of tropical South America, for
instance (Kumar and Nair 2004).
Two studies carried out recently in the middle
Kerala midlands have brought out some of the salient
features of Kerala homesteads (Mohan 2004; Peyre
et al. 2006). In Kerala, the midlands cover 42% area
and support 59% population, lowlands 10% area and
26% population, and highlands 48% area and 15%
population (Planning Commission India website).
Peyre et al. (2006) counted 127 cultivated species in
the survey area. They divided them into 10 catego-
ries: fruits and nuts (26 species), beverages and
stimulants (3 species), spices (10 species), timber
and firewood (38 species), ornaments (21 species),
multipurpose timber (9 species), medicinal plants (4
species), coconut and rubber (1 species each), and
staple food crops (5 species). Mohan (2004) found
that the frequency of occurrence of the most common
crop plants were: coconut and banana (in 100%
holdings), papaya (in 88% holdings), arecanut (in
81% holdings), mango (in 78% holdings), jack and
cassava (in 56% holdings), other tuber crops (in 34%
holdings), and cocoa (in 13% holdings). She observed
118–128 species in the home-gardens, with each
garden having 34–38 species and density of 4.9–
5.5 species/100 m2. Both the studies found that both
species number and plant density increased with
decreasing holding size and the total number of plants
went up to more than 600/ha.
The average size of the holdings in Kerala is only
0.27 ha (Farm Guide 2009) and per capita availability
of cultivable land, a mere 0.10 ha (Planning Com-
mission India). More than 53% of the holdings (total:
5.9 million) is less than 1 ha in size (Marginal:
average size, 0.15 ha). There are only 3,000 holdings
that belong to the largest class (Large: [10 ha) and
they cover 6.02% of the cropped area. All of them are
plantations of coffee, tea, rubber, and cardamom.
Characteristics of agrobiodiversity of Kerala
The State grows a relatively larger number of
agriculturally important plants vis-a-vis the area
under cultivation (142 nos., 2.13 Mha; Table 1).
They belong to 5/10 categories of Peyre et al.
(2006), viz., fruits & nuts, beverages & stimulants,
spices, coconut, rubber, and staple food crops. These
are grown for both domestic use and commercial
purposes.
Kerala farmers use a bewilderingly large number of
mixed cropping systems. The Farm Information
Bureau of the State has identified the following
25 cropping systems as the most common (Farm
Guide 2009). They are: (1) paddy, (2) coconut, (3)
rubber, (4) coffee, (5) tea, (6) cardamom, (7) coconut–
cashew, (8) coconut–tuber crops–sesamum, (9)
coconut–banana–vegetables, (10) coconut–black pep-
per–banana, (11) coconut–banana–arecanut, (12)
coconut–pineapple–black pepper, (13) coconut–are-
canut–black pepper, (14) coconut–arecanut, (15)
coconut–arecanut–cashew–fruit trees–black pepper,
Genet Resour Crop Evol
123
Table 1 Area under crops (2006–2007) in Kerala and their conservation status
Area
000 ha
Ranking
according
to sown area
No. of accessions held
In field
gene bank
In medium
term storage
Total
1. Cereals & millets 266.50 – – – –
(i) Paddy 263.53 3 539 3414 3414
(ii) Sorghum 1.83 29 4 Nil 4
(iii) Pearl millet 0.52 44 Nil 32 32
(iv) Other millets 0.63 – – – –
2. Pulses, mainly pigeon pea 6.87 – – – –
3. Sugar crops 5.45 – – – –
(i) Palmyrah 4.29 23 4 Nil 4
(ii) Sugarcane 1.16 33 1642 Nil 1642
4. Spices and condiments 308.76 – – – –
(i) Black pepper 216.71 4 2485 Nil 2485
(ii) Cardamom 41.36 12 439 Nil 439
(iii) Tamarind 16.88 16 Nil Nil Nil
(iv) Nutmeg 13.49 17 90 Nil 90
(v) Ginger 11.08 20 750 Nil 750
(vi) Turmeric 3.92 24 1552 Nil 1552
(vii) Vanilla 3.67 25 82 Nil 82
(viii) Cloves 1.10 35 408 Nil 408
(ix) Cinnamon 0.33 46 302 Nil 302
(x) Garlic 0.22 47 Nil Nil Nil
5. Fresh fruits 316.95 – – – –
(i) Banana and plantain 112.24 5 307 Nil 307
(ii) Jack 88.36 7 62 Nil 62
(iii) Mango 76.71 10 123 Nil 123
(iv) Papaya 17.69 15 11 Nil 11
(v) Pineapple 12.49 17 3 Nil 3
(vi) Other fresh fruits 9.47 – – – –
6. Dry fruits 70.46 – – – –
(i) Cashew 70.46 11 1768 Nil 1768
7. Tubers 115.37 – – – –
(i) Tapioca 87.13 8 1819 Nil 1819
(ii) Elephant yam 11.58 18 72 Nil 72
(iii) Taro 11.19 19 581 Nil 581
(iv) Yam 12.40 28 702 Nil 702
(v) Sweet potato 0.51 45 907 Nil 907
(vi) Others 2.57 – – – –
8. Vegetables 48.15 – – – –
(i) Drumstick 19.68 14 10 25 35
(ii) Bittergourd 2.41 27 Nil 245 245
(iii) Cucumber 1.52 30 12 Nil 12
(iv) Green chillies 1.42 31 45 Nil 45
(v) Amaranthus 1.42 31 25 Nil 25
Genet Resour Crop Evol
123
(16) coconut–arecanut–black pepper–fruit trees, (17)
coconut–arecanut–cashew, (18) coconut–black pep-
per, (19) coconut–black pepper–fruit trees, (20)
banana–fruit trees–coconut, (21) coconut–banana–
sugarcane–millets, (22) coconut–tapioca–banana–
black pepper, (23) coffee–black pepper, (24) potato–
garlic–cole crops, and (25) groundnut–cotton–sugar-
cane. As many as 17 of them are coconut-based
cropping systems. Coconut is the most widely grown
crop in the State covering more than 30% of the net
cropped area (Table 1). The other cropping systems
are based on 2–4 primary crops. In coffee and tea
plantations, where shade trees are grown, the latter is
often used as live standards for black pepper. Only rice
is grown in the State in pure stands except some
plantation crops like rubber and oil palm.
Only 47 crop plants are being grown in more
than 200 ha land ([0.01% net cropped area)
(Table 2). This is primarily because of the severe
land shortage in Kerala as a result of the very high
population density and other factors. Practically,
most of the food items required by the State—
mainly rice, wheat, vegetables, fruits, etc.—also
flowers for performing daily rituals in temples and
decorating women’s hair!) are brought in from the
neighbouring states.
Table 1 continued
Area
000 ha
Ranking
according
to sown area
No. of accessions held
In field
gene bank
In medium
term storage
Total
(vi) Snakegourd 1.15 34 23 43 66
(vii) Pumpkin 1.10 35 10 Nil 10
(viii) Lady’s finger 1.07 37 10 863 873
(ix) Ivy gourd 0.97 38 6 Nil 6
(x) Brinjal 0.83 40 20 18 38
(xi) Ashgourd 0.82 41 9 Nil 9
(xii) Others 15.78 – – – –
9. Oilseeds 885.12 – – – –
(i) Coconut 872.43 1 342 Nil 342
(ii) Oilpalm 6.10 21 78 Nil 78
(iii) Groundnut 2.81 26 4 Nil 4
(iv) Sesamum 0.73 42 46 Nil 46
(v) Others 2.53 – – – –
10. Fibre, drugs, narcotics 104.88 – – – –
(i) Arecanut 102.08 6 72 Nil 72
(ii) Cotton 1.30 33 Nil Nil Nil
(iii) Lemon grass 0.86 39 10 Nil 10
(iv) Betel leaf 0.61 43 9 Nil 9
11. Plantain crops 626.66 – – – –
(i) Rubber 502.24 2 4766 Nil 4766
(ii) Coffee 84.57 9 474 Nil 474
(iii) Tea 35.37 13 600 Nil 600
(iv) Cocoa 10.71 21 250 Nil 250
12. Other crops 162.25 – – – –
Source: 1. Area under cultivation: Farm Guide 2009
2. No. of accessions held in genebank: NBPGR Trichur, CTCRI Trivandrum, IISR Kozhikode, CPCRI Kasaragod, DOOPR Palode,
ICRI Myladumpara, TRI Kumali, CCRI Wayanad, SBI Kannur, KAU Vellanikara
3. Item no. 12: Other crops include green manure crops, 19,760 ha; fodder crops, 3310 ha; medicinal plants, 234 ha; all the various
other crops, 1,11, 120 ha
Genet Resour Crop Evol
123
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Genet Resour Crop Evol
123
Ta
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ecie
sS
pec
ies
nam
eT
ota
lIn
dia
Ker
ala
5F
amil
yA
race
ae(1
05
/
32
50
)
––
–M
ost
lytr
op
ical
&su
btr
op
ical
10
Gen
us
Alo
casi
a(S
cho
tt)
G.
Do
n
c.6
51
06
Ind
oM
alay
anre
gio
n
11
A.
ma
cro
rrh
izo
s(L
.)G
.
Do
n(g
ian
tta
ro)
––
–P
rese
nt
wid
ely
inS
&S
EA
sia,
also
inK
eral
a;u
sed
tob
eco
nsu
med
up
toc.
50
yea
rsag
o
11
Gen
us
Am
orp
ho
ph
all
us
Blu
me
exD
ecn
e
c.
15
0
19
8O
Wm
ois
ttr
op
ics
12
A.
pa
eon
iifo
liu
s(D
enn
st.)
Nic
ols
on
(ele
ph
ant
yam
)
––
–W
idel
ycu
ltiv
ated
inA
sia;
po
pu
lar
veg
etab
lein
Ker
ala;
fair
var
iab
ilit
y
12
Gen
us
Co
loca
sia
Sch
ott
74
1W
idel
yp
rese
nt
inS
&S
EA
sia,
Oce
ania
13
C.es
cule
nta
(L.)
Sch
ott
(tar
o)
––
–W
idel
ycu
ltiv
ated
thro
ug
ho
ut
the
tro
pic
s,st
aple
foo
din
sev
eral
Pac
ific
isla
nd
s;p
op
ula
rv
eget
able
in
Ker
ala
13
Gen
us
Xa
nth
oso
ma
Sch
ott
57
22
Tro
pic
alA
mer
ica,
sev
eral
spec
ies
edib
le;
wid
ely
cult
ivat
edin
tro
pic
sas
edib
lean
do
rnam
enta
l
14
X.
sag
itti
foli
um
(L.)
Sch
ott
(tan
nia
)
––
–W
idel
ycu
ltiv
ated
for
tub
ers
thro
ug
ho
ut
tro
pic
s;w
idel
yu
sed
inK
eral
a,al
son
atu
rali
zed
15
X.
vio
lace
um
Sch
ott
(tan
nia
)
––
–A
sab
ov
e
6F
amil
yA
raca
ceae
(18
9/
24
00
)
––
–P
antr
op
ical
14
Gen
us
Are
caL
.6
04
2T
rop
ical
Asi
a,O
cean
ia
16
A.
cate
chu
L.
