eChapter Name: Some Potential Minor Temperate Fruit Crops in the North-West Himalaya
9789389547160
eBook Name: TEMPERATE HORTICULTURE: CURRENT SCENARIO
by V.D. Verma, K. Pradheep and J.C. Rana
Abstract
The North-West Himalaya is bestowed with rich genetic diversity of minor temperate fruits representing the genera viz. Malus, Prunus, Pyrus, Rubus, Ribes, Sorbus, Cotoneaster, Myrica, Corylus, Crataegus, Punica, Hippophae, Elaeagnus, Viburnum, Vitis, Ficus, Citrus, Ziziphus, Morus,, Olea, etc. These species are known for their hardiness, adaptability to wastelands and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Apart from their easy availability, they assure some sustained yield and make our diet more diverse. Some indigenous species having potential for diversifying temperate fruit production are Pyrus pyrifolia, Diospyros lotus, Rubus ellipticus , R. lasiocarpus, R.. fruiticosus, Corylus colurna, Citrus pseudolimon, Hippophae rhamnoides and Pinus gerardiana. Some of the exotic temperate fruits viz. pineapple guava (Feijoa sellowiana), Chinese ber (Ziziphus jujuba), Japanese persimmon (Diospyros kaki), Rubus spp., Ribes spp, quince (Cydonia oblonga), medlar (Mespilus spp.), pecan nut (Carya illinoensis), hazelnut (Corylus avellana), husk tomato (Physalis spp.) and tree tomato (Cyphomendra betacea) have shown good performance at National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources Regional Station, Shimla.