Need to conserve Allium roylei Stearn: a potential gene reservoir

Allium roylei Stearn of family Alliaceae is a potential gene reservoir harbouring genes imparting resistance against downy mildew and leaf blight. Except for one, all other populations of this species worked out, till date, are complex translocation heterozygotes. This bottleneck of sterility coupled with extrinsic pressures is threatening the very survival of this important species. This necessitates immediate enforcement of various conservation strategies to protect and proliferate this taxon. The present communication is a step towards these efforts.