Underutilized Edible Fruit Species Of The Indo-Gangetic Plains: A Systematic Review For Food Security And Land Degradation Neutrality

Authors

• Dinesha S., North-Eastern Hill University
• Rakesh S., International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics
• Deepranjan Sarkar, Integral University
• Prakash Kumar Jha, Mississippi State University
• Raghupathi Balasani, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Hyderabad
• Shikha, Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali Uttarakhand University of Horticulture & Forestry
• Saswat Kumar Kar, ICAR - Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Dehradun
• Vishal Seth, Skyland USA LLC
• Amitava Rakshit, Banaras Hindu University
• Rahul Datta, Mendelova Univerzita v Brně
• Sezai Ercişli, Atatürk Üniversitesi

ORCID

Jha: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5973-711X

MSU Affiliation

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; Department of Plant and Soil Sciences

Creation Date

2026-04-29

Abstract

Many underutilized edible fruit species (UEFS) are found in the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP), which support food security (FS) for both indigenous people and other dependent communities. Unfortunately, there is little study and fragmented information available about these naturally edible products. The UEFS of the IGP was the subject of a systematic review utilizing the PRISMA protocol, which produced implications for FS and land degradation neutrality (LDN). This review aims to survey, summarize, and annotate the published information about the angiosperms native and naturalized UEFS of IGP to identify and make use of this species, particularly for the sustainable development of this region. A systematic review confirmed that 371 species of UEFS, of which 62 species were threatened and near threatened (TNT)-UEFS. Among the TNT-UEFS, 41 species were threatened, while 21 species were NT. The threatened species were further categorized as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List in the IGP as vulnerable (21 species), endangered (16 species), and critically endangered (four species). This systematic review suggests integration of the native and naturalized UEFS in afforestation and reforestation programs to aid in various ecosystem services. Calamus inermis, Corypha taliera, Licuala peltata, and Saurauia punduana are examples of multipurpose species that require immediate sustainable conservation and cultivation initiatives to save them from extinction in the near future. Multipurpose species such as Aegle marmelos, Buchanania lanzan, Manilkara hexandra, Syzygium cuminii, Tamarindus indica are immensely constructive and climate-smart by surviving in harsh agroclimatic conditions and have great potential for establishment on marginal and wastelands throughout the IGP region. These resilient fruit species enhance biodiversity, ecosystems, and landscapes in addition to providing food for humans. It progressively advances India’s commitment to LDN, combating climate change, and achieving the UN-SDGs, which call for reducing hunger and raising FS by 2030. As a result, the study will offer baseline data for the next investigations and be helpful to policymakers in creating sustainable and scientific policies for the IGP.

Publication Date

6-17-2024

Publication Title

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Publisher

Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK)

First Page

443

Last Page

469

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Recommended Citation

S, D, S, R, SARKAR, D, JHA, P. K, BALASANI, R, ., S, KAR, S. K, SETH, V, RAKSHIT, A, DATTA, R, & ERCİŞLİ, S (2024). Underutilized edible fruit species of the Indo-Gangetic Plains: A systematic review for food security and land degradation neutrality. Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry 48 (3): 443-469. https://doi.org/10.55730/1300-011X.3193