Arbre à fricasser (Blighia sapida)

Conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources of priority food tree species in sub-Saharan AfricaConservation et utilisation durable des ressources génétiques des espèces ligneuses alimentaires prioritaires de l'Afrique subsaharienneLa publicación de esta hoja divulgativa ha sido financiada con la acción complementaria nº AC-2008-00050-00-00, titulada "Publicación de hojas divulgativas: Uso y gestión sostenible y conservación de especies forestales para la alimentación (ELA) en Africa Subsahariana" solicitada por el Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria de Aragón (CITA), investigador responsable: Eduardo Notivo

Néré (Parkia biglobosa)

Conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources of priority food tree species in sub-Saharan AfricaConservation et utilisation durable des ressources génétiques des espèces ligneuses alimentaires prioritaires de l'Afrique subsaharienneLa publicación de esta hoja divulgativa ha sido financiada con la acción complementaria nº AC-2008-00050-00-00, titulada "Publicación de hojas divulgativas: Uso y gestión sostenible y conservación de especies forestales para la alimentación (ELA) en Africa Subsahariana" solicitada por el Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria de Aragón (CITA), investigador responsable: Eduardo Notivo

Uses, traditional management, perception of variation and preferences in ackee (Blighia sapida K.D. Koenig) fruit traits in Benin: implications for domestication and conservation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Blighia sapida </it>is a woody perennial multipurpose fruit tree species native to the Guinean forests of West Africa. The fleshy arils of the ripened fruits are edible. Seeds and capsules of the fruits are used for soap-making and all parts of the tree have medicinal properties. Although so far overlooked by researchers in the region, the tree is highly valued by farmers and is an important component of traditional agroforestry systems in Benin. Fresh arils, dried arils and soap are traded in local and regional markets in Benin providing substantial revenues for farmers, especially women. Recently, ackee has emerged as high-priority species for domestication in Benin but information necessary to elaborate a clear domestication strategy is still very sketchy. This study addresses farmers' indigenous knowledge on uses, management and perception of variation of the species among different ethnic groups taking into account also gender differences.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>240 randomly selected persons (50% women) belonging to five different ethnic groups, 5 women active in the processing of ackee fruits and 6 traditional healers were surveyed with semi-structured interviews. Information collected refer mainly to the motivation of the respondents to conserve ackee trees in their land, the local uses, the perception of variation, the preference in fruits traits, the management practices to improve the production and regenerate ackee.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>People have different interests on using ackee, variable knowledge on uses and management practices, and have reported nine differentiation criteria mainly related to the fruits. Ackee phenotypes with preferred fruit traits are perceived by local people to be more abundant in managed <it>in-situ </it>and cultivated stands than in unmanaged wild stands, suggesting that traditional management has initiated a domestication process. As many as 22 diseases have been reported to be healed with ackee. In general, indigenous knowledge about ackee varies among ethnic and gender groups.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>With the variation observed among ethnic groups and gender groups for indigenous knowledge and preference in fruits traits, a multiple breeding sampling strategy is recommended during germplasm collection and multiplication. This approach will promote sustainable use and conservation of ackee genetic resources.</p

Priorities, challenges and opportunities for supplying tree genetic resources

Special issue on Landscape restoratio

Diversity for Restoration (D4R): guiding the selection of tree species and seed sources for climate-resilient restoration of tropical forest landscapes

