We assessed the total phenols content (TPC) by Folin-Ciocalteux method, total flavonoids content (TFC), and antioxidant activity (AOA) using ABTS radical cation of Borassus aethiopum Mart ripe fruits; uniquely its pulp was considered. Fresh and dried at 40, 50, 60, 70 and 80 o C pulps were analyzed, through maceration and decoction, and distilled water (DW), aqueous acetone (DW+Aceto, DW/acetone, 30/70, v/v) and aqueous methanol (DW+Meth) prepared in the same way were used. Though 80 o C product extracted through decoction delivered the highest extracts of TPC with DW, DW+Aceto and DW+Meth, 654.434, 780.066 and 729.934 mg GAE/g respectively; we could not retain it as the best. Very likely, the sugars were caramelizing and the derived product had an intense brown color. Whereas, at 70 o C, TPCs were 447.866, 337.334 and 327.066 mg GAE/g, respectively, by decoction and in the same above solvents order. The best extract obtained with DW was statistically different from that of DW + Aceto and DW + Meth, which were not significantly different from each other, with Duncan least squares means comparison test in a confidence interval of 99%. The corresponding TFCs and AOAs were (59.34, 68.34, and 51.66 mg QE/g) and (0.4404, 0.52088, and 0.6524 µmol TE/g). The flour has a nice chocolate color. Except 60 o C, an increase of the drying temperature leaded to a rising amount of TPC. Taking each factor, the extraction mode and drying temperature were main effects for extracts (p< 0.0001). The overall regression analysis showed significant correlation coefficient between TPC and AOA, with R 2 =0.8394.

Soil redox potential is an important factor affecting soil functioning. Yet, very few agronomy studies included soil redox potential in relation to soil processes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the spatial and temporal variation in soil redox potential and to determine the soil parameters affecting its variation. Soil redox potential, soil moisture, soil temperature, pH and bulk electrical conductivity were measured in upland rice fields during two growing seasons at six positions along an upland–lowland continuum, including two positions at the upland, two at the fringe and two at the lowlands in central Côte d’Ivoire (West Africa). The measurements were made at the following soil depths: 3, 8, 20 and 35 cm. Soil redox potential varied between 500 and 700 mV at the upland positions, 400 and 700 mV at the fringe positions and 100 and 750 mV at the lowland positions, and increased with soil depth. Variations in soil redox potential were driven by soil moisture, bulk electrical conductivity and soil organic carbon. We concluded that for proper interpretation of soil redox potential, sampling protocols should systematically include soil pH, moisture and bulk electrical conductivity measurements.

Sustainable agriculture with use of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) is an emerging farm management that improves crops nutrient and water use efficiency. Decision making on the effect of AMF is still dependent on agronomic diagnosis which is long, tedious, expensive and destructive. This study demonstrates the applicability of proximal fluorescence and reflectance spectroscopy for evaluating and detecting at early stage distinct types of mycorrhized plantain from two cultivars (Musa paradisiaca).Visible-near infrared (400-1000 nm) reflectance and fluorescence data were collected from control and three levels mycorrhized plants designed in randomized and complete block under greenhouse conditions. Two spectral measurements at a week interval were performed on plant leaves by using an USB spectrometer mounted with an Arduino-based LED driver clip.A new normalized reflectance water NWI5 index shows with Datt5 alone highly significant differences at P<0.001 respectively for Orishele and fhia21 cultivars. dNIRmin920_980, NDVI3 and GI reflectance index are significant at P<0.01. Seven other reflectance and 3 fluorescence indices ANTH, FRF_R and NBI_R are significant at P<0.05. The two first principal components for each cultivar spectral features explaining 94.1 % of variance were used to build predictive classification models. LogitBoost algorithm indicates accuracy of 90.27% on stratified cross-validation and 87.5% on test split. Our results confirm that fluorescence and reflectance spectroscopy is a valuable tool for early assessment of mycorrhization success rate evaluation and pattern recognition. They also show promise for the development of non-destructive and cost-effective detectors in monitoring crops under biofertilizers with arbuscular mycorrhizae.

En vue de mieux appréhender le niveau de connaissance de la population ivoirienne sur l’espèce Euphorbia heterophylla et d’enrichir la pharmacopée ivoirienne, une étude ethnobotanique a été réalisée. Elle s’est faite à partir d’une prospection au cours de laquelle des échantillons de plantes ont été prélevés dans les cinq zones géographiques de la Côte d’Ivoire, suivie d’une enquête dans certaines localités. La prospection a permis de ressortir 3 morphotypes caractérisés par 3 formes de tige : unique, peu ramifiée et très ramifiée ainsi que 3 formes de feuilles : ovale, violon et lancéolée. Sur le plan culturel, l’étude a révélé que 75% des personnes enquêtées connaissent la plante, 55% la considèrent comme mauvaise herbe, 13,39% estiment qu’elle sert à prodiguer des soins de santé aux humains. L’organe le plus utilisé est la feuille pour les soins à 100%. Le mode de préparation le plus utilisé est le broyage de feuilles fraîches ou l’expression. Les modes d’applications sont surtout cutanés (90%). Elle est fréquemment utilisée pour le traitement du paludisme, soit 33% des cas. Les autres soins prodigués allaient contre les maladies infantiles dont la fièvre (11%) et d’autres maux. Ces résultats peuvent servir de base de recherches en phytochimie et en pharmacologie.   English title: Ethnobotanical study on Euphorbia heterophylla in Côte d'Ivoire In order to better understand the level of knowledge of the Ivorian population on the species Euphorbia heterophylla and to enrich the Ivorian pharmacopoeia, an ethnobotanical study was carried out. It was based on a survey during which samples of plants were taken in the five geographical areas of Côte d'Ivoire, followed by a survey in some localities. The survey allowed us to identify 3 morphotypes characterized by 3 stem shapes: single, little branched and very branched as well as 3 leaf shapes: oval, violin and lanceolate. On the cultural level, the study revealed that 75% of the people surveyed know the plant, 55% consider it as a weed, 13.39% believe that it is used to provide health care to humans. The most used organ is the leaf for health care at 100%.