Bioinventory and documentation of traditional ecological knowledge of wild edible fruits of Kodagu-Western Ghats, India

Namera C.Karun ? P.Vaast ? C.G.Kushalappa

Introduction

Kodagu is part of Western Ghats, of India recognized as one of the top hotspots of biodiversity in the world.It supports rich and endemic biodiversity which includes angiosperm and gymnosperm plants, microbes and macro fungi, and invertebrate and vertebrate fauna (Myers et al.2000; Mohana et al.2011).With over 1350 species of flowering plants, Kodagu one of the smallest districts, is home to 8% of India’s and 35% of Karnataka’s plant resources (Keshavamurthy and Yoga Narasimhan 1990).An important component of the flora is the diverse variety of wild edible plants that are used by native communities and include wild edible fruits.Wild edible fruits are the source of food for rural people.These wild edible fruits are rich in minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates, proteins, fats and fibre (Deshmukh and Waghmode 2011; Valvi et al.2011a).Valvi et al.(2011b) studied the mineral content of wild edible fruits and showed that they are rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, iron, zinc, copper and manganese.In addition to their basic nutritional value, these fruits often have both nutritional and pharmaceutical (nutraceutical) values reportedly providing health and/or medical benefits.They are used to treat various disorders, including intestinal ailments, diabetes, anaemia, bronchitis, asthma, cough, taxamia, diarrhea, cold, acidity, jaundice, cancer, calitis, hiccough, poisoning, dysphoea, and dysentery (Deshmukh and Waghmode 2011).Some wild fruits are good appetizers and digesters.Pickles, wine, jams, juice and salted fruits are the preserved products of wild edible fruits and are locally used and also popular among tourtists.Uthaiah (1994) reported more than 50 species of wild edible fruits from Kodagu.

In the last 30 years, due to changes in landuse and intensification of coffee cultivation, the density and diversity of trees has been reduced.Privately owned wooded areas were brought under cardamom and later coffee cultivation.The extent of area under Arabica coffee declined and that of Robusta coffee, which needs less shade, increased (Garcia et al.2010).These changes resulted in retention of selected trees in coffee agroforestry systems.Large areas under natural forests owned and managed by the forest department were also converted to teak and other monocultural plantations.This led to the loss of many stands and/or species of native trees, including trees that yielded wild edible fruits.In this study, we identified 45 wild edible fruits that grew in coffee-based agroforestry plantations in 40 villages of Kodagu. We also recorded the rich traditional knowledge that the local communities hold on the usage of these fruits.

Methods

The bioinventory and documentation of wild edible fruits of Kodagu was undertaken by a CAFNET (Connecting, Enhancing and Sustaining Environmental Services and Market Values of Coffee Agroforestry in Central America, East Africa and India) project team in the two vegetation types, namely evergreen and moist deciduous vegetation.The study was carried out in/on coffee agroforests, sacred groves, and forests in 40 villages (Fig.1) randomly selected in the district.We identified and counted trees in 120 coffee agroforests and recorded traditional ecological knowledge in coffee agroforests, sacred groves, and local forests as described by Poornika et al.(2011).

Fig.1: Map showing the CAFNET research study area (A) Karnataka region in India (B) Kodagu district in Karnataka state (C) Three taluks of Kodagu district

The bioinventory of trees was undertaken using a variable width transect method (Sheil et al.2002, 2003) in large, medium and small coffee agroforests (occasionally private unconverted jungles) at each village.We counted and identified 200 trees in each coffee agroforest and 600 trees in each village.Trees were identified using the ‘Flora of Coorg’ (Keshavamurthy and Yoga Narasimhan 1990) and ‘A field key to the trees and lianas of the evergreen forests of Western Ghats’ (Pascal and Ramesh 1987).Phenological data such as period of flowering and fruiting were based on the information collected by the project team and also from Flora of Coorg and earlier studies by Uthaiah (1994).These were verified by observations made by the farmers and the project team during the field inventory.

