Exploration and collection of Safed Musli and Aloevera from Dang Forest Gujarat and Maharashtra

ICAR-NBPGR, Regional Station Jodhpur in collaboration with ICAR-DMAPR Anand carried out an exploration aimed at collection of landraces of Safed musli and Aloevera from Dang forest of Gujarat and Maharashtra. Exploration was taken place from 16.07.2018 to 25.07.2018 after arrival of first rain. The team comprising Dr. Kartar Singh, Scientist ICAR-NBPGR, Regional Station, Jodhpur and Mr. Manish Kumar Mittal, Scientist, Dr. Akula Chinapolaiah, Scientist, ICAR-DMAPR, Anand undertook the ten days long exploration and explored the interior and diverse areas of the targeted districts of Gujarat and Maharashtra states. During the exploration, a total of 42 accessions representing significant diversity in Chlorophytum Spp. (25), Aloevera (8), Gymnema sylvestre (3), Cymbopogon flexuosus (2), Asparagus racemosus (1), Vetiver zizanoides (1) and two unique landraces of Eleusine coracana were collected. In Chlorophytum three species were collected representing significant diversity Viz. C. borivilianum (21), C. tuberosum (3) and C. comosum (1). The collected 25 accessions of Safed musli represent the diverse landraces having peculiar geographical and/or economic advantage to the local farmers.

(Source: Dr. Kartar Singh, ICAR-NBPGR RS Jodhpur)