Note on Diversity in Legumes and Oilseeds and their Wild Relatives in Eastern Ghats of India: Utilization and Conservation Concerns

Investigation was carried out during 2013–2016 for collection, conservation and updating the present status of legumes, oilseeds and their wild relatives in Eastern Ghats of India. Frequent field surveys were conducted and the plant specimens at flowering and fruiting stages were collected. A total of 66 wild species of legume and oilseeds were collected. These belong to 11 genera and two families. The genus Rhynchosia represented maximum number of species with 16 followed by Vigna (13), Flemingia (10), Cajanus Mucuna (6), Sesamum (5), Canavalia (4), Macroptelium (3) and Dunbaria, Dolichos, Paracalyx represented one species each. These wild relatives possess important traits such as resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses and high nutritional value can be utilized for trait specific crop improvement.