The importance of international exchanges of plant genetic resources for national crop improvement in Burkina Faso

One of the main considerations underlying the establishment of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and its Multilateral System of Access and Benefit Sharing is the recognition of countries’ high interdependence on the genetic resources of the crops and forages which they depend upon for their food security. A continued appreciation of how countries have benefited from facilitated exchange of germplasm in the past and are likely to continue doing so in the future is needed, in order to move forward the implementation of the Multilateral System and creating a truly global pool of genetic resources for countries’ agricultural development and adaptation to climate change. Using Burkina Faso as a case and millet, rice and maize as key crops, the paper presents a picture of the dynamics of their genetic resources, both inside and outside of the country, over past years and into the future. It illustrates the extent to which Burkina Faso is dependent upon germplasm from other countries for its food security, and how, in a complementary manner, other countries rely upon germplasm from Burkina Faso. It is hoped that the information presented here may encourage and facilitate the implementation of the International Treaty and its Multilateral System in the country

L’importance des échanges internationaux des ressources phytogénétiques pour l’amélioration des cultures au Burkina Faso

L'interdépendance des pays sur les ressources génétiques des cultures et fourrages dont ils ont bessoin pour leur sécurité alimentaire est une des raisons de la mise en place du Traité International sur les Ressources Phytogénétiques pour l'Alimentation et l'Agriculture et de son système multilatéral d'accès et de partage des avantages. Une connaissance plus profonde de la façon dont les pays ont bénéficié de l'échange de matériel génétique dans le passé et continueront à bénéficier à l'avenir est nécessaire pour faire avancer la mise en oeuvre du Système multilatéral et la création d'une réserve mondiale des ressources phytogénétiques pour le développement agricole des pays et leur adaptation au changement climatique. En utilisant Burkina Faso comme un exemple et le millet, le riz et le maïs comme cultures principales, cet étude présente les mouvements de matériel génétique tant à l'intérieur et à l'extérieur du pays, au cours des dernières années et dans l'avenir. Il illustre le degré de dépendance du Burkina Faso du matériel génétique provenant d'autres pays pour sa sécurité alimentaire et aussi l’utilisation par des autres pays du matériel génétique burkinabé. L'information qu’on présente peut encourager et faciliter la mise en oeuvre du Traité international et de son Système multilatéral dans le pays

Agromorphological Characterization of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. Collection from Burkina Faso

Hibiscus sabdariffa L. or roselle is an important vegetable crop in several African countries. It is rich in vitamins and minerals and is widely used in the diet of local populations in Africa, especially in Burkina Faso. However, up to now, there is no in-depth study describing roselle genetic diversity that has been carried out to assess ecotypes cultivated in Burkina Faso. Thus, this study aims to contribute to providing more insights into Hibiscus sabdariffa genetic variability in Burkina Faso through an agromorphological characterization. For this purpose, a trial was carried out using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. 48 accessions collected from farmers were assessed. Agromorphological data collection involved 12 qualitative and 18 quantitative traits. The qualitative traits analysis showed high variability in leaf, stem, and flower color and shape. Analysis of variance (ANOVA), hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), and principal component analysis (PCA) were performed using quantitative data. The results indicated significant differences among all genotypes for all the traits measured. The first three axes of the PCA explain 69.62% of the genetic variability. Furthermore, the results showed a high agromophological variability which is structured in three (03) groups. This variability will contribute to the enhancement and genetic improvement of Hibiscus sabdariffa

Effets du travail du sol sur le comportement chimique et biologique du sol et les conséquences sur le rendement d’un blé tendre (Triticum aestivum L.) dans la région « non chernozem » de la fédération de Russie.