1. At the start of the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030), the restoration of degraded ecosystems is more than ever a global priority. Tree planting will make up a large share of the ambitious restoration commitments made by countries around the world, but careful planning is needed to select species and seed sources that are suitably adapted to present and future restoration site conditions and that meet the restoration objectives. 2. Here we present a scalable and freely available online tool, Diversity for Restoration (D4R), to identify suitable tree species and seed sources for climate-resilient tropical forest landscape restoration. 3. The D4R tool integrates (a) species habitat suitability maps under current and future climatic conditions; (b) analysis of functional trait data, local ecological knowledge and other species characteristics to score how well species match the restoration site conditions and restoration objectives; (c) optimization of species combinations and abundances considering functional trait diversity or phylogenetic diversity, to foster complementarity between species and to ensure ecosystem multifunctionality and stability; and (d) development of seed zone maps to guide sourcing of planting material adapted to present and predicted future environmental conditions. We outline the various elements behind the tool and discuss how it fits within the broader restoration planning process, including a review of other existing tools. 4. Synthesis and applications. The Diversity for Restoration tool enables non-expert users to combine species traits, environmental data and climate change models to select tree species and seed sources that best match restoration site conditions and restoration objectives. Originally developed for the tropical dry forests of Colombia, the tool has now been expanded to the tropical dry forests of northwestern Peru–southern Ecuador and the countries of Burkina Faso and Cameroon, and further expansion is underway. Acknowledging that restoration has a wide range of meanings and goals, our tool is intended to support decision making of anyone interested in tree planting and seed sourcing in tropical forest landscapes, regardless of the purpose or restoration approachISSN:0021-8901ISSN:1365-266

Transferability of simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers developed in Litchi chinensis to Blighia sapida (Sapindaceae)

Ackee (Blighia sapida, Sapindaceae) is a multipurpose fruit tree species of high economic importance, native to the Guinean forests of West Africa, and belongs to the same family as that of lychee (Litchi chinensis). In this study, a set of 12 primer pairs for simple sequence repeats (SSRs) previously developed for lychee has been evaluated for polymorphism in 16 ackee trees from different populations. Seven primer pairs have been found to be transferable, and four have revealed polymorphisms. However, the average number of alleles per locus has dropped from 4.9 for lychee to 3.7 for ackee. Characterization of the four polymorphic markers in 279 individuals belonging to14 different ackee populations from Benin has revealed that the numbers of alleles per locus range from two to 14 with a mean number of 5.8. The observed and expected heterozygosities range between 0.020 to 0.359 and 0.020 to 0.396, respectively. © The Author(s) 2009

L’habitat du phacochère (Phacochoerus africanus) dans la forêt classée des Trois Rivières au Bénin

Introduction Le phacochère est un suidé sauvage à l’allure porcine, au faciès élargi par des callosités faciales et aux canines développées recourbées vers le haut (Burton et Burton, 1974 ; Caratini, 1968 ; Delvingt et al., 1989 ; Heymans, 1986). En fuite, il garde toujours sa queue dressée à la verticale. Il est très répandu en Afrique tropicale (photo 1). Le genre Phacochoerus comporte deux espèces en Afrique, Phacochoerus aethiopicus présente en Somalie et au Nord-Kenya et Phacochoerus afr..

Assessment of the domestication state of ackee (Blighia sapida K.D. Koenig) in Benin based on AFLP and microsatellite markers

Ackee (Blighia sapida) is a native multipurpose species important for the livelihoods of the rural populations in Benin. Trees are found in natural forests or are managed by farmers in different traditional agroforestry systems. Genetic variation at amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers, four nuclear microsatellites (nSSRs) and one chloroplast microsatellite (cpSSR) were investigated in 279 individuals from six wild and eight cultivated populations from Benin. The AFLP data revealed moderate levels of diversity of ackee in Benin (mean diversity values are proportion of polymorphic loci = 52.8% and Nei\u27s gene diversity = 0.157, for 375 AFLP fragments). The mean diversity values based on nSSR-markers are expected heterozygosity = 0.286, allelic richness = 2.77. Genetic variation of wild and cultivated populations did not differ markedly. AMOVA revealed that only 7.3 and 5.2% of the variation was partitioned among populations for nSSR- and AFLP-markers, respectively. A Mantel test based on these both marker-types revealed significant correlations between population pairwise geographic distance and genetic differentiation. Differentiation among cultivated populations was higher than among wild populations. The only polymorphic chloroplast microsatellite marker (ccmp7) showed three haplotypes. Cultivated populations from northeastern Benin were fixed on one haplotype which was not observed elsewhere indicating a different origin of these populations possibly from neighboring Nigeria. Farmer-led domestication had an impact on the spatial distribution of genetic variation but did not result in significant losses of diversity within populations. Measures to conserve genetic resources of ackee in each of the three main bioclimatic zones in Benin are proposed. © 2010 The Author(s)