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Plant Biology and Biotechnology pp 757–775Cite as

Alien Crop Resources and Underutilized Species for Food and Nutritional Security of India

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Abstract

The diversity of crops cultivated across the world ensured food and nutritional security to mankind over the years and in India, the introduced alien crops are still significantly contributing towards that. However, the diversity of the food basket has declined drastically as a consequence of insidious socio-economic compulsions and developments. Even though, variation among and within a crop is also an important factor for nutritional security, in order to overcome threats to biodiversity, viz. climate change, change in dietary habits, globalization, etc., utilization of diverse species ensures food security. Hence, there is a need to relook at the alien crops and underutilized species for sustaining and enhancing food and nutritional security. The alien crop species to be introduced in India have been prioritized based on ‘Ecocrop’ database and also based on the authors’ perceptions, even though the exchange of genetic resources has been affected post CBD. The plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA) represent the basis for the establishment of a multilateral system of access and benefit-sharing of important food crops. The introduction of alien crop species should be guided by research efforts which may include crops suitable for multi-cropping systems/designated areas, climate resilience etc. for safe and sustained utilization.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Winter Nursery Centre, Indian Institute of Maize Research, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, 500 030, Telangana, India

    N. Sunil

  2. National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Regional Station, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, 500 030, Telangana, India

    S. R. Pandravada

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  1. N. Sunil
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Correspondence to S. R. Pandravada .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Sri Biotech Laboratories India Limited, Hyderabad, Telangana, India

    Bir Bahadur

  2. Department of Genetics, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India

    Manchikatla Venkat Rajam

  3. Division of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bangalore, Karnataka, India

    Leela Sahijram

  4. Center for Pharmaceutics, Pharmacognosy and Pharmacology, School of Life Sciences, Institute of Trans-Disciplinary Health Science and Technology (IHST), Bangalore, Karnataka, India

    K.V. Krishnamurthy

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Sunil, N., Pandravada, S.R. (2015). Alien Crop Resources and Underutilized Species for Food and Nutritional Security of India. In: Bahadur, B., Venkat Rajam, M., Sahijram, L., Krishnamurthy, K. (eds) Plant Biology and Biotechnology. Springer, New Delhi. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-2286-6_31

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