Wild relatives of cultivated plants in India : a reservoir of alternative genetic resources and more

309 Pages·2017·6.23 MB·English

by  Singh

Anurudh Kumar Singh
Wild Relatives
of Cultivated
Plants in India
A Reservoir of Alternative Genetic
Resources and More
Wild Relatives of Cultivated Plants in India
Anurudh Kumar Singh
Wild Relatives
of Cultivated Plants
in India
A Reservoir of Alternative Genetic
Resources and More
Anurudh Kumar Singh
National Genebank Curator & Head,
Division of Germplasm Conservation
National Bureau of Plant Genetic
Resources, Indian Council
of Agricultural Research
Delhi, India
ISBN 978-981-10-5115-9 ISBN 978-981-10-5116-6 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-981-10-5116-6
Library of Congress Control Number: 2017943483
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Preface
The narrow genetic base of most crops/cultivated species has made them increas-
ingly vulnerable to various stresses on one side and has limited the genetic variabil-
ity on the other. This has restricted the capabilities to engineer new cultivars to
mitigate the challenges of biotic and abiotic stresses and those created by climate
change. This scenario of limited genetic diversity demands search for new and novel
variability outside the gene pool of crop/cultivated species. In this regard, the imme-
diate and distant wild ancestors of these cultivated species can be the first genetic
resource in search for new genes and alleles that have helped them survive fighting
against all possible odds and vagaries of nature for millenniums. They have been
found with a reservoir of genes in several crops to overcome disaster situations in a
number of crops like rice, wheat, maize, potato, tomato, etc., establishing their cre-
dentials in saving the crop species by genetically improving them with incorpora-
tion of genes, providing greater resilience and productivity. However, despite such
established credentials, the global data on crop wild relative’s germplasm collec-
tion, conservation, and evaluation in search of new genes and alleles has been found
with large gaps. Consequently, their use in crop improvement has not received
desired attention both at national and international levels. This situation demands
creation of a national inventory on wild relatives of crop/cultivated species with
basic information and potential to generate interest among researchers and plant
breeders to make use of them in crop improvement and their further economic
exploitation.
India is floristically one of the megacenters of biodiversity and the center, or
one of the centers, of origin of a large number (215) of crops. Obviously, for this
reason, it has a reservoir of crop wild relative’s (>900) genetic diversity. This has
been created in most plant species, because of the vast climatic diversity offered
by the Indian Subcontinent. However, in many cases it has not been accessed
because of various reasons and still lay untapped. The present book is an effort of
producing an inventory of >950 wild species related to crops/cultivated species
with basic information on their habitat, distribution, desirable features, and phy-
logenetic relationship with the cultivated species and the threat created to their
existence, to facilitate their conservation and use. To promote the activation of
necessary steps in this direction, it also discusses the strategies that can be utilized
for improved information on their phylogenetic relationships with cultivated
v
vi Preface
species, collection, conservation, and breeding strategies that can be adapted for
their effective and efficient use.
The author would like to acknowledge the help extended by various peers and
colleagues in the preparation of the book by perusing the part of the manuscript
related to their expertise, providing comments, and sharing information, namely,
Drs. SN Nigam, former principal breeder, ICRISAT, Patancheru; YS Nerkar, former
VC, MPKV, Rahuri; AK Roy, project coordinator, IGFRI, Jhansi; SR Pandravada,
NBPGR RS, Hyderabad; JC Rana, head of the Division of Germplasm Evaluation;
Veena Gupta, Division of Germplasm Conservation; and K. Pradheep, Division of
Plant Exploration and Germplasm Collection, NBPGR, New Delhi.
Thanks are also due to Springer for accepting the project proposal and providing
the opportunity and support for this book project. In this regard, the author is par-
ticularly grateful to the Life Science Team and Miss Manjusha Nalamolu, produc-
tion editor (Books), and her associates for the assistance extended in the preparation
and production of the book.
