Diversity of wild edible plants and fungi consumed by semi-nomadic Gaddi and Sippi tribes in Doda district of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir

Background: Consumption of Wild edible plants (WEPs) is a cultural heritage tribal and other rural communities. WEPs have vital role to play not only in ensuring nutritional security combating malnutrition but also meeting medicinal requirements, income generation for these communities, crop improvement through plant breeding programmes. The present study was conducted with the objective documenting traditional knowledge practices utilizing by Gaddi Sippi tribes Doda district Union Territory Jammu Kashmir (JKUT). Methods: An ethnobotanical survey five villages (JKUT) inhabited tribes. random sampling method used selection informants. data collected interviews focused group discussion informants as per semi-structured schedules. uses were recorded use-reports, culture importance value (CI) factor informant consensus (Fic) calculated from values. Results: A total 77 species spread across 58 genera 39 families reported 203 (148 males 55 females). Angiosperms represented 63 major source forest foods followed 9 fungal species. highest number vegetables (34 species), fruits nutraceuticals (27 each). most important on basis CI Geopora arenicola (Lev.) Kers. (CI = 0.66), sumneriana (Cooke) M. Torre. (0.60), Diplazium esculentum (Retz.) Sw. (0.56), frondosum C. Chr. (0.54), Mentha arvensis Presl. (0.52). Values F­ic ranged between 0.91 (nutraceuticals) 0.99 (cooked WEPs). significantly increased age decreased education level Conclusions: are good WEPs, more importantly they exchange this information among themselves. As far future prospects concerned, nutraceutical properties like Anethum sowa, Arisaema propinquum, frondosum, Dipsacus inermis, Elaeagnus umbellate, Elwendia persica, sumneriana, Impatiens glandulifera, Morchella crassipes, conica, Prinsepia utilis, Sageretia thea, Solanum villosum, Thymus mongolicus, Ziziphus oxyphylla may be studied make them popular amongst masses. Keywords: Ethnobotany; Fungi; tribes; wild plants.