(bet
eln
ut)
––
–U
sed
inS
Asi
a&
Oce
ania
asm
asti
cato
ry;
wid
ely
cult
ivat
edin
Ker
ala
15
Gen
us
Are
ng
aL
ab.
c.1
73
1S
E&
EA
sia
and
WP
acifi
c
17
A.
pin
na
ta(W
urm
b.)
Mer
r.(s
ug
arp
alm
)
––
–In
SE
&S
Asi
afo
rst
arch
fro
mst
ems
and
sug
arfr
om
infl
ore
scen
ce;
no
min
ally
gro
wn
inK
eral
a
16
Gen
us
Bo
rass
us
L.
c.5
11
S&
SE
Asi
a,W
Pac
ific,
NA
ust
rali
a
18
B.
fla
bel
life
rL
.
(pal
my
rah
)
––
–W
idel
yu
sed
inIn
dia
,M
yan
mar
,C
amb
od
ia;
cult
ivat
edin
Ker
ala;
am
ult
ipu
rpo
sep
alm
Genet Resour Crop Evol
123
Ta
ble
2co
nti
nu
ed
Ser
ial
nu
mb
erF
amil
y(N
o.o
fg
ener
a&
spec
ies
infa
mil
y)
No
.o
fsp
ecie
s
ing
enu
s
Rem
ark
s/d
iver
sity
reg
ion
s
Fam
ily
Gen
us
Sp
ecie
sS
pec
ies
nam
eT
ota
lIn
dia
Ker
ala
17
Gen
us
Ca
ryo
taL
.1
23
1In
do
-Mal
ayan
totr
op
Au
stra
lia
19
C.
ure
ns
L.
(to
dd
y
pal
m)
––
–In
do
-Mal
aya:
sou
rce
of
tod
dy
,p
alm
sug
ar,
star
ch;
gro
wn
no
min
ally
inK
eral
ab
ecau
seo
fla
nd
sho
rtag
e
18
Gen
us
Co
cos
L.
11
1S
&S
EA
sia,
Oce
ania
&In
dia
nO
cean
isla
nd
s
20
C.
nu
cife
raL
.
(co
con
ut)
––
–W
idel
ycu
ltiv
ated
thro
ug
ho
ut
tro
pic
alw
orl
d,m
ost
use
ful
tree
toh
um
ans;
mo
stw
idel
yg
row
ncr
op
pla
nt
inK
eral
a;m
uch
var
iati
on
19
Gen
us
Co
ryp
ha
L.
64
1T
rop
ical
Asi
a,m
ain
lyS
Asi
ato
tro
pA
ust
rali
a
21
C.
um
bra
culi
fera
L.
(tal
ipo
t)
––
–S
ou
rce
of
tod
dy
,st
arch
inS
&S
EA
sia;
fou
nd
no
min
ally
inK
eral
a
20
Gen
us
Ela
eis
Jacq
.2
11
WA
fric
a&
tro
pA
mer
ica
22
E.
gu
inee
nsi
sJa
cq.
(oil
pal
m)
––
–F
ou
nd
sem
iwil
din
wes
tA
fric
a;ex
ten
siv
ely
cult
ivat
edin
S&
SE
Asi
a&
WA
fric
a;re
cen
tly
intr
od
uce
d
into
Ker
ala
21
Gen
us
Ph
oen
ixL
.1
38
3W
arm
tro
pic
so
fA
sia
&A
fric
a
23
P.
sylv
estr
is(L
.)R
ox
b.
(su
gar
pal
m)
––
–A
mu
ltip
urp
ose
pal
mfo
rto
dd
y,
sag
o,
leav
esfo
rth
atch
ing
,et
c.;
wil
din
sou
thA
sia,
also
acti
vel
y
pro
tect
edin
S&
SE
Asi
a;sa
me
inK
eral
a
7F
amil
yA
spar
agac
eae
(10
3/2
25
0)
––
–C
osm
op
oli
tan
22
Gen
us
Asp
ara
gu
sT
ou
rn.e
xL
.
As
abo
ve
24
A.
race
mo
sus
Wil
ld.
(asp
arag
us)
c.
12
0
17
7N
ativ
eo
fIn
dia
,tr
op
ical
Afr
ica,
Au
stra
lia;
on
lyn
om
inal
lycu
ltiv
ated
inK
eral
ab
ecau
seo
fla
nd
sho
rtag
e
8F
amil
yB
ixac
eae
(4/2
1)
––
–T
rop
ical
,m
ain
lyA
mer
ica
and
Pac
ific
Oce
anIs
lan
ds
23
Gen
us
Bix
aL
.5
11
As
abo
ve
25
B.
ore
lla
na
L.
(an
nat
to)
––
–A
mer
ican
tropic
s,in
troduce
din
tom
any
countr
ies
asfo
od
dye
pla
nt;
rece
ntl
yal
soin
toK
eral
a;li
ttle
var
iabil
ity
9F
amil
yB
rass
icac
eae
(32
1/3
40
0)
––
–S
ub
tro
pic
alto
tem
per
ate
24
Gen
us
Bra
ssic
aL
.c.
40
15
3E
ura
sian
&M
edit
erra
nea
n,
cult
ivat
edw
orl
dw
ide
for
oil
&as
veg
etab
le,
hig
hly
po
lym
orp
hic
,m
uch
var
iab
ilit
y
26
B.
jun
cea
(L.)
Cze
rnia
k.
(In
dia
n
mu
star
d)
––
–O
nly
no
min
ally
cult
ivat
edin
Ker
ala
bec
ause
of
lan
dsh
ort
age
27
B.
ole
race
aL
.v
ar.
Bo
try
tis
Gro
up
(cau
lifl
ow
er)
––
–O
nly
lim
ited
cult
ivat
ion
inK
eral
ab
ecau
seo
fla
nd
sho
rtag
e
Genet Resour Crop Evol
123
Ta
ble
2co
nti
nu
ed
Ser
ial
nu
mb
erF
amil
y(N
o.o
fg
ener
a&
spec
ies
infa
mil
y)
No
.o
fsp
ecie
s
ing
enu
s
Rem
ark
s/d
iver
sity
reg
ion
s
Fam
ily
Gen
us
Sp
ecie
sS
pec
ies
nam
eT
ota
lIn
dia
Ker
ala
28
B.
ole
race
aL
.v
ar.
Cap
itat
aG
rou
p
(cab
bag
e)
––
–O
nly
lim
ited
cult
ivat
ion
inK
eral
ab
ecau
seo
fla
nd
sho
rtag
e
29
B.r
ap
aL
.v
ar.R
apif
era
Gro
up
(tu
rnip
)
––
–O
nly
lim
ited
cult
ivat
ion
inK
eral
ab
ecau
seo
fla
nd
sho
rtag
e
25
Gen
us
Ra
ph
an
us
L.
31
1S
ub
tro
pic
alto
tem
per
ate
30
R.
sati
vus
L.
(rad
ish
)–
––
Lim
ited
cult
ivat
ion
inK
eral
a
10
Fam
ily
Bro
mel
iace
ae
(59
/26
50
)
––
–T
rop
ical
Am
eric
an
26
Gen
us
An
an
as
Mil
l.1
–7
11
Am
eric
an
31
A.
com
osu
s(L
.)M
err.
(pin
eap
ple
)
––
–W
idel
ycu
ltiv
ated
intr
op
ics;
gro
wn
wid
ely
inK
eral
a;li
ttle
var
iati
on
11
Fam
ily
Can
nac
eae
(1/8
-
10
)
––
–T
rop
ical
Am
eric
an
27
Gen
us
Ca
nn
aL
.–
––
So
uth
Am
eric
an,
no
wsp
read
pan
tro
pic
ally
32
C.
ind
ica
L.
(Qu
een
slan
d
arro
wro
ot)
8–
10
31
Gro
wn
pan
tro
pic
ally
aso
rnam
enta
l&
for
edib
lest
arch
;g
row
nli
mit
edly
inK
eral
ab
ecau
seo
fla
nd
sho
rtag
e;li
ttle
var
iati
on
12
Fam
ily
Car
icac
eae
(6/
34
)
––
–T
rop
ical
Am
eric
an
28
Gen
us
Ca
rica
L.
11
1T
rop
ical
Am
eric
an
33
C.
pa
pa
yaL
.(p
apay
a)–
––
Wid
ely
gro
wn
fru
itw
orl
dw
ide;
po
pu
lar
inK
eral
aas
fru
it&
veg
etab
le
13
Fam
ily
Co
nv
olv
ula
ceae
(52
/16
50
)
––
–T
rop
ical
&w
arm
tem
per
ate
29
Gen
us
Ipo
mo
eaL
.c.
65
0
57
35
Pan
tro
pic
al
34
I.a
qu
ati
caF
ors
sk.
(wat
ersp
inac
h)
––
–U
sed
asle
afv
eget
able
,g
row
nw
idel
yin
E,
SE
&S
Asi
a;o
nly
no
min
ally
inK
eral
ab
ecau
seo
fla
nd
sho
rtag
e
35
I.b
ata
tas
(L.)
Lam
.
(sw
eet
po
tato
)
––
–N
ativ
eo
ftr
op
ical
Am
eric
a,n
ow
wid
ely
gro
wn
inth
etr
op
ics,
sub
tro
pic
san
dw
arm
tem
per
ate
reg
ion
s;
po
pu
lar
inK
eral
a,cu
ltiv
atio
nli
mit
edb
yla
nd
sho
rtag
e
Genet Resour Crop Evol
123
Ta
ble
2co
nti
nu
ed
Ser
ial
nu
mb
erF
amil
y(N
o.o
fg
ener
a&
spec
ies
infa
mil
y)
No
.o
fsp
ecie
s
ing
enu
s
Rem
ark
s/d
iver
sity
reg
ion
s
Fam
ily
Gen
us
Sp
ecie
sS
pec
ies
nam
eT
ota
lIn
dia
Ker
ala
14
Fam
ily
Cu
curb
itac
eae
(12
2/9
40
)
––
–M
ain
lytr
op
ical
and
war
mte
mp
erat
ew
orl
dw
ide
30
Gen
us
Ben
inca
saS
avi
11
1T
rop
ical
,w
arm
tem
per
ate
reg
ion
36
B.
his
pid
a(T
hu
nb
.)
Co
gn
.(a
shg
ou
rd)
––
–T
rop
ical
Asi
a,as
veg
etab
le;
mo
std
iver
sity
inIn
do
Ch
ina
&S
Asi
a;g
row
nin
Ker
ala,
bu
tli
mit
edb
yla
nd
sho
rtag
e
31
Gen
us
Cit
rull
us
Sch
rad
.4
22
Tro
pic
alA
sia,
SA
fric
a
37
C.
lan
atu
s(T
hu
nb
.)
