Importance of Underutilized Tree Borne Vegetable of Arid Region
Author: Leela Bhatt

In India thanks to geomorphic nichness, a number of plant species are grown across different biotic realms of the country. Under-utilized crops are the traditional crops, agronomically more adapted to rainfed areas and that too in marginal land. They are cultivated in the wide array of environmental and soil health conditions. A few of them are heavily exploited ,many are underutilized and many more neglected in their harvest habitat and or under farming. These underutilized horticultural crops consumption in locally and the local people are aware about their nutritional and medicinal properties .Tree borne vegetable are one such group which is waiting for collection, characterization ,evaluation conservation and documentation. The horticultural crops are contributing 3.14% of the total geographical area of the region. The region is one of the richest reservoirs of genetic variability and diversity of different horticultural crops, which exist in plant types, morphological and physiological variations, reactions to diseases and pests, adaptability and distribution. Here in this review we influences the important point of Importance of underutilized tree borne vegetable of arid region.

Lasoda (Cordia myxa Roxb) belong to family Indian cherry is known one of the underutilized tree borne vegetable of arid region.In Rajasthan about 30 hec area is under lasoda laregly as stray plantation. The total annual production of the fruit is 200 tonnes. Unripe fruit contain mucilaginous pulp and are made into liquer. The unripe fruit being rich in pectin can be utilized for commercial source of it. Ripe fruit are nutritive and its regular use favours hair growth and prevents baldness. Fruit are anthelmentic, diuretic, demulcent and expectorant. Lasoda has anti-tumor activity owing to presence of otonecine and saturated polyamines saturated polyamines in fruits. The plantation of lasoda are fed to animals. The plantation of lasoda is useful for lac rearing.

Khejri (Prosopis cineraria) belong to family leguminosae has an important place in the economy of Indian desert. It supports feed requirement of 19 million head of livestock in the region comprising of camel, goat donkeys and mules, which make up about 40% of total head of livestock in the region. These animals meet out the their requirements out the bark of the tree. Its tender and immature green pods in fresh and dried form known as sangria are used as vegetable .It is one of the constituents of Panchkuta vegetable prepared using five vegetables separately in Rajasthan. The pods of khejri are in use as vegetables since antiquity. The pods are used as a very delicious vegetable .It conatin 13.1-20.0% protein and 40.2-56.4% carbohydrates.

Among locally available fruit and vegetable â€"Dansra (Rhus myserensis), kachri (Cucumis callosus), ker (Capparis deciduas ) and sangria (Prosopis cineraria) found in the arid zone of Rajasthan , the ker fruits are the richest source of betaâ€"also known medicinal value against cardiac trouble, biliousness ,foul breathing and urinary purulent. Fruits are also useful in relieving stomach and cardiac troubles.

References:

1. Chauhan .B.M.,Duhan,A Bhat ,CM.1986.Nutritional value of ker Capparis deciduas) fruit ,Journal of food Science and Technology,23(2):106-108.


About Author / Additional Info:
I am currently pursuing Ph.D. in Horticulture (Vegetable Science) from GBPAU&T Pantnagar.