Characterization of tree-to-tree variation in morphological, nutritional and medicinal properties of Canarium indicum nuts

Abstract

As part of a feasibility study of the commercialization potential of C. indicum nuts as Agroforestry Tree Products in Papua New Guinea, preliminary characterization studies have examined the tree-to-tree variation in morphological traits (nut and kernel mass and kernel:nut ratio), as well as nutritional (carbohydrate, fat, protein, sodium, vitamin E) and medicinal traits (anti-oxidant activity, anti-inflammatory activity and phenolic content) of kernels from 18 to 72 trees in a small number of different villages of Papua New Guinea (East New Britain Province). There was continuous variation in these traits indicating opportunities for multiple trait cultivar development targeted at food and pharmaceutical markets. Certain traits, for example antiinflammatory activity, in which tree-to-tree variation was highly significant, present greater opportunities than others, such as saturated:unsaturated fatty acid ratio. This intraspecific variation was greater within populations than between populations. The data presented has allowed the development of a strategy to domesticate C. indicum for cultivation in homegardens and cocoa-coconut agroforests, using a participatory approach aimed at the production of agroforestry tree products (AFTPs) to empower small-holders and enhance their livelihoods and income.

Geographic and Phenotypic Variation in Heartwood and Essential‐Oil Characters in Natural Populations of Santalum austrocaledonicum in Vanuatu

“…[27 -29]. Similar patterns of variation have also been identified in morphological and biochemical fruit and nut traits of indigenous trees in Africa [16] [21] [30 -32] and in Papua New Guinea [33]. Securing superior individuals in such populations by vegetative propagation is a highly appropriate strategy [20] for community-level domestication of agroforestry trees [34 -36].…”

The Contribution of Forests and Trees to Sustainable Diets

“…Until a decade ago, there was little research available on the range and origin of intraspecific genetic variation behind variable nutritive values and other horticultural properties, such as fruit size, pulp proportion or yield of edible products from key indigenous tree species [48]. Recently, some studies on the variation of nutritional properties of indigenous tree species have become available, e.g., for Canarium indicum L. nuts [52], peach palm (Bactris gasipaes Kunth.) fruits [53], and marula (Sclerocarya birrea Hochst.)…”

Phenotypic variation of baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) fruit traits in Mali

“…The widespread occurrence of these candidate plus trees indicates that it might be possible to develop cultivars with a large genetic pool, reducing the risk of inbreeding. Unfortunately, data on kernel weight and on the ratio between kernel and seed weight, the latter being related to the ease and consequently labor costs of kernel extraction (Leakey et al 2008), were not provided by this study, so that these traits could not be compared between provenances or trees. Future research should thus also consider this topic.…”

“…This requires quantitative characterization of different fruit traits, of their nutritive value and other food properties, and an understanding of the interaction between different characteristics for multi-trait selection (Leakey et al 2008). Therefore, this study aims at quantifying the phenotypic variation in traits of baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) fruit traits in Mali to define the domestication potential of the species.…”