Mat
sum
.et
Nak
ai
(wat
erm
elo
n)
––
–O
rig
inin
SW
Afr
ica,
wid
ely
gro
wn
intr
op
ics
&w
arm
tem
per
ate;
po
pu
lar
inK
eral
a,li
mit
edb
yla
nd
sho
rtag
e
32
Gen
us
Co
ccin
eaW
igh
t
etA
rn.
30
11
Tro
pA
fric
anex
cep
tC
.g
ran
dis
,w
hic
his
pan
tro
pic
al
38
C.
gra
nd
is(L
.)J.
Vo
igt
(iv
yg
ou
rd)
––
–O
ccu
rsn
atu
rall
yfr
om
tro
pA
fric
ato
SE
Asi
a;cu
ltiv
ated
asv
eget
able
inS
&S
EA
sia;
po
pu
lar
inK
eral
a
33
Gen
us
Cu
cum
isL
.1
66
64
Po
lym
orp
hic
,m
ost
lyA
fric
an,
S&
SE
Asi
antr
op
ics
and
war
msu
btr
op
ics
39
C.
mel
oL
.
(mu
skm
elo
n)
––
–H
igh
lyp
oly
mo
rph
icfr
uit
,ad
apte
dto
dry
reg
ion
s;n
om
inal
lyg
row
nin
Ker
ala
bec
ause
of
lan
dsh
ort
age
40
C.
sati
vus
L.
(cu
cum
ber
/gh
erk
in)
––
–W
idel
yu
sed
asv
eget
able
;g
row
nin
Ker
ala
34
Gen
us
Cu
curb
ita
L.
13
43
War
mtr
op
ical
Am
eric
a
41
C.
ma
xim
aD
uch
esn
e
(pu
mp
kin
)
––
–A
mer
ican
ori
gin
,v
ery
go
od
kee
pin
gq
ual
ity
;g
row
nin
Ker
ala
42
C.
mo
sch
ata
Du
ches
ne
(win
ters
qu
ash
)
––
–A
mer
ican
ori
gin
,v
ery
go
od
kee
pin
gq
ual
ity
;g
row
nin
Ker
ala
43
C.
pep
oL
.(v
eget
able
mar
row
)
––
–A
mer
ican
ori
gin
,g
oo
dk
eep
ing
qu
alit
y;
gro
wn
no
min
ally
inK
eral
a
35
Gen
us
La
gen
ari
aS
er.
61
1T
rop
ical
Afr
ican
,ex
cep
to
ne
pan
tro
pic
alsp
ecie
s
44
L.
sice
rari
a(M
oli
na)
Sta
nd
l.(b
ott
leg
ou
rd)
––
–P
rob
.tr
op
Afr
ica
ino
rig
in,
on
eo
fth
eo
ldes
tcu
ltcr
op
s;h
ard
shel
lso
fd
ryfr
uit
su
sed
asco
nta
iner
;
gro
wn
inK
eral
a,b
ut
lim
ited
by
lan
dsh
ort
age
36
Gen
us
Lu
ffa
Mil
l.7
74
Tro
pic
al
45
L.
acu
tan
gu
la(L
.)
Ro
xb
.(r
idg
eg
ou
rd)
––
–P
oss
ibly
Ind
ian
ino
rig
in;
bo
thw
ild
&cu
ltfo
rms
pre
sen
t;cu
ltiv
ated
inS
,S
E&
EA
sia
asv
eget
able
;
gro
wn
inK
eral
a,b
ut
lim
ited
by
lan
d
46
L.
aeg
ypti
aca
Mil
l.
(sp
on
ge
go
urd
)
––
–W
ild
form
sfo
un
din
S&
SE
Asi
a;g
row
nn
om
inal
lyin
Ker
ala
Genet Resour Crop Evol
123
Ta
ble
2co
nti
nu
ed
Ser
ial
nu
mb
erF
amil
y(N
o.o
fg
ener
a&
spec
ies
infa
mil
y)
No
.o
fsp
ecie
s
ing
enu
s
Rem
ark
s/d
iver
sity
reg
ion
s
Fam
ily
Gen
us
Sp
ecie
sS
pec
ies
nam
eT
ota
lIn
dia
Ker
ala
37
Gen
us
Mo
mo
rdic
aL
.4
07
6S
&S
EA
sia,
Au
stra
lia,
wes
tP
acifi
c;cu
ltiv
ated
pan
tro
pic
ally
&su
btr
op
ical
ly,
asv
eget
able
inlo
cal
med
icin
e
47
M.
cha
ran
tia
L.
(bit
terg
ou
rd)
––
–Im
mat
ure
fru
itu
sed
asv
eget
able
inS
&S
EA
sia;
oth
ersp
p.
also
use
das
veg
etab
lelo
call
y;
ver
y
po
pu
lar
inK
eral
a,g
oo
dv
aria
bil
ity
38
Gen
us
Tri
cho
san
thes
L.
c.1
00
22
8In
do
Mal
ayan
toP
acifi
c
48
T.
cucu
mer
ina
L.
(sn
ake
go
urd
)
––
–P
op
ula
rv
eget
able
inS
Asi
a;w
ild
form
sal
soo
ccu
r;w
idel
ycu
ltiv
ated
inK
eral
a
15
Fam
ily
Dio
sco
reac
eae
––
–M
ost
lyw
arm
tro
pic
al
39
Gen
us
Dio
sco
rea
L.
c.6
30
25
18
Mo
stly
war
mtr
op
ical
49
D.
ala
taL
.(c
om
mo
n
yam
)
––
–M
ost
wid
ely
gro
wn
spec
ies;
gro
wn
inS
Ean
dS
Asi
a,O
cean
ia,
WIn
die
s,E
Afr
ica;
com
mo
nly
cult
ivat
edin
Ker
ala
50
D.
escu
len
ta(L
ou
r.)
Bu
rkil
l(l
esse
ry
am)
––
–N
ativ
eo
fS
EA
sia;
no
wg
row
nth
rou
gh
ou
tso
uth
ern
EA
sia
and
WP
acifi
cfo
rtu
ber
s,co
mm
on
in
Ker
ala
51
D.
rotu
nd
ata
Po
ir.
(wh
ite
yam
)
––
–W
Afr
ican
yam
;re
cen
tly
intr
od
uce
din
toK
eral
a
16
Fam
ily
Eu
ph
orb
iace
ae
(22
9/6
50
0)
––
–C
osm
op
oli
tan
40
Gen
us
Hev
eaA
ub
l.1
01
1N
ativ
eo
fA
maz
on
bas
in
52
H.
bra
sili
ensi
s(A
.
Juss
.)M
uel
l.A
rg.
(nat
ura
lru
bb
er)
––
–In
tro
du
ced
into
the
Far
Eas
tin
19
thce
ntu
ry;
no
wg
row
nw
idel
yin
S&
SE
Asi
a;v
ery
wid
ely
cult
ivat
edin
Ker
ala
41
Gen
us
Jatr
op
ha
L.
15
64
7W
arm
tro
pic
s
53
J.cu
rca
sL
.(p
hy
sic
nu
t)–
––
Ass
um
edto
be
nat
ive
of
tro
pS
Am
eric
a,n
ow
nat
ura
lise
dth
ru’o
ut
the
tro
pic
s;w
idel
yu
sed
asfe
nce
in
Ker
ala
42
Gen
us
Ma
nih
ot
Mil
l.9
92
2A
maz
on
bas
in
54
M.
escu
len
taC
ran
tz
(cas
sav
a)
––
–O
ne
of
the
mo
stim
po
rtan
tfo
od
stap
les
of
hu
man
s;cu
ltiv
ated
thru
’ou
tO
Wtr
op
ics;
wid
ely
gro
wn
in
Ker
ala,
mo
der
ate
div
ersi
ty
43
Gen
us
Ph
ylla
nth
us
L.
75
0–
80
0
56
33
Th
ru’o
ut
the
war
mtr
op
ics
55
P.
emb
lica
L.
(go
ose
ber
ry)
––
–F
ruit
wid
ely
use
dfo
rp
ick
les,
cult
ivat
ion
lim
ited
by
lan
dsh
ort
age
Genet Resour Crop Evol
123
Ta
ble
2co
nti
nu
ed
Ser
ial
nu
mb
erF
amil
y(N
o.o
fg
ener
a&
spec
ies
infa
mil
y)
No
.o
fsp
ecie
s
ing
enu
s
Rem
ark
s/d
iver
sity
reg
ion
s
Fam
ily
Gen
us
Sp
ecie
sS
pec
ies
nam
eT
ota
lIn
dia
Ker
ala
44
Gen
us
Ric
inu
sL
.1
11
Nat
ive
of
NE
Afr
ica
–W
Asi
a,n
ow
nat
ura
lize
dth
ru’o
ut
the
tro
pic
s&
war
msu
btr
op
ics;
occ
urs
wid
ely
56
R.
com
mu
nis
L.
––
–A
sab
ov
e;o
ccu
rsw
idel
yin
mo
ist
op
ensp
aces
inK
eral
a
17
Fam
ily
Fab
acea
e(7
20
/
19
50
0)
––
–V
ery
cosm
op
oli
tan
45
Gen
us
Ara
chis
L.
69
11
So
uth
Am
eric
an
57
A.
hyp
og
aea
L.
(gro
un
dn
ut)
––
–W
idel
yg
row
nas
oil
pla
nt
&sn
ack
foo
d;
com
mo
nin
Ker
ala
bu
tli
mit
edb
yla
nd
sho
rtag
e
46
Gen
us
Ca
jan
us
DC
.3
41
68
OW
tro
pic
al
58
C.
caja
n(L
.)H
uth
(pig
eon
pea
)
––
–W
idel
yu
sed
pu
lse;
no
min
alcu
lt.
inK
eral
ab
ecau
seo
fla
nd
sho
rag
e
47
Gen
us
Ca
lop
og
on
ium
Des
v.
5–
61
1N
ewW
orl
d
59
C.
mu
cun
oid
esD
esv
.–
––
Wid
ely
gro
wn
asco
ver
cro
pes
pin
coco
nu
t,ru
bb
erg
ard
ens
48
Gen
us
Ca
na
vali
aD
C.
c.6
07
6T
rop
ics,
esp
Am
eric
asg
reen
man
ure
60
C.
ensi
form
is(L
.)D
C.
(sw
ord
bea
n)
––
–F
ruit
asv
eget
able
;p
op
ula
rin
Ker
ala,
bu
tg
etti
ng
scar
ed
ue
tola
nd
sho
rtag
e
49
Gen
us
Cic
erL
.4
42
1F
ou
nd
pre
do
min
antl
yin
C&
WA
sia
61
C.
ari
etin
um
L.
