Preprint / Version 1

On-farm crop diversity, conservation, importance and value: a case study of landraces from Western Ghats of Karnataka, India

Authors

  • G Puneeth Division of Plant Genetic Resources, ICAR - Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa Campus, New Delhi, 110 012 India
  • Ravi Gowthami ICAR - National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Pusa Campus, New Delhi, 110 012 India
  • Ashvinkumar Katral Division of Genetics, ICAR - Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa Campus, New Delhi, 110 012 India
  • Kerekoppa Laxmisha Division of Plant Genetic Resources, ICAR - Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa Campus, New Delhi, 110 012 India
  • Ramesh Vasudeva College of Forestry, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Sirsi, 581 401 India
  • Gyanendra Singh ICAR - National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Pusa Campus, New Delhi, 110 012 India
  • Sunil Archak ICAR - National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Pusa Campus, New Delhi, 110 012 India

Keywords:

On-farm conservation, Diversity, Documentation, Landraces, Western Ghats

Abstract

Landraces are important genetic resources that have a significant role in maintaining the long-term sustainability of traditional agro-ecosystems, food, nutrition, and livelihood security. In an effort to document landraces in the on-farm conservation context, Central Western Ghat region in India was surveyed. A total of 671 landraces belonging to 60 crops were recorded from 24 sites. The custodian farmers were found to conserve a variety of crops including vegetables, cereals and pulses, perennial fruits, spices, tuber and plantation crops. The survey indicated a difference in the prevalence of landraces across the sites. A significant difference with respect to the Shannon-diversity index, Gini-Simpson index, evenness, species richness, and abundance was observed among the different survey sites. Computation of a prevalence index indicated the need for immediate intervention in the form of collecting and ex situ conservation of landraces of some crops as a back-up to on-farm conservation. The study also identified the critical determinants of on-farm conservation, including (i) suitability to regional conditions, (ii) relevance in regional cuisine and local medicinal practices, (iii) cultural and traditional significance, and (iv) economic advantage. The information documented in this study is expected to promote the collection and conservation of landraces ex situ. The National Genebank housed at ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi conserves around 550 accessions of landraces collected from the Central Western Ghats region surveyed in this report. Information collected from custodian farmers on specific uses will be helpful to enhance the utilization of these accessions. Keywords: On-farm conservation, Diversity, Documentation, Landraces, Western Ghats Subject terms: Natural variation in plants, Plant breeding

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