DOMESTICATION AND CONSERVATION OF ENDANGERED MEDICINAL FLORA AT TWO AGRO-ECOLOGICAL ZONES OF PAKISTAN.

Abstract

Northern Pakistan is known for its rich medicinal flora however, more than 150 species are at a greater risk of becoming endangered, mainly due to natural disaster, climate change, nomadic grazing and over harvesting for its ethno-botanical use. Proper domestication and conservation measures is necessary to conserve the medicinal flora. Experimental trials to examine the growth of medicinal plants in the location: Swat and Chitral, wild habitats, fertilizer and control (no fertilizers). Data show that various treatments significantly effected plant Height (cm), plants density m^-2, root yield kg ha^-1, and Income Rs ha^-1 in both the locations. The economical analysis of the data revealed that the maximum income for Glycyrrhiza glabra (840,000 PKR ha^-1) and Trillium govanianum (481,325 PKR ha^-1) was recorded in NPK applied plots. Simlalry, minimum (220,000 PKR ha^-1) for Glycyrrhiza glabra and (104,854 PKR ha^-1) recorded for Trillium govanianum in their wild habitat in both the locations. Likewise, maximum morphological growth, yield and income of medicinal plants in Swat valley was higher than Chitral. Furthermore, the production of the medicinal plants in wild habitat is comparatively lower and thus improved production technology is suggested to get higher yield. The findigs revealed that Swat valley is most suitable and productive for the cultivation of medicinal plants as compared to the location Chitral. In addition, growing medicinal plants will be popularized among the farming communities of Pakistan and the gerplasm of these endangered species will be conserved for future use.

Key words: Medicinal plants, Endangered wild flora, domestication, cultivation, conservation.