Neglected and Underused Fruit Species: Opportunities for Rural Income Generation

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20241261

Abstract

Humans have utilized wild plants as a food source since ancient times. Wild edible foods encompass fruits, leaves, flowers, and seeds from naturally growing trees and shrubs. Among these, wild fruits are gaining increased attention because of their high nutritional value, especially their vitamin and mineral contents. The staple diet of many Indians often lacks essential nutrients, yet India is rich in indigenous food plants with great potential to address nutritional deficiencies in vulnerable populations. Numerous underutilized wild edible fruits, though relatively unknown, hold significant promise in contributing to nutrition and livelihoods. To explore this potential, the present checklist compiles observations from the author alongside existing literature. Notable examples include Artocarpus lakoocha, Artocarpus heterophyllus, Aegle marmelos, Annona squamosa, Averrhoa carambola, Carissa carandus, Cordia dichotoma, Eugenia jambos, Feronia limonia, Ficus species, Grewia subinaequalis, Manilkara hexandra, Moringa olifera, Morus indica, Pithecellobium dulce, Schleichera oleosa, Spondias mangifera, Syzygium cumini, Tamarindus indica, and Ziziphus mauritiana. This paper documents 20 underutilized fruit species from 15 families, detailing their scientific names, family classifications, local names, availability periods, taste profiles, and uses. The findings emphasize the urgent need for further research to discover more wild edible fruits, which would enrich the diversity of available fruits. The current status of these fruit plants calls for intensified research and development efforts aimed at conservation, bioprospection, and sustainable use. Such initiatives could open new opportunities for scientific validation, public awareness, and economic improvement among ethnic communities.

Keywords: Wild edible fruits, Underutilized fruits, Indigenous food plants, Traditional knowledge, Sustainable utilization, Conservation, Biodiversity