Neglected leafy green vegetable crops in Africa Vol. 2 - GFU for ...

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Neglected leafy green vegetable crops in Africa Vol. 2 

Bibliography of the genetic resources 

of traditional African vegetables 

N.M. Mnzava, J.A. Dearing, L. Guarino, J.A. Chweya (compilers) 

and H. de Koeijer (editor)

Bibliography of the genetic resources 

of traditional African vegetables 

N.M. Mnzava, J.A. Dearing, L. Guarino, J.A. Chweya (compilers) 

and H. de Koeijer (editor)

The International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI) is an autonomous international scientific organization, 

supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). IPGRI’s mandate is 

to advance the conservation and use of genetic diversity for the well-being of present and future generations. 

IPGRI’s headquarters is based in Rome, Italy, with offices in another 14 countries worldwide. It operates through 

three programmes: (1) the Plant Genetic Resources Programme, (2) the CGIAR Genetic Resources Support 

Programme, and (3) the International Network for the Improvement of Banana and Plantain (INIBAP). 

CAB International (CABI) is an international, intergovernmental, not-for-profit organization. Its mission is to help 

improve human welfare worldwide through the dissemination, application and generation of scientific knowledge in 

support of sustainable development, with emphasis on agriculture, forestry, human health and the management of 

natural resources, and with particular attention to the needs of developing countries. 

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and Rural Cooperation (CTA), European Union, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 

International Development Research Centre (IDRC), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), International 

Association for the promotion of cooperation with scientists from the New Independent States of the former 

Soviet Union (INTAS), Interamerican Development Bank, Natural Resources Institute (NRI), Centre de coopération 

internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement (CIRAD), Nordic Genebank, Rockefeller Foundation, 

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), TBRI 

and the World Bank. 

Citation: Mnzava, N.M., J.A. Dearing, L. Guarino and J.A. Chweya (compilers) and H. de Koeijer (editor). 1999. 

Bibliography of the genetic resources of traditional African vegetables. Neglected leafy green vegetable crops in 

Africa Vol. 2. International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Rome, Italy. 

ISBN 92-9043-531-3 

IPGRI Office for Sub-Saharan Africa 

c/o ICRAF 

PO Box 30677 

Nairobi, Kenya 

© International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, 1999

Contents 

A: Amaranth and Celosia (Amaranthus spp. and Celosia argentea L.) ...........................1 

B: Jute/Jews Mallow (Corchorus olitorius L.) ..................................................................11 

C: Black Nightshades (Solanum nigrum complex) .........................................................14 

E: Sorrel (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) ......................................................................................24 

D: Cat’s Whiskers/Cleome gynandra; Gynandropsis gynandra L. (Briq) .................... 27 

F: African eggplant (Solanum aethiopicum L.) and related species (Solanum spp.)...28 

G: Okra (Abelmoschus esculentum (L.) Moench) ...........................................................33 

H: Ethiopian Mustard (Brassica carinata A. Br.) ..............................................................36 

I: Cassava and Sweet Potato (Manihot esculentum Crantz, Ipomoea batata L.) ...... 37 

J: Other African vegetables ..............................................................................................40 

K: Nutrition ..........................................................................................................................80 

L: Ethnobotany ...................................................................................................................88 

M: General ...........................................................................................................................91

Preface 

In Africa, traditional vegetables are an important source of nutrients and vitamins for the rural population, as 

many nutritional studies have shown. Farmers have cultivated and collected these vegetables for generations 

as an additional food source. Natural selection and farmer-based breeding practices have developed 

the genetic base of the most important vegetables. In recent decades there has been formal research by 

national agricultural research programmes and international research organizations on cultivation methods of 

the vegetables to improve their yield. However research on the genetic base of these vegetables for breeding 

purposes has been scattered and the results of studies have not always been published in scientific journals. 

Information on the results of research and availability of this information for researchers has been a major 

obstacle for stimulating further research on traditional vegetables. 

In 1995 the “International workshop on genetic resources of traditional vegetables in Africa” took place in 

Nairobi, Kenya as a follow-up to an earlier meeting on “Safeguarding the genetic basis of Africa’s traditional 

crops”. In the final plenary IPGRI pledged to develop and distribute a bibliography on African traditional 

vegetables. 

This bibliography focuses on bibliographic references that give results of research undertaken with the 

intention of understanding the genetic base of traditional vegetables. Researchers collaborating with the 

editors decided on the major species and subjects to be included in this publication. References were obtained 

not only from the international agricultural databases CAB Abstracts, AGRIS and AGRICOLA but also 

from grey litreature collected by the compilers. As many traditional vegetables from Africa can be found in 

other continents, relevant studies on the same species are also included in this bibliography. 

This bibliography does not claim to be definitive or even exhaustive. We are aware of the fact that results of 

research undertaken by African researchers and students is still to be published or can not be found in the 

international bibliographic databases. Therefore we welcome information on papers, reports and thesis written 

on Africa’s traditional vegetables that are not included in this bibliography. This information will stimulate 

and help us to produce a second volume of this bibliography. 

We hope that this work will help to further the research on the genetic base of Africa’s traditional vegetables 

and stimulate their use. 

The editor and compilers

Acknowledgement 

IPGRI expresses its thanks to CAB International for permission to include abstracts from the CAB Abstracts 

database. Abstracts marked as CABI copyright cannot be further copied without the permission of 

CABI. The financial support of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs Development Cooperation is 

also acknowledged.

A: Amaranth and Celosia (Amaranthus spp and Celosia argentea L.) 

1. Abbott, J. A. and T. A. Campbell. 1982. Sensory evaluation of vegetable amaranth (Amaranthus spp.). 

HortScience 17(3): 409-10. 

Appearance, flavour, texture and overall eating quality of 20 steamed amaranth entries (three A. cruentus, 

one A. dubius and 16 A. tricolor) and spinach were rated by consumer sensory panels. Several entries of 

A. tricolor had nonsignificantly lower scores than spinach. Of the A. tricolor entries, Chin was the best 

overall and Tampala was intermediate. Of all the entries, A. dubius was intermediate and A. cruentus was 

least acceptable. 

Keywords: Food preparation, Cooking-quality. 

2. Adebanjo, A. 1994. Environmental influence on the incidence of shoot diseases and health of 

Amaranthus seeds in humid tropics: Nigeria. Ambio 23(3): 206-9. 

The influence of the environment on the incidence of dieback, stem and leaf blights in Amaranthus 

cruentus cv. NHA c33, NHA c30 and NHA c100 was investigated in Nigeria, for 6 seasons during 1987- 

1988. The lowest incidences (0%) of dieback and stem blight (8%) were recorded during the first season 

for NHA c33 and NHA c30, whereas NHA c100 gave 4% leaf blight in the third season (Dec.-Feb.). The 

lowest mean percentage of leaf blight was recorded for all cultivars by the third season. Conversely, the 

highest incidence of symptoms caused by Choanephora cucurbitarum in cultivars occurred in the second 

season (Aug.-Oct.). The health of A. cruentus seeds was influenced by the season of harvest, environmental 

conditions and variety. The precipitation, high temperatures and humidity that accompanied the harvests of 

the first and second seasons greatly reduced seed quality. High-quality seeds were obtained from NHA c100 

and NHA c33. 

CABI copyright. 

Keywords: Fungal-diseases, Choanephora-cucurbitarum, Seasonal-variation, Seeds. 

3. Brenan, J. P. M. 1981. The genus Amaranthus in Southern Africa. Journal of South African Botany 47(3): 

451-92. 

A key to and descriptions of the 15 native and introduced species of Amaranthus in Southern Africa are 

given, together with comments on their origins. It is noted that some species occur as weeds. 

Keywords: Biology, Taxonomy, Ecology, Weeds. 

4. Campbell, T. A. and J. A. Abbott. 1982. Field evaluation of vegetable amaranth (Amaranthus spp.). 

HortScience 17(3): 407-9. 

Twenty entries (three of A. cruentus, one of A. dubius and 16 of A. tricolor) were evaluated in the field at 

Beltsville, USA, during the summers of 1979 and 1980. Mean fresh yields (leaves and stems) for five trials 

sown on different dates ranged from 4.0 to 16.5 t/ha. Yields were highest for A. dubius. Entries with a 

high leaf : stem ratio probably have the greatest market potential and the highest ratios were found in A. 

tricolor. 

Keywords: Variety-trials, Field trials, Yield. 

Amaranth and Celosia 

5. Caveness, F. E. and G. F. Wilson. 1977. Effect of root-knot nematodes on growth and development of 

Celosia argentea L. Acta Horticulturae(53): 71-3. 

Meloidogyne incognita and M. javanica readily attacked Celosia argentea, significantly reducing its early, 

rapid growth. At harvest, 74 days after emergence, all plants grown in root-knot-infested soil were 

signficantly smaller and ligher than plants grown in fumigated soil and roots were heavily galled indicating 

that this cultivar was highly susceptible to the nematodes. As an economic crop, it is suggested 

that C. argentea needs to be grown in a rotation regime in which the plant parasitic nematode populations 

are kept below damage-inflicting thresholds. ADDITIONAL ABSTRACT: Meloidogyne incognita and M. 

javanica readily attacked C. argentea grown as a vegetable, significantly reducing its early rapid growth. 

At harvest, 74 days after emergence, all plants grown in infested soil were significantly smaller and 

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lighter than plants in fumigated soil. Roots of attacked plants were heavily galled, indicating that the 

new cv., No. 8, was highly susceptible. It is suggested that C. argentea should be grown in a rotation in 

which nematode populations are kept below damage-inflicting thresholds. 

Keywords: Pathogenicity, Pests, Nematodes. 

6. Chaturvedi, M., K. Datta, P. Nath and M. Pal. 1993. Cytopalynology of Celosia L. Grana 32(3): 169-75. 

Cytopalynological studies have been carried out in Celosia (Amaranthaceae), a polyploid species complex 

having both wild and cultivated species. The studies include C. trigyna 2x (wild), C. argentea 4x and 

8x (wild), 8x colchiploid, 12x (synthetic), C. cristata 4x (cultivated: varieties and cultivars), C. whiteii 12x 

(wild), and F1 hybrids (1) C. argentea 4x (wild) x C. argentea 8x (wild)-6x, (2) C. argentea 12x (synthetic) x 

C. whiteii 12x (wild)-12x, (3) C. whiteii 12x (wild) x C. argentea 12x (synthetic)-12x. Though the genus is 

stenopalynous with pantoporate pollen grains, cytotypic differences have been observed in pollen size, 

exine ornamentation from 4x, 8x and 12x species. In the F1 hybrids the exine characters are intermediate 

between the parents. In reciprocal 12x F1 hybrids the pollen size is variable and resembles that of the 

male parent in each case, though other exine features are similar in both. 



Keywords: Pollen, Interspecific-hybridization, Polyploidy, Breeding. 

7. Deutsch, J. A. 1978. Genetic variation of yield and nutritional value in several Amaranthus species 

used as a leafy vegetable. Dissertation Abstracts International, B 38(9): 3969B. 

In three plantings in Taiwan and the Philippines, 55 entries, representing nine species, were evaluated 

by sampling at weekly intervals from when the earliest entries showed peduncle development. Leaf and 

stem characteristics were also compared in twelve entries at successive harvests. Some entries had a 

significantly higher iron and calcium content than the overall mean. Ranking of entries for yield, iron 

and fibre content was similar in all plantings. Genotype X environmental interactions appeared large for 

oxalate, calcium and protein contents. Mean protein production was 5 kg/ha/day at the first harvest. 

The best entries averaged 11 kg/ha/day. 

Keywords: Plant-composition, Nutritive-value, Genotype-environment-interaction. 

8. Devadas, V. S., P. K. Gopaiakrishnan and K. V. Peter. 1992. Genetic divergence in vegetable amaranths. 

South Indian Horticulture 40(1): 16-20. 

A total of 25 accessions of Amaranthus tricolor, A. dubius, A. spinosus and A. viridis were evaluated for 13 

biometric characters. The accessions were grouped into 7 clusters. The study of inter- and intra-cluster 

differences revealed that variability was greatest in varieties of A. tricolor. 

Keywords: Variability, Multivariate-analysis, Yield. 

9. Eze, J. M. O. 1987. Growth of Amaranthus hybridus (African spinach) under different daylight intensities 

in the dry season in southern Nigeria. Experimental Agriculture 23(2): 193-200. 

Plants were grown in the open under 5 levels of daylight: full light; with a single layer of wire mesh 

screening (70% light); with 2 layers of screening (50%); with 4 layers (20%); and with 6 layers (6%). 

Growth data are presented for plants grown during the dry season (December-January) when the average 

daylight intensity above the screens was 6500 lx (with a maximum of about 9500 lx under a cloudless 

sky). The total plant fresh weight was greatest with 70% light, but total dry matter accumulation was 

greatest in full light (as were both the fresh and dry weight of the roots). Leaf area was greatest with 50% 

light, diminishing with increasing shade. The % flowering and number of branches were greatest, and 

senescence was most rapid, in full light. Stem weight ratio varied only slightly between treatments, but as 

light intensity decreased so did the root weight ratio whereas the leaf weight ratio increased. The contents 

of total carbohydrate, ascorbic acid and chlorophyll-a and -b per unit dry weight of leaf tissue, and 

the chlorophyll stability index, were higher at higher light intensities. Protein accumulation was best at 

70% light. 

Keywords: Light, metabolism, Proteins, Growth, Environment.

10. Fawusi, M. O. A. and D. P. Ormrod. 1981. Response to temperature of Celosia argentea. Scientia 

Horticulturae (Netherlands) 15(3): 215-21. 

Celosia argentea (fam. Amaranthaceae) is a common leafy vegetable of tropical countries. Controlled 

environment experiments were conducted to evaluate the temperature responses of cv. IITA (SRV8), Red 

and Local Green. IITA had superior early and sustained leaf area and shoot dry matter production at all 

temperatures. Local Green had the longest stems and heaviest roots. Growth was retarded at 25/20oC 

day/night temperatures compared with 30/25 and 35/30oC. Some parameters were unaffected by temperature, 

some were greater at 30/25oC, and some were greater at 35/30oC than at other temperatures. 

Keywords: Temperature, Plant-growth, Development. 

11. George, S. T., G. K. Barat, N. Sivakami and B. Choudhury. 1989. Source and variability for nutritive 

aspects in amaranth (Amaranthus species). Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 59(4): 274-5. 

Leaves of 30 entries of A. tricolor, A. dubius and A. cruentus were collected after 45 days growth in the field 

and analysed for DM, crude protein, beta-carotene and total oxalate contents. Analysis of variance 

revealed highly significant differences among the entries for all the traits. A. cruentus Acc 14 had the 

highest DM content (17.2%) and a red entry Acc 59, had the highest crude protein content (29.13%). Acc 

28 (ii) contained the highest quantity (36.1 mg/100 g DM) of beta-carotene. All green entries had low 

oxalate contents, being lowest in Co1 (3.04%). Red and green-red entries with high protein and betacarotene 

contents also had high oxalate contents. 


Keywords: Varieties, Proteins, Beta-carotene, Oxalates. 

12. Girenko, M. M., A. S. Borodkin and V. V. Voskresenskaya. 1988. Variation in the main economically 

useful characters in amaranth. Sbornik Nauchnykh Trudov Po Prikladnoi Botanike, Genetike i 

Selektsii(118): 59-67. 

In a study of 120 forms of various species during 1984-86 in the Krasnodar and Leningrad areas of the 

USSR, forms were identified with good scores for yield of green matter and seed for use in breeding. Seven 

groups were distinguished and are characterized. The source material for varieties of the first 2 groups 

appeared to be Amaranthus cruentus, A. hybridus and A. hypochondriacus, for group 3 these same species 

and A. caudatus, for group 5 A. gangeticus [A. tricolor] and some botanical varieties of A. tricolor and for 

group 7 A. retroflexus and A. mangostanus. When 11 forms were analysed for chemical composition, a 

fairly wide variation was found and all the varieties had a high content of ascorbic acid (70.6-109.9 mg/ 

100 g fresh matter) and carotene (0.95-8.18 mg/100 g), close to that found in the richest sources of these 

constituents in vegetable crops (red peppers and leeks). The highest ascorbic acid content occurred in 

genotype K9 from India (109.9 mg/100g) and in A. edulis K27, which contained 101.3 mg ascorbic acid/ 

100 g. Protein content of leaf and stem dry matter was 16.9-23.8% and that of the seeds was 14.12-19.56% 

of the fresh weight. 



Keywords: Genetic-resources, Pseudocereals, Protein-content, Varieties, Variety-trials, Breeding. 

13. Grubben, G. J. H. 1974. L’amarante et sa culture au Dahomey. [The Amaranth and it’s cultivation in 

Dahomey]. Agronomie Tropicale 29(1): 97-102. 

The green amaranthus most commonly grown in Dahomey is A. hybridus subsp. cruentus var. paniculatus. 

Traditional cultural practices and recommended modified practices are described. The dry matter content 

of the leaves and stems includes 4.44% N, 0.43% P, 3.59% K, 3.14% Ca and 1.86% Mg. The yields 

obtained in response to the large quantities of fresh nightsoil used as fertilizer are equal to or larger than 

those obtained with composted material. In chemical fertilizer trials good results were obtained with 

400-800 kg/ha NPK (10-10-20) plus 10- 20 t/ha organic matter. The principal diseases are damping off 

(Pythium aphanidermatum) of seedlings and leaf and stem rot caused by Choanephora cucurbitarum, and 

the main insect pests are Hymenia recurvalis caterpillars and Lixus spp. borers. Control measures are 

outlined. Nematodes (Meloidogyne sp.) cause no damage to Amaranthus and very little damage to European 

vegetables (lettuces, beans, carrots) provided that they are grown in rotation with Amaranthus. 

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Keywords: Pests, Crop-rotations, Diseases. 

14. Grubben, G. J. H. 1975. Amaranthus culture, a tropical leaf vegetable, with special reference to south 

Dahomey. [La culture de l’amarante, legume-feuilles tropical, avec reference speciale au sud- 

Dahomey]. Pp. 223. Mededelingen-Landbouwhogeschool,-Wageningen, 75-6. Section de Phytotechnie 

Tropicale, Institut National Agronomique , Wageningen, Netherlands. 

The subject is reviewed under the following headings: introduction, Amaranthus culture in south Dahomey, 

consumption and nutritive value, botanical and geographical considerations, growth analysis, ecological 

influences, spacing and culture method, soil and fertilizers, diseases and pests, weeds, breeding 

(which includes considerations of chromosome number, interfertility and varietal selection) and seed 

multiplication. A new variety of Celosia argentea without anthocyanin has been selected from the variety 

Avounvo Rouge [Red Avounvo]. The new variety, called Avounvo Vert [Green Avounvo], had similar 

yield, disease resistance and morphological characteristics to those of Avounvo Rouge. The absence of 

anthocyanin was due to the mutation of a single gene, the green plants being recessive homozygotes. 

AGRIS copyright 

Keywords: Breeding, Plant-composition, Varieties. 

15. Grubben, G. J. H. 1976. The cultivation of Amaranth as a tropical leaf vegetable with special reference 

to South-Dahomey. Pp. 196-206.Communications of the Department of Agricultural Research, Royal 

Tropical Institute (Netherlands), no. 67. Department of Agricultural Research, Royal Tropical Institute, 

Amsterdam, Netherlands. 

This publication is based on experimental data obtained with the cultivation of amaranthus, mainly 

Amaranthus cruentus and Celosia argentea as leafy vegetables in Benin. The nutritional value, the botany 

and cultivation methods, and observations on growth, on ecological influences related to photosynthesis, 

on plant spacing, on fertilizing e.g. with NPK, town refuse and compost, on the control of pests, 

diseases and weeds, and on the varietal improvement and seed multiplication are described. Important 

pests of amaranthus are Hymenia recurvalis caterpillars and Lixus truncatulus stem borers. Wetrot caused 

by Choanephora cucurbitarum is the worst disease, and nutgrass (Cyperus rotundus) a serious weed for 

amaranth. 

Keywords: Crop-Cultivation-and-Maintenance, Reference-Document. 

16. Grubben, G. J. H. 1980. Cultivation methods and growth analysis of vegetable amaranth, with special 

reference to South-Benin. Pp.63-7. in Proceedings of the Second Amaranth Conference. Rodale Press, 

Emmaus, Pennsylvania (USA). 

Advantages and disadvantages of transplanting or direct sowing, and narrow spacing or wide spacing 

of amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus) are discussed. The usual practice is transplanting, either at a narrow 

spacing for 1 single harvest, or at a wide spacing for 2-4 subsequent cuttings. Research was carried out 

in Benin and in the Netherlands to find the rationale behind these practices and, if possible, to improve 

them. 

Keywords: Amaranthus, Cultural-practices. 


17. Grubben, G. J. H. 1980. Germplasm of vegetable and grain amaranths. Plant Genetic Resources Newsletter(42): 

33-5. 

By international agreement at the second Amaranths Conference in 1979, it was decided, for plant 

collection purposes, to treat cereal and vegetable species of Amaranthus as a single subject. A taxonomic 

key is to be published; a provisional list of descriptors has been prepared. Collecting missions are 

suggested for Africa and especially for India. Genetic material will be stored at centres in the USA, India 

and Nigeria. 

Keywords: Amaranthus, Genetic-resources, USA, India, Africa.

18. Grubben, G. J. H. and D. H. van Sloten. 1981. Genetic resources of amaranths. Pp. 57. International 

Board for Plant Genetic Resources, Rome, Italy. 

This paper includes sections on: (1) the centres of origin and diversity of various species of cultivated 

Amaranthus as well as some species of Celosia, (2) germplasm collection, breeding and research in the 

USA, India, Nigeria and other countries, (3) priorities for collecting, (4) base and active collection centres, 

(5) descriptors (the list is given) and (6) taxonomic classification and description. The addresses of four 

base collection centres (in the USA, India, Nigeria and Mexico) and the names and addresses of international 

contact persons for germplasm collections are given, as well as lists of bibliographies and recent 

publications, institutions around the world with germplasm collections, commercial seed suppliers, 

and researchers. A provisional key to some edible species of the Amaranthaceae and detailed descriptions 

of ten Amaranthus and two Celosia species are given. 

