With the rapid rise in the population, there is
higher demand of the food supply to fed millions of people. As such dependence
on the few major staple crops to meet the needs of the people has led to
increases in starvation and poverty. Underutilized edible plants offer a
cheaper and affordable option in providing more crop diversification to tackle
these problems and provide food security to the poor to the world in general
and to the developing countries in particular. In the present investigation, a
total of 142 underutilized edible plants were collected, identified and
documented from three districts (Kohima, Phek and Tuensang) of Nagaland, India.
The collected plant consists of 126 species of plants and 16 wild edible
mushrooms or macro fungus species. The collected plants were categorized
according to types of plant and their parts used collected during the period
2012-2016 with their scientific name, family, common name, vernacular name and
accession number. The study discusses the need to promote these plants for
providing food security and income generation through sustainable collection,
cultivation and marketing and to workout proper conservation strategies to
prevent depletion and lost of the natural habitat caused by anthropogenic
activities. The study also encourages more survey and researches in the rest of
the districts of the state and to study the phytochemical constituents to
harness the nutraceutical properties of these plants.
References
[1]
Panda, T. (2014) Traditional Knowledge on Wild Edible Plants as Livelihood Food in Odisha, India. Journal of Biological Earth Science, 4, 144-159.
[2]
Jain, S.M. (2012) Neglected and Under-utilized Crops for Sustainable Food Production. Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, PL-27, Finland. In: 6th International Conference of the European Amaranth Association. Neglected and Under-utilized Species Research in 21st Century, Nitra, Slovak, Republic Book of Abstracts.
[3]
Asfaw, Z. and Tadesse, M. (2001) Prospect for Sustainable Use and Development of Wild Food Plants in Ethiopia. Economic Botany, 55, 47-62. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02864545
[4]
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (2004) Annual Report: The State of Food Insecurity in the World. Monitoring the Progress towards the World Food Summit and Mellennium Development Goals, Rome.
[5]
Rashid, A., Anand ,V.K. and Sewae, J. (2008) Less Known Wild Edible Plants Used by the Gujar Tribe of District Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir state-India. International Journal of Botany, 4, 219-224. https://doi.org/10.3923/ijb.2008.219.224
[6]
Williams, J.T. and Haq, N. (2000) Global Research on Underutilized Crops: An Assessment of Current Activities and Proposals for Enhanced Cooperation. International Centre for Underutilized Crops, Southampton, UK.
[7]
Prescott, A.R. and Prescott, A.C. (1990) How Many Plants Feed the World? Conservation Biology, 4, 365-374. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.1990.tb00310.x
[8]
Deb, C.R., Khruomo, N. and Jamir, N.S. (2016) The Documentation and Market Acceptability of Underutilized Wild Edible Crops of Kohima District, Nagaland, India. Asian Journal of Biological and Life Sciences, 5, 201-206.
[9]
Ekanayake, S., Jansz, E.R. and Nair, B.M. (2000) Literature Review of An Underutilized Legume: Canavalis gladiate L. Plant Foods for Human Nutrition, 55, 305-21. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008119107738
[10]
Egbe, I.A. and Akinyele, I.O. (1990) Effect of Cooking on the Antinutritional Factors of Lima Beans (Phaseolus lunatus). Food Chemistry, 35, 81-88. https://doi.org/10.1016/0308-8146(90)90022-V
[11]
Tomar, A., Kumar, A. and Dubey, K. (2015) Underutilized Wild Edible Fruits of Nutritional and Medicinal Value. Journal of Research and Education in Indian Medicine, 21, 1-8.
[12]
Singh, J.S., Raghubanshi, A.S. and Varshney, C.K. (1994) Integrated Biodiversity Research in India. Current Science, 66,109.
[13]
Nayar, N.M. (2011) Agrobiodiversity in a Biodiversity Hotspot: Kerala State, India. Its Origin and Status. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, 58, 55-82. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-010-9555-7
[14]
Ehrlich, PR, Ehrlich, A.H. (1992) The Value of Biodiversity. AMBIO, 21, 219-226.
