Exploring biodiversity of custard apple for livelihood security

Abstract

The wide range of genetic diversity in phenology, viz. growth, flowering, fruiting behaviour, and nutritional and qualitative characters in custard apple offers immense opportunity to explore the germplasm for superior genotypes from existing population growing under Gujarat. Since genetic diversity is important source of crop improvement for developing promising varieties for livelihood and health security, hence its collection, ex-situ conservation and characterization is necessary under rainfed conditions of semi-arid ecosystem of Gujarat. The conserved plant genetic resource could be need as a source of promising gene for creating improvement in yield, quality and high nutraceuticals value, and resistance to abiotic stresses through selection and hybridization.