Origin and Biological Diversity of Horticultural Crops

Charles Darwin published on 24 November 1859 the classical paper On the origin of species by means of natural selection, or the preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life. is paper led to foundation of evolutionary biology. e Russian Scientist Nikolai Vavilov in 1924 conceptualized A centre of origin or centre of diversity. Above publications created awareness about the wealth of plants for food, nutrition, energy and environment. Biological diversity became the focal point to establish Research Councils, Research Institutes, Protected Forests, National and State Parks, Botanical Gardens and a good number of Academic Societies and journals. e United Nations convened a convention of parties and India contributed 5 reports to the convention on biological diversity. Indian Parliament passed several bills which later became acts-Biological Diversity Act-2002 and Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Right Act-2001-. eBook Origin and Biological Diversity of Horticulture Crops carries 20 chapters dealing with fruits, vegetables, ornamentals and bamboo contributed by 47 scientists from 17Research Institutes/Universities. e first chapter e reacts and Prospects of Biodiversity Conservation and Management in India by the Former Chairman Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Right Act provides details on emerging threats to biological diversity and future prospects.