Published in Scientific Papers. Series B, Horticulture, Vol. LXIII, Issue 1
Written by Ravichandra HOSPET, Thangadurai DEVARAJAN
Significant fruit crops have been growing in various countries by inhabitants but vast numbers of edible fruits are still there which are not cultivated in well-organized plantations, such fruit crops are referred to as underutilized or minor fruit crops. Many of these fruits are potential source of qualitative nutrition and high medicinal properties. The South Indian Western Ghats regions are the natural reservoir of a number of wild edible minor fruits. In spite of their potential, these fruits are less attended both at scientific and mass cultivation level. Due to lack of proper documentation, the traditional knowledge about the ethnobotanical uses of these fruits has been lost at an alarming rate. The present investigation was carried out during the period from 2016 to 2018. A total of twenty-four wild edible minor fruit yielding plants belongs to thirteen families were recorded and investigated for their pomological potential. The highest °Brix values were recorded in Garcinia talbotii - 18.50 ± 0.15, Glycosmis pentaphylla - 17.43 ± 0.18 followed by moderate °Brix values were recorded in Prunus serotina - 11.33 ± 0.24, Passiflora mollissima - 10.50 ± 0.23 and less °Brix values were noticed in Berberis tinctoria - 6.93 ± 0.08, Rosa moschata - 6.76 ± 0.18. Significant variations were also observed in various morphological and pomological characteristics. The present investigation more focuses on characterization of fruits with high °Brix values as these fruits further be utilized for their potential in the food and beverage industry as alternate to major fruit crops.
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