Safou (Dacryodes edulis)

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

Predictors of organoleptic quality of boiled and dried pulp of safou (dacryodes edulis) and the shelf life of its fresh fruits

Introduction. The high intra-specific variation in safou traits and the perishable nature of the fruit hampers commercialization. Knowledge of the parameters that determine the acceptability of safou products and the shelf life of fresh fruits is critical for marketing and useful as a first step toward cultivar development. Materials and methods. Safou fruits of different pulp colors, skin colors and stages of ripening were collected from clones. Physicochemical and organoleptic analyses were performed on fresh and processed safou pulp, respectively, to elucidate parameters that could be used to determine the acceptability of boiled and dried safou pulp, and the shelf life of fresh fruits. Results and discussions. Our study demonstrated that the pH and color of raw pulp could be used to determine the acceptability of boiled and dried safou. Consumers preferred products which were not acidic (sour), with a nice aroma. There was a negative correlation between the pH of raw pulp and the acceptability of boiled and dried safou pulp. Likewise, there was a positive correlation between the color of raw pulp and the acceptability of boiled and dried safou pulp. These parameters were used to predict the taste of finished products. Polygalacturonase activity was higher in fully ripe and unripe fruits than in semi-ripe fruits. Polygalacturonase activity had a strong positive correlation with percentage loss of fully ripe fruit during storage and, as such, can also be used to predict the postharvest loss of safou. Conclusion. The pH and color of raw (uncooked) pulp of safou can be used to determine the taste and acceptability of boiled and dried pulp. Likewise, the activity of polygalacturonase in raw pulp can be used to predict its postharvest shelf life. (Résumé d'auteur

Plant genetic resources for agriculture, plant breeding, and biotechnology: Experiences from Cameroon, Kenya, the Philippines, and Venezuela

"Local farming communities throughout the world face binding productivity constraints, diverse nutritional needs, environmental concerns, and significant economic and financial pressures. Developing countries address these challenges in different ways, including public and private sector investments in plant breeding and other modern tools for genetic crop improvement. In order to measure the impact of any technology and prioritize investments, we must assess the relevant resources, human capacity, clusters, networks and linkages, as well as the institutions performing technological research and development, and the rate of farmer adoption. However, such measures have not been recently assessed, in part due to the lack of complete standardized information on public plant breeding and biotechnology research in developing countries. To tackle this void, the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in consultation with the International Food Policy Institute (IFPRI) and other organizations, designed a plant breeding and biotechnology capacity survey for implementation by FAO consultants in 100 developing countries. IFPRI, in collaboration with FAO and national experts contracted by FAO to complete in-country surveys, identified and analyzed plant breeding and biotechnology programs in four developing countries: Cameroon, Kenya, the Philippines, and Venezuela. Here, we use an innovation systems framework to examine the investments in human and financial resources and the distribution of resources among the different programs, as well as the capacity and policy development for agricultural research in the four selected countries. Based on our findings, we present recommendations to help sustain and increase the efficiency of publicly- and privately-funded plant breeding programs, while maximizing the use of genetic resources and developing opportunities for GM crop production. Policy makers, private sector breeders, and other stakeholders can use this information to prioritize investments, consider product advancement, and assess the relative magnitude of the potential risks and benefits of their investments." from Author's Abstractplant breeding, biotechnology, public research, Funding, Innovation systems, Capacity building, Biosafety,

Uses, management, and economic potential of Dacryodes edulis (Burseraceae) in the Humid Lowlands of Cameroon

Dacryodes edulis is one of the most preferred tree species by farmers in the humid lowlands of Cameroon. The fruit of the species figures prominently in cross-boundary trade between Cameroon, Nigeria and Gabon. Although there exist empirical data on the volume of trade of the fruit at this level, no data are available at the farm level. A field survey was undertaken to identify uses, management, and farmers' improvement objectives and to quantify, at the farm-level, the economic potential of the species. The results of the survey indicate thatD. edulis is widely planted and found mainly in tree crop fields and in home gardens. The fruit is highly consumed and traded. The farm-level value of fruit production reaches $US161 a year per grower or collector. The dead branches of the species are used as firewood and its bark is used as medicine. Desired improvement objectives include increased fruit size, good tasting fruit, high yield and reduced time to bearin

