Undervalued Spiny Monkey Orange (Strychnos spinosa Lam.): An Indigenous Fruit for Sustainable Food-Nutrition and Economic Prosperity

Strychnos spinosa Lam. is among the top nutrient-dense indigenous fruit species that are predominant in Southern Africa. It is a highly ranked indigenous fruit based on the nutrition and sensorial properties, which make it an important food source for the marginalized rural people. On the basis of the high vitamin C, iron, and zinc content, it has the capacity to improve the food- nutrition and the socioeconomic status of individuals, especially those in the rural areas of the developing nations. The nutritional composition of Strychnos spinosa compare favorably with many of the popular fruits, such as strawberries and orange. Additionally, Strychnos spinosa has antioxidant activity similar to well-known antioxidant fruits, which keeps it in the class of the popular fruits, giving it added nutrition–health-promoting benefits. In order to improve the availability of Strychnos spinosa, more research on the domestication, processing, preservation, value chain, and economic potential need to be further explored. Therefore, we recommend more concerted efforts from relevant stakeholders with interest in Strychnos spinosa fruit production as a possible sustainable solution to food shortage, food-nutrition insecurity, malnutrition, and austerity, mainly in the rural communities of the developing countries.

First report of Fusarium pallidoroseum (Cooke) Sacc. on Bael (Aegle marmelos Correa) causing leaf spot and die back disease in nursery

Bael is a very popular indigenous fruit of India. Cultivation of bael is a lucrative venture because of its high pharmaceutical importance. The deciduous tree with trifoliate aromatic leaves offering of bael leaves is a compulsory ritual of the worship of lord shiva. In bael nursery, disease appeared during post rainy season (September) as irregular pustules, which was brown in colour, increases very fast and covers the most of the leaf area. After severe infection, affected leaves become dry and fall off. The disease progresses downward causing dieback symptoms but roots are remain healthy and they produces new shoots after destroying the vegetative parts. This type of symptoms incited by Fusarium pallidoroseum (Cooke) Sacc. was identified as a causal organism. The pathogenicity test of the fungus was established. Fusarium pallidoroseum produce smooth and creamyhite colony, grew rapidly on PDA medium at 250C to 260C and produced rose pink colored woolly to cottony, flat spreading colonies when mature. The mass of the mycelium was very compact in nature. The fungus produced both macro and micro conidia, which are hyaline, septate and ends are also hook shaped. Mycelia are thin and septate. Macro conidia were produced from phialides on unbranched or branched conidiophpres. Macro conidia born in sporodochia were curved; possess a foot cell, 3-5 septate. Micro conidia are single celled, smooth, hyaline, ovoid to cylindrical.

Effect of growing media on the germination and seedling growth of Borneo sour eggplant

Borneo sour eggplant, a popular indigenous fruit vegetable in Borneo, has become an important fruit not only to local people, but also to tourists who visit Borneo. One of the challenges in planting this crop is lacking information, particularly in finding suitable media for its growth, eventually inhibiting local farmers from growing the crop commercially. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of 4 growing media compositions (M1: topsoil, M2: topsoil and compost, M3: topsoil and cocopeat and M4: topsoil, compost and cocopeat) on the germination and growth performance of sour eggplant seedlings. The experiment was tested in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 10 replicates. At the end of germination period, seeds planted in M4 medium produced the highest germination rate of 96.67% and was significantly different (P < 0.05) from those sown in other growing media. However, the performance of the seedlings in terms of height, stem diameter, number of leaves and length of leaves showed significant increase (P < 0.05) in M2 medium. This study has demonstrated that M2 medium could improve the growth performance of the seedlings and therefore is recommended as suitable growing media for planting sour eggplant. Keywords: Growth performance, growing medium, indigenous fruit, sour eggplant.

Domestication of Wild Fruit Trees in Communities of Mayo-Belwa LGA, Adamawa State, Nigeria

The study was carried out to assess the domestication of wild fruit trees in communities of Mayo-Belwa LGA of Adamawa State, Nigeria. Seven wards within the LGA (Tola, Mayo-Fareng, Binyeri, Gangfada, Gorobi, Gangwaso and Nasarawo Jereng) were selected for Agroforestry. 14 farms from each of the selected wards were randomly sampled and surveyed for observation and recording of indigenous fruit trees on the farms and also by ocular inspecting the proportion of farm land under fruit trees cultivation. Results shows that preference matrix ranking was used to generate a species priority list of indigenous fruit trees preferred by the local people through the use of questionnaire. Descriptive statistics such as table, frequencies and percentages were used to analyse the data obtained which includes, proportion of indigenous fruit trees DBH ranging (10.1-45.1), basal area ranging (80.1-1597.8), agricultural crops grown alongside fruit trees, local people towards wild fruit trees domestication, socio-economic variables of the respondents, and opportunities and constraints to on-farm cultivation of indigenous fruit trees. The result of the findings indicated that indigenous fruit trees species on-farm was relatively moderate:- The average proportion of farmland under indigenous fruit trees DBH was however low in Gorobi ward and higher in Binyeri ward. Some of the preferred indigenous wild fruit trees were Vitallaria paradoxa, Vitex doniana, Annona senegalensis and Tamarindus indica among others. The study recommended that in order for indigenous fruit trees to meaningfully contribute to household food security and incomes, there is need to: Formulate clear policies and by-laws on conservation of indigenous tree resources. Trees are assets, which contribute to the well-being of the rural community and through their longevity, serve as a cultural linking element throughout generations. Policy-makers and decision-makers also need to be kept informed of the latest advances in domestication and commercialization.

Domesticating and Commercialisation of Indigenous Fruit and Nut Tree Crops for Food Security and Income Generation in the Kingdom of Eswatini

Indigenous fruit and nut tree crops are very important to the human diet and subsequent food security and income generation in the Kingdom of Eswatini. Indigenous fruits and nuts are important for the nutritional contribution as sources of Vitamins and minerals. They also provide fibre which is essential for proper digestion of food. Fruits, particularly nuts provide man with unsaturated fats which are good for the heat and the cardio vascular system. Indigenous fruits and nuts are aesthetic as they provide interesting colour, texture and variety. Despite the immense benefits of indigenous fruits and nuts to the people of the Kingdom of Eswatini, there has not been enough effort put towards domesticating the indigenous fruit and nut trees and subsequent commercialising their products. The objective of this paper was to document strategies towards domestication and commercialisation of indigenous fruits and nuts for improved livelihoods of Emaswati citizens, which in turn will help achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs) pertaining to human health and food security in the Kingdom of Eswatini. It can be concluded that domesticating indigenous fruit and nut trees can be achieved through a multi-stakeholder involvement. Domestication can also help in conservation of indigenous fruit and nut trees. Value addition on indigenous fruits and nuts can generate more income.