Phenology of Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich.) Hochst. Provenances

Phenology study was conducted to assess 22 genotypes of Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich.) Hochst, collected from West, Eastern and Southern Africa. Assessments were done on time for bud onset, flower opening, leaf flush, fruit set, fruit maturity period and fruit production.  Highly significant (P< 0.001) variations between provenances were obtained in all the phenological traits assessed including variations between sexes in time from flower bud set to anthesis. There was flowering overlaps and synchrony between provenances and sexes with males flowering earlier than females. So far two subpopulations have emerged within the trial referred to as early and late flowering genotypes. The early flowering included provenances from Mozambique, and Swaziland while the late flowering encompassed provenances from Malawi, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Tanzania and Zambia. Fruit maturity period ranged from 76±2 to 192±15days. The early flowering genotypes flowered, fruited and matured between August and January while the late genotypes flowered and fruited from September to May. There were highly significant (P≤0.001) variations in fruit yield of S. birrea provenances between 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 seasons with the former being more productive than the later confirming that S. birrea fruit yield is not constant across seasons due to seed mating effects. There were very strong positive relationship ranging r=0.81 to r=0.78 between leaf flush, bud set, flower opening and fruit set significant at (P<0.001). Some trees classified as females in the first year as based on flowers were found have male flowers which calls for more detailed investigations into this sex change behaviour

Farmers’ knowledge, attitudes and perceptions towards timber out-grower schemes in selected districts of Malawi

Timber out-grower schemes have proved to be one of the most profitable enterprises for rural households. No wonder, several analysts and researchers regard them as an alternative model to avoid problems of displacement and create ‘win-win’ outcomes for both rural communities and private investors in forestry. However, understanding farmers’ knowledge, attitudes and perceptions towards tree out-grower schemes plays a key role in farmers’ adoption of the interventions. This study examined these farmers’ attributes towards out-grower schemes in selected districts of Malawi. Data were collected from 300 farmers who were randomly selected between September and October 2017 through semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. The results revealed that 82% of the respondents participated in timber out-grower schemes, piloted by WVI and ICRAF. Based on a median score of 4.75 (IQR 4–5), respondents were strongly agreed on their knowledge on timber out-grower schemes as a basis for adopting the intervention. Using the cumulative Cube-root frequency method of stratification, the results revealed that more than half (51%) of the respondents belonged to the high category, and thus had high knowledge of timber out-grower schemes, whereas 32% and 17% had very high and medium levels of knowledge, respectively. The study also revealed that 79.3% of the respondents had a positive attitude towards out-grower schemes. Pearson correlation analysis revealed a positive, significant relationship between marital status (r = 0.081), household size (r = 0.062), education (r = 0.051) and knowledge of the respondents on timber out-grower schemes. A significant positive relationship was also observed between marital status (r = 0.156), household size (0.178), education (0.002), ethnic group (0.151) and attitudes of the respondents towards timber out-grower schemes. However, a negative relationship between knowledge and attitude was revealed (r = −0.534). The study therefore concludes that socio-economic factors, such as gender, education, ethnic group and household size, should be considered in upscaling timber out-grower schemes in Malawi.The European Unionhttp://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tsfs202020-07-04hj2019Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorolog

Assessing the impact of Gliricidia agroforestry-based interventions on crop nutritional, antinutritional, functional, and mineral compositions in eastern Province, Zambia

