BP Singh

Promising Introductions and Prioritize Needs for Exotic Germplasm 91resistant to boll worm; BC 343926 (USA), long staple variety withhigh lint recovery; EC 338693 (Turkey) has high ginning percentagetogether with resistance to Verticillium wilt.Jute: Most accessions of jute were introduced from Bangladesh,Thailand and China having different desirable traits which includeCorchorus species, viz., C. olitorius, C. capsularis, C. trilocularis, C.facicularis, c. tridesns, C. aestuana, C. distonius etc.Different Hibiscus species were also introduced such as H.acetosella, H. acutangula, H. calyphyllus, H. cannbinus, H. subdariffaall from Bangladesh and various accessions of Crotalaria. jUl1ceafrom Italy, and its related species from Hungary. Other allied fibrecrops like Agave americana and Agave sislana have shown goodadaptations in arid zones and studies are in progress to evaluatefibre production potential under varying habitats of arid zones ofIndia.Promising Introductions of Under Utilized and Under ExploitedCropsA few interesting and successful introductions of fodderutility for arid habitats are Tamarugo (Pl'osopis tamarugo), kumbat(Acacia senegal), and A. albida. Brachychiton populneum, a droughttolerant shade tree of Australian origin, provides finest fodder andis also useful as wind breaker when planted in multiple rows.Prosopis tomarugo, ftom tropical America, is salt tolerant, droughtresistant and supplies pods/leaves as fodder for goats throughoutthe year. Kumut (Acacia senegal Wild), provides best grade of gumarabic, which has wide uses as an emulsifying agent, demulcentand protecting agent in the manufacture of adhesives, textiles,leather, water paints, polishes, inks, ceramics, food products andpharmaceutical preparations. Cassia sturtii, an Australian shrub isanot!ler drought resistant fodder type for recent introduction.Amongst the Acacias, A. albida is of great promise of arid and semiaridhabitats. Its pods and foliage provide good fodder. Fresh podyield is reported to be 100 tons/ha/year.Among the· Artiplex species, a few promising ones areA. halimus (EC 129767 ex Tunisia), A. canescens (Ee' 129768 exTunisia) and A. nummularia (EC 129766 ex Tunisia) which areperennial, evergreen and salt tolerant, have performed well atJodhpur and hold promise for arid region.