[15]
Coe, F.G. and Anderson, G.J. (1996) Ethnobotany of the Garifuna of Eastern Nicaragua. Economic Botany, 50, 71-107. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02862114
[16]
Kaimowitz, D. and Douglas, S. (2007) Conserving What and For Whom? Why Conservation Should Help Meet Basic Human Needs in the Tropics. Biotropica, 39, 567-574. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-7429.2007.00332.x
[17]
Hazarika, T.K., Lalramchuana and Nautiyal, B.P. (2012) Studies on Wild Edible Fruits of Mizoram, India Used as Ethno-Medicine. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, 59, 1767-1776. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-012-9799-5
[18]
Yesodharan, K. and Sujana, K.A. (2007) Wild Edible Plants Traditionally Used by the Tribes of Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India. Natural Product Radiance, 6, 74-80.
[19]
Balemie, K. and Kebebew, F. (2006) Ethnobotanical Study of Wild Edible Plants in Derashe and Kucha Districts, South Ethiopia. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 2, 53. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-2-53
[20]
Misra, S, Maikhuri, R.K., Kala, C.P., Rao, K.S. and Saxena, K.G., (2008) Wild Leafy Vegetables: A Study of Their Subsistence Dietetic Support to the Inhabitants of Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve. India. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 4, 15. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-4-15
[21]
N’danikou, S., Achigan-Dako, E.G. and Wong, J.L.G. (2011) Eliciting Local Values of Wild Edible Plants in Southern Bénin to Identify Priority Species for Conservation. Economic Botany, 65, 381-395. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12231-011-9178-8
[22]
Gemedo-Dalle, T.B., Maass, L. and Isselstein, J. (2005) Plant Biodiversity and Ethnobotany of Borana Pastoralists in Southern Oromla, Ethiopia. Economic Botany, 59, 43-65. https://doi.org/10.1663/0013-0001(2005)059[0043:PBAEOB]2.0.CO;2
[23]
Shrestha, P.M. and Dhillion, S.S. (2006) Diversity and Traditional Knowledge Concerning Wild Food Species in a Locally Managed Forest in Nepal. Agroforestry Systems, 66, 55-63. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-005-6642-4
[24]
Teklehaymanot, T. and Giday, M. (2010) Ethnobotanical Study of Wild Edible Plants of Kara and Kwego Semi-Pastoralist People in Lower Omo River Valley, Debub Omo Zone, SNNPR Ethiopia. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 6, 23. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-6-23
[25]
Jha, P.K., Shrestha, K.K., Upadhyay, M.P., Stimart, D.P. and Spooner, D.M. (1996) Plant Genetic Resources of Nepal: A Guide for Plant Breeders of Agricultural, Horticultural and Forestry Crops. Euphytica, 87, 189-210. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00023747
[26]
Ali-Shtayeh, M.S., Jamous, R.M., Al-Shafie, J.H., Elgharabah, W.A., Kherfan, F.A., Qarariah, K.H., Khdair, I.S., Soos, I.M., Musleh, A.A., Isa, B.A., Herzallah, H.M., Khlaif, R.B., Aiash, S.M., Swaiti, G.M., Abuzahra, M.A., Haj-Ali, M.M., Saifi, N.A., Azem, H.K. and Nasrallah, H.A. (2008) Traditional Knowledge of Wild Edible Plants Used in Palestine (Northern West Bank): A Comparative Study. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 4, 13. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-4-13
[27]
Termote, C., Van Damme, P. and Djailo, B.D. (2011) Eating from the Wild: Turumbu, Mbole and Bali Traditional Knowledge on Non-Cultivated Edible Plants, District Tshopo, DRCongo. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, 58, 585-618. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-010-9602-4
[28]
Nayar, M.P. (1997) Hot-Spots of Plant Diversity in India Strategies. In: Pushpangadan, P., Ravi, K. and Santosh, V., Eds., Conservation and Economic Evaluation of Biodiversity, Vol. 1, Oxford and IPH Publishing House, New Delhi, 59-60.
[29]
Smith, W.C. (1926) Ao Nagas Folktales. Folklore, 37, 371-394. https://doi.org/10.1080/0015587X.1926.9718373
[30]
Pfoze, N.K., Kehie, M., Kayang, H. and Mao, A.A. (2014) Estimation of Ethnobotanical Plants of the Naga of North East India. Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies, 2, 92-104.
