scholarly journals Critical Review on Wild-Edible Fruit Species in Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Alebel Melaku ◽  
Mohammed Ahmed Ebrahim

Wild edible fruit species are commonly consumed and utilized in different parts of Ethiopia for staple food, filling seasonal food shortages, emergency food during a famine, and household income generation. There is a pressing need for domestication and improvement of some wild edible fruits for increased production, diversifying income for small-scale farmers, and conservation of the diminishing wild edible fruit resources. A total of 37 widely utilized and marketed wild edible fruit species falling into 23 families were recognized as of used in different parts of the country. Of which, 26 species are identified as available in local markets in different parts of the country. Ziziphus spina-christi, Syzygium guineense, Balanites aegyptiaca, and other nine species were identified as a priority wild edible fruit species from available information based on utilization extent, preference ranking by farmers, product marketability, and conservation needs for the species. There exists a lack of scientifically planned genetic variation evaluation, superior variety selection, genetic improvement, and seedling production initiatives for indigenous wild edible fruit species in Ethiopia. All of the 37 widely utilized and marketed wild fruit species have not developed to their full potential in terms of quality, production scale, and market in the country. Identifying and selecting priority species, strengthening botanical information, germplasm collection and improvement, production and processing technologies, increasing the supply of improved planting materials, and promoting on-farm cultivation of wild edible fruit-based agroforestry systems were identified as key future strategies for domestication and wider cultivation of wild edible fruit species.

Vaccines ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 3
Author(s):  
Zoltán Kis ◽  
Cleo Kontoravdi ◽  
Robin Shattock ◽  
Nilay Shah

To overcome pandemics, such as COVID-19, vaccines are urgently needed at very high volumes. Here we assess the techno-economic feasibility of producing RNA vaccines for the demand associated with a global vaccination campaign. Production process performance is assessed for three messenger RNA (mRNA) and one self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) vaccines, all currently under clinical development, as well as for a hypothetical next-generation saRNA vaccine. The impact of key process design and operation uncertainties on the performance of the production process was assessed. The RNA vaccine drug substance (DS) production rates, volumes and costs are mostly impacted by the RNA amount per vaccine dose and to a lesser extent by the scale and titre in the production process. The resources, production scale and speed required to meet global demand vary substantially in function of the RNA amount per dose. For lower dose saRNA vaccines, global demand can be met using a production process at a scale of below 10 L bioreactor working volume. Consequently, these small-scale processes require a low amount of resources to set up and operate. RNA DS production can be faster than fill-to-finish into multidose vials; hence the latter may constitute a bottleneck.


2015 ◽  
Vol 78 (6) ◽  
pp. 1072-1080 ◽  
Author(s):  
AIXIA XU ◽  
DONNA M. PAHL ◽  
ROBERT L. BUCHANAN ◽  
SHIRLEY A. MICALLEF

Consumption of locally, organically grown produce is increasing in popularity. Organic farms typically produce on a small scale, have limited resources, and adopt low technology harvest and postharvest handling practices. Data on the food safety risk associated with hand harvesting, field packing, and packing-house handling with minimal treatment, at this production scale, are lacking. We followed produce from small organic farms from the field through postharvest handling and packing. Pre- and postharvest produce (177 samples) and water (29 samples) were collected and analyzed quantitatively for Escherichia coli, total coliforms (TC), aerobic bacteria (APC), yeasts, molds (M), and enteric pathogens. No pathogens were recovered. E. coli was detected in 3 (3.6%) of 83 preharvest produce samples, 2 (6.3%) of 32 unwashed and 0 of 42 washed postharvest produce samples, and 10 (34.5%) of 29 water samples. No correlation was found between bacterial levels in irrigation water and those on produce. Postharvest handling without washing was a factor for APC and M counts on tomatoes, with lower frequencies postharvest. Postharvest handling with washing was a factor for leafy greens for TC counts, with higher frequencies postharvest. APC (P = 0.03) and yeast (P = 0.05) counts were higher in preharvest than in unwashed postharvest tomatoes. Washed postharvest leafy greens had higher M counts (P = 0.03) and other washed produce had higher TC counts (P = 0.01) than did their preharvest counterparts. Barriers were found to the use of sanitizer in wash water for leafy greens among small farms using organic practices. Hand harvesting and dry handling did not appear to be associated with a significant food safety risk, but washed leafy greens carried higher levels of some microbial indicators, possibly because of the lack of sanitizer in the wash water. The development of resources and materials customized for this sector of growers could enhance dissemination of information on best practices for handling of leafy greens.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julissa Rojas-Sandoval

Abstract T. catappa is a hardy, fast-growing, deciduous multipurpose tree, reaching 25 (-40) m tall and producing an edible fruit. It plays a vital role in coastline stabilization as a tree component of strandline plant communities in the western Indian Ocean, South-East Asia and the South Pacific. Under suitable conditions it is a well-formed tree and has been widely planted throughout the tropics for shade, ornament and nuts, especially along sandy seashores (Heinsleigh and Holaway, 1988; Little and Skolmen, 1989). It is much used in agroforestry systems in the Philippines.


