Biodiversity of underutilized fruits of the Himalayas

Owing to the conducive agro-climatic conditions, the Himalayan region is home to a number of wild fruit species that are uncommon in other regions of the world. Viburnum mullaha, Rubus ellipticus, Pyrus pashia, Prunus nepalensis, Hippophae rhamnoide, Myrica esculenta, Olea ferruginea, Elaeagnus latifolia, Ficus palmate, Corylus jacquemontii, and Pinus geradiana are a few of the significant wild fruits. Fruit crops that are grown naturally are beneficial and have a high therapeutic value. These crops have desirable genes or features, particularly for resilience to biotic and abiotic challenges, and can be cultivated in a variety of agro-climatic environments. Despite being a good source of nutrients that are extremely scarce in nature, these fruit trees are neglected on both a scientific and farming level. The potential of naturally occurring wild fruit plants has been covered in the current study. The habitat, distribution, morphological description, quality factors, potential for use, restrictions, and potential conservation and use strategies are all covered in this chapter. If sufficient attention is paid to input nutrition and plant protection measures, the value-added products of these fruits must surge to capture the domestic and global markets. The current summary of these fruit crops focuses mostly on their nutritional, dietary, and medicinal significance as well as their influence on improving human health and wellness.