(ch
ick
pea
)
––
–Im
po
rtan
tp
uls
ecr
op
,p
op
ula
rin
Ker
ala,
bu
th
ard
lycu
ltiv
ated
bec
ause
of
lan
dsh
ort
age
50
Gen
us
Cro
tala
ria
L.
c.
70
0
93
53
Ev
olv
edin
WA
sia;
wid
ely
gro
wn
inS
Asi
a
62
C.
jun
cea
L.
(su
nn
hem
p)
––
–W
idel
yg
row
nas
gre
enm
anu
re,
for
bas
tfi
bre
;co
mm
on
inK
eral
a
51
Gen
us
Cya
mo
psi
sD
C.
42
2D
rytr
op
ics
of
Afr
ica
&W
Asi
a
63
C.
tetr
ag
on
olo
ba
(L.)
Tau
ber
t(c
lust
erb
ean
)
––
–W
idel
yg
row
nin
SA
sia
for
fod
der
,y
ou
ng
po
ds
asv
eget
able
&g
um
;p
op
ula
rin
Ker
ala,
bu
tli
mit
ed
cult
ivat
ion
du
eto
lan
dsh
ort
age
52
Gen
us
Ery
thri
na
L.
c.
12
0
20
5W
arm
pan
tro
pic
s
64
E.
vari
ega
taL
.
(tro
pic
alco
ral)
––
–G
row
nas
liv
esu
pp
ort
for
bla
ckp
epp
er,
shad
ein
coff
eep
lan
tati
on
s;h
edg
e;co
mm
on
inK
eral
a
53
Gen
us
La
bla
bA
dan
s.1
11
Tro
pic
alE
Afr
ica
65
L.
pu
rpu
reu
s(L
.)
Sw
eet
(lab
lab
bea
n)
––
–U
sed
asp
uls
ean
dv
eget
able
;p
op
ula
rin
Ker
ala
Genet Resour Crop Evol
123
Ta
ble
2co
nti
nu
ed
Ser
ial
nu
mb
erF
amil
y(N
o.o
fg
ener
a&
spec
ies
infa
mil
y)
No
.o
fsp
ecie
s
ing
enu
s
Rem
ark
s/d
iver
sity
reg
ion
s
Fam
ily
Gen
us
Sp
ecie
sS
pec
ies
nam
eT
ota
lIn
dia
Ker
ala
54
Gen
us
Ph
ase
olu
sL
.c.
60
7
73
War
mtr
op
ical
Am
eric
a
66
P.
lun
atu
sL
.(l
ima
bea
n)
––
–U
sed
asp
uls
e&
veg
etab
lein
SA
sia;
po
pu
lar
veg
etab
lein
Ker
ala,
lim
ited
cult
ivat
ion
du
eto
lan
d
sho
rtag
e
67
P.
vulg
ari
sL
.(F
ren
ch
bea
n)
––
–A
sab
ov
e
55
Gen
us
Pso
ph
oca
rpu
sN
eck
erex
DC
.
c.1
02
2O
Wtr
op
ics
68
P.
tetr
ag
on
olo
bu
s(L
.)
DC
.(w
ing
edb
ean
)
––
–In
tro
du
ced
fro
mS
EA
sia,
po
ds
asv
eget
able
s,tu
ber
sed
ible
;p
op
ula
ras
veg
etab
lein
Ker
ala,
no
w
scar
cer
du
eto
lan
dsh
ort
age
56
Gen
us
Pu
era
ria
DC
.1
71
32
Tro
pic
alE
Asi
a
69
P.
mo
nta
na
(Lo
ur.
)
Mer
r.(k
ud
zuv
ine)
––
–F
od
der
,co
ver
cro
p,
cord
age;
com
mo
nin
Ker
ala
asco
ver
cro
p
57
Gen
us
Ses
ba
nia
Sco
p.
c.6
01
03
War
mw
etre
gio
ns
70
S.
bis
pin
osa
(Jac
q.)
W.
Wig
ht
(dh
ain
cha)
––
–M
ain
lyas
gre
enm
anu
re;
com
mo
nin
Ker
ala
71
S.
can
na
bin
a(R
etz.
)
Per
s.
––
–G
reen
po
ds
asv
eget
able
s;fo
un
din
Ker
ala,
get
tin
gle
ssd
ue
tola
nd
sho
rtag
e
58
Gen
us
Sty
losa
nth
esS
w.
25
31
War
mtr
op
ics
72
S.h
um
ilis
Ku
nth
(sty
lo)
––
–T
rop
ical
Afr
ica
toS
Asi
ato
NA
ust
rali
a,p
astu
re;
com
mo
nin
Ker
ala
59
Gen
us
Ta
ma
rin
du
sL
.1
11
Afr
ican
sav
ann
asto
S&
SE
Asi
a;w
idel
yu
sed
inS
&S
EA
sia
asa
foo
dfl
avo
uri
ng
73
T.
ind
ica
L.
(tam
arin
d)
––
–A
sab
ov
e;v
ery
com
mo
nin
Ker
ala
60
Gen
us
Tep
hro
sia
Per
s.c.
35
0
27
13
Tro
pic
s,es
p,
Afr
ica
74
T.
pu
rpu
rea
(L.)
Per
s.
(ko
zhin
jil)
––
–E
dib
le,
also
asg
reen
man
ure
;co
mm
on
inK
eral
a
61
Gen
us
Vig
na
Sav
ic.
10
4
24
13
Tro
pic
al,
mai
nly
OW
75
V.
aco
nit
ifo
lia
(Jac
q.)
Mar
ech
al(m
oth
bea
n)
––
–S
Asi
an,
use
das
veg
etab
le;
fou
nd
inK
eral
a
76
V.
mu
ng
o(L
.)H
epp
er
(bla
ckg
ram
)
––
–O
ne
of
the
mo
stw
idel
yu
sed
pu
lse
cro
ps
inS
Asi
a;g
row
no
nly
no
min
ally
inK
eral
ad
ue
tola
nd
sho
rtag
e
Genet Resour Crop Evol
123
Ta
ble
2co
nti
nu
ed
Ser
ial
nu
mb
erF
amil
y(N
o.o
fg
ener
a&
spec
ies
infa
mil
y)
No
.o
fsp
ecie
s
ing
enu
s
Rem
ark
s/d
iver
sity
reg
ion
s
Fam
ily
Gen
us
Sp
ecie
sS
pec
ies
nam
eT
ota
lIn
dia
Ker
ala
77
V.
rad
iata
(L.)
R.
Wil
czek
(gre
eng
ram
)
––
–A
sab
ov
e
78
V.
un
gu
icu
lata
(L.)
Wal
p.
(co
wp
ea)
––
–P
oss
ibly
Afr
ican
ori
gin
;u
sed
bo
thas
pu
lse
and
veg
etab
lein
tro
pA
fric
a&
SA
sia;
wid
ely
gro
wn
in
Ker
ala
18
Fam
ily
Gu
ttif
erae
(30
/
11
50
)
––
–
62
Gen
us
Gar
cin
iaL
.2
00
30
14
Tro
pic
al,
pre
do
min
antl
yA
sian
79
G.
cam
bo
gia
Des
v.
(go
rak
a)
––
–U
sed
asfi
shfl
avo
uri
ng
inS
&S
EA
sia;
ver
yp
op
ula
rin
Ker
ala,
cult
ivat
ion
get
tin
gre
du
ced
du
eto
lan
d
sho
rtag
e
80
G.
ind
ica
(Th
ou
ars)
Ch
ois
y(k
ok
am)
––
–U
sed
asfo
od
flav
ou
rin
gin
S&
SE
Asi
a;fa
tal
sou
sed
;fo
un
din
Ker
ala;
also
hea
lth
foo
din
the
wes
t
81
G.
ma
ng
ost
an
aL
.
(man
go
stee
n)
––
–U
sed
asd
rin
k;
gro
wn
asg
ard
encr
op
inK
eral
a
19
Fam
ily
Lam
iace
ae(2
38
/
65
00
)
––
–
63
Gen
us
Ple
ctra
nth
us
L’H
erit
.
c.
20
0
32
20
War
mO
Wtr
op
ics
82
P.
rotu
nd
ifo
liu
s(P
oir
.)
Sp
ren
g.
(hau
sap
ota
to)
––
–N
ativ
eo
fW
Afr
ica;
gro
wn
for
tub
ers,
com
mo
nin
hu
mid
S&
SE
Asi
a;p
op
ula
rse
aso
nal
veg
etab
lein
Ker
ala
20
Fam
ily
Lau
race
ae(5
2/
25
50
)
––
–W
arm
tro
pic
s,es
pin
SE
Asi
a&
Am
azo
nb
asin
64
Gen
us
Cin
na
mo
mu
mS
chae
ffer
c.
25
0
26
16
S&
SE
Asi
a,N
Au
stra
lia,
WP
acifi
c,tr
op
Am
eric
a
83
C.
veru
mJ.
Pre
sl
(cin
nam
on
)
––
–C
inn
amo
no
fco
mm
erce
,n
atu
rall
yp
rese
nt
inS
riL
ank
a&
SW
Ind
ia;
com
mo
nin
Ker
ala
21
Fam
ily
Ly
thra
ceae
(31
/
60
0)
––
–T
rop
ical
wit
hfe
wte
mp
erat
esp
ecie
s
65
Gen
us
Pu
nic
aL
.2
11
SE
Eu
rop
eto
wes
tern
Him
alay
as
84
P.
gra
na
tum
L.
(po
meg
ran
ate)
––
–P
refe
rsco
ol
dry
sub
tro
pic
alcl
imat
e,o
rig
inat
edin
CA
sia;
on
eo
fth
eo
ldes
tfr
uit
so
fh
um
ans;
gro
wn
in
Ker
ala
for
fru
its,
med
icin
e
Genet Resour Crop Evol
123
Ta
ble
2co
nti
nu
ed
Ser
ial
nu
mb
erF
amil
y(N
o.o
fg
ener
a&
spec
ies
infa
mil
y)
No
.o
fsp
ecie
s
ing
enu
s
Rem
ark
s/d
iver
sity
reg
ion
s
Fam
ily
Gen
us
Sp
ecie
sS
pec
ies
nam
eT
ota
lIn
dia
Ker
ala
22
Fam
ily
Mal
vac
eae
(11
3/
50
00
)
––
–C
osm
op
oli
tan
66
Gen
us
Co
rch
oru
sL
.c.
70
86
Tro
pic
alin
clu
din
gN
Au
stra
lia;
sou
rce
of
jute
fib
reo
fco
mm
erce
,p
rod
uce
dm
ost
lyin
SA
sia
85
C.
cap
sula
ris
L.
(ju
te)
––
–S
ou
rce
of
jute
fib
re;
yo
un
gle
aves
use
das
veg
etab
lein
tro
pA
fric
a;g
row
nra
rely
inK
eral
ad
ue
tola
nd
sho
rtag
e
86
C.
oli
tori
us
L.
(ju
te)
––
–C
ult
ivat
edm
ore
inE
Asi
a;as
abo
ve
67
Gen
us
Hib
iscu
sL
.c.