Objectif : L’objectif de cette étude est de comparer les effets de six techniques culturales de mise en place du blé tendre sur certaines propriétés chimiques et biologiques du sol et les conséquences sur le rendement grain et ses composantes dans la région «non chernozem» en 7ème années de rotation.Méthodologie et résultats : Le dispositif expérimental utilisé est un Split plot à quatre répétitions comprenant chacune un témoin (labour conventionnel sur 20 cm) et cinq traitements labours. Il s’agit : du labour traditionnel sur 30 cm, du travail minimum sur 8 cm, l’alternance du labour conventionnel avec travail minimum, du labour conventionnel exécuté après un labour profond à la charrue à socs et enfin du labour conventionnel pratiqué après un labour profond l’aide au chisel anglais type Paraplay sur 30 cm. Les résultats ont montré : pour le labour traditionnel continu (LT-27-30) et périodique (LC-20 après LT-27-30) des teneurs élevées en nitrate respectif de 28,5 et 27,7 mg/kg sur la couche 0-30 cm. Pour les techniques minimales de travail (LM-8) et (LM-8/LC-20), ces quantités ont été supérieures dans les 10 premiers centimètres du sol respectif de 16,7 et 26,1 mg/kg et subissent une chute importante dans les horizons sous-jacents. Les quantités de phosphore et de potassium ont évolué sur la couche 0-20 cm de 21 à 27 mg/100 g et de 14 à 15 mg/100 g respectivement. Le labour minimum sur cette couche a enregistré des concentrations beaucoup plus faible, soit 9,5 mg/100 g pour le phosphore et 10 mg/100 g pour potassium.Conclusion et application des résultats : Une étude économique est nécessaire pour se prononcer sur la technique à pratiquer. Cependant dans les conditions de nos essais, nous préconisons une alternance de la méthode traditionnelle avec labour profond avec le labour superficiel de 8 cm. Le nombre d’années accordé à chaque type de labour dans la rotation doit être sensiblement égal pour l’obtention de meilleurs résultats.Mots clés : Labour, blé tendre, paramètres chimiques, activité biologique, composantes, rendemen

Aperçu de la culture du voandzou (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdcourt) au Burkina Faso: enjeux et perspectives d’amélioration de sa productivité

Le voandzou constitue avec le niébé, les deux principales légumineuses alimentaires pour de nombreuses populations rurales et la frange pauvre des citadins au Burkina Faso. Cependant, des informations émanant de l’environnement de production de cette culture selon la perception des producteurs sont quasi inexistantes. Cette étude vise à s’informer au mieux des réalités sociales, environnementales et techniques qui entourent la production de cette culture. Les données collectées auprès des producteurs à l’aide des fiches d’enquêtes ont été soumises à une analyse fréquentielle. La culture du voandzou est pratiquée majoritairement par les femmes sur des petites superficies sans apport de fertilisants. Les maladies foliaires et les insectes de stock constituent les principales contraintes biotiques. Les producteurs conservent la semence dans des bidons fermés hermétiquement. Le cycle moyen des variétés cultivées est de 90 jours. La variété préférée est celle de couleur crème à hile blanc pour ses qualités organoleptiques, agronomiques et esthétiques. Le manque de sensibilisation sur la qualité nutritionnelle de la culture, l’insuffisance d’activités de recherche sur les techniques innovantes pour améliorer son système de production et les contraintes biotiques et abiotiques expliquent en grande partie la faible productivité et production de cette culture.© 2016 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Mots clés: Culture, Voandzou, Burkina Faso, productivitéEnglish Title:  Overview of the culture of bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdcourt) in Burkina Faso : Issues and prospects for improving its productivityEnglish AbstractBambara groundnut is, with cowpea, the two main food legumes for many rural and poor urban fringes in Burkina Faso. However, information from the production environment of this culture as perceived by  producers is almost nonexistent. This study aims at collecting information about social, environmental and technical realities surrounding the production of this crop. The data collected from producers using survey forms were subjected to a frequency analysis. Bambara groundnut cultivation is mainly practiced by women on small areas without adding fertilizers. Foliar diseases and insects in stock are major biotic constraints. Producers retain the seed in cans tightly closed. The average cycle of cultivated varieties is 90 days. The favorite variety is the cream-colored white hilum for its organoleptic, agronomic and aesthetic qualities. Lack of awareness on the nutritional quality of culture, the lack of research on innovative techniques to improve its production system and the biotic and abiotic constraints largely explain the low productivity and production of this crop.© 2016 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Keywords: Culture, Bambara groundnut, Burkina Faso, productivit

Planting Date and Genotype Effect On Morpho-agronomic Traits of Burkina Faso Sweet Grain Sorghum

