Enset‐based agricultural systems in Ethiopia: A systematic review of production trends, agronomy, processing and the wider food security applications of a neglected banana relative

Enset (Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman) is the major starch staple of the Ethiopian Highlands, where its unique attributes enhance the food security of approximately 20 million people and have earned it the title “The Tree Against Hunger”. Yet enset‐based agriculture is virtually unknown outside of its narrow zone of cultivation, despite growing wild across much of East and Southern Africa. Here, we review historical production data to show that the area of land under enset production in Ethiopia has reportedly increased 46% in two decades, whilst yield increased 12‐fold over the same period, making enset the second most produced crop species in Ethiopia—though we critically evaluate potential issues with these data. Furthermore, we address a major challenge in the development and wider cultivation of enset, by reviewing and synthesizing the complex and fragmented agronomic and ethnobotanic knowledge associated with this species; including farming systems, processing methods, products, medicinal uses and cultural importance. Finally, we provide a framework to improve the quality, consistency and comparability of data collected across culturally diverse enset‐based agricultural systems to enhanced sustainable use of this neglected starch staple. In conclusion, we discuss the challenges and opportunities for enset cultivation beyond its restricted distribution, and the regional food security potential it could afford smallholders elsewhere in Southern and East Africa

NIRS (Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy) potential for breeding aroids

Aroids corms and cormels are chemically very variable and there is significant variation of their major constituents (starch, sugars, cellulose, proteins, minerals) between genotypes. A fairly common difficulty for breeding programmes is to assess precisely these compounds as chemical analyses are too expensive for routine screening. These programmes are often based on mass recurrent selection and great numbers of hybrids have to be screened to achieve some progress. However, the wrong selection of a parent can cause a serious constraint to the development of new varieties for processing purposes. Likewise, if the table quality is not acceptable for consumers, years of intense and expensive breeding efforts can lead to complete failure. Low-cost methods for rapid evaluation of numerous hybrids are urgently needed. The present paper, assess the potential of NIRS (Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy) as an alternative method for predicting these major constituents and evaluating corms and cormels quality. Models have been developed using data from 642 root crops accessions and their predictive potential has been tested on 100 varieties and hybrid lines of taro, Colocasia esculenta. The NIRS calibration results for major constituents, and their practical applications for aroids breeding and genetic improvement of quality traits, are discussed. (Résumé d'auteur

PEMBUATAN BREM PADAT DENGAN SUBSTITUSI FILTRAT TAPE UMBI TALAS

Fermented tapioca thickly constitutes one of yielding traditional food thickly and drying up Fermented tapioca liquid, get solid matters form, whitish chromatic until nutbrown, get nice hope and few acid, contain a lot of sugar, starch that most water-soluble, lactic acid and constitutes rich food will calorie and edge out digested by body. Raw product that is utilized to make Fermented tapioca solid which is white glutinous rice, increased glutinous rice price and a lot of carbohydrate source that was utilized, therefore gets to be utilized by taro corm to replace a portion glutinous rice and diversified product from taro corm. Faced problem in Fermented tapioca makings thickly with taro corm material is yielding Fermented tapioca that acquired its taste nice reducing and less solid. It is caused because content starch inferior taro corm than glutinous rice; therefore need insofar been known which taro corm substitution to glutinous rice can be done. This research intent to know filtrat's substitution influence taro corm tape to filtrat glutinous rice so fermented tapioca quality resultant thickly which liked by consumer. This research utilize Fledged Random Design (RAL) with single factor pattern with 3 time replicate which is with filtrat's substitution conduct taro corm tape to filtrat glutinous rice as big as 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%. Acquired best result of filtrat's substitution conduct taro corm tape to filtrat glutinous rice tape which is as big as 15% one results fermented tapioca solids by tih'ates waters 14,7896%, rendemen 43,43%, ash rate 1,7596%, full scale acid 1,8194%, starch rate 8,6299%, reductions sugared rate 68,2451%, texture 0,0395 mm / g. second, and organoleptik quality that have better point from standard which is taste 2,88; color 2,76; aroma 2,65, and texture 2,12 Key word: Fermented tapioca, taro cor

Low temperature maximizes growth of Crocus vernus (L.) Hill via changes in carbon partitioning and corm development

