326 UNEXPLOITED AND UNDERUTILIZED WILD EDIBLE FRUITS OF WESTERN GHATS IN SOUTHERN INDIA Abhishek MUNDARAGI 1 , Thangadurai DEVARAJAN 1 , Sangeetha JEYABALAN 2 , Shivanand BHAT 3 , Ravichandra HOSPET 1 1 Karnatak University, Dharwad, Karnataka, 580003, India 2 Central University of Kerala, Kasaragod, Kerala 671316, India 3 Government Arts and Science College, Karwar, Karnataka 581301, India Corresponding author email: mabhishekphd@gmail.com Abstract Fruits play predominant role in the diet. Several health based statistical reports highlight the importance of consumption of fruits as they tend to contain broad-spectrum essential nutrients including phenolic antioxidants that impart protective role against several diseases. Western Ghats, one among eight “hottest hot-spots” of biodiversity in world harbor many wild, unexploited and minor fruits which are edible and unfamiliar to large proportion of the global population. Wild edible fruits are important source of food and income for rural communities. Wild fruits are therapeutic in nature and used to treat wide array of diseases including chronic diseases. In the last three decades, increased urbanization and deforestation for agricultural land use has led to destruction of valuable plant species including fruit yielding plants. As a result, substantial decrease in the consumption and utilization of wild edible fruits has been noticed. The present article describes 45 fruits that are edible and prominent in the Western Ghats region of Southern India. Detailed information on nutrient composition of these minor fruits is provided, as consumed by tribal and rural communities. Key words: minerals, nutritional composition, South India, Western Ghats, Wild edible fruits. INTRODUCTION India is one of the mega diversity tropical countries that comprise rich vegetation and biodiversity. The Western Ghats is one such hotspot which is home to many wild, unutilized, underutilized and minor fruits that are rarely eaten and still many are unfamiliar to the major population. Since, these wild edible fruits comprise broad-spectrum essential nutrients, vitamins and secondary metabolites they can be considered for cultivation, consumption and utilization. However, these wild fruits may not taste good unlike cultivated tropical fruits but they hold good proportions of antioxidants, essential nutrients and bioactive molecules. Moreover, many wild fruits serve as possible future source of income for local communities in rural areas of several developing and poorly developed nations. Over the past few years, the information related to wild fruits is endangered. Due to lack of suitable and efficient processing techniques and increased deforestation has resulted in extinction of many of these fruit bearing wild plants from their natural vegetation. Furthermore, deprived knowledge about wild fruit identification to utilization and from harvesting to processing is another major hurdle to overcome. Also, studies on nutritional attributes of these wild fruits are not properly documented. Hence, cultivation, promotion and conservation of these wild edible fruits are very crucial for nutritional, medicinal and economic purposes. Though these crops grow in wild and have been neglected, they have their own unique properties, such as nutritional and therapeutic values. Hence, there is enormous scope to these fruits by creating awareness among the locals and popularization of value added products from these fruits. Wild fruits are available in plenty in their natural habitats; still it is relatively essential to have their germplasm conserved. Subsequently, this may help in tackling the problems arising due to urbanization and geographical variations. BIODIVERSITY AND BIORESOURCES OF WESTERN GHATS During the past few decades several studies have indicated that the Western Ghats harbor Scientifc Papers. Series A. Agronomy, Vol. LX, 2017 ISSN 2285-5785; ISSN CD-ROM 2285-5793; ISSN Online 2285-5807; ISSN-L 2285-5785