Effect of seed pretreatment on germination of Bobgunnia madagascariensis (Desv.) J.H. Kirkbr & Wiersema

Knowledge of the method of seed germination is an important step of the domestication of crop plants. The objective of this study was to test the aptitude of germination of Bobgunnia madagascariensis (Desv.) using pretreatment condition. Eight batches of seeds were evaluated in two distinct substrates; namely sandy soil and ferralitic soil: (i) soaking of seed in cold water for 24 hours; (ii) soaking in hot water at 100 o C for 5 mm followed by in immersion into tap water for 24 hours, and (iii) scarification with razor blade. For each substrate, the treatments were compared to untreated controls. Results showed that seeds sown after scarification recorded the highest germination percentage (77.78%) with sandy soil (P < 0.05). Sandy soil also reduced the waiting time of germination (11.00 ± 0.00 days) and germination time (5.00 ± 0.5 days). Results of this study may serve as useful information for domestication of Bobgunnia madagascariensis (Desv.). &nbsp

Ethnobotanical study of Senegal custard apple (Annona senegalensis Pers.) in Dassa-Zoumétownship, Republic of Benin

Medicinal plants play an important role in the well-being of population in tropical countries. The objective of the study was to investigate the ethno botanical uses of custard apple (Annona senegalensis) in Benin. A survey carried out in Dassa-Zoumé township showed that population uses Annona senegalenis to treat many diseases including injury, wound, sting of bee or wasp, snake bite, sting of scorpion, malaria etc. Various organs of the plant (leaves, stems, roots, flowers and fruits) were involved in the preparation of many medical recipes. These recipes require different formulations (decoction, infusion, grinding, calcination, chewing, toothpick and trituration). A total of 65 uses of A. senegalensis were recorded in the township. Bathing of body, drinking, dressing in hot water, local application, scarification, instillation, washing of mouth were various modes of administering the medicines. Given the numerous therapeutic and nutritional values of this plant, it is important that the scientific world gives more attention to this shrub by domesticating it and characterizing the active principles present in various organs of this plant.Keywords: Benin, medicinal plant, traditional uses, diseases, treatmen

Quantitative Analysis, Distribution and Traditional Management of Pigeon Pea [Cajanus Cajan (L.) Millsp.] Landraces’ Diversity in Southern Benin

Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) is an important drought tolerant legume cultivated in the semi-arid regions, mainly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Despites its important potential, the crop is neglected and underutilized in many countries including Benin. In order to develop efficient in-situ strategies conservation, a study was conducted to quantify pigeon pea landrace diversity and access its spatial distribution and traditional management by local communities in southern Benin. Therefore, an ethnobotanical survey was conducted in 20 producing villages in southern Benin. Altogether, 26 farmernamed landraces further grouped into five categories were recorded with the number of landraces really cultivated per farmer comparably lower than that listed. Besides, two landraces’ categories were found to be common in the study area while two other were found highly threatened. Diverse parameters such as varietal richness, Shannon-Weaver Diversity Index, Simpson index and Pielou’s evenness were used to quantify pigeon pea diversity that appeared to be unequally distributed through the different agro-ecologies and villages surveyed. The study confirmed the absence of correlations between farmers’ gender and landrace diversity which was nonetheless found to be significantly shaped by the ethnic group and the field size exploited by farmers (P < 0.05). In diversity management, five preference criteria with variable importance across the ethnic groups were used by farmers of which cooking time and market value appeared to be the most important. Exhaustive germplasm collections, morphological/molecular characterizations of these landraces are required for efficient conservation of this important but neglected crop genetic resource in Benin

Assessment of the Prevalence of Multidimensional Poverty in Nigeria: Evidence From Oto/Ijanikin, Lagos State