Keywords: Centres-of-diversity, Genetic-resources, Taxonomy, Breeding. 

19. Hew, C. S. and S. K. Hee. 1990. Growth of Celosia argentea in potting media made with different 

tropical soil series. Tropical Agriculture (Trinidad and Tobago) 67(3): 270-4. 

The growth of Celosia argentea in various potting media using five different soil series, with or without 

fertilizer application, was evaluated. Celosia grew best in soil series with a sandy loam texture, high pH 

and nutrient content and it responded well to organic and chemical fertilizer. 

Keywords: Growth, Growing-media, Soil-types, Fertilizer-application. 

20. Illoh, H. C. 1995. Foliar epidermis and petiole anatomy of four species of Celosia L. in Nigeria. Feddes- 

Repertorium 106(1-2): 15-23 

C. argentea, C. cristata [C. argentea var. cristata], C. laxa and C. trigyna occur in SW Nigeria, where the first 

is cultivated as a vegetable and the others occur as weeds. Their foliar anatomy is described. The distinguishing 

characteristics of taxonomic value include the petiole shapes in distal, median and proximal 

regions, arrangement of vascular supply to the petioles, presence or absence of protuberances on the 

polar ends of the stomata, and size as well as the arrangement of crystals in the leaf blade. The use of 

anatomy in distinguishing the closely related species C. argentea and C. cristata is discussed. 


Keywords: Plant-anatomy, Stomata, Leaves, Taxonomy, Weed-utilization, Weeds, Biology, Utilization . 

21. Jain, S. K. and K. R. Vaidya. 1979. Evaluation of germplasm resources in grain amaranths. Agronomy 

Abstracts(64). 

Over 30 populations were sampled in northern India and scored for morphological and allozyme variation. 

Variations in inflorescence and seed characteristics offer scope for improvements in seed yield, size, 

and retention on maturity. 

Keywords: Amaranthus, Genetic-resources, Vegetables. 

22. Kamara, F. D. 1982. The effects of different watering regimes on tissue water relations growth and 

productivity of pot grown Celosia argentea [shokoto- yokoto]. Fourah Bay College, Siera Leone University 

, Freetown (Sierra Leone). 

Celosia argentea (Shokoto-yokoto) is a herbage vegetable having its nutrient materials stored in part above 

the ground, especially the leaves. The leaves are used in cooking, they are sliced to smaller pieces and 

mixed with fish and palm-oil to prepare ‘soup’ for staple food. 

Keywords: Plant-water-relations. 


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23. Khan, J. and A. S. Khan. 1989. Lipid components of Amaranthus viridis L. and Digera muricatus L. 

(Mart). Pakistan Journalof Scientific and Industrial Research (Pakistan) 32(11): 726-7. 

Keywords: Amaranthus, Amaranthaceae, Lipid-content, Fatty-acids. 

24. Kogbe, J. O. S. 1980. Effects of poultry manure on the yield components of Celosia argentea L. Vegetables 

for the Hot, Humid Tropics(5): 54-63. 

Poultry manure at 10, 20, 30 or 40 t/ha was applied to the Celosia argentea large-leafed cvs TLV 8 and 

Local Red and the narrow-leafed cv. Local White. Optimum rates for these cvs were 40, 40 and 20 t/ha, 

respectively. TLV 8 was the highest yielding and most succulent. 

Keywords: Fertilizers, Organic, Varieties. 

25. Lawanson, A. O., B. E. Ayisire and S. F. Ikusebiala. 1991. Effects of harvest date on the contents of 

sugar, inorganic phosphate and vitamin C in Amaranthus dubius. Turrialba (IICA). 41(3): 321-4. 

A study of the accumulation of inorganic phosphate, vitamin C and total free sugar by the leaves and 

stems or in the entire shoot of the leafy vegetable, Amaranthus dubius, during its mature stages was carried 

out in Nigeria. Maximum levels of inorganic phosphate were observed at the early stage of maturity of 

the plant in both leaves and stems, whereas the highest amount of total free sugar and vitamin C occurred 

in these organs at later stages. The stems tended to accumulate the nutrients investigated to a 

greater extent than the leaves. 

Keywords: Harvesting-date, Leaves, Chemical-composition. 

26. Maluf, A. M. and P. S. Martins. 1991. Caracterizacao preliminar de Amaranthus hybridus L. e Amaranthus 

viridis L. atraves de isoenzimas [Preliminary characterization of Amaranthus hybridus L. and 

Amaranthus viridis L. through isozymes] . Anais Da Escola Superior De Agricultura Luiz De Queiroz 

(Brazil) 48 : 23-39. 

Keywords: Electrophoresis, Isoenzymes, Hybridization. 

27. Mathai, P. J. 1978. Amaranthus, a neglected vegetable. Indian Farming 28(1): 29, 32. 

Species cultivated for grain are A. hypochondriacus, A. caudatus, A. edulis and A. cruentus; they are considered 

to have been cultivated by the Aztecs and pre-Columbian Mexicans and to have been introduced 

into India from Europe in the 19th century. When young, these species can also be used as vegetables. 

Strictly vegetable species include the A. tricolor complex, A. lividus and A. blitum. Very little breeding work 

has been done with any of these species. Vegetable types such as Co1, which is recommended by Tamil 

Nadu Agricultural University, can yield 15-16 X 103 kg/ha. 

Keywords: History-and-evolution, Varieties, India, Cultural-methods. 

28. Mathai, P. J., P. R. Ramachander and M. V. Chandravadana. 1981. Relation between yield and some 

nutritive constituents in Amaranthus. South Indian Horticulture 29(2): 124-5. 

Leaf weight, stem weight and total green weight of stem and leaf (plant weight) were measured in 17 

varieties of A. caudatus and 26 of A. tricolor collected from India, Australia, Taiwan, Nigeria and the USA. 

Leaf contents of protein, iron and phosphorus were estimated on a dry-matter basis. Protein content was 

positively correlated with plant weight in A. caudatus and iron content was negatively correlated with 

leaf weight in A. tricolor. 

Keywords: Plant-composition, Yield-components. 


29. Mnzava, N. A. 1981. On alleviating Vitamin A deficiency in Tanzania - Research and production 

strategies for green leafy vegetables, particularly Amaranthus. in Vitamin A Symposium. 16-21 November 

1981 Dar-es-Salaam Dar-es-Salaam Institute of Finance Management.

30. Mnzava, N. A. and A. M. Masam. 1985. Regeneration potential, leaf and seed yield of vegetable 

amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus L.), as a function of initial topping heights. Pp. 151-60 in Ninth African 

symposium on horticultural crops (H. D. Tindall and G.E.Tidbury, editors). Acta Horticulturae (Netherlands), 

no. 153. ISHA, Wageningen (Netherlands). 

Paper from the 9. African Symposium on Horticultural Crops. Mahe (Seychelles). 27- 29 Jul 1983. 

Keywords: Harvesting, Regeneration, Yields. 

31. Mnzava, N. A. and S. O. W. M. Reuben. 1982. Leaf and seed yields of Amaranthus cruentus L. in 

relation to population pressure. Beitrage Zur Tropischen Landwirtschaft Und Veterinarmedizin (Germany 

D.R.). 20(3): 277-82. 

The seed and leaf yields of Amaranthus - including edible tops - were investigated at densities of 64, 100, 

144 and 196 plants/m2 of a local cultivar. The leaf yield increases with density up to flowering six weeks 

after direct seeding. There is a strong negative correlation between yield per plant and density. The 

proportion of the leaves in the total fresh weight decreases continuously until flowering, irregardless of 

the population density. Therefore the fifth week after direct seeding is suggested as optimum for leaf 

harvesting. Seed yield per plant decreases asymptotically with increasing population pressure, whereas 

the seed yield per m2 increases. With even higher population densities, projected seed yields of 19 t/ha 

seem obtainable. Harvesting time is reached three months after direct seeding. 

Keywords: Planting-density, Leaf-number, Seed-production. 

32. Mnzava, N. A. and T. Ntimbwa. 1985. Influence of plant density on edible leaf and seed yields of 

vegetable amaranth following repeated leaf harvest. Pp. 127-32 in Tenth African symposium on horticultural 

crops. (S.N. Haile-Mariam) Acta Horticulturae (Netherlands), no. 158. ISHS, Wageningen 

(Netherlands). 

Paper from the 10. African Symposium on Horticultural Crops. Addis Ababa (Ethiopia). 16 21 Jan 1984. 

Keywords: Amaranthus-cruentus, Plant-population, Yield. 

33. Mohideen, M. K. and I. Irulappan. 1993. Improvement of amaranths. Pp. 305-23; 54 ref. in Advances in 

horticulture: vegetable crops, Vol. 5 (K.L.Chadha and G. Kalloo, eds.) Malhotra Publishing House, 

New Delhi, India. 

Following an introductory section on the nutritive value of the amaranths (Amaranthus spp.) as leafy 

vegetables, information is given on history and taxonomy. Amaranth breeding in India is then considered 

with reference to current breeding objectives and research centres, cytology, genetics, breeding 

methods, varieties released and future research needs. Data are tabulated for released varieties on year of 

release, pedigree, developing organization, main characteristics and release recommendations. 

CABI copyright 


Keywords: Leafy-vegetables, Varieties, Genetics, Cytology, Amaranthus, Breeding. 

34. Oke, O. L. 1980. Amaranth in Nigeria. Pp.22-30. in Proceedings of the Second Amaranth Conference. 

Rodale Press, Emmaus, Pennsylvania (USA). 

Amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) is one of the most popular leafy vegetables in S. Nigeria where it is grown for 

its leaves rather than for seed. Cultivation methods are described and yield of vegetable amaranth for 

different fertilizer levels, planting densities and harvesting methods are presented. The nutritional analysis 

of amaranth is given for these different growing conditions and compared with that of other vegetables. 

Keywords: Amaranthus, Cultural-practices, Nutritive-value. 

7

8 

35. Olufolaji, A. O. and A. O. Tayo. 1989. Performance of four morphotypes of Amaranthus cruentus L. 

under two harvesting methods. Tropical Agriculture 66(3): 273-6. 

Two determinate (early-flowering) and 2 indeterminate (late-flowering) varieties were grown in 2 field 

trials at the National Horticultural Research Institute, Ibadan, under 2 harvesting methods. Pruning was 

superior to uprooting with respect to total numbers of leaves and branches developed, total fresh weight 

yield, and the dry weight of the various plant parts. The later-flowering, indeterminate varieties performed 

better (by 57%) than the other varieties. Consequently, the pruned indeterminate varieties developed 

the highest green vegetative yield and the uprooted determinate varieties developed the least. It is 

suggested that planting the indeterminate, late-flowering varieties at the start of the rains and continuously 

cutting back is a more profitable method of harvesting than uprooting at the optimum commercial 

stage. When time available for cultivation is low, e.g. towards the end of the rains, the early-flowering, 

determinate varieties are thought to be better suited despite lower vegetable yields. 



Keywords: Genetic-differences, Yields, Harvesting-frequency, Cultivars. 

36. Olufolaji, A. O. and M. J. Dinakin. 1988. Evaluation of yield components of selected amaranth cultivars. 

Tests of Agrochemicals and Cultivars(9): 100-1. 

Tabulated data are presented on percentage lodging, shoot length and number, leaf size and number, and 

yield of vegetable and seed for 15 cultivars belonging to various Amaranthus species or species hybrids 

grown in field beds during 1986. The highest vegetable yield was given by the black-seeded cultivars and 

the highest seed yield by the white, confirming previous findings on the respective superiority of these 2 

groups. 

Keywords: Yield-components, Interspecific-hybridization, Seeds, Colour, Cultivars, Assessment. 

37. Olufolaji, A. O. and T. O. Tayo. 1980. Growth, development and mineral contents of three cultivars of 

amaranth. Scientia Horticulturae 13(2): 181-9. 

The growth, development and mineral contents of 3 cultivars of amaranthus (Amaranthus cruentus), cv. 

Large Leaf, Light Red and Local Green, were compared. There were small differences between the cultivars 

for the development per plant of leaf area, number of branches, number of nodes, and dry weight 

production of stems, roots, inflorescences and most especially leaves at the edible stage. There were, 

however, significant differences in the mineral content of the cultivars, in the order Local Green > Large 

Leaf > Light Red, for the concentrations of nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, iron and manganese. 

Keywords: Vegetable-Crops, Plant-Growth-and-Development. 

38. Omueti, O. 1980. Effects of age on Celosia cultivars. Experimental Agriculture 16(3): 279-86. 

In four cultivars of Celosia argentea grown in the field the highest crude protein percentage and ascorbic 

acid (mg/100 g) in leaves, and the highest leaf/stem ratio, occurred for plants harvested 5-7 weeks after 

sowing, but the highest total marketable (fresh weight of aerial parts) and edible (leaves and tender 

stems) yields and crude protein yield occurred 15 weeks after sowing. The green cultivars contained 

more protein and ascorbic acid than the anthocyanin-pigmented cultivars. The green, narrow-leaved 

local cultivar had the highest crude protein and ascorbic acid contents but had the lowest leaf yield. 

Keywords: Plant-composition, Ascorbic-acid, Protein, Plant-composition, Proteins. 

39. Omueti, O. 1982. Effects of age on the elemental nutrients of Celosia cultivars. Experimental Agriculture 

18(1): 89-92. 

Changes in nine elemental nutrients from 5 to 15 weeks following sowing showed similar trends for four 

C. argentea varieties examined, although variations occurred in Na content of some varieties. It is suggested 

that this was due to different rates of Na uptake. Anthocyanin- pigmented varieties, V3 (Local) 

and V4 (ex IITA), had more Mg, Fe and Na than unpigmented V1 (ex IITA) and V2 (TLV Local). V4, 

followed by V3, had the highest copper contents. Breeding improvement for iron content is suggested for 

V1, which contains more protein and vitamin C than pigmented varieties.


Keywords: Plant-composition, Leaves, Senescence, Nutritive-value. 

40. Pal, M. and T. N. Khoshoo. 1973. Evolution and improvement of cultivated amaranths. Theoretical and 

Applied Genetics 43(5): 242-51. 

The cultivated species Amaranthus hypochondriacus (n = 16), A. cruentus (n = 17), A. caudatus (n = 16), A. 

caudatus var. atropurpureus (n = 16) and A. edulis and the weed species A. hybridus (n = 16) and A. powellii 

(n = 17) all had normal meiosis, pollen and seed fertility. Of the hybrids attempted, A. edulis X A. cruentus 

failed; A. caudatus X A. hybridus and A. edulis X A. hybridus developed only to the two-leaf stage; A. edulis 

X A. hypochondriacus, A. caudatus X A. hypochondriacus and A. powellii X A. hypochondriacus showed evidence 

of structural hybridity at pachytene and were sterile; and A. edulis X A. caudatus, A. edulis X A. 

caudatus var. atropurpureus and A. hybridus X A. hypochondriacus has a vigorous F1 with good meiotic 

pairing, 25-55% fertile pollen and 49-66% threshable seed. The F2s included plants close to the parental 

phenotypes as well as recombinants. Amphidiploids from A. edulis X A. caudatus and A. hybridus X A. 

hypochondriacus showed the autoploid or segmental alloploid type of meiosis. The characters of A. caudatus 

were dominant over those of A. edulis, attesting to the origin of the latter from the former. The recovery of 

plants resembling A. caudatus var. atropurpureus in the F2 from A. edulis X A. caudatus indicates, together 

with other evidence, that var. atropurpureus is probably an unstabilized hybrid segregated from this 

cross. 

Keywords: Interspecific-hybridization, History-and-evolution. 

41. Pal, M. and T. N. Khoshoo. 1973. Evolution and improvement of cultivated amaranths. VII. Cytogenetic 

relationships in vegetable amaranths. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 43(8): 343-50. 

Of four sterile interspecific hybrids in section Blitopsis, Amaranthus graecizans var. graecizans X A. lividus 

var. lividus had poorly developed flowers and few stamens. In the other three, interchange complexes 

involving 4-14 chromosomes were observed, the parents differing by one interchange in A. gracilis X A. 

tricolor ‘Purple Leaf’, by three in A. graecizans var. graecizans X A. tricolor ‘Purple Leaf’ and by five or six 

in A. lividus var. lividus X A. tricolor var. viridis. An amphidiploid produced from the last-mentioned was 

fertile and showed complete preferential pairing, suggesting that the interchanges are very small and 

that the sterility of the hybrid is entirely chromosomal. 

Keywords: Interspecific-hybridization, Sterility-and-fertility, Translocation. 

42. Pal, M. and T. N. Khoshoo. 1983. Utilization of resources of Celosia argentea. Plant Genetic Resources 

Newsletter 22-24(53). 

Cytological studies of C. argentea collected from different areas of India revealed tetraploid and octoploid 

types (x = 9). The tetraploid varied widely in branching pattern, leaf shape and size and hybridized 

easily with the cultivated garden species C. cristata and C. plumosa. The octoploid was morphologically 

uniform and more widely distributed than the tetraploid. F1 hybrids between the tetraploid and octoploid 

types showed 18II + 18I at meiosis and were almost completely sterile, except for a few seeds giving 

aneuploid (2n = 39 to 41) and 12x (2n = 108; 54II) progeny. The 12x plants were highly fertile. C. whiteii 

(2n = 108) has recently been found in Kerala. It is suggested that Celosia could be developed as a vegetable 

crop by combining desirable characteristics (disease resistance and profuse branching) of the wild tetraploid 

type with those of garden types (large foliage). 

Keywords: Genetic-resources, India, Interspecific-hybridization, Polyploidy. 

43. Pan, R. S., P. S. Sirohi and N. Sivakami. 1992. Genetic divergence in vegetable amaranth. Indian 

Journal of Horticulture 49(2): 183-6. 

Forty-five indigenous and exotic genotypes of Amaranthus tricolor were studied for genetic divergence 

based on 10 quantitative traits (days to first clipping, diameter of stem, length of internode, length of 

lamina, width of lamina, days to flowering, leaf-stem ratio, number of clippings, duration of harvest and 

total yield/0.45 m2 plot). Analysis of variance revealed differences among the genotypes for all 10 

characters. Using multivariate analysis, the genotypes were grouped into 10 clusters. The number of 

genotypes in clusters 1 to 10 were 7, 8, 5, 7, 4, 5, 3, 3, 2 and 1, respectively. The intracluster value was least 

in cluster 4 and highest in cluster 8. The intercluster value was maximum between clusters 1 and 3, 

suggesting that the genotypes in these clusters were highly divergent from each other. The genotypes in 

9

10 

clusters 4 and 7 were the least divergent at the intercluster level. Clustering pattern was not associated 

with geographic distribution. Cluster 7 had low mean values for days to first clipping and leaf-stem ratio 

and high mean values for diameter of stem, length of lamina and internode, and total yield. Cluster 3 had 

the highest mean value for width of lamina and number of clippings. Cluster 6 had the highest mean 

values for days to flowering and duration of harvest. About 87% of the genetic diversity present in the 45 

genotypes occurred in the first 2 canonical roots. Duration of harvest and total yield accounted for most 

of the variation present. 



Keywords: Yield-components, Cluster-analysis, Genetic-variation. 

44. Subbiah, K. and K. M. Ramanathan. 1982. Influence of N and K2O on the crude protein, carotene, 

ascorbic acid and chlorophyll contents of Amaranthus. South Indian Horticulture 30(2): 82-6. 

In field experiments with 2 Amaranthus blitum cvs CO 1 and CO 2, N was applied at 20-80 kg/ha or K2O 

at 20 or 40 kg/ha. Basal dressing consisted of P2O5 at 50 kg/ha + FYM at 10 t/ha. N increased plant 

crude protein, carotene and chlorophyll contents but decreased the ascorbic acid content. K had no 

marked effect on carotene, ascorbic acid and chlorophyll levels but increased the crude protein content in 

late-harvested crop. 

Keywords: Ferterlizer-response, Nutrition, Metabolism. 

45. Tarimo, H. M. and P. A. Huxley. 1979. A preliminary note on the growth of Amaranthus sp. at Morogoro, 

Tanzania. East African Agricultural and Forestry Journal (Kenya) 44(3): 183-6. 

In East Africa Amaranthus spp. are among the commonest indigenous leafy vegetables but they have 

hardly been investigated agronomically at all. The species used in this preliminary study was collected 

locally at Morogoro (probably A. hybridus) with irrigation, nitrogen fertilizer (120 kg/ha) and a high 

seed rate (1.39 viable seeds/m2, at least) some 41 t/ha of total above-ground fresh material can be 

produced in 38 days from sowing. This represents about 1.9 t/ha of total leaf protein. The local Amaranthus 

grew faster than Celosia argentea introduced from Nigeria, although, as growth analysis showed, the 

latter had leafier characteristics. Authors’ summary. 

Keywords: Fertilizer-response, Planting-density, Dry-matter-content, Growth-rate. 

46. Xu, S., G. W. Patterson and K. Schmid. 1986. Sterols of Amaranthaceae. Phytochemistry 25(8): 1883-6. 

Data are presented on the sterol composition of 19 species/cultivars including Amaranthus tricolor, A. 

gangeticus [tricolor], A. hypochondriacus, A. cruentus, A. caudatus, A. retroflexus, A. leucocarpus, Celosia [argentea 

var.] plumosa and C. [argentea var.] cristata. The desmethyl sterol content ranged from 0.0084% to 0.034% 

of the total dry weight. Spinasterol (46-76%) and 7-stigmastenol (11-24%) were the main sterols in all 

species although low levels of 5-unsaturated sterols were detected. The taxonomic significance of these 

results is discussed. 

