A Biodiverse Rich Environment Does Not Contribute to a Better Diet: A Case Study from DR Congo

The potential of biodiversity to increase and sustain nutrition security is increasingly recognized by the international research community. To date however, dietary assessment studies that have assessed how biodiversity actually contributes to human diets are virtually absent. This study measured the contribution of wild edible plants (WEP) to the dietary quality in the high biodiverse context of DR Congo. The habitual dietary intake was estimated from 2 multiple-pass 24 h dietary recalls for 363 urban and 129 rural women. All WEP were collected during previous ethnobotanical investigations and identified and deposited in the National Botanical Garden of Belgium (BR). Results showed that in a high biodiverse region with precarious food security, WEP are insufficiently consumed to increase nutrition security or dietary adequacy. The highest contribution came from Dacryodes edulis in the village sample contributing 4.8% of total energy intake. Considering the nutrient composition of the many WEP available in the region and known by the indigenous populations, the potential to increase nutrition security is vast. Additional research regarding the dietary contribution of agricultural biodiversity and the nutrient composition of WEP would allow to integrate them into appropriate dietary guidelines for the region and pave the way to domesticate the most interesting WEP

Eating from the wild : Turumbu indigenous knowledge on noncultivated edible plants, Tshopo district, DRCongo

Documenting and revalorizing the rapidly disappearing indigenous knowledge on wild edible plants is essential to promote health and preserve diversity. Focus group discussions were organized within three Turumbu villages to document wild foods known, availability, preparation methods, and uses. Preferences in taste and commercial, nutritional, and cultural value were discussed during participatory ranking exercises. Results show 85 species within 70 genera and 44 families. Fruits of Anonidium manni and Landolphia owariensis, and (unfolded) leaves of Megaphrynium macrostachyum and Talinum triangulare are most appreciated. Inventories and preference rankings should be completed with nutritional analyses and market studies to set priorities for participatory domestication

Eating from the wild: Turumbu, Mbole and Bali traditional knowledge on non-cultivated edible plants, District Tshopo, DRCongo

Wild Edible Plant (WEP) knowledge is very important for the survival of many African communities and may constitute a genetic resource pool for the development of novel food products. Only very limited and general information on WEPs of the Tshopo District, DRCongo, is available in international literature. Ethnobotanical research was carried out in 3 ethnic groups, Turumbu, Mbole and Bali, in 3 different territories of the Tshopo District. In 3 villages per ethnic group, WEPs were inventoried and their properties discussed in focus groups. Via 'walks-in-the-woods' with key informants all WEPs were collected to constitute a reference herbarium. Preferences in taste, commercial, nutritional and cultural value, were discussed during participatory ranking exercises. A total of 166 WEPs (165 species and 2 varieties) in 71 families, together with their uses, preparation methods, availability and commercialization possibilities were documented. Comparisons between the 3 ethnic groups showed that the use and knowledge of WEPs is clearly culturally defined with high diversity between ethnic groups. Therefore, we should make a difference between species with regional importance and ethnospecific species when it comes to priority setting for further study and participatory domestication. Based upon the preference ranking exercises, Anonidium mannii, Landolphia owariensis and Megaphrynium macrostachyum are some of the species with regional importance. Participatory domestication aims at ameliorating nutrition security and diversifying and increasing local farmers' income whilst protecting the tropical rainforest from overexploitation

Caractérisation des populations de Mycosphaerella fijiensis et épidémiologie de la cercosporiose noire du bananier dans la région de Kisangani, RDC

