Diversité et caractérisation morphologique des variétés d’ananas (Ananas comosus (L.) Merrill) cultivées au Bénin

Objectifs : Au Bénin, une faible proportion de l’ananas produit pour l’exportation parvient à franchir le marché international. En effet, plus de 80% des fruits produits sont déclassés en raison de leur hétérogénéité. Le but cette étude a été d’inventorier et de caractériser les variétés d’ananas cultivées au Bénin en vue d’une épuration variétale.Méthodologie et Résultats : Les données ont été collectées au sud et au centre du Bénin dans 11 plantations d’ananas qui sont de deux types : les plantations conventionnelles et celles traditionnelles. Les variétés et morphotypes ont été identifiés et dénombrés à l’intérieur de 5 placeaux de 4 m2 dans chaque plantation. Les variétés d’ananas recensées sont au nombre de 5, à savoir : Cayenne lisse, Pain de sucre, Queen, Red Spanish et Perolera. Elles renferment 16 morphotypes dont 4 pour la Cayenne lisse, 10 pour le Pain de sucre et 2 pour le Queen. Le nombre de variétés par plantation varie de 1 à 3, avec une moyenne de 1,91 ± 0,94. L’indice de diversité de Shannon varie de 0 à 1,05 bit. L’équitabilité de Piélou est comprise entre 0 et 1. Les plantations traditionnelles sont les plus diversifiées. Les variétés ou cultivars sont désignés, par la population, par 2 mots dont le premier signifie Ananas comosus et le second est un adjectif portant sur un caractère propre à la variété.Conclusion et application des résultats : Le mélange des cultivars observé dans les plantations conventionnelles exige alors l’accompagnement scientifique des producteurs afin de les aider à obtenir les cultivars purs et répondant à leurs attentes.Mots clés : ananas, variété, morphotypes, diversité, caractères morphologique

Les Loranthaceae des zones guinéenne et soudano-guinéenne au Bénin et leurs hôtes

Une prospection itinérante a été faite de 1996 à 2010 en zones guinéenne et soudano-guinéenne au Bénin en vue d’inventorier les différentes espèces de Loranthaceae et leurs hôtes. Les inventaires ont été réalisés le long de quelques routes et des sentiers dans les 45 communes des deux zones phytogéographiques. Au total, 4 genres (Agelanthus, Globimetula, Phragmanthera, Tapinanthus) et 10 espèces (Agelanthus brunneus, A. dodoneifolius, Globimetula braunii, G. cupulata, Phragmanthera capitata, P. nigritana, Tapinanthus bangwensis, T. belvisii, T. globiferus et T. sessilifolius). Parmi ces espèces, deux sont nouvelles pour la flore du Bénin, à savoir : Globimetula cupulata et Tapinanthus belvisii. La diversité taxonomique des hôtes est de 105 espèces réparties dans 85 genres, 33 familles et une seule classe qui est celle des Dicotylédones. Les familles les plus riches en espèces parasitées sont les Leguminosae (23,8%), lesEuphorbiaceae (8,6%) et les Moraceae (7,6%). Parmi les espèces hôtes, 36,2% sont des bois d’oeuvre et de service, 49% sont médicinales et 20% sont à la fois médicinales et alimentaires

Diversité, usages vétérinaires et vulnérabilité des plantes médicinales au Nord-Bénin

Au Bénin, les animaux domestiques continuent de payer un lourd tribut à diverses pathologies. Une enquête a été conduite au Nord-Bénin pour recenser les recettes à usages vétérinaires, sélectionner les plus crédibles et évaluer la vulnérabilité des plantes impliquées. Elle a consisté à des interviews individuelles semistructurées auprès de 60 éleveurs. Au total 56 espèces végétales ont été citées. Elles sont reparties en 50 genres et 22 familles. Les familles les plus représentées en espèces sont : Leguminosae (34%) et Combretaceae (11%). Au total 86 recettes ont été recensées pour traiter 31 pathologies avec la Fièvre aphteuse comme la plus fréquente (19%). Les fréquences de recettes (Fr) et de citation des recettes (Fcr) ont permis de sélectionner celles qui sont plus crédibles. Les écorces de tige sont plus citées avec un pourcentage de 61%. Huit (08) modes de préparation sont indiqués avec la décoction (49%) comme la plus fréquente. Trente et un (31) espèces se sont révélées vulnérables. Cette étude a permis la sélection de quelques recettes crédibles. Les recherches phytochimiques ultérieures montreront les potentialités réelles des plantes citées dans le traitement des pathologies animales.Mots clés : Plantes, médecine vétérinaire, Fr, Fcr, Béni