Keywords: Composition, Amaranthus-tricolor, Amaranthus-hypochondriacus, Amaranthus- cruentus, 

Amaranthus-caudatus, Amaranthus-retroflexus, Amaranthus-leucocarpus. 

47. Proceedings of the Second Amaranth Conference. 1980. Rodale Press, Inc, Emmaus, Pennsylvania, 

USA. 

These proceedings consist of 24 papers on amaranth presented at the conference. They are arranged 

under the headings: nutrition and cultivation of vegetable and grain types; assembly of germplasm and 

handling of germplasm collections; and overview, considering the present and future status of amaranth.

B: Jute/Jews Mallow (Corchorus olitorius L.) 

48. Akoroda, M. O. 1985. Morphotype diversity in Nigerian land-races of Corchorus olitorius. Journal of 

Horticultural Science 60(4): 557-62. 

In a 3-year study at a rain-forest site, 41 accessions were studied for 13 shoot, growth and productivity 

characters. Leaf shape and days to flowering were were the most clearly distinguished characters. Plant 

branching varied within accessions, depending on spacing and soil fertility. Tabulated data are presented 

on 11 characters for 20 of the accessions. 

Keywords: Genetic-resources, Breeding. 

49. Akoroda, M. O. 1988. Cultivation of jute (Corchorus olitorius L.) for edible leaf in Nigeria. Tropical 

Agriculture 65(4): 297-9. 

Jute is grown in Nigeria and many tropical countries for its nutritious young leaves which in southwest 

Nigeria are cooked into a paste and eaten with starchy staples. Immature fruits, called Bush Okra, are 

also eaten. The plant thrives in sunny spots on soils rich in organic matter and with abundant moisture. 

Propagation is by seed and dormancy is broken by briefly steeping in hot water. Pests are mainly caterpillars 

and mites that feed on leaves, and Meloidogyne nematodes which greatly reduce yields; diseases 

are few and not serious. 

Keywords: Leaf-quality, Cultural-practices. 

50. Badillo, M. H. 1994. Response of saluyot (Corchorus olitorius), and Kangkong (Ipomoea aquatica) to 

modified atmosphere storage. Pp. 361-81 in YRAP [Youth Research Apprenticeship Program] ‘ 94 

research reports. (UPLB Chapter College Laguna Philippines Dept. of Science and Technology Bicutan 

Taguig Metro Manila Philippines Gamma Sigma Delta Honor Society of Agriculture. Philippines 

Univ., Los Banos, College, Laguna (Philippines). 

Two leafy vegetables, kangkong [Ipomoea aquatica] and saluyot [Corchorus olitorius] were stored under 

modified atmosphere [MA] at ambient condition to determine whether MA storage can effectively extend 

the shelflife of these two vegetables. Saluyot and kangkong responded differently to MA storage with the 

former showing a more positive response. Polyethylene films (PE) with or without diffusion holes were 

the most effective among the three packaging materials tried followed by SC-film then polypropylene. 

The shelflife of saluyot when stored in PE bags without diffusion holes was increased almost four-fold 

compared to those held in open air. 

Keywords: Controlled-atmosphere-storage, Keeping-quality. 

51. Chowdhury, P. R., F. Hossain and M. Hossain. 1992. Flowering behaviour of photo-insensitive and 

early mutant of tossa jute (Corchorus olitorius) under different regimes of seasonal temperature and 

photoperiods. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 62(11): 769-70 . 

‘German’, an early mutant, and 2 photo-sensitive standard varieties (JRO632 and JRO7835) were grown 

under 24 sowing dates commencing from 16 January 1989, providing a range of daylengths, temperatures 

and relative humidities. The average growth period from germination to first flowering was measured 

in 20 plants from each treatment. In contrast to the standard varieties, the mutant was characterized 

by an almost constant 34.9 days to flowering under all seasons and temperatures, indicating that 

this cultivar is both photo- and thermo-insensitive. 


Jute/Jews Mallow 

Keywords: Growth-period, Mutations, Photoperiodism, Flowering. 

52. Denton, L. 1997. A review of Corchorus olitorius in Nigeria. Pp.25-30. in Workshop on African indigenous 

vegetables. Limbe, Cameroon, January 13-18, 1997. Workshop Papers. (R. Schippers and L. 

Budd, editors). ODA. 

11

12 


53. Edmonds, J. M. 1990. Herbarium survey of African Corchorus L. species. Systematic and Ecogeographic 

Studies on Crop Genepools , 4. IBPGR, Rome (Italy). 

Keywords: Herbaria, Germplasm-conservation, Natural-distribution, Idenification, Surveys, Habitats, Uses. 

54. El Tahir, M. E. 1976. Veriability and biological studies on Jew’s mallow (Corchorus olitorius) [Sudan]. 

Khartoum University (Sudan). Faculty of Agriculture., Khartoum (Sudan). 

55. Fawusi, M. O. A. 1983. Quality and compositional changes in Corchorus olitorius as influenced by N 

fertilization and post-harvest handling. Scientia Horticulturae (Netherlands) 21(1): 1-7. 

Jute is an important leafy vegetable commonly produced and consumed in many tropical regions. Field 

and laboratory experiments showed that N fertilizing significantly increased the ascorbic acid, N, Ca 

and P content of the leaves. Storage at 25-28 degC resulted in 93% loss in ascorbic acid content within 4 

days. Under refrigerated storage losses in ascorbic acid were as high as 77% over a 4-week period. Ca, P 

and N content increased slightly as storage period lengthened, probably due to dehydration. 

Keywords: Fertilizer-response, Nitrogen, Storage-temperature, Drying, Chemical-composition. 

56. Fawusi, M. O. A. and D. P. Ormrod. 1981. Effects of temperature on the growth of Corchorus olitorius. 

Journal of Horticultural Science (UK) 56(4): 353-6. 

In controlled environment studies with ewedu (C. olitorius) cv. Angbadu and Yaya, day/night temperatures 

of 25/20, 30/25 and 35/30 degC were compared. Dry weights of both cultivars increased with 

rising temperature over the first 21 days from emergence but for both the greatest leaf area was at 30/25 

degC. Leaf area was much greater in Yaya (740 cm2/plant at 30/25 degC at day 28) than in Angbadu 

(517 cm2). 

Keywords: Temperature, Plant-growth-and-development. 

57. Fawusi, M. O. A. and D. P. Ormrod. 1981. Photoperiod responses of Corchorus olitorius L. in controlled 

environments. Annals of Botany (UK) 48(5): 635-8. 

Fresh and dry weights of shoots and roots, and leaf areas and stem lengths were much greater 7-35 days 

after emergence in C. olitorius cv. Angbadu and Yaya grown with long day photoperiods of 12.5 hours 

(LD 12.5) compared with 11.5 hours (LD 11.5). Roots were longer at LD 12.5 initially but were longer at 

LD 11.5 at 35 days from emergence (36.2-39.0 cm at LD 11.5 compared with 29.0-29.6 cm at LD 12.5), and 

mean relative growth rates were similar irrespective of photoperiod or cultivar but declined with plant 

age. Stomatal density was greater at LD 12.5 than LD 11.5. 

Keywords: Photoperiod, Plant-growth-and-development. 

58. Nwoke, F. I. O. 1980. Effects of number of photoperiodic cycles on induction and development of 

flowers and fruits in Corchorus olitorius L. (var. oniyaya Epen.). Annals of Botany 45(5): 569-76. 

Plants of C. olitorius cv. Oniyaya, a short-day plant, were subjected to varying numbers of short-day 

cycles before transfer to long days. Treatments started after germination of the seeds at the time of cotyledon 

release. 4 short-day cycles (10 h natural daylight followed by 14 h darkness) were sufficient to 

induce flowering in all plants. The number of flowers and fruits produced on a plant increased as the 

number of short-day cycles was increased from 3 to 30. Plants given 3-7 short-day cycles produced 

flowers on the main stem only, but when plants were maintained in short days for longer periods, 

flowers were also produced on the branches. The growth in dry wt. of fruits was greatest when plants 

were maintained in short days throughout. 

Keywords: Photoperiod, Flowering, Photoperiodism, Fibre-plants. 

59. Subbalakshmi, B., M. K. Sundaram and S. R. S. Rangasamy. 1992. Studies on stability of jute (Corchorus 

olitorius) genotypes over different seasons. Madras Agricultural Journal 79(2): 109-10. 

Information on stability and genotype environment interaction is derived from 5 yield components in 10 

jute genotypes of diverse geographical origin grown during 1984-86 at Coimbatore. Genotypic differ-

ences and the linear component of genotype X environment interaction were significant only for basal 

diameter, and KOM63 and JRO524 were stable for this trait. 


Keywords: Fibre-plants, Genotype-environment-interaction, Stability, Yield-components. 

60. Timpo, G. M. and P. Y. Boateng. 1982. Effects of age of transplants on the growth and yield of Corchorus 

olitorius (L). Kumasitech Journal of Agricultural Science (Ghana) 1 : 32-44. 

A field experiment to study the effect of seedlings planted out at 11, 15, 19 and 23 days after pricking out 

on the performance of Corchorus olitorius is reported. The 11-day old transplants gave the lowest percentage 

of surviving plants while the best establishment was from 23-day old transplants. The youngest 

transplants produced the highest total number of side shoots, marketable, edible and ‘above ground’ 

yields. The highest total dry weight was produced by the 19 day old transplants while the 15-day old 

transplants produced the largest leaf area but the lowest total number of shoots. The 23-day old seedlings 

flowered and set fruits earlier than the 11-day old transplants. Positive linear correlation was 

established between: marketable yield and plant height; edible yield and marketable yield and number of 

side shoots; marketable yield and dry weight. 

AGRIS copyright. 

Keywords: Seedlings, Transplanting, Growth, Crop-yield. 

61. Westphal Stevels, J. M. C. 1986. Local vegetables in Cameroon: Corchorus species used as a vegetable. 

Pp.423-5. in First international symposium on taxonomy of cultivated plants. Acta-HorticulturaeNo. 

no. 182 ISHS, Wageningen (Netherlands). 

The use of C. olitorius as a leaf vegetable is described. It is proposed that the cultivars of C. olitorius should 

be classified into the 3 groups Olitorius, Incisifolius and Geant de Bertoua, which may readily be distinguished 

by their leaf shapes. The morphology of group Olitorius is illustrated. 

Keywords: Variety-classification, Taxonomy, Cultivars. 

62. Yankson, R. E. 1981. Effect of stopping on plant height, flowering and seed yield of Corchorus olitorius 

(L). University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (Ghana). 

The effect of stopping on plant height, flowering and seed yield of Corchorus olitorius, a jute species was 

determined. Plants were stopped at 10, 12 and 14 nodes when 31 days old from transplanting. Stopping 

slightly reduced plant height, caused vigorous growth of lateral branches and reduced seed yield. Unstopped 

plants gave the highest seed yield. Yields of plants stopped at 10 and 12 nodes compared 

favourably with unstopped plants. 



Keywords: Shoot-pruning, Plant-habit, Crop-yield, Evaluation. 

63. Yu, Q. Y. and Z. S. Li. 1991. Fuzzy cluster analysis on germplasms of jute Corchorus capsularis and C. 

olitorius L. China’s Fiber Crops. (3): 10-4. 

Data on 12 morphological and quality-related traits in 30 C. capsularis and 40 C. olitorius accessions from 

Zhejiang, China, were subjected to fuzzy cluster analysis. C. capsularis accessions were grouped into 4 

clusters, one of which contained 19 accessions with the major characteristics of green stems, tall plants, 

high dry ribbon weight/plant and relatively late maturity. C. olitorius accessions were grouped into 6 

clusters, one of which contained 16 accessions characterized by green stems without axillary buds, 

relatively tall plants, and intermediate fibre quality and maturity. The major characteristics of the other 

clusters are also given. 

Keywords: Multivariate-analysis, Yield-components, Quality. 

13

14 

C: Black Nightshades (Solanum nigrum complex) 

64. Agong, S. G. 1993. Seed extraction procedures for long term conservation of Solanum nigram. Seed 

Science and Technology 21(2): 447-51; 4 ref. 

The effects of 4 seed extraction procedures on germination and deterioration of locally collected S. nigram 

[S. nigrum] seeds were investigated. S. nigram is grown in Kenya as a leafy vegetable and for medicinal 

purposes. Extraction using concentrated hydrochloric acid gave the highest germination rates (92%), 

followed by a fermentation method (88%). Using 10% sodium carbonate or a traditional method (squeezing 

the seeds and pulp from the berries and then washing thoroughly) gave germination rates of 85 and 

83%, respectively. The traditional method had the least deleterious effect on seed viability after storage 

for 8 months in a controlled environment at 25°C and 30% RH. It is concluded that concentrated hydrochloric 

acid could be used when seeds are extracted for immediate use and that fermentation may substitute 

for the traditional method where labour for seed extraction is limiting. 


Keywords: Viability, Seeds, Extraction, Plant-genetic-resources, Germination, Seed-treatment. 

65. Aminuddin, A., H. Khan and M. Z. Beg. 1985. Inter-relationship between Indian tetraploid Solanum 

nigrum and Solanum nodiflorum spp. nutans of Solanum nigrum complex. Acta Botanica Indica 13(1): 84- 

9. 

Cytomorphological character of Indian tetraploid S. nigrum (n=24) and S. nodiflorum subsp. nutans (n=12) 

was studied. Reciprocal crosses produced sterile triploid hybrids (n=18). It was concluded that chromosomal 

sterility and cryptic structural hybridity have played an important role in the hybrid sterility and 

genetic distinctiveness of Indian tetraploid S. nigrum and S. nodiflorum subsp. nutans. 

Keywords: Biology, Morphology, Taxonomy, Cytology. 

66. Beg, M. Z., A. H. Khan and Mohammad Ahmad. 1989. Morphological diversification and genetic 

isolating mechanism between some members of Solanum nigrum complex. Cytologia 54(3): 419-24. 

A biosystematic study of S. villosum subsp. puniceum (n = 24) and S. americanum (n = 12) was carried out. 

Interspecific hybrids (n = 18) were obtained using S. villosum as the pistillate parent. Resulting triploid 

hybrids were highly male-sterile and showed meiotic irregularities indicating that the parental genomes 

were dissimilar. 


Keywords: Weeds, Medicinal-plants, Interspecific-hybridization, Cytology. 

67. Beg, M. Z. and A. H. Khan. 1988. The mechanism of speciation and evolutionary trend in Solanum 

nigrum complex. Cytologia 53(2): 297-306. 

Tetraploid S. villosum subsp. puniceum (2n = 48) was crossed with diploid S. nigrum (2n = 24). The 

resulting triploid hybrids (2n = 36) were completely pollen sterile. Colchicine-induced hexaploids of the 

triploids were compared with natural Indian hexaploid S. nigrum and found to be morphologically very 

similar. Cytological studies also revealed that they were similar in the formation of (normally) 36 bivalents 

at PMC meiosis. Reciprocal crosses between the 2 hexaploids were successful, the resulting hybrids 

being fully fertile. Meiosis was normal and fruits with viable seeds were set. It is suggested that S. 

villosum subsp. puniceum and diploid S. nigrum are the parents of hexaploid S. nigrum. 


Black Nightshades 

Keywords: Medicinal-plants, Polyploidy, Interspecific-hybridization.

68. Beg, M. Z. and A. H. Khan. 1989. Factors creating isolating barrier between species of Solanum nigrum 

complex. Cytologia 54(3): 437-44. 

A cross was made between the hexaploid species S. nigrum (n = 36) with bluish-black fruit and S. 

sarrachoides (n = 12) with purplish- brown fruit. The hybrids obtained had a chromosome number of n = 

24, highly irregular meiosis and sterile pollen. When the species were grown side by side for several 

generations no natural hybridization occurred indicating that an isolating mechanism operates between 

the 2 species. 


Keywords: Medicinal-plants, Weeds, Interspecific-hybridization, Incompatibility. 

69. Bhiravamurty, P. V. and P. Rethy. 1983. Taximetric studies of the Solanum nigrum L. complex. Proceedings 

of the Indian National Science Academy,-B 49(6): 661-6. 

A taximetric study using 26 morphological features on 21 accessions of the S. nigrum complex, 1 colchicine-induced 

tetraploid and a synthetic hexaploid grouped the entire complex into 7 clusters. The 3 main 

clusters composed members exclusively of the same ploidy status indicating that each of these clusters 

could be considered as a good sp. and the different entities within them as subspp. or varieties. While the 

diploids constituted S. americanum and S. chenopodioides, the tetraploids formed subspp. under a single 

sp. S. villosum. The hexaploids represented, S. nigrum and S. scabrum (an autoallopolyploid). Probable 

derivation of S. villosum through S. chenopodioides is also indicated. 

Keywords: Biology, Taxonomy. 

70. Bhiravamurty, P. V. and P. Rethy. 1984. Origin and evolution of tetraploid forms within the Solanum 

nigrum L. complex. Proceedings of the Indian Academy of Sciences, Plant Sciences 93(5): 553-60. 

An autotetraploid was formed from the local diploid progenitor S. americanum (= S. nigrum 2x) by colchicine 

treatment, and compared with the diploid and the local natural tetraploid, S. villosum (= S. nigrum 

4x). Morphological comparison, t test of interpopulation differences in mean values, discriminant analysis, 

D2 analysis and analyses of amino acids, flavonoids and sugars showed that the autotetraploid has 

more affinity with the natural tetraploid than with its diploid progenitor. This indicated that autopolyploidy 

might be significant in the evolution of tetraploid forms within the S. nigrum complex. 

Keywords: Polyploidy, Solanum-villosum, Evolution, Biology. 

71. Bukenya, Z. R. 1996. Uses, chromosome number and distribution of Solanum species in Uganda. Pp. 

33-7 in Biodiversity of African Plants (L.J.G. van der Maesen et al. (eds). Kluwer Acedemic Publishers, 

Netherlands. 

Information on distribution, uses an chromosome numbers are provided for all species, subspecies and 

cultivar groups in the genus Solanum L. (Solanaceae) that occur in Uganda. The distribution is influenced 

by a number of factors, including rainfall, altitude and type of vegetation, the weedy nature of 

some species and wether the species are crops or ornamentals. 

Keywords: Chromosome-number, Distribution. 


72. Edmonds, J. M. and J. A. Chweya. 1997. Black nightshades. Solanum nigrum L. and related species. 

Promoting the Conservation and Use of Underutilized and Neglected Crops. 15. Institute of Plant 

Genetics and Crop Plant Research, Gaterleben/International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Rome, 

Italy 

Keywords: Underutilized, Taxonomy, Ecology, Agronomy, Utilization. 

73. Fawusi, M. O. A. 1983. Nitrogen fertilization and storage temperature effects on the nutritive value of 

Solanum nigrum. Journal of Plant Foods 5(3): 161-7. 

Fresh and dried leaves of these species are widely used as a vegetable in Nigeria. The effects of 4 levels (0, 

60, 120 and 180 kg/ha) of N fertilization, 3 storage temperatures and 3 methods of dehydration were 

15

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investigated in field and laboratory experiments. The ascorbic acid content increased only with 60 kg N/ 

ha, but the crude protein content rose with each addition of N. As N application increased there were 

slight decreases in the leaf contents of Ca, Mg, P and K at harvest, but these contents rose as storage time 

increased from 1 to 4 weeks. Holding at 25-28°C for 4 days resulted in a rapid deterioration in quality, 

especially with regard to ascorbic acid. However, when leaves were stored at between 4° and -6° most of 

the quality factors determined were preserved throughout the 4 weeks of storage; differences in response 

to 4° and -6° were negligible. Drying in the sun or in mechanical driers resulted in rapid falls in ascorbic 

acid content, but crude protein and mineral nutrient contents were not affected significantly. Drying 

under shade at 18-20° for 10 h resulted in only a slight loss of ascorbic acid. 

Keywords: Plant-composition, Nutritional-value, Storage, Composition. 

74. Fawusi, M. O. A., D. P. Ormrod and A. Eastham. 1983. Influence of temperature on the growth of 

Solanum nigrum and Amaranthus hybridus. Scientia Horticulturae (Netherlands) 18(4): 305-11. 

Experiments were conducted in controlled environment chambers to evaluate the response of Solanum 

nigrum and Amaranthus hybridus to day/night temperatures of 25/20, 30/25 and 35/30 degC. Both 

species had superior stem length, leaf area and dry matter yields at 30/25 degC. The growth of most 

measured plant parts was reduced at 25/20 degC and leaf production in A. hybridus and stem length in 

S. nigrum were particularly affected. High relative growth rates were observed for A. hybridus for the 

period 7-14 days after emergence and for 7-21 days after emergence for S. nigrum. 

Keywords: Temperature, Vegetative-growth. 


75. Ganapathi, A. 1988. On the functioning of 2n gamete in the Solanum nigrum complex. Cytologia 53(1): 

175-9. 

The cytomorphology of a heptaploid hybrid (2n = 7x = 84) obtained by crossing S. nigrum (2n = 6x = 72) 

with pollen of S. villosum (2n = 4x = 48) was studied. Results suggested that the hybrid originated from 

fertilization of a reduced egg-cell of S. nigrum by a non- reduced male gamete of S. villosum. The hybrid 

exhibited irregular meiosis and 14.4% pollen stainability. It is concluded, on the basis of the chromosome 

pairing behaviour of the hybrid, that S. villosum participated in the ancestry of S. nigrum. 

Keywords: Medicinal-plants, Interspecific-hybridization, Polyploidy, Unreduced-gametes. 

76. Ganapathi, A. and G. R. Rao. 1985. Cytogenetics of some diploid species of the Solanum nigrum complex. 

Canadian Journal of Genetics and Cytology 27(6): 735-40. 