Biologia ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 70 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Čanády ◽  
Ladislav Mošanský

AbstractA craniometric analysis of skulls of the wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus) from three different parts of Slovakia (north-western, northern and south-eastern) was conducted. Twenty-nine skull and dental variables were measured and evaluated on a sample of 56 adult individuals. The overlap of the values of the measured traits was high. Moreover, the differences among the populations were different for each trait. The non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test and Discriminant function analysis showed variations in the cranial variables among the different parts of country. We have identified six morphometric variables suitable for the differentiation of populations on the basis of discriminant analysis. Significant differences were confirmed in the characteristics between the analyzed regions; thus, we can speak about small-scale craniometric differentiation. In addition, the results could indicate the influence of altitude, even over a shorter geographic distance between 48-49º N. Moreover, restriction of genetic interaction between the populations may in the future lead to even greater differences between the populations in Slovakia.


2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elias Emanuel Silva Mota ◽  
Carolina Ribeiro Diniz Boaventura Novaes ◽  
Luciana Borges e Silva ◽  
Lázaro José Chaves

Abstract Dipteryx alata Vogel (“baru tree”) is a fruit species native to the Brazilian Cerrado and presents a multiplicity of uses, constituting a priority species for domestication and cultivation studies. The objective of the current study was to characterize fruit and seeds of D. alata from several regions of the Brazilian Cerrado biome to support strategies for ex situ conservation and utilization of the genetic variability of the species. Fruits were collected from 25 subpopulations, sampling six mother plants per subpopulation, with collection of at least 25 fruits per plant. The physical trait data of the fruits and seeds were submitted to descriptive analysis, analysis of variance and correlation among traits. There was significant variation for all traits among subpopulations and among individuals within subpopulations. The highest proportion of variability was observed among individuals within subpopulations. The phenotypic differentiation among subpopulations was higher for fruit traits compared to seed traits. The correlation analysis showed the existence of significant correlations for most of the traits pairs in the different hierarchical levels. It was concluded that D. alata presents phenotypic variability to support germplasm collection programsand formation of base populations for breeding programs, recommending the sampling in several locations to ensure an adequate representativeness of the phenotypic variability.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahsan Raza ◽  
Thomas Gaiser ◽  
Muhammad Habib-Ur-Rahman ◽  
Hella Ahrends

<p>Information on field scale soil erosion and related sedimentation process is very important for natural resource management and sustainable farming. Plenty of models are available for study of these processes but only a few are suitable for dynamic small scale soil erosion assessments. The available models vary greatly in terms of their input requirements, analysis capabilities, process [t1] complexities, spatial and temporal scale of their intended use, practicality, the manner they represent the processes, and the type of output information they provide. The study aims in examining, theoretically, 51 models classified as physical, conceptual, and empirical based on their representation of the processes of soil erosion. The literature review shows that there is no specific model available for soil erosion prediction under agroforestry systems.   It is further suggested that models like EPIC, PERFECT, GUEST, EPM, TCRP, SLEMSA, APSIM, RillGrow, and CREAMS can be potentially used for soil erosion assessment at plot/field scale at daily time steps. Most of these models are capable to simulate the soil erosion process at small scale; further model development is needed regarding their limitations with respect to components interaction i.e., rainfall intensity, overland flow, crop cover, and their difficulties in upscaling. The research suggested that SIMPLACE network can provide modules with LintulBiomass, HillFlow, Runoff to develop new dynamic components to simulate overland flow and soil erosion incorporating improved upscaling capabilities</p>


Author(s):  
Edgar Muhoyi ◽  
Josue Mbonigaba

Small-scale irrigation schemes (SSIS) in developing countries have been crucial, but the evidence about their performance has not been sufficiently analyzed. This chapter documents such evidence by reviewing and classifying the performance indicators. It also assesses literature on whether there are discernible trends in the efficiency of SSIS, identifies and classifies SSIS constraints, and characterizes various channels through which SSIS might affect poverty. Objectives are achieved via a systematic review of literature from 1990 to 2017. Results indicate a lack of standardization of irrigation performance indicators, and there is evidence that irrigation has boosted agricultural performance. Even though SSIS were associated with higher productivity than rain-fed agriculture, they performed below their full potential due to undervaluation of irrigation water by irrigation authorities, farmer characteristics, costs, institutional setups, the policy environment, and design, cultural, community, and environmental issues. SSIS are important tools for poverty reduction, and relevant policy implications are outlined.


2020 ◽  
Vol 175 ◽  
pp. 10008
Author(s):  
Thi Hoai Nguyen ◽  
Duc Luan Nguyen

In this paper, the authors analyze the current situation of agricultural production in Vietnam and affirm that fragmentation is one of the basic causes leading to ineffective potentials and low labor productivity. Based on this, the authors propose a number of solutions to convert small-scale production to large-scale production in order to improve labor productivity and optimally exploit resources in the agricultural sector in Vietnam today.


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