Fruits seem to be a food that has been enjoyed by mankind from the earliest of times. Most of us appreciate fruits because they are the easiest foods to handle. Just wash and serve Fruits need absolutely no preparation or cooking. In addition fruits lend themselves to be concerted into a variety of dishes. They can be baked steamed, stewed, crushed, made into salads, ice creams, juices and sherbets. They can also be made into delicious jams, jellies, pickles and puddings. Fruits can be preserved easily.
Fruits contain abundant quantities of sugar. In terms of nutrition, fruit are very good sources of several vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber. Fruits are important foods in terms of health economy of ecology. Fruits are health promoting as well as pleasure giving. Fruits are very efficient sources of vitamin C and A. We all ways associate fruits only with those of high market value. But there are number of fruits available through out the year. These wild fruits are edible and nutritious. Most of these are location specific and seasonal. Some advantageous of these fruits.
- They are grown with out effort
- They are freely available
- They are consumed fresh therefore their nutrient contribution is significant.
- They are seasonal and plenty
- They are tasty
- They are free of pesticide residue
- They have high medicinal value
- They have high wood value
- Their foliage has high fodder value
- They are easy is to raise
- They are pest pesistant
- They have high survival rate
- They ensure our fruit consumption
- They add diversity to our diet
In order to enrich our diet in terms of vitamins and minerals the most inexpensive way will be to promote wild fruit cultivation seriously.The most other important impact will be ensuring a healthy relation with our natural resources. And creating respect for nature in future generation.
Present situation:
- The knowledge about these species is being erode slowly
- The present generation is not in a position to identify edible species
- Reduction in forest area has brought down the consumption of wild fruit to a very low level
- Cleaning of shrubs and shifting to Mono culture of fruit species is another area of serious concern.
- Need for identification of scientific names .
A small research was done and analyzed for b - carotene content of some of the wild fruits is presented below.
Total carotenoids and b - carotene content of wild fruit samples
Sl.No
Name
Total carotenoids
b-carotene
<¾¾¾¾ m/100 g¾¾¾¾¾>
1
Ambadikayalu
570.69
16.85
2
Pulcheri
73.44
28.99
3
Nakkarapandulu
4236.78
428.59
4
Bonthapandu
161.25
12.29
5
Irkipandu
63.71
12.18
6
Medipandu
37.74
5.4
7
Illintha
514.73
16.56
8
Eethapandu
396.81
191.22
9
Chitmit
260.44
12.71
10
Kalmi
1026.30
326.66
11
Kakipandu
1300.39
177.16
12
Morripandu
1302.65
354.11
13
Kasipand
2057.98
147.38
14
Balusakupandluu
404.49
19.86
15
Pitlapandlu
766.82
22.44
Other uses of wild fruits
Sl. No.
Local Name
Type
Other values
1
Balusuku pandu
Bush
Leaf is good fodder, used as
Fire wood. Rainy season fruit.
2
Illentha pandu
Small tree
High medicinal value. Winter season fruit
3
Chit Mit
Tree
Latex has medicinal value. Rainy season fruit
4
Chimidi pandlu
Tree
5
Kaki pandlu
Bush
Fence, Used as fire wood, roofing material. Rainy season fruit.
6
Morri pandlu
Tree
High market value from fruit. Latex has medicinal value. Early summer fruit.
7
Parki pandlu
Bush
Fence, winter fruit
8
Pulichera pandlu
Bush
Fruits available through out the year
9
Kashe pandlu
Bush
Medicinal vlaue, through out year
10
Nalla jedi
Tree
Medicinal value, market value. Early summer fruit
11
Dudi pandlu
Bush
Early summer fruit
12
Thella pulcheri
Bush
Medicinal value
13
Medi pandlu
Tree
Latex has medicinal value, wood value. Summer fruit
14
Pam padiga pandlu
Bush Fence, winter fruit
15
Sudi pandlu
Tree
Winter fruit, leaf has market value
16
Kalimi pandlu
Bush
Early summer fruit
17
Pitta pandlu
Bush
Rainy season fruit
18
Nakkiri pandlu
Bush
Rainy season fruit
19
Itha pandlu
Tree
Winter fruit, leaf has market value
20
Bontha pandlu
Tree
Winter season fruit. Firewood value
21
Sithaphal pandlu
Bush
Rainy season
22
Thada
Tree
Two crops
Because of thoughtless actions of man and low market value of these fruits we never gave them the place they deserve. In order to promote fruit cultivation we need to think in a new direction considering the following points:
- Identification of edible fruit species
- Collection and documentation of these species
- Documentation of other values of these species. (Wood value, Medicinal value etc.,)
- Conservation of existing edible fruit species
- Propagation of these species scientifically
- Popularizing these fruits
- Conducting awareness campus.
Quick and thoughtful program may ensure the conservation of wild fruits, which are important foods in terms of health economy and ecology.
Ms. Salomeyesudas Buduru