67
5
30
26
War
mte
mp
erat
eto
tro
pic
al
87
H.
can
na
bin
us
L.
(ken
af)
––
–U
sed
inm
edic
ine,
pre
sen
tin
Ker
ala
88
H.
escu
len
tus
L.
(ok
ra)
––
–P
op
ula
rv
eget
able
inth
etr
op
ics
&w
arm
sub
tro
pic
s,al
soin
Ker
ala
89
H.
rosa
sin
ensi
sL
.
(sh
oefl
ow
er)
––
–W
idel
ycu
ltiv
ated
for
flo
wer
,h
om
ere
med
ies;
also
inK
eral
a
90
H.
sab
da
riff
aL
.
(ro
sell
e)
––
–T
rop
ical
Afr
ica,
no
wp
antr
op
ical
;co
rdag
e,v
eget
able
68
Gen
us
Th
eob
rom
aL
.2
01
1T
rop
ical
Am
eric
a
91
T.
caca
oL
.(c
oco
a)–
––
Gro
wn
wid
ely
inW
Afr
ica,
S&
SE
Asi
a&
tro
pA
mer
ica,
also
inK
eral
a
23
Fam
ily
Mar
anta
ceae
(30
/63
0)
––
–T
rop
ical
,es
pA
mer
ican
69
Gen
us
Ma
ran
taL
.3
21
1T
rop
ical
Am
eric
an,
wid
ely
intr
od
uce
d
92
M.
aru
nd
ina
cea
L.
(arr
ow
roo
t)
––
–S
ou
rce
of
star
ch,
esp
go
od
for
chil
dre
n;
cult
ivat
ion
get
tin
gre
du
ced
inK
eral
ad
ue
tola
nd
sho
rtag
e
24
Fam
ily
Mo
race
ae(3
8/
11
50
)
––
–M
ost
lyw
arm
tro
pic
al,
few
tem
per
ate
70
Gen
us
Art
oca
rpu
sF
ors
t.
etF
ors
t.f.
45
19
5In
do
Mal
ayan
93
A.
alt
ilis
(Par
kin
son
)
Fo
sb.
(bre
adfr
uit
)
––
–S
EA
sia
toP
oly
nas
ia,
intr
od
uce
din
SW
&S
Asi
a;st
aple
foo
din
sev
eral
Pac
ific
isla
nd
s;co
mm
on
as
veg
etab
lein
Ker
ala
94
A.
het
ero
ph
yllu
sL
am.
(jac
kfr
uit
)
––
–V
ery
po
pu
lar
mu
ltip
urp
ose
tree
inK
eral
a,m
uch
var
iati
on
95
A.
hir
sutu
sL
am.
(wil
d
jack
)
––
–E
xce
llen
tti
mb
er,
smal
lfr
uit
sed
ible
,g
etti
ng
rare
du
eto
lan
dsh
ort
age
Genet Resour Crop Evol
123
Ta
ble
2co
nti
nu
ed
Ser
ial
nu
mb
erF
amil
y(N
o.o
fg
ener
a&
spec
ies
infa
mil
y)
No
.o
fsp
ecie
s
ing
enu
s
Rem
ark
s/d
iver
sity
reg
ion
s
Fam
ily
Gen
us
Sp
ecie
sS
pec
ies
nam
eT
ota
lIn
dia
Ker
ala
25
Fam
ily
Mo
rin
gac
eae
(1/
13
)
––
–S
emia
rid
Afr
ica
toA
sia
71
Gen
us
Mo
rin
ga
Rh
eed
e
exA
dan
s.
13
21
As
abo
ve
96
M.
ole
ifer
aL
am.
(dru
mst
ick
)
––
–H
igh
lyv
alu
edin
SA
sia
asv
eget
able
(fru
it&
leav
es);
ver
yco
mm
on
inK
eral
a
26
Fam
ily
My
rist
icac
eae
(19
/52
0)
––
–L
ow
lan
dtr
op
ical
rain
fore
st
72
Gen
us
Myr
isti
caG
ron
ov
.
17
53
05
Mo
stly
inM
alay
sia,
few
spp
nat
ive
totr
op
Au
stra
lia
and
Wes
tern
Gh
ats
97
M.
fra
gra
ns
Ho
utt
.
(nu
tmeg
)
––
–A
pp
ears
tob
ein
tro
du
ced
fro
mM
oll
uca
s(I
nd
on
esia
),co
mm
on
inK
eral
aas
foo
dfl
avo
uri
ng
,in
nat
ive
med
icin
e
27
Fam
ily
Mu
sace
ae(3
/44
)T
rop
ical
tosu
btr
op
ical
inS
,S
E&
EA
sia
73
Gen
us
Mu
saL
.8
16
3S
&S
EA
sia,
Oce
ania
98
M.
Xp
ara
dis
iaca
L.
(ban
ana)
––
–W
idel
ycu
ltiv
ated
pan
tro
pic
ally
for
fru
it;
mo
stp
op
ula
rin
Ker
ala
asfr
uit
&v
eget
able
;m
uch
var
iab
ilit
y
28
Fam
ily
My
rtac
eae
(13
1/
55
00
)
––
–W
arm
tro
pic
alto
tem
per
ate
Au
stra
lia
74
Gen
us
Pim
enta
Lin
dl.
15
11
Tro
pic
alA
mer
ican
;ar
om
atic
tree
s
99
P.
dio
ica
(L.)
Mer
r.
(all
spic
e)
––
–In
tro
du
ced
into
Ker
ala
on
tria
lb
asis
75
Gen
us
Psi
diu
mL
.c.
70
22
Tro
pic
alA
mer
ican
ever
gre
entr
ees
&sh
rub
s
10
0P
.g
ua
java
L.
(gu
ava)
––
–In
tro
du
ced
&n
atu
rali
zed
;g
row
nin
Ker
ala
for
fru
it
76
Gen
us
Syz
ygiu
mG
aert
n.
c.
12
00
13
14
0S
EA
fric
ato
the
Pac
ific;
ever
gre
entr
ees
10
1S
.a
rom
ati
cum
(L.)
Mer
r.et
Per
ry(c
lov
e)
––
–In
tro
du
ced
fro
mS
EA
sia
(Mo
llu
cas)
,co
mm
on
lyg
row
nin
Ker
ala
10
2S
.cu
min
i(L
.)S
kee
ls
(jam
un
)
––
–P
op
ula
ras
aven
ue
tree
s&
for
fru
its,
no
wg
etti
ng
rare
rin
Ker
ala
du
eto
lan
dsh
ort
age
29
Fam
ily
Orc
hid
acea
e
(77
9/2
2,5
00
)
––
–
77
Gen
us
Va
nil
laM
ill.
10
65
4P
antr
op
ical
exce
pt
Au
stra
lia
10
3V
.p
lan
ifo
lia
Jack
son
(van
illa
)
––
–A
nci
ent
cult
pla
nt
of
Am
eric
a;in
tro
du
ced
rece
ntl
yin
toK
eral
a
Genet Resour Crop Evol
123
Ta
ble
2co
nti
nu
ed
Ser
ial
nu
mb
erF
amil
y(N
o.o
fg
ener
a&
spec
ies
infa
mil
y)
No
.o
fsp
ecie
s
ing
enu
s
Rem
ark
s/d
iver
sity
reg
ion
s
Fam
ily
Gen
us
Sp
ecie
sS
pec
ies
nam
eT
ota
lIn
dia
Ker
ala
30
Fam
ily
Ox
alid
acea
e
(5/5
65
)
––
–P
red
om
inan
tly
tro
pic
al
78
Gen
us
Ave
rrh
oa
L.
22
2E
aste
rnS
Am
eric
ato
SE
Asi
a
10
4A
.b
ilim
bi
L.
(bil
imb
i)–
––
Use
dfo
rp
ick
lin
gan
das
fru
it;
com
mo
nin
Ker
ala
10
5A
.ca
ram
bo
laL
.
(car
amb
ola
)
––
–A
sab
ov
e
31
Fam
ily
Pan
dan
acea
e
(4/8
25
)
––
–
79
Gen
us
Pa
nd
an
us
Par
kin
son
c.5
20
15
6O
Wtr
op
ics
10
6P
.fa
scic
ula
ris
Lam
.
(scr
ewp
ine)
––
–G
row
nal
on
gw
ater
way
sfo
rso
ilco
nse
rvat
ion
,le
aves
for
bas
ket
s,fl
ow
ers
for
scen
t,et
c.,
com
mo
nin
Ker
ala
32
Fam
ily
Pas
sifl
ora
ceae
(25
/72
5)
––
–
80
Gen
us
Pa
ssifl
ora
L.
43
08
8P
red
om
inan
tly
war
mtr
op
ical
10
7P
.ed
uli
sS
ims
(pas
sio
nfr
uit
)
––
–N
ativ
eo
fso
uth
ern
Am
azo
nb
asin
,fe
wtr
op
ical
Asi
an;
gro
wn
inS
E&
SA
sia;
also
inK
eral
a
33
Fam
ily
Ped
alia
ceae
(13
/72
)
––
–T
rop
ical
&su
btr
op
ical
Afr
ica,
&S
EA
sia
and
tro
pA
mer
ica
81
Gen
us
Ses
am
um
L.
c.1
94
4S
om
esp
ecie
su
sed
asle
afy
veg
etab
lein
Afr
ica
10
8S
.in
dic
um
L.
(ses
amu
m)
––
–Im
po
rtan
tv
ego
il,
also
wid
ely
use
din
con
fect
ion
ary
and
Hin
du
rite
s
34
Fam
ily
Pip
erac
eae
(6/2
75
0)
––
–P
antr
op
ical
82
Gen
us
Pip
erL
.c.
10
50
45
17
Tro
pic
al
10
9P
.b
etle
L.
(bet
elle
af)
––
–W
idel
yu
sed
inS
&S
EA
sia
asm
asti
cato
ry;
also
inK
eral
a
11
0P
.lo
ng
um
L.
(lo
ng
pep
per
)
––
–U
sed
inS
&S
EA
sia
asse
aso
nin
gin
med
icin
e;al
soin
Ker
ala
11
1P
.n
igru
mL
.
(bla
ckp
epp
er)
––
–V
ery
wid
ely
use
das
spic
e;m
ost
lyg
row
nin
S&
SE
Asi
a&
tro
pA
mer
ica,
max
imu
md
iver
sity
inS
W
Ind
ia,
wid
ely
cult
ivat
edin
Ker
ala
Genet Resour Crop Evol
123
Ta
ble
2co
nti
nu
ed
Ser
ial
nu
mb
erF
amil
y(N
o.o
fg
ener
a&
spec
ies
infa
mil
y)
No
.o
fsp
ecie
s
ing
enu
s
Rem
ark
s/d
iver
sity
reg
ion
s
Fam
ily
Gen
us
Sp
ecie
sS
pec
ies
nam
eT
ota
lIn
dia
Ker
ala
35
Fam
ily
Po
acea
e(7
15
/
10
,55
0)
––
––
83
Gen
us
Ch
ryso
po
go
nT
rin
.