Evaluation de la substitution du tourteau de Glycine max (L.) Merr. (Soja) par le tourteau de Tetracarpidium conophorum (Müll. Arg.) Hutch. & Dalz sur les performances des poules pondeuses

Tetracarpidium conophorum est une liane sauvage qui produit l’huile à des fins cosmétiques. Malheureusement, son tourteau bien que riche en protéines, n’a pas encore été testé dans l’alimentation animale, malgré les couts élevés, l’importation et l’irrégularité du tourteau de soja (la source de protéines la plus utilisée). L’objectif de ce travail était d’évaluer l’effet d’une substitution du tourteau de soja par le tourteau de T. conophorum sur les performances zootechniques et économiques des poules pondeuses. Un échantillon de 63 pondeuses de la souche ISA Brown, âgées de 35 semaines a été réparti à poids sensiblement égal en trois lots de 21 sujets chacun (1480 g pour le lot témoin ; 1500 g pour le lot traité 1 et 1490 g pour le lot traité 2). Chaque lot était subdivisé en trois répétitions de sept poules chacune ; le lot témoin (T0) a reçu un aliment ne contenant pas du T conophorum ; le lot traité 1 (T6) un aliment contenant équitablement 6% (tourteau de T. conophorum et tourteau de soja), tandis que le lot 2 (T12) a reçu un aliment contenant 12% du tourteau T. conophorum et sans le tourteau de Glycine max. Les résultats ont montré que la substitution a amélioré significativement le nombre d’œufs pondus par semaine par poule (5,46 contre 5,64 et 6,14), la masse d’œufs par poule par semaine (314 g contre 319 g et 350 g), le taux de ponte (80,10% contre 90, 22% et 82,65%), l’indice de consommation (2,80 contre 2,31et 2,49), le prix de revient d’un kg d’aliment (332 contre 317 et 295 FCFA), ainsi que le coût de production de l’œuf (89,50 contre 77,49 et 77, 68 FCFA). Cette étude suggère que le tourteau de T. conophorumà 12% peut remplacer totalement le tourteau soja sans affecter les performances des poules pondeuses et ouvre des perspectives intéressantes en aviculture fermière en zone tropicale. English title: Evaluation of the substitution of the Glycine max (L.) Merr. (Soya) bean oil cake by oil cake of Tetracarpidium conophorum (Müll. Arg.) Hutch. & Dalz on the performances of laying hens Tetracarpidium conophorum, a wild liana that fruits produces a cosmetic oil, however, its oil cake is not include in the animal feedings, despite, the high cost of soya oil cake. Therefore, the objective of this work was to evaluate the substitution effect of the soya bean oil cake by oil cake of T. conophorum on laying hens. A sample of 63 laying aged 35 week old had been separated in to three groups. Each group was equally randomized and separated in three replicates of 7 laying hens each. Three diets were used: T0 (T. conophorum 0%; with 12% oilcake soya)? T6 (6% T. conophorum and 6% of oil cake soya) and finally T12 (12% of the oil cake T. conophorum and 0% of the soya bean oil cake). Data showed that substitution by 6 or 12% significantly improved the number of eggs laid per week by hen on average (5.46 versus 5.64 and 6.14), the egg mass per hen (314 g versus 319 g and 350 g), the rate of laying (80.10% versus 90.22% and 82.65%), the index of consumption (2.80 versus 2.49 and 2.31), the cost of one kg of feed (332 versus 317 and 295) FCFA, as well as the production costs of the egg (89.50 versus 77.49 and 77.68) FCFA respectively T0 versusT1 and T2. The study indicated that T. conophorum oil cake at 12% may completely replace the oil cake soya without affecting the performances of layers. The incorporation of oil cake T. conophorum in laying hens may increase production and profitability in small scale poultry farming in tropical areas