In Crocus vernus, a spring bulbous species, prolonged growth at low temperatures results in the development of larger perennial organs and delayed foliar senescence. Because corm growth is known to stop before the first visual sign of leaf senescence, it is clear that factors other than leaf duration alone determine final corm size. The aim of this study was to determine whether reduced growth at higher temperatures was due to decreased carbon import to the corm or to changes in the partitioning of this carbon once it had reached the corm. Plants were grown under two temperature regimes and the amount of carbon fixed, transported, and converted into a storable form in the corm, as well as the partitioning into soluble carbohydrates, starch, and the cell wall, were monitored during the growth cycle. The reduced growth at higher temperature could not be explained by a restriction in carbon supply or by a reduced ability to convert the carbon into starch. However, under the higher temperature regime, the plant allocated more carbon to cell wall material, and the amount of glucose within the corm declined earlier in the season. Hexose to sucrose ratios might control the duration of corm growth in C. vernus by influencing the timing of the cell division, elongation, and maturation phases. It is suggested that it is this shift in carbon partitioning, not limited carbon supply or leaf duration, which is responsible for the smaller final biomass of the corm at higher temperatures

Morphological Character and Corm Quality of Somatic Hybrid of Taro (Colocasia esculenta Schott)

　Morphological character and quality of corm in somatic hybrid No.12 obtained by protoplast fusion between taro (Colocasia esulenta Schott) cvs. ‘Yatsugahira’and ‘Malaysisa No.4’were investigated. The number of shoot and leaf was smaller than those of ‘Yatsugashira’and was larger than ‘Malaysia No.4’. The length of leaf blade and petiole were shoeter than the two parents. The number of corm was smaller than the two parents. Generally, the shape of top was comoact as compared the two parents. The total weight of corms was about a half of that of ‘Yatsugashira’, and a thirs of that of ‘Malaysia No.4’. The weight of mother corm of somatic hybrid No.12 was 400-500g. The corm morphology of somatic hybrid No.12 was almost intermediate between the two parents. The upper surface of mother corm of somatic hybrid No.12 was smooth; it was much different from that of mother corm of ‘Yatsugashira’. Starch content of borm was similae to ‘Yatsugashira’and smaller than ‘Malaysia No.4’. Sugar and amino acid contents of somatic hybrid No.12 were higher than those of the two parents. Calcium oxalate content was to the parents

Understanding the Saffron Corm Development-Insights into Histological and Metabolic Aspects

[EN] The reproduction of Crocus sativus L., a sterile triploid plant, is carried out exclusively through corms, whose size determines the saffron yield. The development of daughter corms (DC) is supported by photoassimilates supplied by the leaves as well as by the mother corms (MC). While biomass partitioning during DC development is well studied, growth dynamics in terms of cell number and size, the involved meristems, as well as carbohydrate partition and allocation, are not yet fully understood. We conducted a comprehensive study into saffron corm growth dynamics at the macroscopic and microscopic levels. Variations in carbohydrate content and enzymatic activities related to sucrose metabolism in sources and sinks were measured. Two key meristems were identified. One is involved in vascular connections between DC and MC. The other is a thickening meristem responsible for DC enlargement. This research explains how the previously described phases of corm growth correlate with variations in cell division, enlargement dynamics, and carbohydrate partitioning among organs. Results also elucidated that the end of DC growth relates to a significant drop in MC root biomass, limiting the water supply for the DC growth, and establishing the onset of leaf wilting. The lack of starch accumulation in aged leaf cells is noteworthy, as is the accumulation of lipids. We hypothesize a signaling role of sugars in DC growth initiation, stop, and leaf aging. Finally, we established a predominant role of sucrose synthase as a sucrolytic enzyme in the maintenance of the high flux of carbon for starch synthesis in DC. Together, the obtained results pave the way for the definition of strategies leading to better control of saffron corm development.The activities of this study have been supported by a project funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovacion y Universidades de Espana [AGL2016-77078-R].Pallotti Sagripanti, CG.; Renau-Morata, B.; Cardone, L.; Nebauer, SG.; Albiñana Palacios, M.; Rivas-Sendra, A.; Seguí-Simarro, JM.... (2024). Understanding the Saffron Corm Development-Insights into Histological and Metabolic Aspects. Plants. 13(8). https://doi.org/10.3390/plants1308112513

Chemistry of Tropical Root Crops: Significance for Nutrition and Agriculture in the Pacific