44
10
10
Mo
stly
OW
war
mtr
op
ical
11
2C
.zi
zan
ioid
es(L
.)
Ro
ber
ty(v
etiv
er)
––
–U
sed
infl
avo
uri
ng
,p
erfu
me,
med
icin
e;g
row
nin
Ker
ala
84
Gen
us
Ele
usi
ne
Gae
rtn
.9
32
Dry
tro
pic
al
11
3E
.co
raca
na
(L.)
Gae
rtn
.
(fin
ger
mil
let)
––
–G
row
nin
tro
pic
alA
fric
a&
SA
sia;
fav
ou
red
bab
yfo
od
;p
op
ula
rin
Ker
ala,
bu
tli
mit
edcu
ltiv
atio
nd
ue
tola
nd
sho
rtag
e
85
Gen
us
Ory
zaL
.c.
22
64
Pan
tro
pic
al
11
4O
.sa
tiva
L.
(ric
e)–
––
Mo
stw
idel
yu
sed
cere
alcr
op
,in
clu
din
gin
Ker
ala,
mu
chv
aria
bil
ity
86
Gen
us
Pa
nic
um
L.
c.
30
0
35
15
Tro
pic
alto
war
msu
btr
op
ical
11
5P
.m
axi
mu
mJa
cq.
(gu
inea
gra
ss)
––
–G
row
nin
ho
me
gar
den
sas
fod
der
inK
eral
a
11
6P
.m
ilia
ceu
mL
.
(pro
som
ille
t)
––
–M
ino
rcr
op
inM
alab
arco
ast
87
Gen
us
Pen
nis
etu
mR
ich
.8
01
56
War
mtr
op
ical
11
7P
.g
lau
cum
(L.)
R.
Br.
(pea
rlm
ille
t)
––
–Im
po
rtan
tce
real
insu
bS
ahar
anA
fric
a&
arid
SA
sia,
min
or
cro
pin
Ker
ala
11
8P
.p
urp
ure
um
Sch
um
.
(nap
ier
gra
ss)
––
–F
od
der
cro
p,
gro
wn
inb
ack
yar
dg
ard
ens
inK
eral
a
88
Gen
us
Sa
cch
aru
mL
.3
5– 40
15
3T
rop
ics
&w
arm
sub
tro
pic
s
11
9S
.o
ffici
na
rum
L.
(su
gar
can
e)
––
–W
idel
ycu
ltiv
ated
intr
op
ics
of
Asi
a,A
ust
rali
a&
Am
eric
a;li
mit
edcu
ltiv
atio
nin
Ker
ala
du
eto
lan
d
sho
rtag
e
89
Gen
us
So
rgh
um
Mo
ench
c.3
02
24
Tro
pic
al&
war
msu
btr
op
ical
12
0S
.b
ico
lor
(L.)
Mo
ench
(so
rgh
um
)
––
–O
ne
of
the
maj
or
mil
lets
,al
sofo
dd
er;
gro
wn
asfo
dd
erin
Ker
ala
90
Gen
us
Zea
L.
52
1C
entr
alA
mer
ica
12
1Z
.m
ays
L.
(mai
ze)
––
–O
ne
of
the
mo
stim
po
rtan
tfo
od
&fo
dd
ercr
op
s;li
mit
edcu
ltiv
atio
nin
Ker
ala
du
eto
lan
dsh
ort
age
Genet Resour Crop Evol
123
Ta
ble
2co
nti
nu
ed
Ser
ial
nu
mb
erF
amil
y(N
o.o
fg
ener
a&
spec
ies
infa
mil
y)
No
.o
fsp
ecie
s
ing
enu
s
Rem
ark
s/d
iver
sity
reg
ion
s
Fam
ily
Gen
us
Sp
ecie
sS
pec
ies
nam
eT
ota
lIn
dia
Ker
ala
36
Fam
ily
Pro
teac
eae
(75
/17
75
)
––
–
91
Gen
us
Gre
vill
eaR
.B
r.
exJ.
Kn
igh
t
36
21
1P
red
om
inan
tly
Au
stra
lian
,al
sow
est
Pac
ific
12
2G
.ro
bu
sta
Cu
nn
.ex
R.
Br.
(sil
ver
oak
)
––
–S
had
etr
eein
coff
eeg
ard
ens
inK
eral
a
37
Fam
ily
Ru
bia
ceae
(56
3/1
0,
90
0)
––
–C
osm
op
oli
tan
,es
pw
arm
tro
pic
al
92
Gen
us
Co
ffea
L.
c.1
00
63
Tro
pic
alA
fric
a
12
3C
.a
rab
ica
L.
(ara
bic
aco
ffee
)
––
–N
ativ
eo
fE
thio
pia
,w
idel
yg
row
nin
Ker
ala
12
4C
.ca
nep
ho
raP
ierr
eex
Fro
ehn
er
(ro
bu
sta
coff
ee)
––
–N
ativ
eo
ftr
op
ical
WA
fric
a;cu
ltiv
ated
inK
eral
a
12
5C
.li
ber
ica
W.
Bu
llex
Hie
rn(L
iber
ian
coff
ee)
––
–N
ativ
eo
ftr
op
ical
WA
fric
a,b
itte
rfl
avo
ur;
rare
inK
eral
a
38
Fam
ily
Ru
tace
ae
(15
8/1
90
0)
––
–C
osm
op
oli
tan
,es
pth
etr
op
ics
93
Gen
us
Aeg
leC
orr
.S
err.
31
1In
do
Mal
ayan
12
6A
.m
arm
elo
s(L
.)C
orr
.
Ser
r.(b
ael
tree
)
––
–V
ery
sacr
edto
Hin
du
s,fr
uit
mak
esg
oo
dsu
mm
erd
rin
k;
com
mo
nin
ho
mes
94
Gen
us
Cit
rus
L.
20
–2
56
6S
,S
Ean
dE
Asi
a,tr
op
Au
stra
lia
12
7C
.a
ura
nti
um
L.
(gra
pe
fru
it,
swee
to
ran
ge)
––
–H
igh
lyp
oly
mo
rph
ic;
lim
ited
cult
ivat
ion
inK
eral
ad
ue
tola
nd
sho
rtag
e
12
8C
.li
mo
n(L
.)O
sb.
(lim
e)
––
–V
ery
sou
r,u
sed
incu
rrie
s,p
ick
les,
dri
nk
s;so
met
imes
gro
wn
inK
eral
a
12
9C
.m
axi
ma
(Bu
rm.)
Mer
r.(p
um
ello
)
––
–C
om
mo
nin
Ker
ala
mid
lan
ds
Genet Resour Crop Evol
123
Ta
ble
2co
nti
nu
ed
Ser
ial
nu
mb
erF
amil
y(N
o.o
fg
ener
a&
spec
ies
infa
mil
y)
No
.o
fsp
ecie
s
ing
enu
s
Rem
ark
s/d
iver
sity
reg
ion
s
Fam
ily
Gen
us
Sp
ecie
sS
pec
ies
nam
eT
ota
lIn
dia
Ker
ala
39
Fam
ily
Sap
ota
ceae
(53
/97
5)
––
–T
rop
ical
,fe
wte
mp
erat
e
95
Gen
us
Ma
nil
kara
Ad
ans.
65
44
Pan
tro
pic
al
13
0M
.za
po
ta(L
.)P
.
Ro
yen
(sap
ota
)
––
–C
entr
alA
mer
ican
ino
rig
in;
som
etim
esg
row
nin
Ker
ala
ho
me
gar
den
s
40
Fam
ily
So
lan
acea
e
(91
/24
50
)
––
–C
osm
op
oli
tan
,es
p.
tro
pic
alA
mer
ica
96
Gen
us
Ca
psi
cum
L.
10
22
Tro
pic
alA
mer
ican
;n
ow
gro
wn
glo
bal
ly,
sho
ws
mu
chd
iver
sity
13
1C
.a
nn
uu
mL
.
(red
pep
per
)
––
–W
idel
yg
row
n,
sho
ws
mu
chv
aria
tio
n
97
Gen
us
Nic
oti
an
aL
.7
67
1A
mer
ican
,S
Pac
ific,
Au
stra
lia,
SW
Afr
ica
13
2N
.ta
ba
cum
L.
(to
bac
co)
––
–L
imit
edcu
ltiv
atio
nin
Ker
ala
du
eto
wan
ing
po
pu
lari
ty
98
Gen
us
So
lan
um
L.
c.1
25
04
82
3C
osm
op
oli
tan
13
3S
.ly
cop
ersi
cum
L.
(to
mat
o)
––
–O
ne
of
the
mo
stco
mm
on
veg
etab
les;
also
inK
eral
a
13
4S
.m
elo
ng
ena
L.
(bri
nja
l)
––
–A
sab
ov
e
13
5S
.tu
ber
osu
mL
.
(po
tato
)
––
–A
sab
ov
e;b
ut
cult
ivat
ion
lim
ited
inK
eral
ad
ue
tola
nd
sho
rtag
e
41
Fam
ily
Th
eace
ae
(7/c
.24
0)
––
–M
ost
lytr
op
ical
,fe
ww
arm
tem
per
ate
99
Gen
us
Ca
mel
lia
L.
11
94
1In
do
Mal
ayan
&E
Asi
an;
mo
std
iver
sity
inS
EC
hin
a-N
EIn
dia
-NM
yan
mar
13
6C
.si
nen
sis
(L.)
Ku
ntz
e
(tea
)
––
–W
idel
yg
row
nin
SE
&S
Asi
a,E
Afr
ica;
gro
wn
wid
ely
inK
eral
ah
ills
42
Fam
ily
Vit
acea
e
(13
/72
5)
––
–W
arm
tro
pic
s
10
0G
enu
sV
itis
L.
c.6
51
41
Wid
ely
cult
ivat
edin
tem
per
ate
lan
dsu
btr
op
ical
lan
ds
13
7V
.vi
nif
era
L.
(gra
pe)
––
–W
idel
yco
nsu
med
fru
it;
gro
wn
asn
ov
elty
pla
nt
inK
eral
a
Genet Resour Crop Evol
123
Ta
ble
2co
nti
nu
ed
Ser
ial
nu
mb
erF
amil
y(N
o.o
fg
ener
a&
spec
ies
infa
mil
y)
No
.o
fsp
ecie
s
ing
enu
s
Rem
ark
s/d
iver
sity
reg
ion
s
Fam
ily
Gen
us
Sp
ecie
sS
pec
ies
nam
eT
ota
lIn
dia
Ker
ala
43
Fam
ily
Zin
gib
erac
eae
(48
/12
75
)
––
–T
rop
ical
,es
pIn
do
Mal
ayan
10
1G
enu
sA
lpin
iaR
ox
b.