Poverty in Nigeria is endemic and continues to deepen even amid economic growth. We found that, beyond income, Nigeria is faced with multidimensional poverty that involves healthcare, education, and living standards, with several indicators. Recently dubbed the poverty capital of the world, Nigeria faces an enormous challenge in combating multidimensional poverty. Our study, which was theoretically analyzed using social exclusion theory, adopts both qualitative and quantitative approaches to examine the extent of multidimensional poverty in Nigeria, with particular attention on Oto/Ijanikin, which is a semiurban suburb of Lagos State. Primary data were gathered from the study area, while secondary data were sourced on the prevalence of multidimensional poverty in Nigeria. Focusing on indicators such as healthcare, electricity, education, clean water, and housing, we conclude that multidimensional poverty is indeed widespread in Nigeria and, thus, we recommend social inclusion as the solution

Variabilité Intra-saisonnière des Pluies et Production du Sorgho en Zones Soudanienne et Sahélienne du Mali

L’agriculture malienne, pilier du développement économique et de la sécurité alimentaire des populations, est affectée par les dérèglements climatiques en raison de son caractère essentiellement pluvial. La présente recherche a pour objectif d’analyser les effets de l’instabilité intra-saisonnière des pluies afin d’identifier les périodes optimales de semis du sorgho en zones soudanienne et sahélienne du Mali. A partir des hauteurs journalières de pluie de la station de katibougou et de San entre 1987 et 2018 fournies par l’Agence pour la Sécurité et la Navigation Aérienne (ASECNAC) du Mali, les dates de début et de fin de saison ont été déterminées. Ensuite, l’analyse fréquentielle du début, de la fin et de la longueur des saisons a été faite aux fréquences de 2, 5 et 8 années sur 10. De même, la fréquence des séquences sèches et humides pendant la saison culturale a été analysée. Les résultats ont montré que dans le cercle de Koulikoro, les dates probables des démarrages de la pluvieuse se situe entre le 06 mai et le 01 août de chaque année. Par contre à San, les dates probables des démarrages de la pluvieuse se situe entre le 12 mai et le 01 août de chaque année.  A Koulikoro, la fin de la saison pluvieuse se situe généralement entre le 06 septembre  et le 04 novembre. A San, la fin de la saison pluvieuse se situe généralement entre le 03 septembre  et le 02 novembre. Les poche de sècheresse de 5 jours (SS1) sont les pauses pluviométriques constatées dans le cercle de Koulikoro et elles décroissent au fur et à mesure jusqu’au mois de septembre. Les SS4 s’accroissent  jusqu’au à partir du mois de juillet d’octobre. A San, les SS1 et SS4 sont similaires à ceux du cercle de Koulikoro, par contre les SS3 sont un peu élevés durant les mois de mai, juillet, août et septembre. Dans le cercle de Koulikoro sur 2,5 et 8 années sur 10, la durée de la saison agricole est de 159,132 et 102 jours. Dans ces conditions, la variété du sorgho de 90 jours et de 105 jours peuvent se cultiver normalement depuis la levée jusqu’à la maturation. Par contre à San, sur 2,5 et 8 années sur 10, la durée de la saison agricole est  de 123,108 et 89 jours, dans ces conditions la variété du sorgho de 90 jours  peuvent se cultiver normalement depuis la levée jusqu’à la maturation par contre la variété de 90 est compromise sur 8 années sur 10  et  celle de 105 jours est compromise sur 5 et 8 années sur 10. Au regard de l’intérêt que les producteurs accordent à a culture du sorgho, ils s’approprient plusieurs mesures d’adaptation (planification du calendrier agricole, adoption de la variété culturale à cycle court, utilisation d’engrais) dont l’efficacité mérite d’être analysée.   Malian agriculture, a pillar of economic development and food security for populations, is affected by climatic disturbances due to its predominantly rain-fed nature. The objective of this research is to analyze the effects of intra-seasonal instability of rains in order to identify the optimal sorghum sowing periods in the Sudanian and Sahelian zones of Mali. From the daily rainfall amounts for the katibougou and San stations between 1987 and 2018 provided by the Agence pour la Sécurité et la Navigation Aérienne (ASECNAC) of Mali, the start and end dates of the season were determined. Then, the frequency analysis of the beginning, the end and the length of the seasons was made at the frequencies of 2, 5 and 8 years out of 10. Similarly, the frequency of dry and wet sequences during the cropping season was analyzed. . The results showed that in the Koulikoro, the probable dates of the start of the rainy season are between 06 May and 01 August of each year. On the other hand in San, the probable dates of the start of the rainy season are between May 12 and August 1 of each year. In Koulikoro, the end of the rainy season is generally between September 06 and November 04. In San, the end of the rainy season is usually between September 3 and November 2. The 5-day drought pockets (SS1) are the rainfall breaks observed in the Koulikoro circle and they gradually decrease until September. The SS4 are increasing until from July to October. In San, the SS1 and SS4 are similar to those in the Koulikoro circle, on the other hand the SS3 are a little high during the months of May, July, August and September. In the Koulikoro circle over 2.5 and 8 out of 10 years, the duration of the agricultural season is 159,132 and 102 days. Under these conditions, the 90-day and 105-day sorghum variety can be grown normally from emergence to maturity. On the other hand in San, over 2.5 and 8 years out of 10, the length of the agricultural season is 123, 108 and 89 days, under these conditions the 90-day sorghum variety can be grown normally from emergence to ripening. on the other hand, the 90-year variety is compromised over 8 out of 10 years and the 105-day variety is compromised over 5 and 8 out of 10 years. In view of the interest that producers give to sorghum cultivation, they appropriate several adaptation measures (planning the agricultural calendar, adoption of the short-cycle crop variety, use of fertilizers) whose effectiveness deserves to be analyzed

