SELECTED UNDERUTILIZED EDIBLE WILD FOOD PLANTS; THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH LEPIDOPTERON FAUNA AND ROLE IN TRIBAL LIVELIHOOD OF JAMBOORI PANCHAYAT SAMITI , ABU ROAD BLOCK IN SIROHI DISTRICT OF RAJASTHAN.

Some plants (underutilized) are lesser-known plant species in terms of marketing and research, but well adapted to marginal and stress conditions. Their indigenous potential and ethno-botanical data are well known to people, whereas, commercial importance and market value is unknown to the public. A socio-economic survey was conducted in Jamboori Panchayat samiti of Abu Road area in Sirohi district of Rajasthan to assess the role of four edible underutilized food plants in tribal livelihood of Jamboori Panchayat Samiti. Findings reveals that the Garasia tribes inhibiting the area are unique in their ethno cultural heritage, far from the modern civilization and mostly depend on the forest and forest produce for their livelihood. These tribes are most backward and live in the interior forest. Livelihood systems in the study area are complex, based on primitive mode of agricultural practices. Common species in natural forest include Butea monosperma, Anogeissus latifolia, zizyphus spp., Azadirachta indica, Madhuca longifolia, Boswellia serrata, Manilkara hexandra, Diospyros melanoxylon, Phonix spp., Pithocellobium dulce, Annona squamosa, etc. and the main forest product exploitable commercially are Diospyros mealnoxylon (leaves), bamboo, firewood, gum and barks etc. but naturally occurring and underutilized species includes- M. hexandra, D. melanoxylon, M. dioica and P.dulce which are good source of vitamins proteins carbohydrates and minerals. Due to good source of proteins they are also found associated or infested by many insects and also serves as their host plants. In the present paper the association of lepidopteron fauna (Butterflies & Moth) with some selected underutilized plant species with their role in tribal livelihood has been studied. The fruits were nutritionally rich and could be utilized for making by-products. Survey data reveals that if managed properly, these underutilized species could easily compete with commercial fruit-yielding species. Therefore, such fruit trees deserve priority action for conservation in natural forest stands and domestication in farmers? fields as a source of income generating activity.