Micropropagation of a West African wild grape (Lannea microcarpa)

The propagation of Lannea microcarpa (an African wild grape) by seeds causes considerable variation in the offspring, making very difficult the selection, and multiplication of superior genotypes of interest. The species is also very difficult to propagate using conventional asexual technique. Therefore, micro cutting explants of young shoots from seedlings of Lannea microcarpa were grown in vitro on semi-solid Woody Plant Medium (WPM) supplemented for each experiment with three cytokinins at seven different concentrations for shoot formation and development. The cytokinins tested were 2iP (2-isopentenyladenine), TDZ (Thidiazuron), Zea (Zeatin) plus 0.05 µM IAA in the medium. Two subcultures were performed at 35 days interval after the initial in vitro culture establishment. Shoot development occurred primarily from axillaries buds formation that was greatest on a medium containing 56 µM of 2iP (plus 0.05µM IAA), with an average number of 4.5 ± 0.3 shoots per single node cutting and an average length of 4.7 ± 0.7 cm. After removal from culture, the shoots were induced rooting using IAA (Indole-3-Acetic Acid) and IBA (1H-indole-3-butanoic acid) at seven different concentrations. Shoots rooted in response to treatment with auxins (IBA and IAA) in the WPM medium and also in talc. The WPM medium produced an average number of 7 ± 0.5 roots per cutting at 32 µM IBA and with nearly 4.5 ± 0.7 cm in length. But the 1.5% of IBA in talc gave a better result with a higher number of 7.5 ± 0.4 roots per cutting with 5.5 ± 0.6 cm in length. The objective of this study is to develop a reproducible protocol for the rapid propagation of Lannea microcarpa in a semi-solid WPM medium supplemented with various concentrations of hormones.Keywords: In vitro propagation, Sahelean tree, Cytokinins, auxins

Constructing a malaria-related health service readiness index and assessing its association with child malaria mortality: an analysis of the Burkina Faso 2014 SARA data

Background: The Service Availability and Readiness Assessment surveys generate data on the readiness of health facility services. We constructed a readiness index related to malaria services and determined the association between health facility malaria readiness and malaria mortality in children under the age of 5 years in Burkina Faso. Methods: Data on inpatients visits and malaria-related deaths in under 5-year-old children were extracted from the national Health Management Information System in Burkina Faso. Bayesian geostatistical models with variable selection were fitted to malaria mortality data. The most important facility readiness indicators related to general and malaria-specific services were determined. Multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) was employed to construct a composite facility readiness score based on multiple factorial axes. The analysis was carried out separately for 112 medical centres and 546 peripheral health centres. Results: Malaria mortality rate in medical centres was 4.8 times higher than that of peripheral health centres (3.5% vs. 0.7%, p < 0.0001). Essential medicines was the domain with the lowest readiness (only 0.1% of medical centres and 0% of peripheral health centres had the whole set of tracer items of essential medicines). Basic equipment readiness was the highest. The composite readiness score explained 30 and 53% of the original set of items for medical centres and peripheral health centres, respectively. Mortality rate ratio (MRR) was by 59% (MRR = 0.41, 95% Bayesian credible interval: 0.19-0.91) lower in the high readiness group of peripheral health centres, compared to the low readiness group. Medical centres readiness was not related to malaria mortality. The geographical distribution of malaria mortality rate indicate that regions with health facilities with high readiness show lower mortality rates

Pratiques agricoles et perceptions paysannes des impacts environnementaux de la cotonculture dans la province de la KOMPIENGA (Burkina Faso)