[31]
Herzog, F., Farah, Z. and Amado, R. (1994) Composition and Consumption of Gathered Wild Fruits in the V-Baoulé, Côte d'Ivoire. Ecology of Food and Nutrition, 32, 181-196. https://doi.org/10.1080/03670244.1994.9991399
[32]
Maundu, P.M. (1996) Utilization and Conservation Status of Wild Food Plants in Kenya. In: Van der Maesen, L.J.G., van der Burg, X.M. and van Medenbach de Rooy, J.M., Eds., The Biodiversity of African Plants, Springer, Dordrecht, 678-683. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0285-5_83
[33]
Grivetti, L.E. and Ogle, B.M. (2000) Value of Traditional Foods in Meeting Macro and Micronutrient Needs. The Wild Plant Connection. Nutrition Research Reviews, 13, 31-46. https://doi.org/10.1079/095442200108728990
[34]
Jaenicke, H. and Höschle-Zeledon, I., Eds. (2006) Strategic Framework for Underutilized Plant Species Research and Development, with Special Reference to Asia and the Pacific, and to Sub-Saharan Africa. International Centre for Underutilised Crops, Colombo, Sri Lanka and Global Facilitation Unit for Underutilized Species, Rome, Italy, 33.
[35]
Padulosi, S., Hodgin, T., Williams, J.T. and Haq, N. (2002) Underutilized Crops: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities in the 21st century. In: Engels, J.M.M., Ramanatha Rao, V., Brown, A.H.D. and Jackson, M.T., Eds., Managing Plant Genetic Diversity, IPGRI, Rome, 323-338. https://doi.org/10.1079/9780851995229.0323
[36]
Gruère, G., Giuliani, A. and Smale, M. (2006) Marketing Underutilized Plant Species for the Benefit of the Poor: A Conceptual Framework. EPT Discussion Paper 154, IFPRI, Washington DC.
[37]
Vielmeyer, N.D. (1990) The New Crops Era. In: Janick, J. and Simon, J., Eds., Advances in New Crops. Proceeding of the First National Symposium on New Crops—Research, Development, Economics, Timber Press, Indianapolis.
[38]
Bonnet, M. and Valles, J. (2002) Use of Non-Crop Vascular Plants in Montseny Biosphere Reserve (Catalonia, Iberian Peninsula). International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 53, 225-248. https://doi.org/10.1080/09637480220132841
[39]
Joshi, A.R. and Joshi, K. (2005) Ethnobotany and Conservation of Plant Diversity in Nepal. Rubrick, Kathmandu, Nepal.
[40]
Blanco, E. (2004) Pinceladas de Etnobotanica Salmantina. Salamanca: Revista de Estudios, 51, 295-321.
[41]
Keller, G.B., Mndiga, H. and Maass, B. (2006) Diversity and Genetic Erosion of Traditional Vegetables in Tanzania from the Farmer’s Point of View. Plant Genetic Resources, 3, 400-413. https://doi.org/10.1079/PGR200594
[42]
Zingkhai, H. (2015) Forest and Livelihood: The Naga Traditional Practice of Prudent Use of Forest Resources for Sustainable Livelihood. International Journal of Social Sciences, 1, 912-926.
[43]
Das, K. (2010) Diversity and Conservation of Wild Mushrooms in Sikkim with Special Reference to Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary. NeBIO, 1, 1-13.
[44]
Murugkar, D.A. and Subbulakshmi, G. (2005) Nutritional Value of Edible Wild Mushrooms Collected from the Khasi Hills, Meghalaya. Food Chemistry, 89, 599-603. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2004.03.042
[45]
Wasser, S.P. and Weis, A.L. (1999) Medicinal Properties of Substances Occurring in Higher Basidiomycetes Mushrooms: Current Perspectives. International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms, 1, 31-62. https://doi.org/10.1615/IntJMedMushrooms.v1.i1.30
[46]
Ajith, T.A. and Janardhanan, K.K. (2007) Indian Medicinal Mushrooms as a Source of Antioxidant and Antitumor Agents. Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition, 40, 157-162. https://doi.org/10.3164/jcbn.40.157