20
01
11
0W
arm
Asi
anto
Pac
ific
13
8A
.g
ala
ng
a(L
.)W
ild
.
(gal
ang
al)
––
–E
ssen
tial
oil
,fl
avo
uri
ng
;in
ho
meg
ard
ens
inK
eral
aas
ho
me
rem
edy
10
2G
enu
sC
urc
um
aL
.c.
50
26
17
Sp
ices
&st
arch
13
9C
.a
ma
da
Ro
xb
.
(man
go
gin
ger
)
––
–U
sed
for
pic
kle
s;so
me
cult
ivat
ion
inK
eral
a
14
0C
.lo
ng
aL
.(t
urm
eric
)–
––
Use
din
curr
ies,
dy
es,
med
icin
es;
gro
wn
toa
lim
ited
exte
nt
inK
eral
ad
ue
tola
nd
sho
rtag
e
10
3G
enu
sE
lett
ari
aM
ato
n7
11
Ind
oM
alay
an
14
1E
.ca
rda
mo
mu
m(L
.)
Mat
on
(car
dam
om
)
––
–W
idel
yu
sed
asfl
avo
uri
ng
info
od
,co
nfe
ctio
nar
ies,
also
med
icin
e;w
idel
yg
row
nin
Ker
ala
10
4G
enu
sZ
ing
iber
Bo
ehm
er
c.1
00
18
7In
do
Mal
ayan
,E
Asi
a,tr
op
Au
stra
lia
14
2Z
.o
ffici
na
le(g
ing
er)
Ro
sco
e
––
–W
idel
yu
sed
info
od
,co
nfe
ctio
nar
y,
med
icin
e,fl
avo
uri
ng
,w
idel
yg
row
nin
Ker
ala
So
urc
e:1
.N
om
encl
atu
re,
gen
era
&sp
ecie
sn
um
ber
sin
fam
ily
,o
ver
all
div
ersi
ty:
Han
elt
&In
stit
ute
of
Pla
nt
Gen
etic
san
dC
rop
Pla
nt
Res
earc
h(2
00
1),
Mab
ber
ley
(20
08
)
2.
No
.o
fsp
ecie
sin
gen
us:
Mab
ber
ley
(20
08
);n
o.
inIn
dia
:K
abee
r(2
00
9),
Mo
han
an(2
00
8),
Mu
rth
y(2
00
9),
Nay
ar(1
99
7);
no
.in
Ker
ala:
Sas
idh
aran
(20
04),
Nay
aret
al.
(20
06
)
3.
Div
ersi
tyin
Ker
ala:
auth
or’
so
bse
rvat
ion
s
Genet Resour Crop Evol
123
The 142 crops belong to 43 families and 104
genera. Out of the 104 genera, 27 genera are
predominantly south and southeast Asian in species
diversity, 23 genera have cosmopolitan distribution,
18 are introductions from the New World, 10 genera
have a tropical Africa-peninsular India distribution, 2
have been introduced from northeast India—south
China—north Myanmar region, and 12 genera are of
northeast Africa—Mediterranean—west & central
Asia region, 5 genera have Old World tropics
distribution, and 5 others have uncertain distribution
(Table 2). Thus, the crop plants of Kerala have come
from all over the globe.
Five of the 104 genera are monospecific—Benin-
casa, Carica, Cocos, Lablab, and Tamarindus.
Among them, for 2 genera, Benincasa and Cocos,
Kerala (which is part of the Malabar—Konkan coast)
represents the western limit of their natural distribu-
tion, Lablab and Tamarindus are African in origin,
and Carica is a New World introduction. As many as
40 genera are represented by only 1 species—just the
cultivated species—and among these, 28 genera are
represented by only 1 species each in both Kerala and
India. Incidentally, Kerala means the land of coco-
nuts in the Indian classical language, Sanskrit.
Further, coconut is the crop that is grown in
maximum area in the State, 40.9% of net cropped
area, while rice, the staple food of the people is
grown in only 12.5% of net cropped area (Table 2).
The top 10 crop plants of the State are coconut,
rubber, paddy, black pepper, banana, arecanut, jack,
cassava, mango, and coffee, in that order. All of them
except the 3 crops, coffee, rubber, and cassava, are
indigenous to the region (Table 2). Coffee is a native
of middle Africa, and rubber and cassava, of the
Amazon basin. These 2 latter species were introduced
here in the last 200 years. While most of the cassava
in Kerala is directly consumed, elsewhere in India,
most of it is used for preparing starch and sago.
Three of the 10 top crop plants are food and fruit
plants—paddy, cassava, and bananas—and 3 oth-
ers—coconut, jack, and mango—are multipurpose
trees. Coconut is used most widely as food and oil
crop. All parts of this palm are actively used: fruits as
food and for making oil, husk for making coir, shell
for making handicrafts, kitchen utensils, and acti-
vated charcoal, timber for home making, and all the
parts, as fuel. Though both jack and mango are best
known as fruit plants, the wood of jack is very valued
as timber for building construction and furniture, and
leaves, as fodder for cattle and goats. Likewise,
mango wood is widely used as a fuel and inferior
timber. Black pepper is famed as a spice. Most of its
production is exported from India. Coffee is used as a
beverage, and arecanut as a masticatory.
Conservation
Kerala State, as a constituent of the Indian Union, has
been since long covered by reasonably secure legal
and institutional arrangements for in situ protection
of biodiversity. The traditional and religious beliefs
of the majority Hindu population also provide some
protection to the vegetation. Several homesteads have
an area earmarked as sacred forests. Here, the
vegetation is protected, humans do not enter there,
and further, special offerings are made to snake gods
on certain specified days (Menon 1997).
India has a federal set up, in which some subjects
are the exclusive charge of either the state or the
central government, and some others are in the
Concurrent List; they are the joint responsibility of
both the state and central governments. Forests &
Wildlife and Agriculture are in the Concurrent List.
Agricultural research in India is the responsibility of
the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR),
which is under the Union Ministry of Food and
Agriculture, and the State Agricultural Universities
(SAUs). The ICAR operates 95 research institutions
covering practically all the crops, cropping systems,
animal husbandry, fisheries, agroforestry, and agri-
cultural education of the country. The ICAR operates
also 78 all-India coordinated projects covering most
of the above commodities and systems. Their centres
are located in the State Agricultural Universities
(SAUs). In addition, all the states in the country have
1–3 SAUs each (total: 41 nos.) depending on the size
and needs of each state (ICAR 2009).
The mandate for the collection, conservation,
evaluation, and cataloguing of the crop biodiversity
of the country vests with the National Bureau of Plant
Genetic Resources, New Delhi (NBPGR) under the
ICAR. It was established in 1976, and prior to that,
the Plant Introduction and Genetics Divisions of the
Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New
Delhi used to look after these functions, albeit in a
very limited manner. NBPGR has 10 research centres
located in all the major ecological zones of the
Genet Resour Crop Evol
123
country. The SAUs also perform some germplasm
work, but only in a limited manner. In addition, the
Ministry of Commerce, Government of India, have
commodity boards for spices, tea, coffee, and rubber,
which also conduct germplasm work. The 4 planta-
tion crops of importance to Kerala, cardamom, tea,
coffee, and rubber, have their own research institutes
under the respective boards.
Kerala is home to 5 crop-based institutes. They are
the Central Plantation Crops Research Institute,
Kasaragod (responsible for coconut, betelnut, cocoa),
Indian Institute of Spices Research, Calicut (all the
spices), and Central Tuber Crops Research Institute,
Trivandrum (all tuber crops except the potato) of the
ICAR, and Rubber Research Institute of India,
Kottayam (RRII), and Indian Cardamom Research
Institute, Myladumpara (ICRI) of the Spices Board.
In addition, there is one regional centre each of the
National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (all the
tropical crops), Central Coffee Research Institute
(CCRI), Tea Research Institute (TRI), Sugarcane
Breeding Institute (SBI), and Directorate of Oil Palm
Research (DOOPR). The Kerala Agricultural Uni-
versity (KAU) maintains sizeable collections of only
a few crops, viz., rice, coconut, banana, black pepper,
cashew, and lemongrass.
The number of accessions held in the collections in
the various research institutions is included in
Table 2. The germplasm of the mandated crops of
the crop-based institutions is collected and conserved
in field genebanks. They include broadly all the
tropical tuber crops, all the spices, rubber, coconut,
arecanut, and cocoa. The collections of the other
crops are only nominal in size, with a few exceptions,
or not collected at all. This is so for even many of the
47 most grown crops of the State.
Legal position
India was a British colony for almost 2 centuries until
1947, when it became an independent country. Kerala
State came into existence in 1956 by merging 2
princely states of Travancore and Cochin, and
Malabar district of the then Madras Presidency.
It is not widely appreciated that the colonial
administration in India, after a ‘rocky start’, encour-
aged some research and established some institutional
means for managing forests and other common lands
(Ashton 2007). Presently, India has several categories
of protected areas: national parks, wildlife sanctuar-
ies, biosphere reserves, reserved forests and protected
forests, conservation reserves and community
reserves, communal forests, and private protected
forests. The management system of forests in a range
of categories is the consequence of inheriting differ-
ent local practices prevalent in different states of the
country at the time of the formation of the Indian
Union in 1947.
The first central statute promulgated for protecting
and sustainably managing the forests was the Forest
Act (1865). After attaining Independence in 1947,
this was followed with a National Forest Policy
(1952) and its revision in 1988 and the Wild Life
Protection Act (1972) and its Amendment Act (2002)
were enacted. However, the most far-reaching legis-
lation, and one addressed specifically to various
aspects of biodiversity, has been the enactment by the
Government of India of a landmark legislation, the
Biological Diversity Act 2002. It is essentially meant
to provide a legal framework for implementing the
decisions adopted in the Convention on Biological
Diversity held in Rio de Jeneiro (1992). It recognizes
the need for the conservation of biological diversity
and the sovereign rights of States and communities
over their biological resources and traditional knowl-
edge. As corollary to the Biological Diversity Act
(2002), the Biological Diversity Rules (2004) have
been also issued. On the strength of this legislation,
the Government of India has set up a National
Biodiversity Authority in 2004 with headquarters in
Chennai to oversee and enforce the provisions of the
above Act and Rules (NBA 2007).
All the states of India are expected to enact a
similar legislation for their respective states. In
Kerala, the Government followed this up in 2008
with the publication of Kerala Biodiversity Rules and
setting up of Kerala State Biodiversity Board
(KSBD). The first act of the KSBD has been the
declaration of the Kerala Biodiversity Strategy and
Action Plan (KBSAP 2007).
In reality, the drafts of the National Biodiversity
Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) for India and for
various States had been prepared during 2000–2003
with grants from the Global Environment Facility
(GEF), a joint setup of the United Nations Develop-
ment Programme, World Bank, and the United
Nations Environment Programme. This had facili-
tated also the preparation and approval of a the
Genet Resour Crop Evol
123
Kerala Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan
(KBSAP) (KFRI 2005). The NBSAP and the States
BSAPs had been prepared after much debate and
discussions (Kalpavriksh 2005).
