Conservation and Use of Temperate Fruit and Nut Genetic Resources

Temperate fruit and nut species come from locations with cold winters and well-defined climatic seasons and temperatures suitable for spring and summer growth. Most of the temperate fruits and nuts are grown in the northwestern Himalayas and in small areas that lie in northeastern parts. In India, the majority of temperate fruits have been introduced from other parts of the world and some are native to India, such as walnuts and wild apple species. The exotic varieties are still the backbone of fruit production in India, particularly for apples, pears, peaches, plums, and cherries. Therefore, the improvement of temperate fruits and nuts has been mainly through the introduction of promising varieties. Globally, India is the second largest fruit producer; however, productivity is significantly lower compared to advanced countries. Outstanding advances in germplasm and cultivar development over the last few centuries have made these fruit species very productive. Still, there are gaps in the production of fruits and nuts from temperate climates that need to be addressed. Genetic resources are fundamental to basic research in plant biology, crop improvement, and conservation. The conservation of the genetic resources of temperate fruit crops is their present and future use for the benefit of mankind. We outline the conservation and use of temperate fruit and nut genetic resources in future breeding program for phenotypic description, genetic characterization, and plant breeding.