Crosses between S. douglasii and (1) S. americanum, (2) S. nigrum (Indian diploid form) and (3) S. nodiflorum 

were compatible if S. douglasii was used as male parent. Normal, fertile F1 hybrids were produced, but 

the F2 plants showed meiotic breakdown and reduced fertility. The isolation of S. douglasii from the other 

species is attributed to genetic and chromosome structural differences. It is concluded that S. nodiflorum, 

S. nigrum (2x) and S. americanum represent a single biological species, S. americanum, but that the treatment 

of S. douglasii as a separate species is justified. 

Keywords: Interspecific-hybridization, Taxonomy, Cytology, Breeding. 

77. Ganapathi, A. and G. R. Rao. 1985. Spontaneous triploidy in Solanum nigrum L. complex. Current- 

Science,-India 54(23): 1242 

From natural hybridization between S. villosum (2n = 48) and S. americanum (2n = 24), 3 sterile triploid 

plants were obtained, having irregular meiosis and n = 18 chromosomes. At diakinesis and metaphase 

I, univalents, bivalents and trivalents were observed. At anaphase I there were laggards, chromatin 

bridges and unequal chromosome distribution at the poles. Synthetic hexaploids (S. nigrum), raised from 

these triploids, were highly fertile and set fruit and seed. They exhibited normal meiosis characterized by 

bivalents, and several morphological characters were identical to those in natural hexaploids. Synthetic 

and natural forms readily crossed to give fertile progeny. It is suggested that in nature the incompatibility 

between genomes in the triploid hybrids induced chromosome doubling, and that this played a significant 

role in the origin and evolution of hexaploidy in the S. nigrum complex. 

Keywords: Evolution, Interspecific-hybridization, Biology, Cytology.

78. Ganapathi, A. and G. R. Rao. 1986. The crossability and genetic relationship between Solanum 

retroflexum Dun. and S. nigrum L. Cytologia 51(4): 757-62. 

Crosses between S. nigrum (2n = 6x = 72) and S. retroflexum (2n = 4x = 48) were successful with the former 

as female parent. The pentaploid (2n = 60) hybrid was vigorous but showed irregular meiosis resulting 

in high pollen and seed sterility. The occurrence of 24 bivalents + 12 univalents in a few PMCs suggested 

some genomic homology between the 2 species. 

Keywords: Interspecific-hybridization, Biology, Genetics. 

79. Ganapathi, A. and G. R. Rao. 1986. Cytomorphology of the tetraploid hybrid and its spontaneous 

amphiploid in the Solanum nigrum L. complex. Journal of the Indian Botanical Society 65(Supplement): 

76. 

Crosses between S. nigrum (2n = 6x = 72) and S. americanum (2n = 2x = 24) were successful only when S. 

nigrum was used as female parent. The F1 hybrid was tetraploid (2n = 4x = 48), showed meiotic irregularities 

and did not set fruit on selfing or open pollination. A fertile octoploid branch which grew spontaneously 

from the hybrid showed 82% pollen viability and produced several fruits with viable seeds. 

Cytogenetical studies of the tetraploid hybrid and its amphiploid indicated that hybridization and 

polyploidy have played a significant role in the evolution of this species complex. 

Keywords: Interspecific-hybridization, Polyploidy, Breeding, Seed-production. 

80. Ganapathi, A. and G. R. Rao. 1986. Nature of sterility and mechanism of the evolution of higher ploidy 

in Solanum section Solanum (Maurella). Canadian Journal of Genetics and Cytology 28(6): 1044-8. 

Crosses between S. nigrum (2n = 6x = 72) and S. americanum (2n = 2x = 24) were successful only when S. 

nigrum was used as the seed parent. The F1 hybrid was tetraploid (2n = 4x = 48) and showed highly 

irregular meiosis. It did not set fruit either on selfing or on open pollination. An octoploid branch which 

grew spontaneously from the hybrid showed regular meiosis and produced several fruits with viable 

seeds, from which 7 octoploid F2 plants were obtained. It is suggested that hybridization and chromosome 

doubling have played a significant role in the origin and evolution of higher ploidy forms in 

Solanum section Solanum. 

Keywords: Interspecific-hybridization, Sterility-and-fertility, Breeding, Seed-production. 

81. Ganapathi, A. and G. R. Rao. 1986. Taxonomic status of the Solanum nigrum complex found in India. 

Proceedings of the Indian Academy of Sciences, Plant Sciences 96(3): 241-6. 

On the basis of comparative morphological and cytological studies, it is concluded that the diploids, 

tetraploids and hexaploids found in the S. nigrum complex in India belong to S. americanum var. patulum, 

S. villosum subsp. miniatum and S. nigrum subsp. nigrum, respectively. A key to the Indian species in the 

complex is provided. 

Keywords: Taxonomy, Polyploidy, Biology. 


82. Ganapathi, A. and G. R. Rao. 1987. Phylogenetic relationships in the evolution of Solanum scabrum. 

Genome 29(4): 639-42. 

Several cross-pollinations were made between S. scabrum (2n = 6x = 72) and S. nigrum (2n = 6x = 72), S. 

americanum (2n = 2x = 24) and a C3 amphiploid of the cross S. villosum (2n = 4x = 48) X S. americanum (2n 

= 2x = 24). Crosses between S. nigrum and S. scabrum and between S. scabrum and an unspecified ‘bigfruited 

form’ were accomplished easily, whereas the cross S. scabrum X S. americanum was successful only 

when S. scabrum was used as maternal parent. The F1 hybrids exhibited moderate pollen fertility and 

vigorous growth and set fruit and seed abundantly, even though meiotic abnormalities were encountered 

in most. From the chromosome pairing behaviour in the hybrids, it is concluded that S. americanum 

is the diploid ancestor of hexaploid S. scabrum and S. nigrum, and that these 2 species might have evolved 

from the sterile triploid hybrids of S. villosum X S. americanum by spontaneous amphiploidy. 

Keywords: Interspecific-hybridization, Breeding, Seed- production, Biology, Genetics. 

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18 

83. Ganapathi, A. and G. R. Rao. 1988. Cytogeography and nomenclatural notes on Solanum L. section 

Solanum. Current Science,India 57(13): 739. 

Diploid and tetraploid taxa of S. nigrum occurred frequently in a survey in Tamil Nadu, whereas the 

hexaploid form had restricted distribution. The tetraploid taxon was easily recognizable by its shortspreading 

habit and translucent orange-red berries. The diploid and hexaploid taxa were similar in 

habit but differed in their inflorescence, flower size and shape, berry colour, pollen grain diam. and seed 

size and number. The correct binomials for diploid and tetraploid species together with a diagnostic key 

are provided. 

Keywords: Taxonomy, Flowering, Distribution, Seed-characteristics. 

84. Gbile, Z. O. 1986. Epidermal studies in the Solanum nigrum complex in Nigeria. Pp. 159-68 in Solanaceae: 

biology and systematics (W.G. D’Arcy, editor). Columbia University Press, New York, USA. 

The results of a survey of leaf epidermis structure in S. nigrum and 5 related species in Nigeria are 

summarized. Cells of the upper epidermis had slightly to strongly wavy anticlinal walls in the lowland 

species, while in the mountain species these walls were straight. Stomata tended to be larger in the 

polyploids (S. nigrum, S. scabrum and S. villosum) than in the diploids. An erect cultivar of S. nigrum 

showed a different trichome structure from that of a procumbent cultivar, and the procumbent cultivar 

was also distinguished by its exserted style. It is suggested that each of these cultivars should be given 

subspecific ranking. 

Keywords: Taxonomy, Leaves, Epidermis, Solanaceae. 

85. Khan, A., H. Aminuddin and M. Z. Beg. 1985. Study of morphological diversification of some species 

of Solanum nigrum complex. Acta Botanica Indica 13(2): 276-80. 

Studies on cytomorphology of S. nigrum, S. douglasii and their hybrids showed that reciprocal hybrids 

were similar in morphology and cytology. Chromosomal behaviour of the hybrids suggested that genic 

and cryptic structural differences between chromosomes of the parental spp. were responsible for the 

diversification in some morphological characters of the 2 spp. 

Keywords: Biology, Morphology, Cytology, Taxonomy. 

86. Khan, A. H., G. R. Rao and R. Khan. 1974. Genetic system and evolutionary trends in Solanum nigrum 

complex. II. Cytomorphological studies of the hybrids between hexaploid Indian Solanum nigrum 

Linn. and Solanum nodiflorum Jacq. Bulletin of the Botanical Survey of India 16(1/4): 35-9. 

In PMCs of hybrids from crosses between S. nigrum X S. nodiflorum the following meiotic irregularities 

were observed: (1) low frequencies of trivalents and quadrivalents, (2) high frequencies of univalents and 

(3) bridges with or without fragments. These hybrids were highly sterile and did not set seed. 

Keywords: Interspecific-hybridization, Meiosis, Chromosome-aberrations, Fruit-crops. 

87. Khan, A. H., G. R. Rao and Reayat Khan. 1977. Biosystematics of the Solanum nigrum complex. Indian 

Journal of Genetics and Plant Breeding 37(3): 444-9. 

Tabulated data on 15 morphological characters are presented for two hexaploid populations, one each 

from India and France, and their fertile F1 hybrid. The Indian hexaploids were tall and erect, as were the 

hybrids, whereas the French hexaploids were short and prostrate, with spreading branches. Meiosis 

was normal in the parent populations, but univalents, bivalents and trivalents were observed in the 

hybrids. Hence the two populations should be regarded as ecotypes or subspecies of S. nigrum. 

Keywords: Habit, Meiosis, Taxonomy, Fruit-crops. 


88. Khan, R., G. R. Rao and N. H. Siddiqui. 1978. Role of tetraploid Solanum nigrum L. and S. americanum 

Mill. in the origin and evolution of Indian hexaploid S. nigrum. Acta Botanica Indica(6 (Suppl)): 161-4. 

Cytology of hybrids of the cross tetraploid Solanum nigrum X S. americanum and their amphidiploids 

obtained through colchicine treatment revealed that the structural differences between the chromosomes

of the parents have played an important role in diversification of morphological characters of the two 

taxa, and the tetraploid S. nigrum and S. americanum have played an important role in origin and evolution 

of natural hexaploid S. nigrum. 

Keywords: Weed-biology, Taxonomy,Weeds. 

89. Kumar, A., G. R. Rao and Anil Kumar. 1979. Origin of trisomics in the Solanum nigrum complex. 

Current Science 48(22): 999-1000. 

Meiotic behaviour of chromosomes in 6x S. nigrum was normal, whereas in S. opacum about 25% of PMCs 

showed premature separation of a bivalent, resulting in 35II + 2I at metaphase I. About 60% of 100 

reciprocal crosses between the two species were successful. The F1s, which were hexaploid with n = 36, 

flowered profusely but set few fruits. Two groups were found, small-fruited and large-fruited. About 90% 

of PMCs in large-fruited hybrids had 35II + 2I, while 10% had 1III + 34II + 1I. The small-fruited hybrids 

were trisomics with 2n = 73. About 65% of PMCs had 36II + 1I and about 35% had 35II + 3I. Pollen fertility 

was 58% in the large-fruited and 52% in the small- fruited forms. The trisomics are thought to have arisen 

by fusion of the male gamete of S. opacum, carrying 37 chromosomes (arising from the premature separation 

of a bivalent at metaphase), with the female gamete of S. nigrum, carrying 36 chromosomes. 

Keywords: Interspecific-hybridization, Meiosis, Fruits, Sterility-and-fertility. 

90. Kumar, A., G. R. Rao and Anil Kumar. 1984. Cytology of hybrids between the Indian hexaploid Solanum 

nigrum L. and S. opacum A. Br. & Bouche. Journal of the Indian Botanical Society 63(3): 247-51 

The material studied came from natural populations of S. nigrum growing in and around Delhi, India, 

and from a stock of S. opacum raised from seed supplied by the Botany School, Cambridge, United 

Kingdom. F1 hybrids showed fairly normal meiosis with moderate pollen fertility and produced purplish 

black fruits with viable seeds. It is suspected that the 2 species are genetically closely related. 

Keywords: Interspecific-hybridization. 

91. Neeru Agarwal and Y.K. Bansal. 1987. In vitro regeneration in Solanum nigrum. Current Science (India) 

56(17): 892-4. 

Surface-sterilized, leaf-base explants on Murashige & Skoog (MS) medium were induced to form most 

callus tissues and roots in the presence of 10 µM IAA + 1, 5 or 10% coconut milk; root formation occurred 

within 12-20 days of incubation at 25 ± 2°C. Plantlet formation occurred in subcultures in the presence 

of 10 µM IAA + 5% coconut milk. The regenerated diploid (2n = 24) plantlets had an estimated 3.5% 

polyploid cells (2n = 48) in root squashes and 6.7% cells with giant nuclei. 

Keywords: Tissue-culture, Mixoploidy, Leaf-bases. 


92. Okugie, D. N. and E. M. Ossom. 1988. Effect of mulch on the yield, nutrient concentration and weed 

infestation of the fluted pumpkin, Telfairia occidentalis Hook. Tropical Agriculture (Trinidad and 

Tobago) 65(3): 202-4. 

In Nigeria, an experiment was conducted, mulches on the leaf yield, N, P and K contents and weed 

infestation of the fluted pumpkin harvested at 4-weekly intervals. The highest yield of leaves was obtained 

from fresh grass mulch and the lowest from sawdust at 16 weeks after planting. The dry matter 

accumulation was greater in the leaf lamina than in the vines and petioles. Dry grass mulch gave a 

relatively better control of weeds than other mulches; the unmulched plots were the most weed-infested; 

no weed effects were significant. The results of the experiment suggest that there are definit advantages 

in mulching in the dry season; this relates specifically to yield increase and some weed suppression. A 

dry grass mulch gives the best results in comparison with sawdust, wood shavings, dry plantain leaves 

and fresh grass. 

Keywords: Vegetable-crops, Mulching, Nutrient-content, Weed-cover. 

93. Rao, G. R. 1979. Secondary polyploidy in the Solanum nigrum L. complex. Current Science 48(23): 1048-9. 

Two triploid plants (n = 18), obtained in the C2 population of colchicine-induced autotetraploids of S. 

19

20 


americanum (in the S. nigrum complex), were vigorous in growth but highly sterile, producing only 14.03% 

fertile pollen. They set small black fruits with no viable seeds. At diacinesis in PMC meiosis, the mean 

pairing configuration was 0.13IV + 5.71III + 6.75II + 4.85 I. At metaphase I, about 30% of cells had as 

many as six trivalents. Chromosome disjunction at anaphase I was irregular; cells with 18 chromosomes 

at each pole were recorded in only 3.1% of cells. Lagging chromosomes occurred in 14% of cells. At 

telophase I, micronuclei were noted in 2.98% of cells. The mean number of trivalents per cell at metaphase 

I (5.62) is thought to indicate that the existing basic chromosome number (x = 12) of the Solanum nigrum 

complex is of secondary polyploid origin and that the probable original basic number was x = 6. 

Keywords: Polyploidy, Chromosome-number, Meiosis, Sterility-and-fertility, Medicinal-plants. 

94. Rao, G. R. 1982. A hypothesis on polyploidy and evolution of Solanum nigrum L. Science and Culture 

48(6): 206-7. 

Natural populations of S. nigrum have previously been classified into three types: type I being diploid 

and having shiny, bluish-black fruits, type II being tetraploid and having orange-red fruits, and type III 

being hexaploid with purplish-black fruits larger than those of types I and II. The three types grow 

sympatrically but it has been reported that hybridization does not occur between them. It is proposed 

that this indicates that polyploidy in S. nigrum is “mature” and the evolution of this species may have 

begun with the advent of agriculture and the domestication of animals. It is suggested that the hexaploids 

were derived from triploids, which arose from hybridization of diploids and tetraploids early 

during the course of evolution. The polyploids are effective at adapting to new environmental conditions 

and as the polyploidy in S. nigrum becomes “older” its diploid members are thought likely to become 

progressively more restricted in geographical distribution and finally extinct. 

Keywords: Polyploidy, Evolution, Medicinal-plants. 

95. Rao, G. R., A. H. Khan and Reayat Khan. 1976. Interrelationship between tetraploid Solanum nigrum L. 

and Solanum villosum Mill. Science and Culture 42(11): 559-61. 

Reciprocal hybrids between 4x S. nigrum and S. villosum exhibited some heterosis over the parents for 

height, leaf size and leaf thickness and fertility was good. Meiosis was mostly normal in the hybrid 

pollen mother cells, though some univalents, trivalents, quadrivalents and anaphase abnormalities 

were observed. The orange-red fruit colour of 4x S. nigrum was dominant over the yellow fruit colour of 

S. villosum. 

Keywords: Interspecific-hybridization, Meiosis, Colour, Fruit-crops. 

96. Rao, G. R., A. Kumar and Anil Kumar. 1981. Chromosome pairing in tetraploid forms of Solanum 

nigrum. Indian Journal of Genetics and Plant Breeding 41(1): 159-60. 

Cytological analysis was performed on two tetraploids (n = 24) obtained from progeny of pentaploid 

hybrids of the cross between natural hexaploid and tetraploid forms. Meiosis was normal with high 

pollen fertility and fruit set in one tetraploid but, in the other, meiosis was irregular with high pollen 

sterility and no fruit set. 

Keywords: Meiosis, Polyploidy, Sterility-and-fertility, Fruit-crops. 

97. Rao, G. R., A. Kumar and Anil Kumar. 1983. Chromosome pairing in interspecific hybrids of the 

Solanum nigrum complex. Indian Journal of Genetics and Plant Breeding 43(3): 321-3. 

Meiosis was studied in the F1 of S. nigrum X S. sarrachoides. The hybrids were highly sterile, showed 

irregular meiosis and did not set fruit. Cytological studies suggested that polyploidy, structural hybridity 

and genic differences are responsible for reproductive isolation and morphological distinctness between 

the 2 species. Since only 11 metaphase I bivalents occurred in some cells of the hybrids, it is 

suggested that S. sarachoides, or one of its close diploid relatives, might have contributed a set of 12 

chromosomes at the origin or during the evolution of hexaploid species of the S. nigrum complex. 

Keywords: Interspecific-hybridization, Chromosome-pairing, Evolution, Polyploidy, Taxonomy.

98. Rao, G. R., A. Kumar and Anil Kumar. 1983. Interrelationships among diploid species of the Solanum 

nigrum L. complex. Journal-of-the-Indian-Botanical-Society 62(1): 25-31. 

Seven diploid taxa of the complex were studied for crossability and pairing behaviour of the chromosomes. 

Reciprocal crosses between S. douglasii and S. americanum, diploid S. nigrum, S. nodiflorum, S. 

nodiflorum subsp. nutans and S. sarrachoides were not successful. It is concluded that S. douglasii is distantly 

related to the other species. Reciprocal crosses between S. nodiflorum subsp. nodiflorum and S. 

douglasii produced several fertile hybrids of identical morphology with normal meiosis, whereas reciprocal 

crosses between S. nodiflorum subsp. nutans and S. douglasii failed. On the basis of chromosome 

pairing in hybrids between S. nodiflorum subsp. nodiflorum and S. douglasii, it is thought that the species 

have a close genetic relationship. 

Keywords: Interspecific-hybridization, Taxonomy, Biology, Breeding. 

99. Rao, G. R., A. Kumar and Anil Kumar. 1983. Origin and evolution of Solanum scabrum Mill. and its 

relationship with the Indian hexaploid Solanum nigrum L. Current Science 52(6): 261-2. 

A fertile hexaploid (n = 36) mutant with large fruits, derived by doubling the chromosome number of 

sterile F1 hybrids of tetraploid X diploid S. nigrum, resembled the hexaploid species S. scabrum in morphological 

and cytological characteristics. It was crossed reciprocally with S. scabrum. The hybrids obtained 

were hexaploid, showed 82.9% pollen fertility and resembled the parents in morphology and 

meiotic chromosome behaviour. It is suggested that S. scabrum developed from a mutant of S. nigrum. 

Keywords: Polyploidy, Interspecific-hybridization, Evolution, Fruit-crops. 

100.Rao, G. R., A. Kumar and Anil Kumar. 1984. Meiotic studies in species-hybrids of the Solanum nigrum 

L. complex. Cytologia 49(1): 33-8. 

Information is presented on plant morphology and meiotic behaviour in S. retroflexum (2n = 48), S. 

nodiflorum subsp. nutans (2n = 24), the triploid F1 hybrid between them and a synthetic hexaploid obtained 

by colchicine treatment of the triploid. The triploids showed irregular meiosis, were sterile and 

did not set fruit. The synthetic hexaploids mostly showed normal meiosis, their pollen fertility (35.5- 

52%) was higher than that of the triploids and they set fruit and seed spontaneously. It is concluded that 

differences in ploidy level and structural chromosome differences are the main isolating mechanisms 

between these species. 

Keywords: Interspecific-hybridization. 


101.Rao, G. R. and A. H. Khan. 1983. Interrelationship in the Solanum nigrum complex. Indian Journal of 

Genetics and Plant Breeding 43(1): 28-32. 

Morphological dissimilarity and high cross incompatibility between S. villosum (2n = 48) and a natural 

hexaploid (2n = 72) of S. nigrum from France indicated their distant relationship. The few hybrids obtained 

were pentaploid with 24 bivalents and 12 univalents. This suggests that S. villosum is closely 

related to the tetraploid parent of the French hexaploid. Gene flow between the two taxa is believed to be 

inhibited by differences in chromosome number and structure, and by genic factors. 

Keywords: Sterility-and-fertility, Interspecific-hybridization, Polyploidy, Fruit-crops. 

102.Rao, G. R., N. H. Siddiqui and R. Khan. 1978. Genetic system and mechanism of speciation in some 

species of the Solanum nigrum complex. Acta Botanica Indica(6): 100-2. 

Reciprocal cross pollinations were made between Solanum americanum and diploid Solanum nigrum to 

understand the mechanism of speciation and genetic relationship between them. The cytology of the 

hybrids (F1) and their amphidiploids obtained through colchicine treatment was studied. It was suggested 

that the structural differences between the chromosomes of the parents have played an important 

role in diversification of some morphological characters of the two taxa. 