The Kerala Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan
(KBSAP) consists of 28 strategies grouped under 11
categories: (1) general (1 no.), (2) biodiversity in the
cultural landscape (1 no.), (3) forest and wildlife (8
nos.), (4) biodiversity inside plantations (1 no.), (5)
wetland ecosystems (6 nos.), (6) coastal and marine
biodiversity (1 no.), (7) agrobiodiversity and domes-
ticated biodiversity (3 nos.), (8) sacred groves (1 no.),
(9) education, training, and research (3 nos.), (10)
traditional knowledge systems, patents, and benefit
sharing (1 no.), and (11) creation of a corpus fund for
biodiversity conservation (1 no.).
The 3 strategies planned under the category,
agrobiodiversity and domesticated biodiversity, are:
(a) develop a database of agrobiodiversity and
domesticated biodiversity, (b) promote conservation
of indigenous varieties and their commercial produc-
tion, and (c) prevent contamination of natural biodi-
versity of the State from Genetically Modified
Organisms. In addition, several of the strategies
envisioned under other categories of KBSAP like
Forest and Wildlife, Sacred groves, Wetland ecosys-
tems, Biodiversity inside the plantations, and Biodi-
versity in the cultural landscape, are also directly or
indirectly concerned with agrobiodiversity. Since
these organizations (NBA, KSBD) and the Action
Plans (NBSAP and KBSAP) have come into being
only very recently, their impact has been very limited
up to now.
Conservation status
Broadly, conservation is done in 3 ways. First, some
farmers maintain out of their interest novel forms and
also collect and conserve traditional varieties or
landraces as a curiosity. This practice is now dying or
disappearing in Kerala. Second, the natural forests
standing in the protected areas harbour wild relatives
of cultivated crops. The protected areas of India cover
1,56,700 km2 (4.95% of the total surface area)
consisting of 96 national parks, 500 wild life
sanctuaries, and 14 biosphere reserves (WII 2008).
Kerala State has 6 national parks, 16 wildlife
sanctuaries, 1 reserve forest, and parts of 2 biosphere
regions covering 2,449 km2 area (6.3% of the surface
area) (WII 2008). The 6 national parks are: Eraviku-
lam (established 1978, area: 97 km2), Periyar (1982,
350 km2), Silent Valley (1984, 90 km2), Anamudi
Shola (2003, 7.5 km2), Mathikettan Shola (2003,
12.8 km2), and Pampadum Shola (2003, 1.3 km2).
The 16 wildlife sanctuaries are Periyar (1950,
427 km2), Neyyar (1958, 128 km2), Peechi-Vazhani
(1958, 125 km2), Parambikulam (1973, 285 km2),
Wayanad (1973, 344 km2), Idukki (1976, 70 km2),
Thattekad bird sanctuary (1983, 25 km2), Aralom
(1984, 55 km2), Chimony (1984, 85 km2), Chinnar
(1984, 90 km2), Peppara (1984, 53 km2), Shanduruny
(1984, 171 km2), Anamudy (2003, 7.5 km2), Man-
galavanom bird sanctuary (2004, 1 km2), Kurinjimala
(2006, 32 km2), and Kadalundy conservation reserve
(2007, 1.5 km2). The Periyar Wildlife Reserve has
since been redesignated as Periyar Tiger Reserve with
an enlarged area of 778 km2. The only declared
Reserve Forest in the State is in Attapady with
249 km2 area. The oldest protected area, Periyar, is
58 years old. This latter area, then a part of the
princely state of Travancore, had been declared in
1934 as a private game reserve by the then ruler, Shri
Bala Rama Varma (WII 2008).
Comprehensive and systematic plant biodiversity
surveys have not been conducted in any of the
protected areas till date. Hence no up to date
information is available on the extent of crop
biodiversity present in these protected areas. There
are a few random mentions in some publications
about collecting wild material of certain genera, such
as of Amorphophallus, Curcuma, Musa, Oryza,
Piper, Zingiber, etc.
Conservation system
Plant genetic resources can be stored in situ and/or
ex situ. In Kerala, the only material available in situ
is that present in the protected forests of the State.
Practically, the entire material conserved in ex situ
conditions is in field genebanks of research institu-
tions. Material of only very few crop plants is stored
in medium storage conditions (18�C); just 7 out of the
47 most important crop plants (Table 2). All the rest
are being maintained in field genebanks.
The only active medium storage facility available
in the State is with the NBPGR Regional Station,
Thrissur. It has been able to store only a small
percentage of even its own total holdings. Even the
Genet Resour Crop Evol
123
national level institutes of the ICAR (CPCRI, CTCRI,
IISR, SBI, DOOPR) and commodity boards (RRII,
ICRI, TRI) located in the State have been also able to
make only modest progress in this respect, if at all.
Several of the mandated crops of these institutes are
not also amenable to the normal medium term storage
system, for various reasons (presence of polyphenols,
seed recalcitrancy, etc., e.g., arecanut, cashew, cocoa,
coconut, etc.). For all the tuber crops and spices, the
protocols for in vitro storage and regeneration have
been worked out, but there has not been any
concerted and timebound plans for their in vitro
maintenance and conservation. The effectiveness of
the protocols may also need to be authenticated.
Status of wild relatives
The NBPGR Regional Station, Thrissur is the only
institution that has any programme on collecting and
conserving wild relatives of cultivated plants. Even
this is at the initial stages. At present, they maintain a
modest collection of 254 accessions/12 species
(Abraham 2008) (Table 3). Other than making the
collection and maintaining them in field banks, they
have not done anything further on them. In addition,
all the crop-based research institutions located within
the State also maintain a few wild relatives. The
details of the material that are being maintained in
these institutes are given in Tables 1 and 3.
Discussion
The wide variations in physiography, high population
density, its long tradition of maritime contacts with
other regions, from prehistoric times, and the home-
stead or home garden system of living and farming
have contributed to increasing the agrobiodiversity.
The land use of Kerala State consists of 27.8%
forests, 54.9% net agricultural sown area, 9.5%
nonagricultural uses, 3.0% fallow, and the remaining
4.8% uncultivable land, permanent grazing, and
cultivable waste. Broadly, it is an instance of intensive
and distinct land use pattern. Also, 12.1% of the state is
covered by wetlands (Nayar and Nayar 1997).
Kerala State has 4,681 flowering species belonging
to 1,415 genera and 188 families (Sasidharan 2004;
Nayar et al. 2006). This flowering plant diversity is
disproportionately higher than is present in the
Western Ghats—Sri Lanka biodiversity hotspot in
terms of area. Consistent with this situation, the crop
diversity also appears to be relatively higher in
Kerala.
The relative diversity of the 142 crop plants grown
in the State is much higher (104 genera/43 families)
than what has been recorded in the Western Ghats—
Sri Lanka biodiversity hotspot (5,000 species/2,200
genera/217 families). This would have been facili-
tated by the regular and extensive contacts that the
population of the Malabar coast was maintaining with
the outside world from prehistoric times as docu-
mented in several classical and recent publications
like the Periplus of the Erythrean sea, Ibn Battuta’s
travels, the Berenike (Red Sea) excavations, etc.
(Schoff 1912; Gibb 1929; Verin 1981; Ray 2003;
Phillipson 2005; Cappers 2006). Incidentally, the
Portuguese explorer, Vasco da Gama, first landed in
India, in Calicut (Kerala) in 1498, and even St
Thomas, one of the Apostiles of Christ, is believed to
have first landed in India in the Malabar coast in 53
AD. The Portuguese navigators and explorers of the
fifteenth to seventeenth centuries have been known to
be great plant introducers wherever they visited.
Biodiversity conservation forms a component of
agriculture, forest, and wildlife are the joint respon-
sibility of the Centre and States. India has had a
relatively long tradition and history of legislation for
protecting the forests, wildlife, and nature conserva-
tion beginning with the passing of the Forest Act
(1865), and the latest, the Biological Diversity Act
Table 3 Holdings of wild relatives of Kerala’s cultivated
plants (personal communication Abraham 2008)
S. No. Species No. of accessions
1 Alpinia calcarata 16
2 A. galanga 18
3 A. zerumbet 2
4 Cinnamomum malabathrum 2
5 Clitoria ternatea 2
6 Curcuma zedoaria 49
7 Dioscorea bulbifera 2
8 Garcinia indica 52
9 Kaempferia galanga 17
10 Momordica balsamina 1
11 Piper longum 24
12 Solanum incanum 69
Total 254
Genet Resour Crop Evol
123
(2002). However, the conservation activities were
begun to be enforced only after India attained
independence in 1947.
Overall, the collection and conservation in field
genebanks has been done fairly satisfactorily for the
seed propagated annual crop plants, and few of the
vegetatively propagated plants, sugarcane, spices, and
tuber crops. It is now necessary to develop a strategy
and action plan to collect, evaluate, conserve, and
catalogue the entire crop agrobiodiversity present in the
State, esp. of the subsidiary agricultural crops and wild
relatives of all the crop plants. Now that the Kerala
State Biodiversity Board has come into existence, we
may hope that it will provide the lead for this. This plan
may include the following components: (a) complete
the evaluation and cataloguing of the already collected
germplasm. Now, catalogues have been published for
only few crops. (b) It will be desirable to integrate the
parallel collections of some crops being maintained in
different institutions (e.g.: colocasia at CTCRI and
NBPGR Thrissur, spices at IISR, ICRI, KAU and
NBPGR, and so on) and identify the duplicates. (c)
Initiate research for in vitro conservation of the vege-
tatively propagated plants and those having recalcitrant
seeds. (d) Initiate collections of the crop plants on
which no work has been done so far. Even among the 47
most grown crop plants, systematic collections are not
available for about half of them. (e) Make plans for
developing in situ collections of the crop plants whose
regions of natural biodiversity overlap Kerala, e.g.,
banana, colocasia, elephant yam, ginger, jack, mango,
rice, etc. (f) Make inventories of crop agrobiodiversity
present in the protected forest areas, and (g) Develop
plans for the collection and conservation of the wild
relatives of crop plans. A recent model for this is of
Aegilops (Maxted et al. 2008).
The passing of the Biological Diversity Act
(2002), and the promulgation of their rules, both
nationally and also for Kerala (in 2008) will hope-
fully address these problems. The high population
density prevalent in Kerala is a dampener to the
implementation of any conservation strategy and
action plans, but raising the level of public awareness
may take care of this at least to some extent.
Acknowledgments I thank Drs Z Abraham, KA Kabeer, N
Mohanan, and GVS Murthy for providing some unpublished
information. I thank also Conservation International, Arlington
VA, USA, for letting me use one of their figures. I am grateful
to Dr P N Premachandran and Mr Thomas Cherian of the
Kerala Soil Survey Organization for supplying me 4 of the 5
Kerala maps used in the paper.
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