Underutilized and underexploited horticultural crops play an essential role in the development of health food green parks, the neutraceutical industry, home decorations, renewable sources of green energy, and as food reserves in times of calamities. Various leaf vegetables, such as agathi, chekkurmanis, waterleaf, drumstick leaf, basella, and colacasia leaf, are rich in fiber, minerals, and beta carotenes. Cucurbits, including ash gourd, pointed gourd, ivy gourd, kekrol, snap melons, and chow-chow, are rich in iron and amino acids. Fruits like karonda, aonla, and cherries are highly nutritious and suitable for growing in less moisture soils. Noni is a fruit that is beneficial for health, and noni juice is recommended for the prevention of diabetes, obesity, and sleeplessness. Among spices, long pepper, mint, celery, fenugreek, and garcenia possess medicinal properties. There are numerous underexploited medicinal plants, such as tulsi and peppermint, with considerable economic value. In particular, underutilized crops in Tripura, Orissa, and Kerala are mentioned. It is necessary to broaden our food basket with lesser-known crops. With the shift towards the wellness industry, prevention is seen as a better approach than cure. This volume comprehensively covers the topic of underutilized and underexploited horticultural crops, with each chapter written by a working scientist in the specific crop area.