La dégradation des écosystèmes et d’une manière générale de l’environnement au Burkina Faso est liée aux facteurs anthropiques, notamment les activités agricoles. L’objectif de cette étude est de mettre en exergue les pratiques agricoles, les perceptions paysannes des impacts environnementaux et les risques de dégradation des ressources naturelles dans la zone cotonnière de l’Est (Province de la Kompienga). Par le biais (i) d’une enquête auprès d’un échantillon de 60 Unités de Production Cotonnière (UPC), (ii) des interviews semi structurées avec des maraîchers (12), des apiculteurs (15), des pêcheurs (29), des éleveurs (54) et des membres de comités villageois de gestion des forêts (23), (iii) et des investigations sur les pratiques agricoles, l’étude a été conduite. Les résultats ont révélé une pression foncière dans la zone avec pour corollaire un abandon des techniques de conservation et de restauration des sols. L’usage des fertilisants organiques est peu répandu. L’étude a révélé que 8 types de rotations culturales sont pratiquées dans la zone. Le type de rotation culturale coton-céréales-coton est pratiqué par 63% des cotonculteurs. Les perceptions paysannes sur la dégradation des ressources végétales, les risques encourus par l’écologie apicole ainsi que des effets négatifs des fertilisants chimiques sur l’eau et les sols sont diversement appréciés. Face à cette situation, il est urgent pour les producteurs de coton d’utiliser les engrais organiques et d’adopter des techniques de conservation et de restauration des sols pour préserver l’exploitation durable des ressources naturelles de la zone.Mots-clés : Culture de coton; Pratiques agricoles; Pression foncière; Risque de dégradation de l’environnement; Burkina Faso

Management of Parkia biglobosa in the field of farmers in selected sites in Burkina Faso

Parkia biglobosa is ranked as one of the most important agroforestry multipurpose tree species in Sahelo-Sudanian zone. The National Tree Seed Center (CNSF) of Burkina Faso has been involved in a breeding programme of this species for many years and has already conducted several research activities (eg. germplasm collection, provenance trials establishment, selection of the best promising trees for propagation). To better conserve and guide the breeding program, it is important to understand how farmers perceive and manage the species in their fields. A survey was conducted in two villages in southern Burkina Faso to describe the farmers' practices with regard to encouraging regeneration of tree species in their fields, with a special emphasis on Parkia biglobosa. The survey targeted 150 people categorised by gender, ethnic group and status of residence. The results show that Parkia biglobosa is the most appreciated indigenous species across ethnic and gender groups. Its maintenance in the landscape is favoured by both the protection of spontaneous regeneration by farmers when they clear the land for agriculture, and by active planting. The species is valued both for its commercial use and human consumption in the household. The survey indicated a significant difference in the practices undertaken by women and men to safeguard regeneration. With regard to the preferred traits of Parkia biglobosa individuals, also some differences between genders emerge. The level of appreciation shown by farmers for Parkia biglobosa and the indications about what traits are most preferred are useful guidance in the identification of optimal sources of reproductive material to be made available to farmers through different channels. The results also indicated the need to couple the analyses of farmers' perception of trait variation among individuals with a systematic morphological characterisation of the various morphological types identified

Teneurs en coumarines de 15 ligneux fourragers du Burkina Faso

Les antinutritionnels ont été le plus souvent ignorés dans l’évaluation de la qualité des fourrages ligneux dont la part augmente continuellement dans le bol alimentaire des ruminants au Burkina Faso. L’objectif de l’étude a été de caractériser et de quantifier les coumarines dans les feuilles et/ou les fruits de 15 ligneux fourragers couramment appétés par les ruminants à Diarabakoko et Dionona. Des tests de caractérisation en tubes ont été réalisés sur les échantillons frais collectés pour détecter la présence des coumarines. Des dosages spectrophotométriques des coumarines ont été également réalisés à partir des extraits frais des échantillons. L’étude a révélé la présence des coumarines chez toutes les espèces à des teneurs oscillant respectivement entre 10,590 ±0,354 et 31,174±0,477 μg EC/g d’extraits frais des feuilles et entre 1,250 ±0,014 et 22,899±0,561 μg EC/g d’extraits frais des fruits (P˂0,05). L’analyse des variances a permis de distinguer 2 classes de teneurs en coumarines des feuilles dont la première a les plus faibles valeurs. Nos résultats constituent des critères supplémentaires pour le choix des ligneux fourragers en aménagement pastoral et en agroforesterie. Ils montrent aussi que le fourrage (feuilles et fruits) des espèces étudiées peut contribuer sans danger à la supplémentation des ruminants. Mots clés : Alimentation, antinutritionnels, fourrage, aménagement pastoral, ruminant

Biogas production using water hyacinths to meet collective energy needs in a sahelian country

