2008 A P P L I E D A N D N AT U R A L S C I E N C E F O U N D A T I O N   Journal of Applied and Natural Science 8 (4): 2346-2353(2016) A review on diversity, conservation and nutrition of wild edible fruits Sumit Chakravarty, Karma D. Bhutia 1 , C. P. Suresh 2 , Gopal Shukla and Nazir A. Pala Department of Forestry, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Pundibari, Cooch Behar- 736101 (W.B.) INDIA 1 Department of Horticulture, Sikkim Central University, Tadong, Gangtok-737101 (Sikkim), INDIA 2 Department of Horticulture, North-Eastern Hill University, Tura Campus, Tura -794002 (Meghalaya), INDIA * Corresponding author. E-mail: c_drsumit@yahoo.com Received: January 1, 2016; Revised received: September 30, 2016; Accepted: November 28, 2016 Abstract: The United Nations adopted the Millennium Declaration of September 2009 to improve the global living conditions through reducing poverty and hunger. However, considerable numbers of people are still living in utter penury and are deprived of a dignified living. In such tough circumstances nature’s free gift in the form of wild edible foods are benefiting the vulnerable and dependent communities. Wild edible plants (WEPs) are the species those are neither cultivated nor domesticated however are available in their wild natural habitat and used as sources of these plants have played a significant role in the development and civilization of human history throughout the ages and globe. These wild edible plants have played a significant role in supplying food and nutritional requirements of poor communities in many rural parts of the world. These wild edibles can be popularized only when they are com- pared for their nutritional and health benefits with major or widely used cultivated plants. The social, cultural, reli- gious, and belief system of the rural communities are incomplete without these wild edible plants. Domestication of these wild edible plants can increase their use and their conservation as well. The present review paper has de- scribed the wild edible plants in context of their diversity, traditional knowledge, conservation practices and nutri- tional composition from the available secondary literature. Authors feel there is still scope to incorporate more con- textual variables for explaining more variations embedded with local people’s perception on values and usage of these wild edible fruits. Keywords: Climate, Development, Domestication, Hunger, Nutrition, Poor INTRODUCTION Wild edible plants (WEPs) are the species those are neither cultivated nor domesticated but growing wild and are however edible (Beluhan and Ranogajec, 2010). Different wild edible plants have played a sig- nificant role in all geographical regions of world throughout human history (Sekeroglu et al., 2006). Poor communities through the world are dependent on these wild plants for their food, nutrition, subsistence needs and improving rural livelihoods as well (Sundriyal et al., 2003; Mishra et al., 2008; Tiwari et al., 2010; Badhani et al., 2011). Even nutritional supe- riority of some of the wild edibles was also reported over the cultivated ones (Burlingame, 2000). The tradi- tional consumption of WEP is still supplemented today with staple crop plants staple crop plants by most agrarian societies throughout the world (Lulekal et al., 2011). The role of WEPs in ensuring food and nutri- tional security to the rural or indigenous communities is now widely recognized. Unfortunately data available on their identification, composition or nutritional prop- erties, use and management or user’s preferences is scanty or less documented (Frison et al., 2006; Vincetti et al., 2008). Many such food resources and valuable plants are still ISSN : 0974-9411 (Print), 2231-5209 (Online) All Rights Reserved © Applied and Natural Science Foundation www.jans.ansfoundation.org to be explored (Mohan Ram, 2000). Interest on its re- search and development has now increased for devel- oping superior varieties, genetic conservation and pre- and post-harvest management (Arora and Nayar, 1984; Rathore, 2001; Hebbar et al., 2003; Bagra et al., 2006; Deshmukh and Shinde, 2010; Deshmukh and Wagh- mode, 2011; Ekka and Ekka, 2016). Available litera- ture indicates initiation of some systematic work though not detailed and complete. This article has compiled information from more than 100 research and review articles and has scanned the information on the present theme from them. A systematic attempt was made in the present review article in light of simi- lar results collected from the available literature which are presented under the following heads: Diversity and conservation Associated traditional knowledge and cultural value of wild edible fruits Utilization of wild edible fruits Physico-chemical properties of wild edible fruits Diversity and conservation Plant species richness in a region is primarily influ- enced by the climatic (temperature, rainfall, altitude), edaphic and biotic factors (Brockway, 1998; Hegazy et