Variabilité Intra-saisonnière des Pluies et Production du Sorgho en Zones Soudanienne et Sahélienne du Mali

L’agriculture malienne, pilier du développement économique et de la sécurité alimentaire des populations, est affectée par les dérèglements climatiques en raison de son caractère essentiellement pluvial. La présente recherche a pour objectif d’analyser les effets de l’instabilité intra-saisonnière des pluies afin d’identifier les périodes optimales de semis du sorgho en zones soudanienne et sahélienne du Mali. A partir des hauteurs journalières de pluie de la station de katibougou et de San entre 1987 et 2018 fournies par l’Agence pour la Sécurité et la Navigation Aérienne (ASECNAC) du Mali, les dates de début et de fin de saison ont été déterminées. Ensuite, l’analyse fréquentielle du début, de la fin et de la longueur des saisons a été faite aux fréquences de 2, 5 et 8 années sur 10. De même, la fréquence des séquences sèches et humides pendant la saison culturale a été analysée. Les résultats ont montré que dans le cercle de Koulikoro, les dates probables des démarrages de la pluvieuse se situe entre le 06 mai et le 01 août de chaque année. Par contre à San, les dates probables des démarrages de la pluvieuse se situe entre le 12 mai et le 01 août de chaque année.  A Koulikoro, la fin de la saison pluvieuse se situe généralement entre le 06 septembre  et le 04 novembre. A San, la fin de la saison pluvieuse se situe généralement entre le 03 septembre  et le 02 novembre. Les poche de sècheresse de 5 jours (SS1) sont les pauses pluviométriques constatées dans le cercle de Koulikoro et elles décroissent au fur et à mesure jusqu’au mois de septembre. Les SS4 s’accroissent  jusqu’au à partir du mois de juillet d’octobre. A San, les SS1 et SS4 sont similaires à ceux du cercle de Koulikoro, par contre les SS3 sont un peu élevés durant les mois de mai, juillet, août et septembre. Dans le cercle de Koulikoro sur 2,5 et 8 années sur 10, la durée de la saison agricole est de 159,132 et 102 jours. Dans ces conditions, la variété du sorgho de 90 jours et de 105 jours peuvent se cultiver normalement depuis la levée jusqu’à la maturation. Par contre à San, sur 2,5 et 8 années sur 10, la durée de la saison agricole est  de 123,108 et 89 jours, dans ces conditions la variété du sorgho de 90 jours  peuvent se cultiver normalement depuis la levée jusqu’à la maturation par contre la variété de 90 est compromise sur 8 années sur 10  et  celle de 105 jours est compromise sur 5 et 8 années sur 10. Au regard de l’intérêt que les producteurs accordent à a culture du sorgho, ils s’approprient plusieurs mesures d’adaptation (planification du calendrier agricole, adoption de la variété culturale à cycle court, utilisation d’engrais) dont l’efficacité mérite d’être analysée.   Malian agriculture, a pillar of economic development and food security for populations, is affected by climatic disturbances due to its predominantly rain-fed nature. The objective of this research is to analyze the effects of intra-seasonal instability of rains in order to identify the optimal sorghum sowing periods in the Sudanian and Sahelian zones of Mali. From the daily rainfall amounts for the katibougou and San stations between 1987 and 2018 provided by the Agence pour la Sécurité et la Navigation Aérienne (ASECNAC) of Mali, the start and end dates of the season were determined. Then, the frequency analysis of the beginning, the end and the length of the seasons