Keywords: Pollination, Taxonomy, Genetics, Interspecific- hybridization, Medicinal-plants. 

21

22 

103.Rao, G. R., N. H. Siddiqui, R. Khan and Reayat Khan. 1980. Mechanism of speciation in the Solanum 

nigrum complex. Indian Journal of Genetics and Plant Breeding 40(1): 67-72. 

When S. americanum (n = 12, male ) and tetraploid S. nigrum (n = 24, female ) were crossed, triploid 

hybrids (2n = 36) were produced. Chromosome pairing behaviour in the hybrids indicated that the two 

species are not closely genetically related. Pollen fertility was 0.35% in the hybrids and they did not set 

fruit. Following colchicine-induced chromosome doubling, pollen fertility in the amphidiploids was 

67.09% and chromosome pairing mostly normal. 

Keywords: Interspecific-hybridization, Sterility-and-fertility, Meiosis, Polyploidy, Fruit-crops. 

104.Siddiqui, N. H. 1980. Cytology of a spontaneous autotriploid in Solanum nigrum L. complex. Science 

and Culture 46(4): 143-4. 

A sterile triploid plant with 36 chromosomes, which was like the diploid but larger, was obtained in the 

progeny of colchicine-induced autotetraploids of S. americanum. At meiosis, 12III were observed in a few 

PMCs, but in others, trivalents were replaced by bivalents and univalents. At anaphase I, disjunction of 

chromosomes was mostly 19 : 17 but 18 : 18, 20 : 16, 21 : 15 and 22 : 14 were seen. Laggards occurred in 

14% of the cells. Unbalanced chromosome distribution occurred at anaphase II and gave irregular tetrad 

formation. It is suggested that this autotriploid plant may have originated by fertilization of a diploid egg 

with a haploid male gamete. 

Keywords: Polyploidy, Meiosis, Fruit-crops. 

105.Singh, R. N. 1992. Evolutionary aspect of hexaploid Solanum nigrum L. National Academy Science 

Letters 15(12): 383-4. 

Floral characteristics of the diploid S. americanum and tetraploid S. villosum were compared with a 

synthetic and spontaneous triploid hybrid resulting from crosses between them. The spontaneous and 

synthetic hybrids resembled, respectively, the diploid and tetraploid parent. Based on the results it was 

suggested that hexaploid S. nigrum evolved from diploid S. americanum through natural hybridization 

and spontaneous chromosome doubling. 


Keywords: Medicinal-plants, Polyploidy,Interspecific-hybridization, Flowers, Evolution. 

106.Singh, R. N. and S. K. Roy. 1982. A contribution to cytology of Solanum nigrum complex. Current 

Science 51(11): 572-3. 

Ten hexaploid seedlings were treated with 0.35% colchicine solution for 6 h/day for three days. Seeds 

from treated plants were grown in Petri dishes and root tip chromosome counts were made. Somatic cells 

of the 6x control had 72 chromosomes while those of the treated plants had 144. The 12x plant was fertile. 

Keywords: Polyploidy, Fruit-crops. 


107.Singh, R. N. and S. K. Roy. 1985. Cytomorpholgical studies of dodecaploid (12x) Solanum nigrum Linn. 

Cytologia 50(1): 59-68. 

The dodecaploid (2n = 12x = 144) was induced by treatment of a hexaploid local variety with 0.35% 

colchicine. Compared to its 6x parent, the 12x plant was shorter but had larger leaves and larger fruits 

containing more numerous seeds. The 12x plant had 85% pollen stainability and formed 72 bivalents at 

meiosis. 

Keywords: Polyploidy, Breeding, Cytology, Morphology, Taxonomy. 

108.Tandon, S. L. and G. R. Rao. 1974. Solanum nigrum L. Pp. 109-17 in Evolutionary Studies in World Crops 

(J. Hutchinson, editor). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, England. 

Crossing experiments involving the three Indian chromosome races (n = 12, 24 and 36) of S. nigrum


suggest the respective genome formulae AA, BBCC and AABBCC. The tetraploid race is closely similar to 

S. luteum. 

Keywords: Chromosome-number, History-and-evolution, Genome-analysis, Taxonomy, Fruit-crops. 

109.Wang Guang Yuan and A.O. Xia Zhen. 1983. Regeneration of plantlets from Solanum nigrum L. mesophyll 

protoplasts. Acta Botanica Sinica 25(2): 111-4. 

Mesophyll protoplasts formed calli on NT medium. On transferring to Dudits or solid Murashige and 

Skoog medium (both supplemented with zeatin at 1 mg/l + NAA at 0.5 mg/l) regenerated plantlets were 

obtained. The effects were studied of inositol in the NT medium on the growth of protoplasts. After 10 

days’ culture the average numbers of cell clusters in the media containing inositol at 0, 100 or 250 mg/l 

were 0, 12.2 and 26.7, respectively. 

Keywords: Tissue-culture, Propagation, Growth-regulators, Zeatin, Organogenesis. 

110.Yazawa, S. and S. Hirose. 1989. Vegetable production and problems involved therein in the Lake Kivu 

area, Zaire. Scientific Reports of the Kyoto Prefectural University, Agriculture(41): 16-39. 

Crop production and consumption in this area of high population density are described, based on a 

detailed survey. The principal crops eaten are maize, beans [unspecified], cassava, sorghum, sweet 

potatoes, bananas and yams. A wide range of leafy and fruiting vegetables is also grown. Aspects discussed 

(often with tabulated data) include: the consumption of animal and plant protein and of individual 

vegetables; the nutritional value of leaves of Cucurbita sp., Solanum nigrum, cassava and cabbages; 

cropping systems and types of vegetables; characteristics and particular uses of numerous bean, banana 

and sweet potato cultivars; the effects of different crops on soil fertility and erosion; and soil analyses of 

fields considered of high or low fertility. 

Keywords: Production, Bananas, Cultivars, Characteristics, Nutritive-value. 

23

24 

D: Sorrel (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) 

111.Baker, E. F. I. and A. H. Kassam. 1975. Respiration by roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) in the Western State 

of Nigeria. Tropical Agriculture (Trinidad and Tobago) 52(3): 203-11. 

Loss of dry matter due to respiration in roselle was estimated by determining dark respiration from 

measured changes in dry weight overnight. Fourty to 43% of the net daytime gain in dry weight was lost 

at night due to dark respiration whereas 91 to 92% was lost in the 24-hr period. Total respiration as a 

percentage of gross photosynthesis was between 61 and 81%, depending on the magnitude of loss due to 

photorespiration. 

Keywords: Fibre-crops, Physiology-plant. 

112.Edmonds, J. M. 1991. The distribution of Hibiscus L. section Furcaria in tropical East Africa. Systematic 

and Ecogeographic Studies on Crop Genepools , 6. IBPGR, Rome (Italy). 

An introduction outlines the general background of the IJO (International Jute Organization) project 

concerned with the collection, conservation, characterization and exchange of germplasm for the development 

of improved varieties of jute (Corchorus) and Hibiscus species (kenaf, roselle). This background is 

followed by a summary dealing with the importance of jute and kenaf and the necessity for increased 

yield and quality, and a general taxonomy of Hibiscus section Furcaria. Chapters II and III cover examination 

of herbarium material and data recorded. Chapter IV summarizes the distribution, fruiting times 

and potential value of Hibiscus section Furcaria species in tropical East Africa. The concluding chapter 

focuses on (1) the geographical distribution of section Furcaria, (2) the potential use of East African 

Hibiscus species in future kenaf and roselle breeding programmes, (3) the feasibility of collecting Hibiscus 

and Corchorus species simultaneously, and (4) collecting expedition routes. An appendix lists the distribution 

data extracted from section Furcaria specimens in the East African Herbarium, and another 

presents detailed distribution maps. 

Keywords: Maps, Plant-Collections, Genetic-resources, Taxonomy, Distribution. 

113.El Afry, M. M., E. R. Khafaga and D. Prinz. 1980. Studies on the photoperiodic reaction of roselle 

(Hibiscus sabdariffa L. var. sabdariffa). Angewandte Botanik 54(5/6): 279-85. 

Five strains of roselle, originating from Thailand, Central America, Senegal, India and Egypt, were 

grown in plant growth chambers under 8 h (SD), 16 H (LD) and continuous light (CL). All strains proved 

to be ambiphotoperiodic, flowering being induced by SD and CL. Differences between strains occurred 

in the development of flowers and fruits as well as in the persistence of floral induction after transfer 

from SD to LD. SD and CL had different physiological and morphological effects. Of the 2 serial buds in 

each leaf axil, the left formed a flower under SD and CL and remained dormant under LD. The right one 

remained dormant under SD, formed a negetative branch under LD and a flowering one under CL. 

Consequences for breeding and cultivation under subtropical conditions are discussed. 

Keywords: Photosensitivity, Variety-performance. 

114.El Afry, M. M., F. D. Prinz and S. Rehm. 1979. Untersuchungen zur Morphologie von Rosella (Hibiscus 

sabdariffa L. var. sabdariffa). [Morphological studies on roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L. var. sabdariffa)]. 

Tropenlandwirt (Germany F.R.) 80: 83-93. 

Roselle is mainly grown for the following uses: leaves as a vegetable; calyx as tea or as food colouring; 

seeds are roasted; and the plant as mucilage in pharmacy and cosmetics. Five strains from Central 

America, Egypt, India, Thailand and Senegal were grown under the same conditions in a greenhouse 

and in plant growth chambers. Morphologically they differed considerably in plant height (146-239 cm), 

number of internodes (56-69), stem diameter (6.2-9.1 mm), leaf shape (3-5 lobes), petal colour (yellow, 

orange, red) and length (20-40 mm), and in calyx shape (conical to longish) and colour (different kinds of 

red). 

Keywords: Fibre-crops. 

Sorrel

115.Follin, J. C. 1975. Specificité parasitaire et variations du pouvoir pathogène de Phytophthora parasitica 

Dast., agent du chancre de la roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa var. altissima Hort.) [Parasitic specificity and 

variations in the pathogenicity of Phytophthora parasitica Dast., the agent responsible for the canker 

of roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa var. altissima Hort.)]. Coton Et Fibres Tropicales (France) 30(3): 321-6. 

Various strains of Phytophthora parasitica were isolated from roselle in different countries. This study 

conducted in the Ivory Coast showed that roselle can be attacked by this polyphagous parasite which 

may be sheltered by wild plants. A great variability in aggressivity was also observed, which can manifest 

itself differently, depending on the variety inoculated. The cause of these variations and their incidence 

on the search for resistant varieties are discussed. 

Keywords: Fibre-crops, Plant-diseases. 

116.Follin, J. C. 1978. Influence de la température, de la lumiere et de la nutrition minerale sur l’expression 

de la resistance du kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) à l’anthracnose (Colletotrichum hibisci Poll.) [Influence 

of temperature, light and mineral nutrition on expression of kenaf (H. cannabinus L.) resistance 

to anthracnose (Colletotrichum hibisci Poll.)]. Coton Et Fibres Tropicales (France) 33(4): 391-8. 

This study shows that temperature plays an important role in the expression of resistance of kenaf 

against anthrocnose. At 15 and 20 degC there is no difference in susceptibility between of a susceptible 

and or a resistant variety; resistance starts at higher temperatures. At 25 degC resistance is effective: the 

fungus is inactivated in 2-3 days; at 30 degC in 1-2 days. On the other hand, susceptible varieties are 

destroyed more rapidly at a higher temperature. Sufficient light is also required for resistance to be 

expressed. Mineral nutrition seems to no influence. It is suggested that resistance involves reactions 

requiring a large quantity of energy. 

Keywords: Fibre-crops, Plant-diseases, Climatology. 

Sorrel 

117.Khafaga, E. R., H. Koch, M. M. F. El Afry and D. Prinz. 1980. Reifegrad und Qualitat von Karkadeh 

(Hibiscus sabdariffa L. var. sabdariffa). 1. Organische Sauern. 2. Anthocyane. 3. Schleim, Pektin und 

Kohlenhydrate. 4.Verbesserte Trocknungsverfahren und Erntesysteme. Angewandte Botanik 54(5/ 

6): 287-318. 

Karkadeh is the name for the dried calyces of the roselle plant (H. sabdariffa). In this study, in 4 parts, the 

concentration of: (1) organic acids; (2) anthocyanins; (3) mucilage, pectin and carbohydrates, in these 

calyces of 5 roselle strains, originating from Egypt, Senegal, India, Thailand and Central America are 

examined and compared as they determine the quality of the dried product, which is used for flavouring 

and colouring drinks and foodstuffs, and as a cosmetic and a medicine. The quality depends on whether 

the calyces picked are healthy, ripe or overripe, sun or freeze or oven dried, etc. To improve the quality a 

harvesting system is proposed, based on the flowering regime, growth and changes in composition 

during the maturing of the calyces. These characteristics differ in the 5 strains investigated. 

Keywords: Chemical-composition, Maturation, Variety-quality, Drying, Harvesting-methods. 

118.Kumar, V., N. U. A. Idem and C. A. Echekwu. 1985. Yield components of five roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa 

L.) varieties in northern Nigeria. East African Agricultural and Forestry Journal (Kenya) 51(2): 108-12. 

Field trials were conducted at Samaru, Nigeria, to study the productivity of 5 promising varieties of 

roselle, viz. THS 12, THS 24, THS 30, THS 44 and a local roselle cv. (Samaru 1882). Roselle growth and 

yield were considerably influenced by seasonal variations of rainfall. Averaged over 3 seasons, THS 30 

outyielded the other varieties in terms of dry ribbon yield by margins of 14.0 to 30.0%. However, Samaru 

1882 outyielded the other varieties by margins of 63.0 to 73.0% in terms of yield. There were significant 

and positive correlations between dry ribbon yield and woody core yield and plant height. The dry 

woody core yield was most closely related to the dry ribbon yield and accounted for about 92.2% of the 

variation. The optimum time of harvest for roselle was the full flowering stage (from 108 to 120 days after 

sowing at Samaru). 

Keywords: Adaptability, Harvest-timing, Agronomic-characters, Variety-performance. 

25

26 

Sorrel 

119.Meel, M. J. van. 1991. Le jus de bissap, un thé de sante tiré de l’Hibiscus sabdariffa, desormais produit 

en usine au Senegal (Roselle juice, a healthy beverage made from Hibiscus sabdariffa, from now on 

factory-produced in Senegal). Afrique Agriculture (France) 16(180): 34-5. 

Several uses of roselle are discussed. The oil of its seed is used as a medicine. The leaves are consumed as 

vegetables. The flowers of the red variety have pharmaceutical uses and contain a natural coloring agent. 

In Senegal 8000 l/year of roselle concentrate are produced, part of which is used for the production of 

roselle juice, a soft drink marketed on the streets of Dakar. More than 30 t/year are exported to Italy, 

Switzerland and Germany. 

Keywords: Processing, Beverages, Juice-extraction, Product-properties. 

120.Olunloyo, O. A. and M. O. Adeniji. 1974. Relative susceptibility of roselle and kenaf varieties to three 

isolates of Phytophthora parasitica Dast. var. nicotianae (Breda de Haan) Tucker. Nigerian Agricultural 

Journal 11(1): 66-70. 

Eleven varieties of roselle and 27 varieties of kenaf were tested for their reactions to 3 isolates of 

Phytophthora from infected roselle crops grown in the Western State of Nigeria. Only 2 roselle varieties 

and all but one of kenaf were resistant under the greenhouse and field conditions. 

Keywords: Fibre-crops, Plant-diseases, Plant-breeding, Plant-selection.

E: Cat’s Whiskers/Cleome gynandra; Gynandropsis gynandra L. (Briq) 

121.Chweya, J. A. and N. A. Mnzava. 1997. Cat’s whiskers. Cleome gynandra L. Promoting the Conservation 

and Use of Underutilized and Neglected Crops. 11. Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, 

Gaterleben/International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Rome, Italy, 

Keywords: Distibution, Taxonomy, Agronomy, Ecology, Utilization. 

122.Imbamba, S. K. and L. L. Tieszen. 1977. Influence of light and temperature on photosynthesis and 

transpiration in some C3 and C4 vegetable plants from Kenya [Amaranthus lividus, Gynandropsis 

gynandra, Crotalaria brevidens]. Physiologia Plantarum (Denmark) 39(4): 311-6. 

123.Malonza, M. M., O. O. Dipeolu, A. O. Amoo and S. M. Hassan. 1992. Laboratory and field observations 

on anti-tick properties of the plant Gynandropsis gynandra (L.) Brig. Veterinary Parasitology (Netherlands) 

42(1-2): 123-36. 

Keywords: Repellents, Pest-control. 

124.Mnzava, N. A. 1990. Studies on tropical vegetables. 2. Amino and fatty acid composition in seed of 

cleome (Gynandropsis gynandra L. Briq) selections from Zambia. Food Chemistry (United Kingdom) 

35(4): 287-93. 

Keywords: Seeds, Amino-acids, Fatty-acids. 

125.Omondi, C. O. and P. O. Ayiecho. 1992. Correlation and multi-regression analyses in populations of 

two Kenyan landraces of spiderflower (Gynandropsis gynandra). Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 

62(2): 160-2. 

Information on correlation and multiple-regression is derived from data on 7 characters in 2 Kenyan 

landraces (E and M) of G. gynandra [Cleome gynandra], grown at Thika during the short-rain season, 1988, 

and at Kabete during the long-rain season, 1989. It is suggested that dry-leaf yield can be improved by 

selection for number of leaves in both populations, combined with late flowering in population E and 

high fresh-leaf weight in population M. 


Keywords: Yield-correlations. 

Cat’s Whiskers 

126.Tsichritzis, F., M. Abdel Mogib and J. Jakupovic. 1993. Dammarane triterpenes from Cleome africana. 

Phytochemistry (United Kingdom) 33(2): 423-5. 


Keywords: Chemical-composition, Analytical-methods, Biological-properties, Chemistry, Plant-anatomy, Spectral-analysis. 

127.Waithaka, K. and J. D. Chweya. 1991. Gynandropsis gynandra (L.) Briq. - a tropical leafy vegetable. Its 

cultivation and utilization. FAO Plant Production and Protection Paper., no. 107. FAO, Rome, Italy. 

G. gynandra [Cleome gynandra] belongs to the family Capparidaceae. It grows as a weed in most tropical 

countries, but in some areas is semi-cultivated as a leafy vegetable, and is sometimes intercropped with 

other annual field crops. Brief notes on its botany, genetic resources, cultivation, diseases and pests, 

storage, utilization (nutritive value and medicinal properties), and research requirements are presented. 

The information was compiled from various literature sources, personal communications with smallscale 

farmers and from studies carried out at the University of Nairobi. 

Keywords: Nutritive-value, Cultural-methods, Characteristics, Genetic- resources, Genetics, Plant-diseases, Pests, 

Ethnobotany. 

27

28 

F: African eggplant (Solanum aethiopicum L.) and related species 

(Solanum spp.) 

128.Anaso, H. U. G. U. Okereke and J. O. Uzo. 1990. Breeding for high yield of berries and improved yield 

attributes in Solanum aethiopicum L. Tropical Agriculture 67(4): 371-5. 

Two homozygous lines of edible cultivated Solanum spp. (Solanum aethiopicum and Solanum anguivi) were 

crossed to raise F1, F2, BC1 and BC2 generations in Nigeria. The parents and the crosses gave 7 families 

which were tested for hybrid vigour. The mode of action of the 3 qualitative traits, peduncle attachment 

type, unripe fruit colour and leaf spininess, were investigated as they affected yield and consumer 

appeal. Highly significant levels of hybrid vigour were detected in harvest date, number of fruits/plant, 

fruit size and weight and leaf index. Fleshy, strongly attached versus thin, easily removed peduncle; 

green versus white unripe fruit colour; and spiny versus spineless condition showed monogenic inheritance. 


Keywords: Heterosis, Heritability. 

129.Bukenya, Z. R. 1994. Solanum macrocarpon: an underutilised but potential vegetable in Uganda. Pp. 

17-24 in Proceedings XIIIth Plenary Meeting AETFAT, Malawi (J.H.Senyani and A.C. Chikuni, editors). 

Solanum macrocarpon L. is an important native African vegetable with several cultivars. In West Africa 

both the leaves and fruits are eaten. In Uganda however it is a minor crop, cultivated for its leaves only, 

in mainly one region of the country (Buganda -U4). Some of its outstanding qualities as a vegetable are 

the large leaves (up to 46.0 long x 30.0 cm wide); large fruits (2.0-6.0 cm long x 3.0-10.0 cm wide); and the 

ratoon nature of the crop enables it to be harvested periodically for over a year. It is also less susceptible 

to pests and diseases than the common local and exotic vegetables. Some of the causes of its unpopularity 

in Uganda include the fact that it has never been introduced to farmers in more than 2/3 of the 

country; the leaves are a bit hard with a flat taste when cooked and fruits are suspected to be ‘poisonous’, 

being morphologically similar to those of Solanum incanum L. These obstacles can however be removed by 

convincing the Ministry of Agriculture to introduce the crop to various parts of the country; by breeding 

and selection for character improvement and by informing the public correctly regarding the chemical 

nature of the fruits. 

Keywords: Extension, Introduction, Uganda 

African eggplant and related species 

130.Bukenya, Z. R. and J. B. Hall. 1987. Six cultivars of Solanum macrocarpon (Solanaceae) in Ghana. 

Euphytica 17(1): 91-5. 

The Solanum macrocarpon complex (the cultivated eggplant) has been studied in Ghana using morphological 

and experimental methods. Six cultivars belonging to the S. macrocarpon complex have been 

recognixed and described. The cultivars are S. macroparpon ‘Mankessim’, S. macroparpon ‘Akwaseho’, S. 

macroparpon ‘Kade’, S. macroparpon ‘Sarpeiman’ and S. macroparpon ‘Bui’. The very spiny, hairy plant 

traditionally called S. dasyphyllum is regarded as the wild ancestor from which the cultivars have been 

derived through a process of crop evolution. The variation within S. macroparpon complex is attributable 

to genotypic differences and environmental factors. 