Sweet grain sorghum is an under-exploited crop mainly grown around dwelling houses. Its production faces harsh environmental conditions. This study aims to assess sowing date effect on morpho-agronomical traits of sweet grain sorghum. Thus, 30 genotypes of sweet grain sorghum were assessed under 2 planting dates (June 26 and July 20) 24 days apart in a Randomized Complete Block Designs with 3 replications using 10 traits. The results showed a significant effect of sowing date on most of the traits, except internode length. All genotypes were sensitive to photoperiod variation by reducing their sowing-flowering cycle from 08 to 20 days, size and yield at the second planting date. Delayed sowing also resulted in a decrease in plant height (66.4 cm), 100 grain weight (8.3%), panicle weight (16.84%) and grain yield per plant (18.93%). The genotypes expressed a differential sensitivity to photoperiod variation with a mean coefficient of 0.59. Finally, a clustered flowering of all genotypes between September 11 and 27 was observed for both sowing dates. These results could be exploited by sweet sorghum breeding programme in the definition of the cropping calendar

Ethnobotanical study of cultivated yellow nutsedge, (Cyperus esculentus L.) in Burkina Faso

The yellow nutsedge, Cyperus esculentus L. is an herbaceous species whose tubers are the edible parts. The tubers are very popular with children, and can be eaten raw, fried or after processing into a drink (Horchata). However, it does not exist in Burkina, a centralized collection and studies on the genetic variability, the socio-cultural and economic aspects of this species. In order to identify the morphotypes and to welcome the peasant knowledge on the management of the, yellow nutsedge, a prospection followed by collection of tubers were carried out in the main areas of production of this crop. A total of 22 villages in eight districts were visited and 108 accessions of tubers were collected. It emerges from this study that the cultivation is mainly practiced by women (97% of farmers). The cultivated yellow nutsedge is adapted to drought and to several types of soil. In addition, farmers classify the tubers according to their shape and size. Thus, the spherical tubers are qualified as "small tubers the non-spherical tubers as" large tubers. The number of tubers produced per foot varies from 20 to 60. Farmers use phenotypic characters, sexual dimorphism and ethnicity to name accessions for sweet peas. Vernacular names and methods of producing yellow nutsedge vary by region and ethnicity. According to the respondents, 84.34% think that the nut is of Burkinabé origin, 9.26% Ghanaian, 1.85% from Mali and 5.35% have no answers. There is great diversity in local knowledge and accessions collected in Burkina.Keywords: Ethnobotany, tubers, accessions, morphotypes

Agro-morphological characterization of selected varieties of vegetable cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] in Burkina Faso

Vegetable Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is one of the neglected legumes in Burkina Faso, and as a result, its genetic diversity remains poorly known. The main aim of this study was to know its genetic variability through an agro-morphological characterization. Twenty vegetable cowpea varieties were evaluated at the Kamboinsé Environmental, Agricultural and Training Research Center following a three-replication Fischer block design under rainfed conditions. Fifteen quantitative and nine qualitative variables were collected and subjected to various statistical analyses. Analysis of variance was significant for the variables 50% flowering, vegetable cowpea date, number of pods obtained per plant, number of seeds per pod, fresh pod weight, fresh pod yield, pod length, plant height, seed length and chlorophyll content. Strong correlations were also reported between the various variables. The observed diversity is structured in three morphological groups viz., Group 1 consists of individuals with early flowering, high chlorophyll content and the number of pods obtained per plant. Group 2 brings together the varieties of average agronomic performance for pod length, the number of pods per plant, number of days at 95% maturity, fresh pod weight, yield of fresh pods and group 3 of varieties with long pods, early green date, high pod weight and good fresh pod yield. Among the tested varieties, the varieties IT83S-872 (30 pods), IT84S-2246 (27 pods), Baguette (25 pods), IT83S-818 (26 pods), and IT85F-2682 (24 pods) stood out for their high pod production. In addition, the varieties of vegetable cowpea baguette, baguette grimpant, Telma, and IT83S-911 showed the best performance in terms of early vegetable cowpea date stage, longest pods, highest pod weight and best yield of fresh pods. The high genetic variability level within the tested varieties could be exploited in future green cowpea breeding programmes