was made at the frequencies of 2, 5 and 8 years out of 10. Similarly, the frequency of dry and wet sequences during the cropping season was analyzed. . The results showed that in the Koulikoro, the probable dates of the start of the rainy season are between 06 May and 01 August of each year. On the other hand in San, the probable dates of the start of the rainy season are between May 12 and August 1 of each year. In Koulikoro, the end of the rainy season is generally between September 06 and November 04. In San, the end of the rainy season is usually between September 3 and November 2. The 5-day drought pockets (SS1) are the rainfall breaks observed in the Koulikoro circle and they gradually decrease until September. The SS4 are increasing until from July to October. In San, the SS1 and SS4 are similar to those in the Koulikoro circle, on the other hand the SS3 are a little high during the months of May, July, August and September. In the Koulikoro circle over 2.5 and 8 out of 10 years, the duration of the agricultural season is 159,132 and 102 days. Under these conditions, the 90-day and 105-day sorghum variety can be grown normally from emergence to maturity. On the other hand in San, over 2.5 and 8 years out of 10, the length of the agricultural season is 123, 108 and 89 days, under these conditions the 90-day sorghum variety can be grown normally from emergence to ripening. on the other hand, the 90-year variety is compromised over 8 out of 10 years and the 105-day variety is compromised over 5 and 8 out of 10 years. In view of the interest that producers give to sorghum cultivation, they appropriate several adaptation measures (planning the agricultural calendar, adoption of the short-cycle crop variety, use of fertilizers) whose effectiveness deserves to be analyzed

Selection of sites for the in situ conservation of four traditional leafy vegetables consumed in Benin

Acmella uliginosa, Ceratotheca sesamoides, Justicia tenella and Sesamum radiatum are four traditional leafy vegetables which are widely consumed in Benin. In order to document their origin, folk nomenclature, geographical distribution and ecology and to select adequate zones for in situ conservation of their genetic resources, 118 villages were randomly selected and surveyed throughout the country using a participatory research approach. All the species apart from Ceratotheca sesamoides were reported by farmers as introduced in Benin at different periods. The folk nomenclature comprising 93 different names is based on nine key criteria of variable frequencies according to the species. The geographical distribution maps revealed that the species under study are unequally distributed. Indeed, A. uliginosa is found exclusively in the northwest, J. tenella in the northeast and partially in the centre while S. radiatum and Ceratotheca sesamoides were found almost everywhere in Benin. Results from multivariate analysis combined with geographical distribution maps of the species and the soil and climate maps of Benin, leaded to the selection of the Northwest and of the Northeast regions as the appropriate conservation zones for the four species. Molecular analysis was recommended as it can help in describing genetic diversity and consequently in identifying additional sites for the widely spread species Sesamum radiatum and Ceratotheca sesamoides. Keywords: Folk nomenclature, biodiversity, geographical distribution, site selection, in situ conservation, Benin