Tree-to-tree variability in fruits and kernels of a Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Del. population grown in Sudan

Phytochemicals, Antioxidant Activity and Ethnobotanical Uses of Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Del. Fruits from the Arid Zone of Mauritania, Northwest Africa

“…Fruit accessions from Aghchorguit contained a significantly high level of proteins (32.5 ± 0.4 g/100 g DM) compared to the other accessions (28.1-29.2 g/100 g DM). These results are in close accordance with those reported by Ahmed et al [8] in eight Sudanese desert date accessions (47.3% for lipids and 30% for proteins) and by Mohamed et al [13], which reported values of 49% and 32.4% for lipids and proteins content, respectively, from one Sudanese fruit accession. The present study showed that the fruit kernel of B. aegyptiaca contains more lipids than that of some oleaginous trees of agro-industrial importance like the Argan tree (Argania spinosa) that possessed 36% lipids [36].…”

“…For instance, B. aegyptiaca fruits from Senegal possessed weight, length and diameter averages of 4.03 g, 24.4 mm and 18 mm, respectively [30]. However, values reported from Sudan were higher regarding fruit weight (7.1 g), length (27.7 mm) and diameter (21.6 mm), than those reported in the present study [8]. Variations in fruit morphology among populations of the same species have been reported in other tree species such as Tamarindus indica [32] and Acacia Tortilis [33].…”

“…Balanites aegyptiaca, known in Mauritania as Teichot, tolerates drought and salinity, and thrives on a wide variety of soil types [6][7][8]. The tree is highly appreciated throughout Sahelian and Saharan regions for its woods (suitable for cooking), edible fruits (sweety mesocarp and nutritive kernel oil), animal feed value, shade and shelter and numerous ethnomedicinal uses [7,[9][10][11][12].…”

“…The fruit kernel contains a considerable amount of nutrititve oil (40%-51%) made up of 11 different fatty acids comprising both saturated (mainly palmitic and stearic) and unsaturated (predominantly oleic and linoleic) [13,[16][17][18]. The fruit kernel is also rich in proteins (26.1%-34.3%) [13,18] and is reported to contain a variable amount of polyphenols (47.8-117.5 mg/100 g) [8]. However, saponins, referred to as balanitinis, remain by far the most reputed chemical constituents of the B. aegyptiaca fruit, representing 7.2% in the pulp and 6.7% in the kernel [19].…”

Phenotypic variation, functional traits repeatability and core collection inference in Synsepalum dulcificum (Schumach & Thonn.) Daniell reveals the Dahomey Gap as a centre of diversity

“…An average edible ratio of roughly 67% was observed in S. dulcificum, which is one of the highest when compared to other tropical Africa indigenous fruit species such as V. paradoxa (61.33-62.0% of edible ratio) 34,67 , Balanites aegyptica (L.) Delile. (44.9-50.65%) 76 , and subtropical species such as A. trifoliata (23.52-27.63%) 77 . More importantly, under favourable conditions, the edible ratio in S. dulcificum can increase up to 72% as observed for the set of individuals in the Upper Guinea forest block, a region characterized by higher rainfall and less sunlight exposure.…”