Keywords: Crop-evolution, Egg-plant, Solanum dasyphyllum, S. macroparpon complex, Cultivars. 

131.Bukenya, Z. R. and J. B. Hall. 1988. Solanum (Solanaceae) in Ghana. Bothalia 18(1): 79-88. 

Of the 22 species, subspecies and varieties in the genus Solanum L. (Solanaceae)that occur in Ghana, 

about 15 are indigenous. In Ghana several members of the genus are utilised as food crops while others 

are put to medicinal and ornamental use. Up-to- date and detailed descriptions for all the Solanum taxa 

occurring in Ghana and a key to the species are provided. 

Keywords: Food-crops, Indigenous, Taxa, Key, Medicinal-plants, Ornamental-plants.

132.Bukenya, Z. R. and J. F. Carasco. 1994. Biosystematic study of Solanum macrocarpon - S. dasyphyllum 

complex in Uganda and relations with Solanum linnaeanum. East African Agricultural and Forestry 

Journal 59(3): 187-204. 

In a study conducted in Uganda to examine the biosystematics of Solanum macrocarpon complex and its 

relations with S. linnaeanum complex, it was observed that tremendous morphological variation existed 

within S. macrocarpon complex. Morphological characters that are useful in the intraspecific classification 

of S. macrocarpon L. complex and S. linnaeanum Hepper ex Jaeger, include leaf size, petiole length, leaf 

lobing, number of flower per inflorescence, length of inflorescence axis, pedicel length, calyx length, size 

of flowers, fruit size nature of fruit stalks (erect/decurved), seed size and colour, hair types. From morphological 

and experimental methods, four groups of S. macocarpon complex in Uganda were recognised. 

These include S. macrocarpon (semi-wild group), S. macrocarpon ‘Mukono’ cultivar and S. macrocarpon 

‘Nabingo’ cultivar. The cultivars have selection pressures, from the wild group through the semi-wild 

group through the present cultivars/ There is considerable variation within the two major cultivar 

groups especially the ‘Mukono’ group. For practical purposes, it is not advisable to split these up into 

smaller groups such as forms. Solanum linnaeanum is distinct from S. macrocarpon complex. The wild 

group of S. macrocarpon (S. dasyphyllum) and cultivars of S. macrocarpon belong to the same biological 

species. Solanum dasyphyllum should be formally sunk under S. macrocarpon and the infraspecific classification 

of S. macrocarpon complex should be sorted out. 


Keywords: Edible-species, Medicinal-plants, Taxonomy, Wild-relatives, Plant-genetic-resources. 

133.Bukenya, Z. R. and J. F. Carasco. 1995. Crossability and cytological studies in Solanum macrocarpon and 

Solanum linnaeanum (Solanaceae). Euphytica 86(1): 5-13. 

Solanum macrocarpon belongs to section Melongena and is an important native African vegetable, especially 

in West Africa where both the leaves and fruits are eaten. Crossing experiments involving various 

groups of S. macrocarpon complex, including wild (dasyphylum), semi-wild and cultivars produced fully 

fertile F1 and F2 hybrids. This confirmed earlier findings that these groups belong to the same biological 

species. S. macrocarpon complex and S. linnaeanum are isolated by reproductive barriers. F1 and F2 hybrids 

between various groups of S. macrocarpon showed heterosis. F2 superior hybrids were isolated as 

candidates for the future breeding programmes. Most wild- type traits like spininess, hairiness were 

dominant to those possessed by cultivars. Hybrids relatively resistant to pest attack were also noted. S. 

macrocarpon complex and S. linnaeanum are diploids (2n = 24). The overall nature of the karyotype suggests 

that the two are related. The hybrids between the cultivars of S. macrocarpon and the wild group 

(dasyphyllum) showed normal meiosis. A lack of isolating barriers confirmed that the S. macrocarpon 

complex constitute a single biological species. 


Keywords: Hybridization, Inheritance, Wild-relatives, Interspecific-hybridization, Genetics. 

134.Bukenya, Z. R. and J. F. Carasco. 1995. Solanum (Solanaceae) in Uganda. Bothalia 25(1): 43-59. 

Of the 41 species, subspecies and cultivar groups in the genus Solanum L. (Solanaceae) that occur in 

Uganda, about 30 are indigenous. In Uganda several members of the genus are utilised as food crops 

while others are put to medicinal and ornamental use. Some members are notorious weeds. A key to the 

species and descriptions of all Solanum species occurring in Uganda are provided. 



Keywords: Medicinal-plants, Ethnobotany, Utilization, Plant-genetic-resources. 

135.Choudhuri, H. C. 1972. Genetical studies in some west African Solanum melongena L. Canadian Journal 

of Genetics and Cytology 14(2): 446-9. 

F1 hybrids from a cross between the varieties Giwa 2 and Giwa 1 had higher leaf-index (breadth/length) 

values than either parent. F2 segregation ratios in crosses involving the dwarf variety SMG2 and the tall 

variety SMG1 indicated that plant height is controlled by a single pair of alleles, with tallness dominant. 

29

30 

Deeply lobed leaves were found to be controlled by LL which is incompletely dominant over ll for slightly 

lobed leaves. Plants of the genotype LLll had intermediate sized lobes. Fruit colour is controlled by a 

single pair of alleles with GM (green) incompletely dominant over gm (white). 

Keywords: Plant-height, Leaves, Colour, Genetics. 

136.Dafni, A. and Z. Yaniv. 1994. Solanaceae as medicinal plants in Israel. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 

44(1): 11-8 . 

In a recent survey, 106 local healers in Israel were interviewed concerning the use of Solanaceae as 

medicinal plants. The main findings revealed that: (a) only 4 species (Lycium europaeum, Solanum nigrum, 

Hyoscyamus aureus, Hyoscyamus albus) were extensively used; (b) the use of some traditional plants had 

been almost abandoned (Datura spp., Mandragora autumnalis, Withania somnifera); (c) all plants were 

applied externally, and were rarely used as narcotics; (d) most use of plants was local, only in a few cases 

was a uniform use found throughout the whole country, and in all ethnic groups; (e) the extensive 

distribution of modern, safe narcotics, sedatives and anaesthetics has reduced the use of the Solanaceae 

for these purposes. 


Keywords: Medicinal-plants, Indigenous-knowledge, Utilization, Ethnobotany, Plant-genetic-resources. 

137.Gbile, Z. O. and S. K. Adesina. 1988. Nigerian Solanum species of economic importance. Annals of the 

Missouri Botanical Garden (USA) 75(3): 862-5. 

Keywords: Food-crops, Drug-plants, Chemical-composition, Medicinal-properties. 

138.Husaini, S. W. H and G. A. Iwo. 1990. Cytomorphological studies in some weedy species of the family 

Solanaceae from Jos Plateau, Nigeria. Feddes Repertorium 101(1-2): 41-7. 

Chromosome counts have been made of Datura innoxia [D. fastuosa], D. stramonium, Physalis angulata, 

Solanum incanum, S. melongena, S. nigrum, and S. torvum from Jos Plateau, Northern Nigeria for the first 

time. All the investigated species agree with the previous reports of chromosome numbers. A distribution 

map is provided. 

Keywords: Biology, Chromosome-number, Ecology, Distribution, Nigeria. 

139.Institut de Recherches Agronomiques Tropicales et des Cultures Vivrieres. Eggplants . Rapport Annuel 

1978 Annual Report for 1978 of the Institute of Tropical Agronomic Research and Food Crops., IRAT, 

Paris, France. 

Martinique: In trials with hybrid cvs resistant to Pseudomonas solanacearum and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides 

[Glomerella cingulata] and tolerant of Fusarium sp., yields varied from 45 to 54 t/ha. Mauritania: Trials 

with cvs for hot season and rainy season production (40-60 t/ha). 

Keywords: Research, French-West-Indies, Reports, Fruit-vegetables. 

140.Joshua, A. 1978. Seed germination of Solanum incanum: an example of germination problems of tropical 

vegetable crops. Pp. 155-61 in Symposium on seed problems in horticulture. Acta Horticulturae 

(UK)), no. 83. International Society Horticultural Science (ISHS) 

Studies were carried out on Solanum incanum seeds with the aim of improving germination which attains 

only 50% in 30 days for fresh seed. The removal of the seed coats improved germination but is not 

practically feasible. There was a breakdown of dormancy after a storage period of six months. Also the 

treatment of fresh seed with gibberellic acid and the use of alternating temperatures 10 degC/25 degC 

had a beneficial effect. 

Keywords: Plant-Growth-and-Development. 

African eggplant and related species

141.Lester, R. N. and L. Niakin. 1988. Descriptors for eggplant. International Board for Plant Genetic 

Resources, Rome (Italy). 

Keywords: Plant-collection, Evaluation, Genetic-markers, Identifcation, Agronomic-characters. 

142.Lester, R. N., P. M. L. Jaeger, B. H. M. Bleijendaal Spierings, H. P. O. Bleijendaal and H. L. O. Holloway. 

1990. African eggplants: a review of collecting in West Africa. Plant Genetic Resources Newsletter (81/ 

82): 17-26. 

Eggplant is an important fruit and leaf vegetable in Africa. Both Solanum aethiopicum and Solanum 

macrocarpon were domesticated in Africa from indigenous wild species, and are grown abundantly, 

especially in tropical Africa. Solanum melongena from Asia is less popular. Recent collecting of eggplant 

genetic resources from West Africa and elsewhere is summarized. Suitable procedures for collecting, 

evaluation, regeneration and multiplication are discussed in the context of climates, agricultural systems, 

reproduction biology and dangers of genetic erosion. 


Keywords: Eggplant, Genetic-resources, Regional-survey, Solanum, Germplasm, Plant-collections. 

143.McPartlan, H. C. and P. J. Dale. 1994. An assessment of gene transfer by pollen from field-grown 

transgenic potatoes to non-transgenic potatoes and related species. Transgenic Research 3(4): 216-25. 

Information on the extent of transgene dispersal by pollen to adjacent potato plots and to related weed 

species is an important requisite for risk assessment, a procedure followed before novel transgenic 

plants are evaluated under field conditions. A study was conducted to determine the frequency of crosspollination 

between potato (Solanum tuberosum) cv. Desiree plants at different distances, using a kanamycin 

resistance transgene, neomycin phosphotransferase (nptII), as a selectable marker. Non-transgenic 

plants, used as potential recipients of transgene-containing pollen, were planted in 12 sub-plots, at 

distances of 0-20 m from a central plot of transgenic plants. Seeds harvested from the non-transgenic 

plants were screened for resistance to kanamycin, and polymerase chain reaction and Southern blotting 

were used to confirm that resistant progeny contained the nptII gene. Where transgenic and non-transgenic 

potato plants were in alternate rows (leaves touching), 24% of seedlings from the non-transgenic parent 

plants were kanamycin-resistant. Comparable seedlings from plants at up to 3 m distance had a resistance 

frequency of 2%, at 10 m the frequency was 0.017% and at 20 m no resistant progeny were observed. 

Plants of the weed species S. dulcamara and S. nigrum were also planted at a distance of 20 m from the 

transgenic potatoes to test for evidence of hybridization, and no kanamycin-resistant seedlings were 

observed among progeny in these wild species. This investigation provided evidence that the extent of 

gene dispersal from transgenic potatoes to non-transgenic potatoes falls markedly with increasing distance, 

and is negligible at 10 m. There was, also, no evidence of transgene movement from potato to S. 

dulcamara and S. nigrum under field conditions. 



Keywords: Genes, Genetic-transformation, Outcrossing, Gene-flow, Biosafety, Biotechnology. 

144.Omidiji, M. O. 1975. Interspecific hybridization in the cultivated, non-tuberous Solanum species. 

Euphytica 24(2): 341-53. 

The relationship between three diploid and two hexaploid species was studied. Fertile diploid and 

hexaploid hybrids were obtained from the crosses S. macrocarpon (2x) X S. melongena (2x) and S. nodiflorum 

(6x) X S. nigrum (6x) respectively. The diploid hybrid of S. macrocarpon X S. incanum (2x) was partially 

fertile. All crosses involving S. incanum as female parent were sterile. The diploid X hexaploid or reciprocal 

crosses yielded inviable seeds. The F2 plants derived from S. macrocarpon X S. incanum and S. macrocarpon 

X S. melongena were morphologically variable, whereas those from S. nodiflorum X S. nigrum were vigorous 

and morphologically uniform. The observations indicated that S. macrocarpon is more closely related 

to S. melongena than to S. incanum and that the differences between the hexaploid species are more 

varietal than specific. 

Keywords: Polyploidy, Interspecific-hybridization, Sterility-and-fertility, Breeding, Selection. 

31

32 

145.Omidiji, M. O. 1976. Evidence concerning the hybrid origin of the local garden egg (Solanum melongena 

L.). Nigerian Journal of Science 10(1-2): 123-35. 

Interspecific hybridization with varietal forms of Solanum macrocarpon and interspecific crosses between 

S. macrocarpon and either S. incanum or S. dasyphylum produced some offspring which were morphologically 

similar to the cultivated S. melongena. It is concluded that hybrid vigour and continuous selection by 

man must have played an important role in the evolution of the cultivated forms of indigenous eggplants 

with large, edible fruits. 

Keywords: Vegetable-crops, Plant-breeding, Selection. 

146.Omidiji, M. O. 1976. Genetic studies and breeding potential of leaf and fruit vegetables, Solanum spp. 

grown in Nigeria. Vegetables for the Hot, Humid Tropics(1): 15-21. 

Including some data on the performance of 10 selected eggplant lines compared with 2 local cvs. 

Keywords: Breeding, Selection. 


147.Omidiji, M. O. 1977. Yield and nutritive quality of selected leafy vegetables from interspecific Solanum 

L. crosses. Nigerian Journal of Science 11(1-2): 197-208. 

Results showed that all of the 4 selections of leafy vegetables L1, L2, L3 and L4 derived from the back 

cross of Solanum aethiopicum (SA) x S. macrocarpon (SM) x SA, and L6, a derivative from the cross SA x S. 

gilo, out yielded the control SA. The vegetative parts increase over the control varied from 11.3 to 125.2%. 

L5, a selection from the cross SA x SM, though yielding less than the control SM, was less fibrous and 

more tender. L7, an intraspecific derivative of 2 varietal forms of S. nigrum, combined the parental 

characters of outstanding culinary quality and fruit persistence, and yielded 30% more in vegetative 

parts than the mean yield of both parents. All selections were palatable and of acceptable taste. Fruit 

yields are discussed. 

Keywords: Vegetable-Crops, Product-Properties, Plant-breeding, Selection. 

148.Omidiji, M. O. 1978. Tropical leafy and fruit vegetables in Nigeria. Vegetables for the Hot, Humid 

Tropics(3): 6-18. 

There are large numbers of vegetables that are cultivated in Nigeria for their edible leaves, stems, roots 

and fruits. A brief note on their production pattern and consumption pattern is presented. Some different 

types of leafy vegetables and fruit vegetables, their families, common and local names, edible parts and 

propagation methods are tabulated and discussed. The vegetables are mostly cultivated, a few others 

which are wild or weedy but edible are included. Many of the green leafy vegetables and fruits are 

annual herbs or short-lived perennial shrubs, producing large succulent leaves that can be harvested 

over a period of weeks or even months. 

Keywords: Reference-Documents, Crop-Cultivation, Maintenance.

G: Okra (Abelmoschus esculentum (L.) Moench) 

149.Adebanjo, A. and A. P. O. Dede. 1985. Resistance of okra (Hibiscus esculentus L.) cultivars to premature 

fruit abortion induced by Choanephora cucurbitarum. Scientia Horticulturae 27(1/2): 45-8. 

At the National Horticultural Research Institute, Ibadan, Nigeria, 9 okra cvs. were evaluated, in field 

experiments during 1982 and 1983, for their susceptibility to premature fruit abortion induced by 

Choanephora cucurbitarum. The results indicated differences in abortion varying from 24 to 73% between 

cvs. tested. 

Keywords: Fungal-diseases, Disease-resistance. 

150.Bettencourt, E. and J. Konopka. 1989. Vegetables: Abelmoschus. Directory of Germplasm Collections. 

4, International Board for Plant Genetic Resources, Rome, Italy. 

Keywords: Brassica, Capsicum, Cucurbitaceae, Lycopersicon, Solanum, Plant-collections, Germplasm. 

151.Fatokun, C. A. 1991. Inheritance of days to flowering in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench). 

Beitrage Zur Tropischen Landwirtschaft Und Veterinarmedizin (Germany) 29(3): 317-23. 

The inheritance of the number of days to first flower opening was studied in Nigeria, in 1987, in fieldgrown 

parents, F1’s, F2, and backcrosses to both parents on a cross involving 2 okra cultivars, UI 72-11 

(early flowering) and UI 86 (late flowering). Earliness to flowering was partially dominant to lateness. 

Dominance gene action and dominance x dominance gene interaction were significant for this trait. The 

interaction was found to be predominantly of the duplicate type. Broad and narrow sense heritability 

estimates were 72.29% and 64.90%, respectively. The minimum number of effective factors controlling 

the days to flowering was found to be 2.0. The implications of these observations in developing earlyflowering 

okra cultivars are mentioned. 

Keywords: Genetics, Flowering, Earliness, Plant-breeding. 

152.Godfrey Sam Aggrey, W. and A. S. Ndoleh. 1978. Effects of Alar on growth, flowering and yield of 

okra. Experimental-Agriculture (UK) 14(2): 121-8. 

Effects of Alar (daminozide) on growth, flowering and yield parameters of standard-planted and closelyplanted 

late-bearing okra were studied. Lower concentrations of Alar, applied once 6 weeks after sowing 

on standard-planted okra, significantly advanced days to first flowering and depressed height at first 

flowering and final height. Higher Alar concentrations, particularly 2000 ppm applied twice after 3 and 

6 weeks on closely-planted okra, produced more, longer and heavier pods, and therefore higher total pod 

yield in unstopped than in stopped okra, in addition to advancing days to first flowering and depressing 

height at first flowering and final height. The agronomic practice of stopping i.e. by decapitating the 

terminal buds, okra at 6 weeks reduced pod number, pod weight/plant and total pod yield/ha in unsprayed 

plants. 

Keywords: Vegetable-Crops, Growth-Regulators. 

Okra 

153.Igboanugo, A. B. I. 1987. Effects of some eucalypts on growth and yield of Amaranthus caudatus and 

Abelmoschus esculentus. Agriculture Ecosystems and Environment (Netherlands) 18(3): 243-9. 

At Samaru, Zaria, Nigeria, okra and amaranthus (Amaranthus caudatus) were both grown for 10 weeks in 

a savanna grassland (control) and under the effects of decomposing eucalypts’ plant parts in an old 

eucalypts’ plantation with a well-lit floor (treatment). Morphological studies showed that the 2 species 

growing in the plantation did not behave alike in most properties studied. While shoot height did not 

vary in A. caudatus in the 2 sites, in okra, it was higher in the control. Although total leaf number in the 2 

species was significantly reduced in the plantation, area per leaf in A. caudatus did not vary between 

plants in the 2 sites. In okra, specific leaf area and chlorophyll content did not vary between plants 

growing in the 2 sites, but in A. caudatus both parameters were higher in the control. In okra, total flower 

abortion was observed after the third week of flower initiation, with fruit number and dimensions being 

significantly lower in plants growing in the plantation. It is concluded that the 2 crop species are incompatible 

with eucalypts. 

33

34 

Keywords: Intercropping, Allelopathy, Agroforestry. 

154.IRAT. Okra. Pp. 219 in Institut de Recherches Agronomiques Tropicales et des Cultures Vivrieres: 

Rapport Annuel 1978. (Annual Report for 1978 of the Institute of Tropical Agronomic Research and 

Food Crops) IRAT, Paris (France). 

Mauritania: American cvs yielded 14-16 t/ha compared with 9-10 t/ha from local cvs. Senegal: Cv. Pcp 

yielded 7.5 t/ha during the rainy season. 

Keywords: Okras, Research, Reports, Vegetables, Malvaceae, Fruit-vegetables. 

155.Martin, F. W. 1982. A second edible okra species, and its hybrids with common okra. Annals of Botany 

50(2): 277-83. 

Seventeen accessions of an unnamed West African species of Abelmoschus [Hibiscus] were grown in 

Puerto Rico and crossed with plants of A.[H.] esculentus. Plants of the accessions were more daylength 

sensitive and larger than those of common okra, had shorter internodes and also differed in numerous 

morphological and physiological characteristics. The F1 interspecific hybrids were comparatively sterile 

but a few produced germinable seeds; backcrosses were more fertile, with almost complete fertility in 

the BC2. Some evidence was found of cytoplasmic interaction with chromosomes in the production of 

sterile BC hybrids. Transfer of genes from the new species to common okra appears feasible. 

Keywords: Interspecific-hybridization, Sterility, Fertility, Backcrossing, Species. 

156.Muoneke, C. O. and A. C. C. Udeogalanya. 1991. Response of okra (Hibiscus esculentus) to plant density 

and pattern of plant arrangement in Nigeria. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences (India). 

61(10): 726-30. 

In Nigeria, an experiment was conducted during the rainy seasons of 1984 and 1985, to study the effect 

of 4 planting densities (27 777, 37 037, 55 555 and 111 111 plants/ha) and their patterns of arrangement 

(rectangular vs square) on the yield of okra cv. Awgu Early. Leaf area/plant and branches/plant decreased 

with an increase in planting density, but the leaf area index increased. Fresh pod yield/plant 

decreased but the yield/ha increased with an increase in planting density. The fresh weight of the pods/ 

ha was 69% higher at the highest planting density (111 111 plants/ha), compared with the lowest planting 

density (27 777 plants/ha), in 1984 and 1985. The plant arrangement did not have a significant effect 

on plant growth and yield. Ease of cultural operations should determine the spatial arrangement of the 

plants, while planting density may be adapted to produce the maximum yield. 