The black leaf streak disease (MNR) , caused by the ascomycete fungus Mycosphaerella fijiensis , is one of the most devastating diseases banana ( Musa spp.) . It is a major constraint to production , particularly in countries of the humid tropics where banana is a staple food crop . The objective of this thesis was to characterize the M. fijiensis populations and to study the epidemiology of the MNR in region of Kisangani (DRC) to evaluate protection strategies integrated to develop in crops of bananas and plantains . The particularity of our approach lies in the combination of studies laboratory , according to classical and molecular approaches , and field experiments to better understand the characteristics epidemiology of the disease according to the seasons and cropping systems . Phenotypic characteristics of strains isolated from Kisangani on PDA medium were typical of the species M. fijiensis . This identification was confirmed by an approach based on the molecular sequence of a part of the ribosomal DNA ITS regions including ( internal transcribed spacers ) and 5.8 gene S. The existence of two types of cross -1 and Mat1 Ma1 -2 in the population has been disclosed but an imbalance between the two euhedral was noticed . The evaluation of the pathogenicity of strains showed that all strains tested pathogenicity vis-à -vis the Cavendish cultivar ' Grand Nain '. Our study also to highlight the differences in virulence between strains . Tests sensitivity to fungicides showed that strains of the DRC sensitive to triazoles and carbendazim , but some strains are resistant to azoxystrobin . Epidemiologically , our study showed that the two forms fungal (anamorph and teleomorph ) are present not only in rainy season but also subsèche season . They therefore play a important role in the epidemiology of the disease. The incidence of the disease was slightly lower seasonal subsèche in wet season. a comparison of disease progression in both seasons by culture system revealed that the development of the MNR was more slow secondary forest in fallow and garden box and the incidence and severity was greater on plantains on bananas. the better tolerance cultivar Yangambi Km5 was confirmed. These findings shed new light on the epidemiology of disease in the region of Kisangani and the characteristics of the population involved. They have been exploited to develop a list of recommendations to better manage the damage of M. fijiensis , a significant pathogen evolutionary potential . Google Traduction pour les entreprises :Google Kit du traducteurGadgetLa maladie des raies noires (MRN), causée par le champignon ascomycète Mycosphaerella fijiensis, est l'une des maladies les plus dévastatrices du bananier (Musa spp.). Elle constitue une contrainte majeure à sa production, particulièrement dans les pays des tropiques humides où le bananier est une culture alimentaire de base. L'objectif de cette thèse a été de caractériser les populations de M. fijiensis et d'étudier l'épidémiologie de la MRN dans la région de Kisangani (RDC) en vue d'évaluer les stratégies de protection intégrée à développer dans les cultures de bananiers et bananiers plantains. La particularité de notre approche réside en la combinaison d'études en laboratoire, selon des approches classique et moléculaire, et des expérimentations sur le terrain pour mieux connaître les caractéristiques épidémiologiques de la maladie selon les saisons et les systèmes de cultures. Les caractéristiques phénotypiques des souches isolées de Kisangani sur milieu PDA étaient typiques de l'espèce M. fijiensis. Cette identification a été confirmée selon une approche moléculaire sur base du séquençage d'une partie de l'ADN ribosomal incluant les régions ITS (internal transcribed spacers) et le gène 5,8S. L'existence des deux types de croisement Mat1-1 et Ma1-2 au sein de la population a été révélée mais un déséquilibre entre les deux idiomorphes a été remarqué. L'évaluation de la pathogénicité des souches a montré que toutes les souches testées ont un pouvoir pathogène vis-à-vis du cultivar Cavendish " Grande Naine ". Notre étude a aussi permis de ressortir des différences de virulence selon les souches. Les tests de sensibilité aux fongicides ont montré que les souches de la RDC sont sensibles aux triazoles et au carbendazime, mais certaines souches seraient résistantes à l'azoxystrobine. Sur le plan épidémiologique, notre étude a révélé que les deux formes fongiques (anamorphe et téléomorphe) sont présentes non seulement en saison des pluies mais également en saison subsèche. Elles jouent donc un rôle important dans l'épidémiologie de la maladie. L'incidence de la maladie 6 Résumé a été légèrement moindre en saison subsèche qu'en saison humide. Une comparaison de la progression de la maladie pendant les deux saisons selon le système de culture a révélé que le développement de la MRN a été plus lent en forêt secondaire qu'en jachère et en jardin de case et l'incidence et la sévérité ont été plus grandes sur les plantains que sur les bananes. La meilleure tolérance du cultivar Yangambi Km5 a été confirmée. Ces résultats ont apporté des éléments nouveaux sur l'épidémiologie de la maladie dans la région de Kisangani et sur les caractéristiques de la population en présence. Ils ont été exploités pour établir une liste de recommandations visant à mieux gérer les dégâts de M. fijiensis, un pathogène au potentiel évolutif important