It is hoped that researchers in general and those interested in wild plant genetic
resources would find the information compiled useful for the identification of the
gaps in our knowledge and the researchable issues, to promote their conservation
and use, whereas the plant breeders and biotechnologists involved in genetic
enhancement and/or crop improvement are expected to benefit from the information
compiled, in promoting the use of wild relatives of crop species in crop
improvement.

Delhi, India Anurudh Kumar Singh
Contents
1 Introduction ............................................................................................. 1
References ................................................................................................. 8
Part I Wild Relatives
2 Defining a Wild Relative ......................................................................... 13
References ................................................................................................. 17
3 Importance of Wild Relatives as Genetic Resource
and Otherwise .......................................................................................... 19
3.1 Introduction .................................................................................. 19
3.2 Wild Species as Source of Genetic Enhancement
to Broaden Crop Genetic Base ..................................................... 21
3.3 Wild Species as Source of Genetic Variability
for Crop Improvement .................................................................. 23
3.3.1 Disease and Insect Pest Resistance ................................ 23
3.3.2 Abiotic Stress Tolerance ................................................ 25
3.3.3 Yield Traits .................................................................... 25
3.3.4 Quality Traits ................................................................. 26
3.3.5 Earliness and Adaptation ............................................... 26
3.3.6 Modes of Reproduction ................................................. 26
3.3.7 Miscellaneous Traits ...................................................... 27
3.3.8 Quantitative Traits.......................................................... 27
3.4 Resource for Other Economic Uses ............................................. 28
3.4.1 Source of Alternative Food Crops ................................. 28
3.4.2 Sources of Ethano-medicinal
and Floriculture Crops ................................................... 29
3.4.3 Sources of Renewable Bioenergy .................................. 30
3.4.4 Source of Restricting Soil Erosion,
Soil Reclamation, and Soil Fertility Improvement ........ 31
vii
viii Contents
3.4.5 Securing Ecological Benefits Through Carbon
Sequestration, Phytoremediation, Promoting
Ecology, and Environment ............................................. 32
3.5 Perspective ................................................................................... 33
References ................................................................................................. 33
Part II Wild Relatives Distribution and Diversity
in Different Crop Groups
4 Cereals ...................................................................................................... 41
4.1 Introduction .................................................................................. 41
4.2 Wild Species Found in India ........................................................ 44
4.3 Perspective ................................................................................... 51
References ................................................................................................. 52
5 Grain Legumes ........................................................................................ 53
5.1 Introduction .................................................................................. 53
5.2 Wild Species Found in India ........................................................ 55
5.3 Perspective ................................................................................... 61
References ................................................................................................. 61
6 Oilseeds .................................................................................................... 63
6.1 Introduction .................................................................................. 63
6.2 Wild Species Found in India ........................................................ 65
6.3 Perspective ................................................................................... 67
References ................................................................................................. 68
7 Fiber Crops .............................................................................................. 69
7.1 Introduction .................................................................................. 69
7.2 Wild Species Found in India ........................................................ 71
7.3 Perspective ................................................................................... 75
References ................................................................................................. 76
8 Forage Crops ........................................................................................... 77
8.1 Introduction .................................................................................. 77
8.2 Wild Species Found in India ........................................................ 79
8.3 Perspective ................................................................................... 83
References ................................................................................................. 84
9 Vegetables................................................................................................. 85
9.1 Introduction .................................................................................. 85
9.2 Wild Species Found in India ........................................................ 89
9.2.1 Fruity Vegetable ............................................................. 89
9.2.2 Leafy Vegetables ............................................................ 97
9.2.3 Root, Tuber, and Bulb Vegetables.................................. 99
9.3 Perspective ................................................................................... 105
References ................................................................................................. 106
Contents ix
10 Fruits and Nuts ........................................................................................ 109
10.1 Introduction .................................................................................. 109
10.2 Wild Species Found in India ........................................................ 113
10.2.1 Temperate Fruits ............................................................ 113
10.2.2 Tropical and Subtropical Fruits ..................................... 117
10.2.3 Arid and Semi-arid Fruits .............................................. 126