This paper presents a pilot project that investigates the possibility of producing biogas from a mixture of water hyacinth and fresh rumen residue – replacing firewood as a source of fuel – to meet the energy needs of a maternity facility in Niamey (Niger). The discontinuous-type installation (batch reactors) is made up of six digesters measuring 5 m3 each. The output during hot and cool seasons, 0.52 m3 and 0.29 m3 respectively of biogas per m3 of digester per day, has met the energy needs of the maternity facility, estimated at 8 m3 of biogas per day. The study revealed strong seasonal variations: output during the hot season is approximatively 1.8 times greater than it is during the cool season. Large quantities of water hyacinth, an invasive plant present in Niger since 1986, are manually harvested in aquatic environments. The project is run by a local NGO, the Groupe d’Initiative pour les Energies Renouvelables (GIER), and supported by UNICEF and the Niger Basin Authority. The duration of the project is 8 months.Ce papier présente un projet pilote vérifiant la possibilité de produire du biogaz à partir d’un mélange de jacinthe d’eau et de résidu frais de rumen, en substitution au bois de chauffe pour satisfaire aux besoins en énergie d’une maternité de Niamey (Niger). L’installation de type discontinu (réacteurs batch) est composée de six digesteurs de 5 m3. Les rendements en saison chaude et en saison fraîche, respectivement 0,52 et de 0,29 m3 de biogaz par m3 de digesteur par jour et ont permis de couvrir les besoins de la maternité évalués à 8 m3 de biogaz par jour. L’étude révèle une forte variation saisonnière : le rendement en saison chaude est d’environ 1,8 fois supérieur à celle de la saison fraîche. La jacinthe d’eau est une plante envahissante présente au Niger depuis 1986, dont des quantités importantes sont récoltées en  milieux aquatiques. Le projet est porté par une ONG locale, le Groupe d’Initiative pour les Energies Renouvelables (GIER) et est supporté par l’UNICEF et l’Autorité du Bassin du Niger. La durée du projet est fixée à huit mois.Presenta un proyecto piloto que investiga la posibilidad de producir biogás a partir de jacintos de agua y residuos ruminales frescos, que sustituyen a la madera como fuente de combustible, para cubrir las necesidades energéticas del hospital de maternidad de Niamey (Níger). La instalación activada en discontinuo (reactores secuenciales) está formada por seis digestores de 5 m3 cada uno. La producción durante las estaciones de calor y frío, 0,52 m3 y 0,29 m3 de biogás respectivamente por m3 de digestor al día, ha cubierto las necesidades energéticas del hospital de maternidad, que se calcula en 8 m3 de biogás al día. El estudio ha revelado importantes variaciones según la estación: la producción durante la estación de calor es aproximadamente 1,8 veces mayor que la cantidad producida durante la temporada de frío. En el medio acuático se cosechan manualmente grandes cantidades de jacinto, una planta invasiva presente en Níger desde 1986. El proyecto está dirigido por una ONG local, GIER, y apoyado por UNICEF y la Autoridad de Cuencas de Níger. El proyecto tiene una duración de 8 meses

Polyphenolic composition of Lantana camara and Lippia chevalieri, and their Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities

In the present study, the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of methanolic extracts of two Verbenaceae (Lantana camara L. and Lippia chevalieri Moldenke: aerial part) were investigated. Their polyphenolic composition in the ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions were characterized by HPLC-DAD. The antioxidant capability of the methanolic extracts was assessed by the Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) and the scavenging activity of the free radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MIC) of the methanolic extracts (25 µg mL-1), and the minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) (12.5 µg mL-1) against 13 pathogenic bacteria and four serotyped bacteria from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) were also determined by the agar-well diffusion method. The results indicated that the L. chevalieri extracts are rich in phenolic compounds (among the 27 polyphenolic compounds detected, 20 belong to L. chevalieri) and showed the highest antioxidant activities, simultaneously on iron (III) to iron (II)-reducing activity and the radical scavenging activity. However, L. camara displayed the best and the broadest antimicrobial spectrum, especially on Shigella flexneri and Pantoea sp. (two Gram-negative strains of bacteria). The nature of polyphenolics compounds detected (phenol acid and flavone) in the L. camara can justify this activity.Key words: Verbenaceae, HPLC-DAD, antioxidant activity, antimicrobial activity, polyphenolic compound