Sea Buckthorn a Boon for Trans-Himalayan Region of Ladakh: A Review

Abstract

Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) is an ecologically and economically important plant species and is currently being domesticated in various parts of the world including India. Sea buckthorn achieved a unique status in the trans-Himalayan Ladakh because of its immense medicinal and therapeutic potentials. High nutrient and medicinal values of the fruit attracts researchers to exploit in the field of biotechnology, neutraceutical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and environmental sciences. However, unrestrained exploitation and even destruction of sea buckthorn resources leads to loss in its diversification and extinction. Therefore, there is need to conserve the wild genotypes of sea buckthorn to make them available as a source for breeding of new plant varieties in future and judicious utilization of wild species can bring more benefit to mankind throughout the world. Application of DNA markers to facilitate marker-aided selection (MAS) for diversity studies and identification of cold resistant genes have been developed, further improvements is still needed. Advances in plant genomics, genetic mapping and QTL analysis provide further means to improve the understanding of crop diversity at species and gene levels, it also accelerated the dissection of genetic control of important traits and development of high value genotypes in the context of breeding programs. Advances in biotechnology provided many tools that will benefit in providing quality planting material, generation of new cultivars and mass propagation therefore help in area expansion in areas like Ladakh. DRDO is an active organization in collaboration with other institutes to enhance the research field in sea buckthorn and grant patent on its products. There is no doubt that the future holds great promise for sea buckthorn cultivation in Ladakh and efforts need to be made to certify sea buckthorn as organic.