Keywords: Spacing, Plant-population. 

Okra 

157.Olasantan, F. O. 1988. Effect of leaf removal on the growth and yield of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) 

and its relevance to leaf harvesting patterns and pest damage. Experimental Agriculture 24(4): 449-55. 

In Nigeria, experiments on okra were conducted to determine the economic loss caused by insect damage 

to the leaves or by harvesting young leaves as a vegetable. Leaf harvests at 1-weekly intervals yielded 30- 

50% more fresh leaf than harvests at 2 or 3-weekly intervals. Removing a quarter of each leaf or single 

leaves from the upper or lower parts of the plant at 3-weekly intervals did not affect marketable fruit 

yield, but yield was reduced by about 30% when one young leaf was harvested at 1 or 2-weekly intervals 

or when two or three leaves were harvested at 3-weekly intervals. Removing more than one quarter of 

each leaf or two or three fully expanded leaves from the lower three-quarters of the plant at 3-weekly 

intervals also caused up to 40% yield loss. Harvesting single leaves at 3-weekly intervals is therefore 

recommended if okra is to be grown for both leaves and pods. 

Keywords: Harvest-timing, Pest-damage, Agronomic-characters. 

158.Oyolu, C. 1977. Variability in photoperiodic response in okra (Hibiscus esculentus L.). Acta Horticulturae 

(53): 207-15. 

Cultivars of okra grown in Nsukka, Nigeria could be divided into two groups, depending on their 

response to photoperiod: a) “dry season” or short day group (critical day length of 12 1/4 hrs or less);

and b) “all season” or neutral group (critical day length of 12 1/2 hrs or more). England showed variability 

in growth and flowering time within “all season” cultivars exposed to day length temperature interaction. 

Keywords: Vegetable-Crops, Plant-Growth-and-Development. 

159.Siemonsma, J. S. 1979. Okra collections in Ivory Coast. Plant Genetic Resources Newsletter 40(19). 

Keywords: Plant-collection. 

Okra 

160.Siemonsma, J. S. 1982. La culture du gombo (Abelmoschus spp.), legume-fruit tropical (avec reference 

speciale a la Cote d’Ivoire) [The Cultivation of Okra (Abelmoschus spp.), tropical vegetable-fruit (with 

specieal reference to Ivory Coast)]. Landbouwhogeschool, Wageningen, Netherlands. 

The mucilaginous immature fruits of okra are much appreciated in Africa, and elsewhere, as ingredients 

of soups and stews. The leaves are also eaten. Both leaves and fruits may be conserved by drying. All 

aspects of okra culture in the Ivory Coast are covered in this small book and many of the observations it 

contains are equally applicable to other parts of West Africa. The Soudanais (savanna) type of okra is the 

true Abelmoschus (Hibiscus) esculentus but the Guineen (forest) type may be a hybrid between A. esculentus 

and A. manihot. The book contains several illustrations and an extensive bibliography. 

Keywords: Cultural-methods, Malvaceae, Fruit, Vegetables. 

35

36 

H: Ethiopian Mustard (Brassica carinata A. Br.) 

161.Hari Singh, D. Singh and T. P. Yadava. 1988. Comparative performance of the genotypes of Indian and 

Ethiopian mustard under semi-arid region of India. Cruciferae Newsletter(13): 36-7. 

In 1983-84, 4 of the 10 Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata) genotypes studied (CAR6, CAR2, CAR8 and 

CAR5) produced significantly higher yields than the controls, the Indian mustard (B. juncea) cultivars 

RH30 and Prakash. Only CAR5 and BC2 produced seed yields in excess of 3 t/ha in 1984-85, compared 

with 2.37 t for Prakash and 2.46 t for RH30. Averaged over both years, seed yields of CAR5, BC2, CAR3, 

CAR8, CAR6, CAR2 and HC2 were appreciably higher than in the controls. Of the B. carinata genotypes 

studied, only BC2 (40.1%) and HC2 (39.2%) had oil contents comparable to those of Prakesh (40.16%) 

and RH30 (40.33%). CAR2, CAR3, CAR5 and HC2 matured within 152 days, whereas the control varieties 

reached maturity within 139-147 days. All B. carinata genotypes were resistant to white rust [Albugo 

candida]. CAR5, BC2, CAR3 and HC2 were identified as the best B. carinata genotypes. 


Keywords: Yields, Oils, Disease-resistance, Variety-trials. 

162.Likums, E. 1976. There’s protein in Brassica [carinata, vegetables from Ethiopia]. Agricultural Research 

(USA) 24(10): 7. 

163.Yadav, R. C., P. K. Sareen and J. B. Chowdhury. 1988. High frequency induction of androgenesis in 

Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata A. Br.). Cruciferae Newsletter(13): 77. 

Anthers from unopened flower buds of cv. BCID1 and HC1 were cultured on Keller medium (R1), Keller 

medium modified with 100 mg serine (R2), KB5 medium modified with organic components of B5 (R3), 

and N6 medium modified with organic components of B5 (R4). The anthers were cultured in the dark at 

25±2°C for 4 weeks for callus initiation. There was no anther response on R1 and R2 media, but it was 

very high on R3 and R4 media. Anther response was greater on R4 medium than on R3 medium. The 

highest anther response (84.70%) was observed in cultivar BCID1 on R4 medium, where anthers burst 

open and produced embryogenic callus. The frequency of response on the R3 medium was 36.70%. 

Cultivar HC1 also had a similar anther response on R3 medium, but on R4 medium its response was 

42.0% which was lower than in BCID1. MS media with different concentrations of growth regulators 

were tried, and those supplemented with IAA (0.5 mg/litre) + BA [benzyladenine] (0.5 mg/litre) or NAA 

(0.2 mg/litre) + Kn [kinetin] (2 mg/litre) were found suitable for regeneration. When the callus was kept 

at 25±2°C in bright light (6000 lux) with a 16 h photoperiod, it turned green within 15 days and few 

plants regenerated. Their ploidy level will be confirmed and the information utilized in the interspecific 

hybridization programme using anther culture to fix the characters in the F1 generation. 


Ethiopian mustard 

Keywords: Biotechnology, Regeneration, Light, Anther-culture, Tissue-culture.

I: Cassava and Sweet Potato (Manihot esculentum Crantz, 

Ipomoea batata L.) 

164.Abdelsamie, R. E. and B. Tangendjaja. 1986. Composition of cassava leaf/giant African snail silage: 

Effect of snail addition and storage time. Ilmu Dan Peternakan (Indonesia) 2(4): 169-72. 

Keywords: Silage, Storage, Composition, Nutritive-value. 

165.Adewusi, S. R. A., A. F. Awoyinka and V. O. Abegunde. 1995. Nutrient content of young cassava leaves 

and assessment of their acceptance as a green vegetable in Nigeria. Plant Foods for Human Nutrition 


The nutritive value of young cassave leaves was studied in Nigeria. Cassava leaves contained a high 

level of crude protein (29.3-32.4% dry weight) compared with a conventional vegetable, Amaranthus sp. 

(19.6%). Ash was 4.6-6.4% in cassava leaf samples but 13.1% dry weight in Amaranthus sp. Dietary fibre 

was very high in all samples (26.9-39% dry weight) whereas HCN-potential was low (5.1-12.6 mg/100 g 

dry weight). Tannin was highest in cassava leaves cv. IITA red (29.7 mg/g) and lowest in Amaranthus sp. 

vegetable. In vitro digestibility was very low in oven-dried samples (15.6-22.7%). Blanching increased 

protein content (except Amaranthus sp.) and in vitro protein digestibility but decreased ash, minerals, 

dietary fibre and tannin, whereas HCN-potential was unchanged. Grinding reduced both HCN-potential 

and tannin by 84 and 71%, respectively, while oven-drying only reduced both contents marginally. 

Preference studies showed that the highest percentage of respondents (25.3%) preferred Amaranthus sp. 

vegetable, followed by Celosia trigyna (17.5%), Talinum triangulare (12.4%), garden egg (Solanum incanum) 

(11.5%), with cassava as the least (0.5%). Organoleptic evaluation rated cassava leaf soup inferior to 

Amaranthus sp. in terms of appearance, colour and texture but equal in terms of taste and flavour and 

overall acceptability. 

TROPAG copyright. 

Keywords: Vegetable-crops, Leaves, Nutritive-value. 

Cassava and Sweet Potato 

166.Almazan, A. M. and R. L. Theberge. 1989. Influence of cassava mosaic virus on cassava leaf-vegetable 

quality. Tropical Agriculture 66(4): 305-8. 

The effect of cassava mosaic viral disease on cassava leaf-vegetable quality was studied in Nigeria. 

Because diseased leaves are believed to be sweeter and more tender, experiments were done to investigate 

this claim, and leaves from 3 cassava clones, TMS 50395, TMS 30572 and Isunikankiyan, with disease 

ratings of 1-5, were analysed for total cyanide, protein content, total soluble sugars and crude fibre. Total 

cyanide concentration decreased significantly with increasing disease severity; protein content also 

decreased as the disease progressed. Total soluble sugars and crude fibre content were not related to the 

disease rating. 

Keywords: Viral-diseases, Cassava-mosaic-virus, Leaf-quality, Cyanide, Protein-content. 

167.Brochier, J., R. Bouka, O. Legros and G. Boukambou. 1992. Peri-urban farming systems and food 

processing in the Congo. Pp.465-9. in Workshop on Processing, Marketing, and Utilization of Root and 

Tuber Crops in Africa. 26 Oct - 2 Nov 1991 Ibadan (Nigeria). Product Development for Root an Tuber 

Crops. No. 3 . (G. P. I. Ferguson and J. E. Herrera Scott) International Potato Center (CIP), Lima (Peru). 

AGRICONGO (Institut de recherche et d’appui pour le developpment agricole en zones tropicales) developed 

a project entitled new farming systems (NSF). This project is intended to implement peri-urban 

agriculture for city dwellers who want to go into small farm business. Because the Congo is importing a 

large part of its food, the project’s first goal was to identify products for development. A basic project 

assumption was that the best way to reduce these imports was to modernize traditional foods. There was 

also a need to develop appropriate technologies in agronomy and food science. Work was done to design 

both a 1.5 ha NFS farm and an integrated food processing facility. Farming techniques were tested at the 

research station level and the study included socioeconomic issues and farmer-level implementation of 

product marketing and commercialization. This report presents preliminary findings from 20 pilot NFS 

farms that were tested near Brazzaville. Food processing lines and their management are also described. 

Processed products made available to urban markets through the project were chikwangue (cassava 

bread) and cassava-based mixed flour for infant food. 

37

38 

Keywords: Flours, Marketing, Processing. 

168.Cock, J. H. 1985. Cassava. New potential for a neglected crop. Pp. 191. Westview Press, Boulder and 

London. 

169.Dahniya, M. T. 1981. Effets de l’ éffeuillage et de l’ écimage sur les rendements en feuilles et en 

racines du manioc et de la potate douce [Effects of leaf harvests and detopping on the yield of leaves 

and roots of cassava and sweet potato]. Pp. 137-42 in Tropical root crops: research strategies for the 

1980s (E.R.Terry, K. A. Oduro and F. Caveness, editors). IDRC, Ottawa (Canada). 

I undertook two studies, one on the effect of harvesting leaves of cassava and the other on the effects of 

detopping sweet potatoes at different times. My findings were that total fresh leaf yield of cassava variety 

Isunikakiyan was not significantly affected by harvesting frequency of the leaves unlike that of variety 

TMS 30211. However, compared with plants with unharvested leaves, there was a total fresh root yield 

decrease of 56-76%, 34-62%, and 15-32% when leaves were harvested at 1-, 2-, and 3-month intervals. 

Detopping sweet potato shoot tips resulted in 34-42% less shoot yield than did detopping plants at the 

base of each shoot. Total shoot yield was unaffected when the tips were harvested at 2-,3-, or 4-week 

intervals. Tuber yield was less severely reduced when shoot tips were detopped than when they were cut 

at the base. As the intervals between detoppings decreased, there was a decrease in tuber numbers, 

individual tuber size, and total yield. The cassava and sweet potato varieties studied reacted differently 

to leaf harvests and detopping in terms of root and tuber yields. Harvesting cassava leaves at 2- or 3month 

intervals and sweet potato shoots at 4-week intervals is recommended for reasonable overall 

yields. 

Keywords: Harvesting,Yields, Roots, Tubers. 

170.Ezeilo, W. N. O. 1979. Intercropping with cassava in Africa. in Proceedings. Intercropping with cassava. 

27 Nov. 1978 Trivandrum, India Trivandrum, IndiaNo. no. 142e IDRC-Publication (Canada), 

Ottawa (Canada). 

Cassava (Manihot esculenta) is grown in many parts of Africa, where it is often mixed intercropped or 

relay intercropped. The attributes of cassava include high yield compared to other crops per unit of time 

and land, a long planting season (8 months) allowing for greater flexibility in work schedules and good 

storage properties in the ground. It is also valued for its drought tolerance and ability to grow in suboptimal 

soils. Cassava, in the traditional farming systems, is often intercropped with principal staples, 

such as yams (Dioscorea spp.) and subsidiary crops, such as okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), melons 

(Colocynthis vulgaris) and leaf vegetables (Telfairia occidentalis and Corchorus olitorus). Cassava intercropping 

research at IITA (International Institute of Tropical Agriculture) is discussed. 

Keywords: Intercropping, Traditional-farming, Agricultural-research, Innovation-adoption. 

171.Ezumah, H. C. 1987. The effect of harvesting leaves on cassava yield in Zaire. Agriculture International 

(UK) 39(5): 152-5. 

In the M’vuazi river valley field experiments were conducted to study the effects of harvesting leaves on 

casava yield, revenues, disease and pest incidence. There were 4 treatments: (a) irregular ut frequent 

harvesting of leaves (to be used as vegetables or pondu), (b) harvesting once a month, (c) harvesting every 

2 months, and (d) no harvesting (control). Harvesting commenced 5 months after planting. Leaf yield 

was measured during a 1-year period, and fresh root yield was measured at 16 months. Frequently 

harvested plots showed highest mealybug (Phenococcus manihoti) incidence. The more frequent leaves 

were harvested, the higher the incidence of cassava mosaic disease. There was a tendency for leaf area to 

decline with increasing frequency of harvesting. Leaf harvesting had no effect on number of primary 

branches/plant, but greatly increased secondary, tertiary and other branches. Treatments (c) and (d) 

gave equal root yields. In (c) revenues from leaves were > 4 times that from the control roots. Root revenue 

in (a) was 50% and total revenue was 200-300% that of (d). 

Keywords: Leaf, Crop-harvesting. 


172.Lockard, R. G., M. A. Saqui and D. D. Wounuah. 1985. Effects of time and frequency of leaf harvest on 

growth and yield of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) in Liberia. Field Crops Research (Netherlands) 

12(2): 175-80.


Keywords: Leaves, Harvesting, Growth, Yields, Tubers. 

173.Lutaladio, N. B. and H. C. Ezumah. 1981. Cassava leaf harvesting in Zaire. Pp.134-6. in Tropical root 

crops: proceedings. Sep 1980 Ibadan, Nigeria Ibadan, Nigeria Trienn. Root Crops SymposiumNo. no. 

163e International Development Research Centre, IDRC-Publication (Canada), Ottawa (Canada). 

In Zaire, harvesting cassava leaves for use as a vegetable could increase the total revenue (leaf and root) 

from the crop by 1.5-6 times, depending on cultivar and on frequency of leaf harvesting. Frequent removal 

of leaves results in a high incidence of cassava mosaic disease (CMD) and reductions in root and 

leaf yields. Harvesting leaves once a month provides a high leaf production and returns with low losses 

in root yield. 

Keywords: Harvest-timing, Variety-performance, Disease-incidence. 

174.Lutaladio, N. B. and H. C. Ezumah. 1981. La récolte des feuilles du manioc [Cassava leaf harvesting in 

Zaire]. in Tropical root crops: research strategies for the 1980s. (E.R. Terry, K. A. Oduro and F. Caveness, 

editors). IDRC, Ottawa (Canada). 

In Zaire, harvesting cassava leaves for use as a vegetable could increase the total revenue (leaf and root) 

from the crop by 1.5-6 times, depending on cultivar and on frequency of leaf harvesting. Frequent removal 

of leaves results in high incidence of cassava mosaic disease (CMD) and reductions in root and 

leaf yields. Harvesting leaves once a month provides a high leaf production and returns with low losses 

in root yield. 

Keywords: Harvesting, Roots, Yields, Plant-diseases. 

39

40 

J: Other African vegetables 

175.Abbiw, D. K. 1997. Traditional vegetables in Ghana. Pp.29-30. in Proceedings of the IPGRI International 

Workshop on Genetic Resources of Traditional Vegetables in Africa: Conservation and use. 29- 

31 August 1995 ICRAF-HQ, Nairobi, Kenya. ICRAF-HQ, Nairobi, Kenya. Traditional African Vegetables. 

Promoting the Conservation and Use of Underutilized and Neglected Crops. No. 16. (L. Guarino, 

editor). Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, Gatersleben\International Plant Genetic 

Resources Institute, Rome, Italy. 

This paper classifies the vegetables used in Ghana into those of national importance and those of local 

or ethnic importance only and documents which of the vegetables of local importance are marketed. 

Keywords: Indigenous, Use. 

176.Abdullahi Mohamed Hussein and Amina Haji Abdullahi. 1988. Traditional processing possibilities 

of under exploited food plants. Pp.81-91. in Proceedings. National Workshop on Promotion of Under 

Exploited Traditional Food Plants in Somalia. 12-155 Nov 1988, Mogadishu (Somalia). Ministry of 

Agriculture, Mogadishu (Somalia). 

Keywords: Food-crops, Food-technology, Somalia, Cereals, Legumes, Tubers, Fruits, Vegetables. 

177.Ahmed, M. K. and El Tahir I. Mohammed. 1997. Indigenous vegetables of Sudan: production, utilization 

and conservation. Pp.117-21. in Proceedings of the IPGRI International Workshop on Genetic 

Resources of Traditional Vegetables in Africa: Conservation and use. 29-31 August 1995 ICRAF-HQ, 

Nairobi, Kenya. ICRAF-HQ, Nairobi, Kenya. Traditional African Vegetables. Promoting the Conservation 

and Use of Underutilized and Neglected Crops. No. 16. (L. Guarino, editor). Institute of Plant 

Genetics and Crop Plant Research, Gatersleben\International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Rome, 

Italy. 

Keywords: Vegetables, Sudan, Production, Utilization, Conservation, Indigenous. 

178.Akah, P. A. and A. L. Nwambie. 1993. Nigerian plants with anti-convulsant property. Fitoterapia 64(1): 

42-4. 

The management of convulsion of children in many Nigerian localities is achieved through the use of 

herbal preparations. The results of the preliminary screening of some of these herbs used by the Ibo tribe 

of Nigeria are reported. The herbs studied were Alstonia boonei, Boerhaavia diffusa, Calliandra portoricensis, 

Cleome cileata, Cynodon dactylon, Emilia coccinea, Holarrhena floribunda, Hoslundia opposita, Hyptis suaveolens, 

Newboldia laevis and Tetrapleura tetraptera. 

Keywords: Drug-plants, Ethnobotany, Medicinal-properties. 

179.Akinyele, L and T. Atinmo, editors. 1983. Nutrition and food policy in Nigeria. National Institute for 

Policy and Strategic Studies (INPSS), Ibadan (Nigeria). 

A collection of papers on the food and nutrition situation in Nigeria. Includes papers on the importance 

and nutritional contribution of bushmeat, as well as chapters on the role of forestry in food supply and 

national nutrition problems. Notes that bushmeat is an important food for many Nigerians, however, as 

the demand for bushmeat continues to increase, supplies are dwindling. 

Keywords: Community-forestry. 

Other African vegetables 

180.Akoroda, M. O. 1990. Ethnobotany of Telfairia occidentalis (Cucurbitaceae) among Igbos of Nigeria. 

Economic-Botany 44(1): 29-39. 

The fluted pumpkin (T. occidentalis), an important cucurbitaceous leaf and seed vegetable, is indigenous 

to the west tropical rain forest area from Bendel to Cross Rivers states in Nigeria. Though endemic to SE 

Nigeria, T. occidentalis is of local ethnobotanical importance in the folklore and the dietary and cropping 

systems of Igbos and their neighbours. There is no reported definitive ethnobotanical study relating to 

this species. T. occidentalis has long been important in the internal food trade of the Igbos. Like other leaf 

vegetables, it is of low commercial value, but can in some cases provide an appreciable cash income to

small farm families. Its leaves, succulent shoots, and seed kernels constitute the usual ingredients that 

are popular and regularly consumed in Igbo soups. Soups made of leaf vegetables are essential for 

consumption of starchy pastes of yam [Dioscorea spp.], cassava, or cocoyam [Colocasia esculenta], which 

are frequently consumed in the humid areas of Nigeria. Many good attributes account for the increasing 

importance of this vegetable among 30-35 million people in Nigeria. 


Keywords: Wild-plants, Utilization, Seed-production, Nutritive-value. 

181.Akoroda, M. O. 1990. Seed production and breeding potential of the fluted pumpkin, Telfairia 

occidentalis. Euphytica (Netherlands) 49(1): 25-32. 


Keywords: Oilseeds, Seed-production, Plant-breeding, Yields, Oil-crops. 

182.Akoroda, M. O. 1993. Non-destructive estimation of area and variation in shape of leaf lamina in the 

fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis). Scientia Horticulturae 53(3): 261-7. 