Caractérisation Physico-Chimique Et Étude De La Toxicité De La Lagune Côtière, De Togbin À GrandPopo (Sud-Ouest Bénin)

This work deals with the physicochemical characterization and the toxicity study of the coastal lagoon of Benin (from Togbin to Grand-Popo). In particular, it has to do with the study of copper and zinc. The sampling campaign was carried out by motorized boat on the 20th of December 2016. Samples were taken a few centimeters below the surface of the water. The analysis of the metals was carried out with a HACH LANGE DR2800 spectrophotometer. Copper is determined by the method of Bicinchroninate, while zinc is determined by the method of Zincover. The method used for the toxicity study is natural and is based on the inoculation of onions in the waters sampled at various proportions. The results revealed that physically and chemically, the lagoon is highly mineralized. This mineralization is due not only to the contribution of the sea to high tide, but also to salt production in Djègbadji. Concerning the concentrations of trace metallic elements, copper and zinc do not pose a risk to humans, but pose a high risk to the aquatic organisms present in the lagoon. Potentially suspected sources of copper and zinc are Ahémé Lake and the Mono River. As for the ecotoxicological study with the Allium cepa test, this test is not only influenced by metals, but also by the salinity of the water. The test revealed that the waters of the lagoon are acutely toxic, particularly at Djondji. Strategies for the protection and rehabilitation of the coastal lagoon must be undertaken by decision-makers at all levels. This, therefore, will help to prevent not only the different populations from the risks of diseases, but also increase the economy of the country through marketing and the edibility of the fish and even offer a framework of tourist scale

Cavity ring-down spectroscopy for molecular trace gas detection using a pulsed DFB QCL emitting at 6.8 \u3bcm

A trace gas sensor based on pulsed cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) was developed for measurement of the \u3bd4 fundamental vibrational band of ammonia (NH3) centered at 1468.898 cm-1. A pulsed distributed feedback quantum cascade laser (DFB-QCL) operating at 6.8 \u3bcm (1470.58 cm-1) quite well covered the absorption band of the ammonia and strong fundamental vibrational absorption bands of different molecular gases in this unexplored region. The cavity was partially evacuated down to 0.4 Atm by a turbo-molecular pump to reduce the partial interference between the NH3 spectra and water near the absorption peak of ammonia. A sensitivity of nine parts per billion was reached for a measurement time of 120 s as well as an optical path length of 226 m. The device demonstrated high spectral performance and versatility due to its wide tuning range, narrow linewidth, and comparatively high-energy mid-IR radiation in the relatively unexplored 6.8 \u3bcm region, which is very important for high-resolution spectroscopy of a variety of gases

Designing User-Friendly Grids for the Gender-Specification of Rural, Semi-Urban, and Urban School Toilets in West Africa: Lessons from the Republic of Benin

Gender equity, quality education, and sanitation in rural and urban areas are widely considered as development imperatives. However, while many countries of the world are already far with the gendering of their schools’ toilets, most others still tend to systematically construct the same number of toilet cabins for female and male students, often ignoring specific needs associated with biophysical differences and disabilities among the students. This poor gendering of school toilets prevailed in the Republic of Benin until 2013, when, within the framework of the Pluriannual Water and Sanitation Programme (PPEA phase 2) funded by the Netherlands’ Ministry of Cooperation through its Embassy in the Republic of Benin, the Directorate of Hygiene and Sanitation of the Ministry of Public Health in collaboration with Water and Sanitation for Africa Agency, decided to launch a study for gender and disability specific toilets in primary and secondary schools. This original paper discusses the process towards the design of norms and grids for the calculation of toilet cabins and urinals needs of primary and secondary school students of rural, semi-urban, urban, Sahelian, Sudanian, lake, and coastal areas of the Republic of Benin. The study took place in four steps. The first step consisted of identifying key factors that affect the use of school toilets by students, especially female and disabled students. The second step consisted of observing and recording the use of school toilets by students, and building on those observations and records to estimate the number of toilet cabins and urinals required per agroecological and sociocultural area. The third step built on the results from the first and second steps to design simplified grids that allow sanitation and schools’ decision-makers to easily and quickly calculate the number of toilet cabins and urinals required for the target schools, per gender and disability. The fourth step consisted of building the capacities of potential users of the grids, for their relevant use. The findings indicate a variation of needs among primary and secondary schools, and the study zones, due to sociocultural and development differences. The grids have been in use in Benin since 2016 and it has easily helped to calculate gender-specific toilet needs in the study areas. After five years of use, their performance requires to be assessed for further adaptations. A further paper will report on the performance of these grids

