Aims:The main objectives of the study were to establish the current production practices, constraints, and identity of the different landraces of Livingstone potato (Plectranthus esculentus) that are grown in Zimbabwe as well as the potential for improvement of the indigenous traditional vegetable in the small holder-farming sector. Study Design: A questionnaire based survey was conducted.
Traditional vegetables such as spider plant (Cleome gynandra L.) have better nutritional and health benefits. The aim of this study was to determine the extent of genetic diversity of spider plant genotypes based on phenotypic markers and understand its implications in germplasm utilisation in Zimbabwe. Eighteen genotypes collected from across Zimbabwe were evaluated for phenotypic traits. There were no significant differences (P<0.05) in days to flowering, number of branches, fresh and dry mass, pod number, pod length and stem height. Variance components due to error were higher than genotypic variance components for all quantitative traits, resulting in low broad sense heritability estimates, < 39%. Stem colour, pod lining, number of leaf loblets, pod shape and colour, and stem pubescence showed variations. Hierarchical cluster analysis showed 30% dissimilarity among genotypes. At 85% similarity level, there were four clusters and one of the clusters had eleven out of eighteen genotypes. The results showed low genetic diversity of spider plant in the country. Most agronomic traits could have been affected by directional selection arising from farmers preferences. Some selectively neutral descriptor traits such as colour of the stem and pods, leaf loblets number, pod lining and pod shape can be used in characterising and distinguishing spider plant genotypes.Key Words: Cleome gynandra, descriptor traits, Zimbabwe RÉSUMÉLes légumes traditionnels tels que la plante arraignée (Cleome gynandra L.) ont de bonnes propriétés nutritionnelles. L'objectif de cette étude était de déterminer l'envergure de la diversité génétique des génotypes de la plante arraignée, et ceci en se basant sur des marqueurs phénotypiques en vue de l'utilisation des germplasm au Zimbabwé. Dix-huit génotypes collectés dans différents endroits au Zimbabwé ont été évalués suivant des traits phénotypiques. Il n'y avait pas de différence significative (P<0.05) entre les dates de floraison, nombres de branches, masse fraîche et sèche, nombre de fruit, longueur du fruit et taille de la tige. La composante de variance liée à l'erreur expérimentale était plus élevée que la composante de variance génotypique pour tous les traits quantitatifs mesurés, ceci résulte en une valeur faible d'héritabilité au sens large, < 39%. La couleur de la tige, l'aspect du fruit, le nombre de lobules foliaires, la forme et la couleur du fruit et la pubescence de la tige ont montré une variabilité. La classification numérique a montré 30% de dissimilarité entre les génotypes. A 85% de niveau de similarité, il y avait quatre groupes dont l'un regroupait onze des dix-huit génotypes. Les résultats ont montré une faible diversité génétique au sein de la plante arraignée au Zimbabwé. La plupart des traits agronomiques pourraient affectés par selection directionelle en tenant compte des préférences des producteurs. Certains descripteurs sélectivement neutres tels que la couleur de la tige et du fruit, le nombre de lobules foliaires, l'aspect du fruit et la forme du fruit...
Cocoyam is one of the important root food crops especially in Eastern parts of Zimbabwe. However, the nutritional composition of the Zimbabwean cocoyam has not been ascertained. A field trial was conducted in Rusape, Makoni District, Manicaland Province, Thandi Area under Chief Makoni in Maramwidze Village, 10km from Rusape town in 2015/16 season. Treatments consists of the control, cowdung manure, inorganic fertilizer, and a combination of cowdung manure and inorganic fertilizer, and was laid out in a split-plot design with cocoyam types (Madhumbe, Magogoya and Ghana) assigned to the main plots and manure type as the sub-plots with three replications. The results showed that nutrient supply to the cocoyam crop influenced the quality of the crop in a non-synchronously form. Proximate nutrition composition of cocoyam were in the range of 65 -78% (moisture), 2 -5 % (ash), 0.2 -1.10% (fat), 2 -5% (fibre), 14 -23% (carbohydrates), 390 -460 mg/100g (potassium), 24 -43 mg/100g (calcium), 79 -91 k/cal (energy), 0.3 -4.8% (protein) and 79 -110 mg/100g (magnesium). The high carbohydrate content in the cocoyam shows that the crop is superior compared to other tubers like sweet potatoes and cassava. In conclusion, the utilization of cocoyam combined with other foods with high protein content like cowpea will be beneficial to the nutrition of vulnerable groups considering the resultant high nutritive values. Contribution/ OriginalityThe current study ascertained the nutritional composition of the Zimbabwean cocoyam. The study also shows that cocoyam is superior as compared to other tubers like sweet potatoes and cassava.
Livingstone potato (Plectranthus esculentus N.E.Br) is an underutilised indigenous root vegetable grown by communal farmers in the eastern provinces of Zimbabwe. It is vegetatively propagated using unimproved retained tubers from the previous season. The risk of disease carryover is therefore high, leading to poor yields. The objective of the study was to exploit the tissue culture technique of micropropagation to produce a mass supply of healthy planting material for improved productivity. Two experiments were conducted: firstly, to determine the best explant type and secondly, to determine the best landrace and plant growth regulators for the growth of plantlets. The landraces, namely, Ndurwe, Musande, Chibanda, and Chizambezi, were sourced from communal farmers in the stated production areas. Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and benzyl amino purine (BAP) were the auxin and cytokinin used, respectively. The first experiment was laid out as a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with two factors: landrace and explant type (shoot tips, nodes, and leaves). After culturing the explants on a plain Murashige Skoog (MS) medium for ten weeks, the best explant was the node with regards to the number of nodes, shoots, and roots of the plantlets which were significant (P<0.05). The second experiment was laid out as a RCBD with two factors: landraces and the plant growth regulator combinations. The nodes were subcultured on an MS medium supplemented with the 16 combinations of plant growth regulators (0 mg/l, 0.5 mg/l, 1 mg/l, and 2 mg/l BAP concentrations: 0 mg/l, 0.2 mg/l, 0.5 mg/l, and 1 mg/l NAA concentrations), respectively. Chizambezi performed best and is, therefore, highly recommended for the rapid multiplication of Livingstone potato. Results from this study have clearly demonstrated that the addition of NAA: BAP at varying concentrations was significant and is essential for optimizing the growth media for micropropagation of Livingstone potato in Zimbabwe. Commercial production of plantlets can, therefore, be carried out to provide healthy planting material for the communal farmers for improved productivity while preserving the germplasm of the underutilised crop at the same time.
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