Agroforestry practices improve soil health which in turn improves crop nutrient concentrations and quality. This study examined how the agroforestry tree Gliricidia sepium intercropped with soybean, groundnuts, or maize affects crop nutrient compositions. The study was conducted in five Zambian chiefdoms for three crop-growing seasons (2019–2022) on 13 farmer-led demonstration trial sites. Seven treatments were tested that included maize, soybean, and groundnut plots with and without Gliricidia interventions. Grain samples were analyzed for crop nutrient contents using standard laboratory methods. Results showed that the treatments significantly (P < 0.05) improved maize nutritional properties except for crude fiber, total carbohydrate, and metabolizable energy. G. sepium intercropping with maize and soybean decreased the antinutritional contents and displayed better functional qualities. All elemental mineral components (except potassium, calcium, and sodium) were higher in the Gliricidia + maize intercrop than in the control treatment. The Gliricidia+soybean intercrop had lower mean mineral concentrations than the control (soybean only) except for Mg, Cu, and Zn. The Giliricidia+groundnut intercrop significantly increased groundnut mineral components except for Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, and Iron. It can be concluded that G. sepium intercropped with maize, soybean, and groundnuts significantly improved the crops’ nutritional quality

Investigation of the antimicrobial and anticancer activity of aminonaphthoquinones

Please read abstract in the article.National Research Foundation, Grant/Award Number: 105993http://wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/ddr2020-02-01hj2019Paraclinical Science

Foliage pests of Marula (Sclerocarya birrea) in Malawi: susceptibility of different provenances

Knowledge of insects’ damage to Agroforestry species is prerequisite prior to promotion of domestication of the species. The study was conducted to assess foliage insect pests in 21 Sclerocarya birrea provenances. Assessment parameters included tolerance levels, tree canopy position of attack, mode of leaf defoliation and type of insect pests responsible for the damage. The results revealed that highly tolerant provenances to leaf defoliation included Kalanga, Magunde, Moamba, and Marracuene. Highly susceptible provenances comprised of Chikwawa, Rumphi, Ntcheu, Missira and Mangochi. Highly significant (P < 0.001) variations existed in tree damage basing on crown position. The top canopy was the most affected followed by the middle and bottom canopies. Leaf damage was found to be significantly (X2 = 4.989, P = 0.026) associated with fruit production, and leaf damaged trees were found to produce three times (Odds Ratio = 3.2) less fruits compared to undamaged tree leaves. The most dominate form of leaf damage was defoliation (43%), followed by skeletonizing (18%). The least leaf damage trees were 37%. Leaf defoliators comprised of two orders namely Coleoptera (beetle) and Lepidoptera (caterpillar). Ceratitis (Pterandrus) capitata (fruit flies) were the most destructive to mature fruits. Although not the primary objective of the study, Ceratitis (Pterandrus) capitata (fruit flies) was identified as the major pest of Marula fruits. Future provenance or progeny trials should be replicated across different ecological areas in order to assess genotype-by-environment interaction effects resulting from differences in leaf flushing period

Tree Seed and Seedling Supply Systems: A Review of the Asia, Africa and Latin America Models

The paper reviews tree seed and seedling supply systems in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and Latin America. Across these regions, the review found that some of the germplasm supply systems do not efficiently meet farmers’ demands and environmental expectations in terms of productivity, species and genetic diversity. In some countries, germplasm used is mostly sourced from undocumented sources and often untested. Germplasm quality control systems are only found in a few countries. Appreciation of the value of tree germplasm of high genetic quality is low. Non-government organisations (NGOs) in many African countries play a prominent role in the supply of germplasm which is usually given to farmers without charge. The practice of giving farmers free germplasm by NGOs in many African countries and also government participation in germplasm supply in some Asian countries has been blamed for crowding out private entrepreneurs, although this is not substantiated by any evidence to suggest that the smallholder farmers are willing and able to pay for the germplasm. In some Latin American countries, private companies, government and NGOs provide farmers tree germplasm in a partnership in which farmers provide land and labour in return. Overall, tree germplasm markets are large in Asia, due in part to large afforestation programs, intermediate in Latin America and small in Africa where smallholder farmers constitute the market. In countries where germplasm quality control is practiced, it is either through a legal framework or voluntary. A few countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America have developed protocols for certification of tree seeds based on the OECD. Some germplasm suppliers use branding as a way of differentiating their germplasm as having superior quality. To enhance the use of high quality germplasm, there is a need to demonstrate the value of using such germplasm and raise awareness of germplasm quality among the farmers and policy-makers