10.3 Perspective ................................................................................... 131
References ................................................................................................. 132
11 Spices and Condiments ........................................................................... 137
11.1 Introduction .................................................................................. 137
11.2 Wild Species Found in India ........................................................ 141
11.3 Perspective ................................................................................... 152
References ................................................................................................. 153
12 Commercial Crops .................................................................................. 155
12.1 Introduction .................................................................................. 155
12.2 Wild Species Found in India ........................................................ 157
12.3 Perspective ................................................................................... 161
References ................................................................................................. 162
13 Medicinal and Aromatic Plants ............................................................. 165
13.1 Introduction .................................................................................. 165
13.2 Wild Species Found in India ........................................................ 166
13.3 Perspective ................................................................................... 175
References ................................................................................................. 176
14 Floriculture Crops ................................................................................... 177
14.1 Introduction .................................................................................. 177
14.2 Wild Species Found in India ........................................................ 179
14.3 Perspective ................................................................................... 193
References ................................................................................................. 194
15 Agroforestry ............................................................................................. 197
15.1 Introduction .................................................................................. 197
15.2 Wild Species Found in India ........................................................ 199
15.3 Perspective ................................................................................... 204
References ................................................................................................. 205
16 Cottage Industry Crops and Others ...................................................... 207
16.1 Introduction .................................................................................. 207
16.2 Wild Species Found in India ........................................................ 208
16.3 Perspective ................................................................................... 214
References ................................................................................................. 215
x Contents
Part III Conservation of Wild Relatives
17 Classification of Wild Species to Facilitate
Conservation and Gene Transfer ........................................................... 219
17.1 Introduction .................................................................................. 219
17.2 Experimental Taxonomy .............................................................. 220
17.2.1 Biochemical and Molecular Biosystematics .................. 222
17.3 Phylogenetic Classification .......................................................... 224
17.4 Classification of Species (Genetic Resources)
for Better Management and Use .................................................. 225
17.4.1 Gene Pool Concept ........................................................ 225
17.4.2 Primary Gene Pool (GP-1) ............................................. 226
17.4.3 Secondary Gene Pool (GP-2) ......................................... 226
17.4.4 Tertiary Gene Pool (GP-3) ............................................. 227
17.4.5 Factors Contributing to Use Gene Pools ........................ 229
17.5 Perspective ................................................................................... 230
References ................................................................................................. 230
18 Collection Strategies ............................................................................... 233
18.1 Introduction .................................................................................. 233
18.2 Collection ..................................................................................... 234
18.2.1 Planning ......................................................................... 235
18.2.2 Selection of Populations/Sites ....................................... 236
18.2.3 Number of Samples to Be Collected ............................. 238
18.2.4 Minimum Number of Plants to Be Sampled .................. 239
18.2.5 Sample Size and Seeds per Plant ................................... 240
18.2.6 Sampling Approach ....................................................... 240
18.2.7 Seed Collecting .............................................................. 241
18.2.8 Information Documentation ........................................... 243
18.2.9 Post Collection Care ...................................................... 243
18.3 Perspective ................................................................................... 245
References ................................................................................................. 247
19 Conservation Strategies .......................................................................... 249
19.1 Introduction .................................................................................. 249
19.2 Probable Conservation Approaches ............................................. 250
19.2.1 By Regulatory Mechanisms ........................................... 250
19.2.2 By Promoting Cultivation Practices............................... 251
19.2.3 By Conventional Conservation Strategies ..................... 251
19.3 Perspective ................................................................................... 258
References ................................................................................................. 259
20 Breeding Strategies for Use of Wild Relatives ...................................... 261
20.1 Introduction .................................................................................. 261
20.2 Characterization and Evaluation of Wild Species........................ 262
20.3 Identification of Potentially Valuable Species ............................. 262
20.4 Prioritization of Species ............................................................... 263