Assessment of Wild Tuber Crops of Simlipal Biosphere Reserve Forest, Odisha

Sanjeet Kumar
sanjeet.biotech@gmail.com

Simlipal Biosphere Reserve (SBR) forest is situated in central part of district Mayurbhanj, Odisha. It is close to the interstate boundary with West Bengal in North-East and Jharkhand in North-West. It is having a compact mass of natural mixed forests such as semi-evergreen, moist deciduous, dry deciduous, Sal forest, Grassland and Savana spreading over an area of 5,569 km²  lying between 21⁰ 10’ to 22⁰ 12’N and 85⁰ 58’ to 86⁰ 42’ E. SBR derives its name from the abundance of “Semul” or “Red Silk Cotton” in this forest.  Tuber crops are the most important food supplement after cereals. Tribal people have included tubers in their dietary habit due to their nutritional importance. Tubers are rich in calorie, dietary fibre & carotenoids such as a carotene and anthocyanin. Tubers are medicinally important because they have the capacity to either prevent or cure some ailments. They have anti-microbial and anti-diabetic actions. They also can be used in production of fish poison and cosmetics. About 11 major wild tuberous plants species,  those are used as food are found in SBR. They include Alocasia macrorrhiza L. (Maan Kanda), Lasia spinosa L. (Kanta Alu) frequently found in Jashipur, Costus speciosus Koenig. (Kau Kauta), Pueraria tuberose Willd. (Bhui Kakharu), Solena amplexicaulis Lam.(Ban Kundri) & Amorphophalus paeoniifolius Dennst. (Olua) rich in Ghatkumari,  Alocasia Montana Roxb.(Ban Kanda) found in south part of SBR, Colocasia esculenta L.(Bansaru), Remusatia vivipara Roxb. (Telia Kand) & Amorphophalus bulbifer Roxb. (Ban oal) found in Kashipani. Alocasia fornicate Roxb. (Ban Kanda) found in Gurguria. Apart from these 11 species 10 Dioscorea species are found in SBR. They include D. Alata (Khambo Alu), D. Belophylla Voigt. Ex Haines (Kunda Alu), D. Bulbifera L. (Pita Alu), D. Puber Bl. Enum (Kosa Alu) found in Jashipur, D. Glabra Roxb. (Konta Alu), D. Hamiltonii Hook. (Suta Alu), D. Hispida Dennst. (Banya Alu), D. Pentaphylla L. ( panja sanga) found in Bisoi, D. Oppositifolia L. ( pani aalu  ), D. Wallichii (Suta alu) found in Karanjia. D. pentaphylla, D. Alata, D. Puber, D.bulbifera produce bulbils which have been using as food as well. Knowledge on Dioscorea species as wild tubers has gradually declined & even disappearing with increased modernization & migration of tribal & rural people to urban areas in search of livelihood. Therefore documentation & revalorizing indigenous knowledge on these valuable crops is urgently needed to promote nutritional health of the local aboriginals for conservation of diversity & sustainable development. Also there is need for estimation of primary metabolite for the documentation of nutritional values with assessment of anti-nutritional factors. Screening of phytochemical & anti-microbial activity is necessary. This will help to fight against microbial resistance & manufacture of new drugs.