Designing User-Friendly Grids for the Gender-Specification of Rural, Semi-Urban, and Urban School Toilets in West Africa: Lessons from the Republic of Benin

Gender equity, quality education, and sanitation in rural and urban areas are widely considered as development imperatives. However, while many countries of the world are already far with the gendering of their schools’ toilets, most others still tend to systematically construct the same number of toilet cabins for female and male students, often ignoring specific needs associated with biophysical differences and disabilities among the students. This poor gendering of school toilets prevailed in the Republic of Benin until 2013, when, within the framework of the Pluriannual Water and Sanitation Programme (PPEA phase 2) funded by the Netherlands’ Ministry of Cooperation through its Embassy in the Republic of Benin, the Directorate of Hygiene and Sanitation of the Ministry of Public Health in collaboration with Water and Sanitation for Africa Agency, decided to launch a study for gender and disability specific toilets in primary and secondary schools. This original paper discusses the process towards the design of norms and grids for the calculation of toilet cabins and urinals needs of primary and secondary school students of rural, semi-urban, urban, Sahelian, Sudanian, lake, and coastal areas of the Republic of Benin. The study took place in four steps. The first step consisted of identifying key factors that affect the use of school toilets by students, especially female and disabled students. The second step consisted of observing and recording the use of school toilets by students, and building on those observations and records to estimate the number of toilet cabins and urinals required per agroecological and sociocultural area. The third step built on the results from the first and second steps to design simplified grids that allow sanitation and schools’ decision-makers to easily and quickly calculate the number of toilet cabins and urinals required for the target schools, per gender and disability. The fourth step consisted of building the capacities of potential users of the grids, for their relevant use. The findings indicate a variation of needs among primary and secondary schools, and the study zones, due to sociocultural and development differences. The grids have been in use in Benin since 2016 and it has easily helped to calculate gender-specific toilet needs in the study areas. After five years of use, their performance requires to be assessed for further adaptations. A further paper will report on the performance of these grids

First measurement of the temperature dependence of muon transfer rate from muonic hydrogen atoms to oxygen

We report the first measurement of the temperature dependence of muon transfer rate from muonic hydrogen atoms to oxygen between 100 and 300 K. Data were obtained from the X-ray spectra of delayed events in a gaseous target, made of a H2/O2 mixture, exposed to a muon beam. This work sets constraints on theoretical models of muon transfer and is of fundamental importance for the measurement of the hyperfine splitting of muonic hydrogen ground state as proposed by the FAMU collaboration

First measurement of the temperature dependence of muon transfer rate from muonic hydrogen atoms to oxygen

We report the first measurement of the temperature dependence of muon transfer rate from muonic hydrogen atoms to oxygen between 100 and 300 K. Data were obtained from the X-ray spectra of delayed events in a gaseous target, made of a H2/O2 mixture, exposed to a muon beam. This work sets constraints on theoretical models of muon transfer and is of fundamental importance for the measurement of the hyperfine splitting of muonic hydrogen ground state as proposed by the FAMU collaboration

Asymmetric response of forest and grassy biomes to climate variability across the African Humid Period : influenced by anthropogenic disturbance?

A comprehensive understanding of the relationship between land cover, climate change and disturbance dynamics is needed to inform scenarios of vegetation change on the African continent. Although significant advances have been made, large uncertainties exist in projections of future biodiversity and ecosystem change for the world's largest tropical landmass. To better illustrate the effects of climate–disturbance–ecosystem interactions on continental‐scale vegetation change, we apply a novel statistical multivariate envelope approach to subfossil pollen data and climate model outputs (TraCE‐21ka). We target paleoenvironmental records across continental Africa, from the African Humid Period (AHP: ca 14 700–5500 yr BP) – an interval of spatially and temporally variable hydroclimatic conditions – until recent times, to improve our understanding of overarching vegetation trends and to compare changes between forest and grassy biomes (savanna and grassland). Our results suggest that although climate variability was the dominant driver of change, forest and grassy biomes responded asymmetrically: 1) the climatic envelope of grassy biomes expanded, or persisted in increasingly diverse climatic conditions, during the second half of the AHP whilst that of forest did not; 2) forest retreat occurred much more slowly during the mid to late Holocene compared to the early AHP forest expansion; and 3) as forest and grassy biomes diverged during the second half of the AHP, their ecological relationship (envelope overlap) fundamentally changed. Based on these asymmetries and associated changes in human land use, we propose and discuss three hypotheses about the influence of anthropogenic disturbance on continental‐scale vegetation change