Crop Production/Industries,

Growth and flowering of the Gladiolus Influence of certain morphological and physiological characteristics of the corms

Experiments were conducted for two seasons to determine the growth and flowering abilities of high and low crowned gladiolus corms of nine varieties distributed among the primulinus, grandiflorus and primulinus grandiflorus types. Chemical analyses were run on high and low crowned mother corms of the variety Excellence grown in the field and in the darkness, to determine whether any differences in sugars, polysaccharides and nitrogen might be associated with any differences in growth and flowering. Samples were taken at several stages of growth and during two seasons

Study of drought tolerance responses in root and tuber crops using NIRS technology and biochemical markers model assessment

Batata-doce (Ipomoea batatas L.) e inhame (Colocasia esculenta L.) representam a segunda fonte alimentar mais importante do mundo. Atualmente, as alterações climáticas ameaçam a produtividade agrícola, principalmente devido à escassez de água, cujo efeito não é ainda suficientemente compreendido. As principais lacunas são a perceção do efeito da seca, através da eficiência no uso da água (WUE), bases bioquímicas e fisiológicas de produtividade e qualidade. Aqui, apresentamos os modelos das respostas de sete acessos de inhame e oito de batata-doce às condições de insuficiência hídrica, seguindo-se a avaliação da tolerância à seca, através da criação de modelos de previsão rápidos e precisos baseados na espectroscopia próxima do infravermelho (NIRS). Os resultados forneceram informações relevantes sobre o desenvolvimento destas culturas em ambiente de stress. A escassez de água conduziu a mecanismos de redução da perda de água, com diminuição da biomassa total (TPB) em todos os acessos. Respostas distintas na flexibilidade fenotípica foram explicadas pela razão parte tuberosa/parte vegetativa e variação do índice de stress no crescimento dos órgãos. Acessos com resposta mais favorável à seca melhoraram a WUE, com menor redução de TPB. Os parâmetros de composição isotópica de carbono (δ13C) e azoto (δ15N) atuaram como integradores fisiológicos de resposta ao stress ambiental. Maior teor de δ13C representou maior fixação de carbono, e maior variação de δ15N indicou realocação generalizada de azoto entre os órgãos sob stress. O teor de oxalatos relacionou-se significativamente com o amido, índice de clorofila e proteína. O desenvolvimento da técnica NIRS demonstrou ser uma excelente ferramenta para detetar as respostas destas culturas à seca, através de parâmetros de qualidade e fisiológicos, que poderá ser aplicada na investigação, pelos agricultores e empresas. Esta informação também auxiliará na seleção de características a serem utilizadas nos programas de melhoramento de inhame e batata-doce, para adaptação às mudanças climáticas.Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) and taro (Colocasia esculenta L.) represent the world’s second most important food crop, as crucial carbohydrate source and good substitute for local imported cereals. Its productivity is currently threatened by climatic changes, mainly through the scarce of water availability, and affects tuber crops in a way that’s insufficiently understood. Major gaps are understanding how drought affects the sweet potato and taro whole-plants, throughout their water use efficiency (WUE), biochemical and physiological basis of productivity and quality. Here, we show seven taro and eight sweet potato accessions responses to water insufficiency conditions, following with the accurate models’ creation for drought tolerance assessment, through the rapid and precise prediction models based on Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS). Therefore, the results have provided new insights and relevant information about the taro and sweet potato whole-plant development under scarcity environment. The water shortage led to a drought avoidance response, with total plant biomass (TPB) loss in all accessions. Distinct phenotypic flexibility was also explained by the root-to-shoot ratio and stress index variation of the organs’ growth. Accessions with more favorable response to drought had improved WUE, with higher TPB. The carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotopic composition traits acted as physiological integrators of response to environmental stress. The ones with heaviest δ13C-values shown a greater carbon fixation, and δ15N variation indicating a generalized nitrogen reallocation between whole-plant organs under drought. The oxalate content was significantly related to starch content, chlorophyll content index, and protein. NIRS demonstrated to be an excellent tool to detect the crops drought responses, through physiological and quality traits, that could be applied for research purposes, or by farmers and agriculture companies. The information generated could also aid the selection of traits to be used in taro and sweet potato breeding programs, to adapt them to climate change.ARDITI – Agência Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação Tecnologia e Inovação under the project M1420-09-5369-FSE-000001 - Doctoral Scholarship