Traditional ecological knowledge in coffee agroforestry systems, sacred groves, and forests of Kodagu was documented by interviewing villagers.A total of 450 respondents including planters, managers, laborers (male and female), tree pruners, local tribes (Kodava, Gowda, Amma Kodava, Yarava, Kudiya, Iri, Jamma Mapalae, Peggade) and traders were interviewed.We recorded information on tree and shrub attributes, local and vernacular names, phenology and propagation methods, as well as fruit utility, occurrence, preparation and taste.

Observations and discussion

We recorded a total of 45 plant species that produced wild edible fruits in coffee agroforests, sacred groves, and forests from 40 villages of Kodagu.We classified these plants based on their vernacular name, scientific name, family, plant type, distribution and occurrence, uses, edible parts, fruiting season, culinary aspects and taste (Appendix 1).Of the 45 species, 3 were herbs, 7 were shrubs, 3 were creepers and 32 were trees.

Fifteen recorded species were common in coffee agroforestry systems.They had additional valuable qualities, including timber value, market value for fruits, high water retention in soil, and fast growth.Seven plants were rare in coffee agroforestry systems, 17 were restricted to evergreen forests and sacred grooves (very rarely found in young coffee agroforests), 3 were riparian and 3 species were common throughout the region and were not typically retained in coffee agroforests because they are thorny shrubs.

Most fruits were consumed fresh when ripe.The tender fruits used for pickling, salting and other culinary preparations were from Artocarpus hirsutus, Artocarpus heterophyllus, Carissa carandas, Carissa spinarum, Phyllanthus emblica, Garcinia gummi-gutta, Mangifera indica, Margaritaria indica and Spondias pinnata.Wine was made from Syzygium cuminii, Carissa carandas, Carissa spinarum, and Phyllanthus emblica.Fruits of medicinal importance were from Chrysophyllum roxburghii, Carissa carandas, Carissa spinarum, Phyllanthus emblica, Garcinia gummi-gutta, Syzygium cuminii and Solanum americanum.Garcinia gummi-gutta, locally called Ponpulli, yielded commercial quantities of fruits used for production of high value vinegar and also for extraction of Hydroxy Citric Acid (HCA) for manufacture of anti cholesterol medicines.

Uthaiah (1994) reported large populations of wild fruit-producing trees in the region in the early to mid 1990s and we noted that many such trees had been felled due to changes in land use.A large variety of trees, shrubs, creepers, lianas, scrubs and herbs were removed during the process of conversion from native forest to cultivation.Trees of choice are retained in coffee agroforestry with additional planting of exotic trees such as Silver Oak (Grevelia robusta), which could be cultivated and marketed free of restrictions on harvest and sale of native timber.This has resulted in loss of native trees of which wild edible trees are an important component.

Wild edible fruits are also an important source of food and nutrition to many species of birds, mammals, insects, flies, bees, wasps, ants and others.The seed dispersal of wild edible fruit is mainly carried out by birds and mammals while honey bees, wasps, ants, butterflies aid in pollination and, in turn, facilitate apiculture.Thus the presence of wild edible fruit plants in coffee agroforestry systems helps to retain and conserve biodiversity.

The land which is converted to coffee is privately owned forest areas and not community or government owned forests.Hence farmers are not destroying resources of local villagers.The results of the study indicates that farmers as if now still retain many native fruit yielding trees, which helps in conservation of this important bioresource, but in future it will be a major challenge to retain these resources since farmers want to open the canopy and produce more coffee.

Conclusion

We recorded 45 different native wild edible fruit trees from coffee plantations in 40 villages and considerable local knowledge among farmers on the utility of these resources.Due to changes in land use many of these valuable species are being removed and there is an urgent need to conserve these valuable wild plants.Studies on their nutraceutical values, efforts towards multiplication for distribution to farmers and value addition of the products are some actions which will help in bringing these trees back to cultivation.

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to CAFNET project for supporting the current research, and authors acknowledge helpful suggestions by Keshava Chandra, Chethan Rao, Manujesh and Vipin of Mangalore University.

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Appendix 1: Wild Edible Fruits of Coorg (Kodagu), Western Ghats, India

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