Wild edible plant markets in Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo

Benefits from wild edible plants (WEP) are multiple for rural households as well as urban traders. To set species priorities for WEP market development and domestication, we performed an inventory of WEP species and traders in 5 markets and 1 road-side selling point in Kisangani. During four, one-month sessions between September 2007 and July 2008, all WEP traders present in the target markets were interviewed. We registered 119 unique sellers, selling 15 different WEPs. The September-October period and ‘Marché Central’ were the most important for WEP trade in Kisangani. Added values and net incomes generated through WEP sales were very divergent. Four types of traders could be distinguished. Gnetum africanum trade involves the more dynamic traders. Cola acuminata, Garcinia kola and Piper guineense spices have local and international market potential. Within the wild fruits category we can propose Landolphia owariensis and Tetracarpidium conophorum as priority species for local market development

Use and socio-economic importance of wild edible plants in tropical rainforest around Kisangani, District Tshopo, DR Congo

The project ‘Wild Edible Plants’ (WEP) inventories all wild edible plants in the district Tshopo and investigates their nutritional, socio-economic and cultural importance. The final objective is to compose a hierarchical list of the species and set priorities for further research and domestication of WEPs. Some experiences of a preliminary field research period from July to September 2006 are combined with a first impression of the results (in expectation of full taxonomic identification of the ethnospecies). Participatory research was carried out in Yalungu (tribe: Turumbu), Yaleko Village (tribe: Mbole) and Bafwabula (tribe: Bali). Respectively 43, 61 and 58 WEPs were known at village level. On average 21, 44 and 30 WEPs were used at household level. Some WEPs were known and used in all villages, whereas others only in 1 or 2 villages. On average, 4%, 20% and 2% respectively of the monetary income of the households originated from the sale of WEPs

Usual daily dietary intakes of non pregnant/non lactating women in Kisangani (city), Turumbu women in Kisangani (city) and Turumbu women in Yaoseko (village)¹.

1<p>All values are usual intake means ± standard deviation, with adjustment for <i>recall day</i> and <i>interviewer</i>;</p>2<p>% of women under RDA, recommended daily allowances for adults <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0030533#pone.0030533-FAO2" target="_blank">[24]</a>;</p>3<p>ANOVA comparison of means. If p<0.05, a Tukey <i>post-hoc</i> test was performed. Different letters indicate statistically different means at 0.05 level;</p>4<p><i>P</i> adjusted for total energy intake in the model as described by <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0030533#pone.0030533-Willet1" target="_blank">[55]</a>.</p

Proportion of women that consumed food groups and food items¹.

1<p>Only food items consumed by at least 5% of a group are reported, except for WEP. All WEP consumed in this study are shown; they are preceded by an asterisk. For WEP herbarium references we refer to Termote et al. (2010, 2011).</p>2<p>The Turumbu living in the city were compared with the overall city sample and the Turumbu from the village were compared with the Turumbu from the city. χ²-tests were performed for all food groups and wild food items which were consumed by at least 10 persons over the two samples compared.</p>3<p>Safou (<i>Dacryodes edulis</i>) occurs native in Central Africa. This species is cultivated on a small scale around the homesteads, but also harvested from the wild. It can be considered as semi-wild.</p

Usual daily dietary intakes of non pregnant/non lactating WEP-consumers and non-consumers (safou included)¹.

1<p>All values are usual intake means ± standard deviation, with adjustment for <i>recall day</i> and <i>interviewer</i>;</p>2<p>people who consumed more than 10 g of WEP in at least one of both recalls (safou included);</p>3<p>Model based difference of means (WEP consumer – non WEP consumer), adjusted for the fixed effect <i>sample</i>;</p>4<p>Model-based adjusted for the fixed effect <i>sample</i>;</p>5<p>Adjusted for total energy intake in the model as described by <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0030533#pone.0030533-Willet1" target="_blank">[55]</a>.</p