Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
7.13
CLIMATE CHANGE AND MEDICINAL PLANTS
Tropical regions enjoy rich diversity of medicinal plants and their proper
utilization depends on technological back up and scientific investigations.
Most of island nations situated in this region are developing economies
and rich in biodiversity but technologically poor which hinders tapping
of potential bioresources for their economic benefits. CARI has initiated
efforts in this direction by commercializing
Morinda citrifolia
having
more than 200 phytochemical compounds (Singh et al., 2012). Similar ef-
forts should be initiated at International level to exploit other native plants
through International cooperation. Presently, the industry is harnessing the
potential of medicinal plants
viz
. morinda, aloevira, kalmegh, brahami,
tulsi, ashwagandha, opium, isbgol, aonla, etc. but their adaptation and
recovery of phytochemicals will be affected by rising temperature. The
climate change will certainly affect the composition and concentration of
phytochemicals in plants but their change need to be investigated using
different climate change modules (Singh et al., 2012).
7.14 CLIMATE CHANGE RESILIENT PERENNIAL
HORTICULTURAL CROPS
Islands have fragile ecosystem and frequent soil manipulation along with
climate change associated with intense rains will increase the soil ero-
sion. This will cause serious threat to the island ecosystem. Thus, suitable
perennial fruits and vegetable crops should be promoted in islands. These
crops need less soil cultivation, bind soil properly, add more biomass,
sequester carbon round the year and favor soil microbes. But, flowering
and fruiting pattern of these crops mostly depends on climatic factors and
slight change in temperature and relative humidity affect these stages.
Thus, research efforts are required for identifying suitable interventions,
which can ensure fruit setting and flowering in these crops, particularly
perennial vegetables. The CARI has started efforts for bioprospecting and
physiological aspects of underutilized perennial vegetables, which will be
helpful in adding these crops in basket of climate resilient crops.