Expanded and mature leaves of the fluted pumpkin grown in Nigeria, were studied during 1987-92, to 

derive a predictive regression equation for use in estimating the leaf lamina area (LA) during crop 

growth studies. A suitable equation based on the number of leaflets in a leaf (N), combined with the 

length (L) and maximum width (W), of only the central leaflet in 156 leaves representing diverse seasonal, 

cultural, and genetic backgrounds with 2-5 leaflets was LA=0.9467 + 0.2475LW + 0.9724LWN. 

Variation in the different attributes of lamina reduced the percentage of the variation in LA accounted for 

by the use of the equation. Leaf shapes varied widely depending on the number of leaflets, extent of 

lamina separation, type of tip, degree of lobing, as well as the flatness or waviness of lamina surface. 

Overall, the central leaflet was largest, with other leaflets being 80, 70, 65 and 54% of the size of the 

central leaflet. 


Keywords: Leaves, Methods, Growth, Statistical-analysis, Leaf-area, Measurement. 

183.Akoroda, M. O. and M. A. Adejoro. 1990. Patterns of vegetative and sexual development of Telfairia 

occidentalis Hook. f. Tropical Agriculture (Trinidad and Tobago) 67(3): 243-7. 

Three populations comprising 202 plants of fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) were studied to provide 

preliminary insight into the patterns of development in this important but neglected vegetable crop. 

Intact seeds (with unseparated cotyledons) extracted from mature fruits germinated better in sawdust 

than in soil or sand. Fruits contained an average 61.7 seeds (range, 19-111). The sex ratio varied with one 

female plant to 1.5, 1.9 and 3.0 males. Although males were more frequent, the statistical limit of the ratio 

was about 1:1. As many as 18 flutes (single female flower) developed per female plant, but only 1-2-(4) 

flutes formed fruits. Estimated intact external volume of fruits was 0.2-14.7 l, with mean of 5.2 l. The 

vegetative growth pattern of plants was sigmoidal and reached a peak 6.5 months after planting under 

a regime of selective and periodic pruning of edible young shoots. 



Keywords: Vegetative-period, Nigeria, Seed, Germination, Sex-ratio. 

184.Akoroda, M. O., N. I. Ogbechie Odiaka, M. L. Adebayo, O. E. Ugwo and B. Fuwa. 1990. Flowering, 

pollination and fruiting in fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis). Scientia Horticulturae (Netherlands) 

43(3): 197-206. 

The reproductive biology of Telfairia occidentalis was studied in Ibadan, Nigeria. It is usually dioecious, 

but one monoecious plant was observed. Plants produced floral buds 15-17 weeks after planting. There 

were >800 open male flowers to 1 open female flower. Male flowers opened and shed pollen at night, 

followed by an apparently inefficient insect transfer of pollen to receptive stigmas by midday. Although 

a female plant may produce 5 open flowers, only 2 or 3 set fruit and only 1 or 2 were retained and 

41

42 

developed fully. Fruit growth was sigmoidal over 8 weeks, but was most rapid 1.5-5.5 weeks after successful 

fruit set. Mature fruits were harvested once shoots senesced at 31-33 weeks from planting. 


Keywords: Vegetable-crops, Pollination, Fruiting. 

185.Alawuba, O. C. G., E. C. Nwanekezi and C. C. M. Mkpolulu. 1994. Characterization of pectic substances 

from selected tropical fruits. Journal of Food Science and Technology 31(2): 159-61. 

The pectin content of orange, lime, banana, mango, native mango (Irvingia gabonensis), garden egg (Solanum 

nigrum), avocado, papaya, cashew apple, star apple (Chrysophyllum albidum), tomato and guava fruits 

was studied in Abia, Nigeria. Mango had the highest pectin content of 1.8%, whereas tomato had the 

lowest pectin content (0.53%). The anhydrogalacturonic acid content was highest in mango, and lowest 

in star apple. The solubility and viscosity of the pectin were found to increase with increasing methoxyl 

ester contents. Jams with good gelation characteristics and acceptability were produced from some of 

these fruits (orange, orange/garden egg, orange/banana, lime and banana). 

Keywords: Fruits, Quality, Processed-foods, Wild-plants. 

186.Aletor, V. A. and O. A. Adeogun. 1995. Nutrient and anti-nutrient components of some tropical leafy 

vegetables. Food-Chemistry (United Kingdom) 53(4): 375-9. 


Keywords: Nutritive-value, Plant-products, quality. 

187.Alkamper, J. 1972. Capsicum - Anbau in Athiopien fur Gewurz- und Farbezwecke. Bodenkultur 23(1): 

97-107. 

The following varietal types of Capsicum fruits grown in Ethiopia are briefly described: Mareko or Tschallia, 

Mareko dube and Mareko shuty, all deep red in colour, varying in pungency and used as a spice in 

sauces; and Mitmit’a tilik and Mitmit’a tinish, both yellowish, the former long and thin and the latter 

very small, both highly pungent and used to spice raw meat. Selections from Mareko material have given 

improved yields. Trial results are presented for a number of introduced varieties tested in various localities 

in 1968 and 1969. 

Keywords: Varieties, Variety-trials, Cultural-methods, Fruit-vegetables. 

188.Anonymous. 1975. La contribution de la culture maraichere au developpement economique a Buba 

Zaire. [The contribution of vegetable crops in the economic development at Buba [Zaire]] . Lobi Babo, 

Université Nationale du Zaire, Bukavu. Institut Superieur d’ Etudes Sociales (ISES), Bukavu (Zaire). 

189.Anonymous. 1979. Vegetables for the tropics. Plant Genetic Resources Newsletter(37): 2-3. 

Keywords: Vegetable-crops, Priority-species. 

190.Anonymous. 1980. Comment cultiver les legumes au Benin [How to cultivate vegetables in Benin]. Pp. 

64. Porto-Novo (Benin). 

Keywords: Vegetable-crops, Plant-production, Cultivation, Domestic-gardens. 

191.Anonymous. 1986. Vegetable crops. Index Seminum, 1986. 

The list contains the names of vegetable crop seeds preserved in the germplasm bank and available for 

research purposes. The families, genera and species are listed alphabetically and include cv. of carrots, 

Brassica juncea, cabbages, radishes, pawpaws, beetroots, Citrullus lanatus, Cucumis zeyheri, Cucurbita, 

Phaseolus, peas, onions and tomatoes. 

Keywords: Gene-banks. 

Other African vegetables

192.Anonymous. 1988. Traditional food plants: a resource book for promoting the exploitation and consumption 

of food plants in arid, semi-arid and sub-humid lands of Eastern Africa. FAO Food Nutrition 

Paper (FAO), no. 42. 

A resource book which deals with the exploitation and consumption of food plants in arid, semi-arid 

and sub-humid areas of Eastern Africa. Part 1 contains notes on the food, nutrition and agricultural 

background of traditional plants, and part 2 consists of the anthology of more than 100 selected species 

of traditional food plants, such as baobab, amaranthus, shea nut, Cyperus esculentus, tef, Portulaca oleracea, 

sorghum and Vigna spp. Annexes deal with research contacts and germplasm sources, and with plant 

species classified by food commodity group and by cultivation factors. 

Keywords: Ethnobotany, Cultural-practices, Nutritive-value, Germplasm. 

193.Anonymous. 1990. Le secteur des fruits et legumes dans l’ agriculture malgache [The fruit and vegetable 

sector in the Madagascar agriculture]. Marche International Des Fruits Et Legumes Frais 

(France)(14): 20-3. 

Keywords: Vegetable-crops, Plant-production, Production-policies, Exports. 

194.Anonymous. 1992. Bibliographie sur la production vegetale au Mali: [Bibliography on crop production 

in Mali] 13 . IER, Bamako, Mali. 

A bibliography is presented on crop production in Mali, and in general throughout the Sahel. It consists 

of 13 volumes, on rice, millet, sorghum, maize, groundnut, cowpea, cotton, sugar cane, tobacco, tea, 

wheat, and various secondary crops (Bambara groundnut, fonio (Digitaria exilis), dah, barley, sesame, 

roselle, and sunflower), fruit tree growing and vegetable crops. Besides the bibliographic list, each volume 

contains subject, author and organization indexes. 

Keywords: Cropping-systems, Semiarid-zones, Cultivation. 

195.Ardayfio, E. 1985. Women and urban marketing in Ghana. in Women creating wealth: transforming 

economic development. Association for Women in Development Conference. 25-27 April 1985 Washington 

D.C., USA. (R.S.Gallin and A. Spring, editors). Washington D.C., USA. 

Examines the position of women in the economy with respect to trade in particular: 84% of the people 

involved in Ghanian trade are women. Fifty-one percent of wholesalers, who control the market for 

products transported over long distances from their production sites, derive their capital from personal 

savings, as banks do not support women. The paper also includes a discussion of the major markets for 

certain products. 



196.Asfaw, Z. 1997. Conservation and use of traditional vegetables in Ethiopia. Pp.57-65. in Proceedings of 

the IPGRI International Workshop on Genetic Resources of Traditional Vegetables in Africa: Conservation 

and use. 29-31 August 1995 ICRAF-HQ, Nairobi, Kenya ICRAF-HQ, Nairobi, Kenya Traditional 

African Vegetables. Promoting the Conservation and Use of Underutilized and Neglected Crops. No. 

16. (L. Guarino, editor). Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant research, Gatersleben\International 

Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Rome, Italy. 

Ethiopia is well known for its diversity of indigenous food plants, including vegetables. The cultivated 

vegetables are mainly grown by traditional farmers in home gardens, although some are grown in fields 

and along field margins. About 27% of the crop species cultivated in home gardens in Ethiopia, many of 

them indigenous, are used as vegetables. Non-cultivated species sporadically used as vegetables are 

estimated to comprise about 29% of the total wild food plants of the country, most of these being indigenous. 

Traditional Ethiopian vegetables do not figure very prominently in modern crop research and 

conservation programmes. Traditional vegetable crops are marginalized in modern agriculture while 

the wild and weedy vegetable species receive no special attention. The vegetable resources of Ethiopia 

can be developed through a strategy of complementing and augmenting traditional practices with modern 

scientific approaches. The vegetable industry could benefit from tapping the potential of the indigenous 

taxa as this would improve local and national food security, augment farmers’ incomes and help 

surmount some health problems associated with nutrient deficiency. 

43

44 

Keywords: Tradional-vegetables, Health, Research, Wild. 

197.Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center. 1991. Vegetables: research and development in 

the 1990s. A strategic plan. AVRDC, Taipei, Tainan, Taiwan. 

A strategic research plan formulated by the Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center (AVRDC) 

to improve the production of vegetables and their growing environment in developing countries is outlined. 

The plan deals with small-scale commercial vegetable production as the first priority and then 

with home gardens. Countries of priority in descending order are: Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America 

and the Caribbean, and West Asia and North Africa. The agro-ecological zones are: (1) the lowland 

humid and subhumid tropics, and (2) tropical highlands. The vegetables are classified into 3 groups, 

namely: tomato, pepper and eggplant; onion, shallot and garlic; and common cabbage and Chinese 

cabbage. Local important vegetable crops will be dealt with in regional programmes. AVDRC’s current 

status as an institution is reviewed and the choices it has made in revising its strategy and planning its 

future activities and programmes are analysed. 

Keywords: Vegetable-crops, Research-policies, Research-institutions. 

198.Asiedu Saforo, K. 1989. Farming systems in Ghana - a case study of the farming system in the Ga Rural 

district of the Greater Accra region. University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (Ghana). 

The farming systems prevalent in the Ga Rural district of Ghana are purely traditional, employing 

simple inputs, the bulk of labour, management and capital coming from the farm-family unit. Production 

is above subsistence, and the use of modern technology is low. Hired labour is used during the peak 

labour requirement period. Predominant crop mixtures are maize-tomato, maize-cassava-beans, maizetomato, 

maize-pepper, and tomato-pepper-okra. Livestock production is practised on a small scale and 

average farm size is 1.31 ha. There is little storage and processing of produce with totally ineffective 

extension services. 

Keywords: Farming-systems, Crop-yield, Cropping-patterns. 

199.Asiegbu, J. E. 1983. Effects of method of harvest and interval between harvests on edible leaf yield in 

fluted pumpkin. Scientia Horticulturae 21(2): 129-36. 

Field trials carried out for 2 years with fluted pumpkin showed that frequent harvest (3- or 4-week 

intervals) gave more edible leaf yield than infrequent harvests (6- or 8-week intervals). Though there were 

no significant differences between 3 harvest methods, harvesting by pruning was preferable, as it was 

faster than either hand-picking or alternation of harvest-pruning and hand-picking methods. An additional 

benefit of harvest-pruning is a yield of tender apical shoots which are also edible. 

Keywords: Vegetable-crops, Harvesting-methods, Harvest-timing. 

200.Asiegbu, J. E. 1985. Influence of planting date on growth and productive life of fluted pumpkin, 

Telfairia occidentalis Hook. f. Tropical Agriculture 62(4): 281-4. 

The results of planting date trials with fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) conducted in Nigeria showed 

that plant growth and yield parameters were better for earlier than for later planting under rainfed 

conditions. Extension of vegetable production into the dry season was not necessarily achieved by late 

planting since the dry season had similar adverse effects on production of harvestible flushes, although 

survival in the following year appeared to be improved by late planting. The span of productive life of the 

crop could be extended as long as there was ample rainfall to support new flushes following harvests. 

Keywords: Vegetable-crops, Planting-date, Rainfall. 


201.Asoegwu, S. N. 1988. Effects of irrigation on the leaf and pod production of fluted pumpkin (Telfairia 

occidentalis Hook.f.) in southern Nigeria. Scientia Horticulturae (Netherlands) 34(3): 161-8. 

In Nigeria, field trials were carried out during 1982 and 1983 to study the effects of 3 irrigation frequencies 

of 3-, 6- or 9-day intervals during the dry season, on the leaf and pod yields of fluted pumpkin grown 

in sandy loam soils (Alfisols and Ultisols). Irrigation prolonged the productive life of the crop and 

enhanced leaf and pod yields. Irrigation at 6-day intervals gave significantly higher seed numbers and

the highest water use efficiency, while irrigation every 3 days resulted in the best leaf and pod yields and 

the highest percentage of plant survival. Irrigation at 6-day intervals was the most economic and efficient 

irrigation schedule. Considerable yields were obtained from non-irrigated crop which confirmed that 

fluted pumpkin is relatively drought-tolerant especially after germination and establishment. 


Keywords: Irrigation-frequency, Irrigation, Growth, Water-use. 

202.Atiri, G. I. 1986. A disease of fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis Hook. f.) caused by a yellow 

veinclearing strain of pepper veinal mottle virus in Nigeria. Journal of Plant Protection in the Tropics 

(Malaysia) 3(2): 105-10. 

In Nigeria, the properties of a virus causing yellow veinclearing of the smaller veins of the leaves of fluted 

pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) were investigated. The host range is mainly restricted to the Solanaceae; 

the virus infected 27 species and varieties in this family, it also produced symptoms in 3 species in each 

of the families Amaranthaceae and Chenopodiaceae and 1 species in the Cucurbitaceae. The virus was 

transmitted by Aphis craccivora in a non-persistent manner. Electron microscopy revealed flexuous particles 

with a modal length of 772 nm. It reacted with antiserum to pepper veinal mottle virus in serological 

test, but not with antisera to the following common viruses; cowpea aphid-borne mosaic, cucumber 

mosaic, okra mosaic, potato virus Y, southern bean mosaic and tobacco etch. The name, Telfairia yellow 

veinclearing strain of pepper veinal mottle virus (PVMV-TYVC) is suggested for the virus. 

Keywords: Viral-diseases, Host-range, Disease-diagnosis, Insect-vectors. 

203.Aube, T. 1994. Les légumes dans les pays en developpement. De vastes perspectives mais des obstacles 

à surmonter. [Vegetables in developing countries. Promise for the future but obstacles remain]. 

Fruitrop (France)(no.6): 7-9. 

Synthese de l’ etude realisee en 1993 par la Banque Mondiale, le Ministere Francais des Affaires etrangeres 

et le CIRAD-FLHOR sur l’ analyse concurrentielle des filieres maraicheres dans quatre pays Senegal, 

Maroc, Kenya, Thailande et les implications pour la recherche et le developpement. L’ accent est mis sur 

la necessite d’ une approche filiere des projets, sur l’ evolution des techniques de culture, sur une necessaire 

volonte politique et sur la demande locale comme moteur du developpement. 


Keywords: Research, Marketing, Consumption, Exports, Foreign-trade, Plant-products. 

204.Autissier, V. 1988. Etude des cultures maraichères en Afrique Centrale et Occidental (Study of market 

garden crops in central and western Africa). Groupe de Recherches et d’ Echanges Technologiques, 

Paris (France). 

Keywords: Food-crops, Production-structure, Vegetable-crops. 

205.Autissier, V. 1994. Jardins des villes, jardins des champs : maraichage en Afrique de l’ Ouest, du 

diagnostic a l’ intervention. [Town gardens, country gardens : market gardens in West Africa, from 

diagnosis to intervention]. Pp. 295 p. Point Sur (France)., GRET, Paris (France). 

Le maraichage s’ est considerablement developpe en Afrique de l’ Ouest ces dernieres annees, le plus 

souvent de facon spontanee, sans intervention exterieure. Le dynamisme de l’ activite maraichere fait des 

jardins africains de veritables laboratoires du changement. Pourtant de multiples problemes subsistent. 

Les nombreuses enquetes de terrain qui ont constitue la matiere premiere de ce livre montrent que les 

principales difficultes rencontrees par les maraichers ne concernent pas les techniques de culture mais 

plutot les debouches, les formes d’ organisation collective, la gestion de la fertilite, de l’ eau, de la terre... 

Ce livre a pour objet de mieux adapter les interventions d’ appui au secteur du maraichage. Il presente les 

pratiques et les contraintes des maraichers et propose des conseils methodologiques et techniques pour 

les responsables de projets et techniciens de terrain, depuis le diagnostic prealable jusqu’ a l’ aide a l’ 

organisation collective et la gestion economique, en passant par les differentes etapes de la production. 



45

46 Other African vegetables 

Keywords: Market-gardens, Surveys, Marketing, Crops, Gardens. 

206.Autissier, V. and M. Francois. 1989. La filière des produits maraichers au Niger et au Burkina Faso. 

Rapport de mission (The market garden circuit in Niger and Burkina Faso. Mission report). GRET, 

Paris (France). 

Keywords: Cropping-systems, Food-technology, Seed-production, Marketing, Irrigation. 

207.Badifu, G. I. O., M. A. Akpapunam and V. M. Mgbemere. 1995. The fate of beta-carotene in processed 

leaves of fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis Hook. f.): a popular vegetable in Nigerian diet. Plant 

Foods for Human Nutrition (Netherlands). 

The effects of blanching, sun-oven-drying and storage conditions on the beta-carotene content of the 

fresh leaves of fluted pumpkin were investigated in Nigeria. The beta-carotene (mg/100 g) of fresh leaves 

(unblanched) was 98.9, whereas on blanching the value was reduced to 86.3 for steam blanching and 

83.8 for water blanching. After dehydration the beta-carotene losses were in the ranges of 37.6-48.8%, 

40.5- 51.3% and 68.8-72.0% for the steam-, water-blanched and unblanched leaves, respectively. The 

lower limit loss values were for the oven- dried leaves, whereas the upper limit values were obtained 

from sun-dried leaves. The ambient (30+/-2degC) and refrigerated storage (7+/- 1degC) conditions gave 

slight changes in the beta-carotene contents of the leaves. The losses were 2.0-25.7% (refrigeration) and 

9.2-36.3% (ambient conditions). Blanching and storage conditions affected the organoleptic properties of 

the leaves. 


Keywords: Vitamins, Carotenoids, Food-technology, Blanching, Drying. 

208.Bafokuzara, N. D. 1983. Influence of six vegetable cultivars on reproduction of Meloidogyne javanica. 

Journal of Nematology 15(4): 559-64. 

In field tests in Kenya tomato, cucumber and carrot favoured population increases of Meloidogyne spp., 

while Amaranthus, pepper and cabbage limited them. Some cropping sequences that included crops from 

the latter group had a suppressive effect on population growth. Of the 36 cropping sequences that were 

investigated, the following kept the pests in check: tomato-pepper; tomato-Amaranthus; cabbage- pepper; 

Amaranthus-pepper; carrot-cabbage; pepper-pepper; pepper-Amaranthus; and Amaranthus-pepper. In glasshouse 

tests, tomato, cucumber and carrot had a high number of galls/50 cm of root, large, conspicuous 

galls and egg masses, and a high number of larvae/egg mass. Cabbage and Amaranthus had no galls or 

a low number/50 cm of root, small galls and egg masses, and few progeny on the subsequent crop of 

pepper. The length of time required for eggs to hatch on different hosts varied considerably and is 

thought to be a significant factor in infection of hosts. 

Keywords: Crops, Rotations, Control, Pests. 

209.Baudoin, W. O. 1988. Vegetable production under arid and semi-arid conditions in tropical Africa. 

FAO Plant Production and Protection Paper (FAO), Plant Production and Protection Division, FAO, 

Rome, Italy. 

The technical principles underlying the selection of suitable cultural practices, crop protection methods 

and planting material for vegetable production in the arid and semi-arid zones of Africa are explained. 

A brief review is made of the methods of analysing production costs and of various ways in which 

vegetable crop production and marketing can be developed. Tables are presented suggesting suitable 

varieties, irrigation rates and other technical details. The incidence of pests and diseases and methods of 

control are discussed. Some specific problems of irrigated vegetable crops (bean (Phaseolus), cabbage, 

cucurbits, eggplant, lettuce, okra, onion, peppers, potato, roselle, sweet potato, and tomato) are dealt 

with. The breeding and improvement of vegetable crops and seed production are treated. 

Keywords: Crop-cultivation, Crop-protection, Plant-breeding-and-selection, Seed-production, Post-harvest- handling, 

Plant-pathology.


210.Bon, H. de, N. Boissot, J. C. Girard, R. Michellon, B. Reynaud, B. Vercambre and H. De Bon. 1992. A 

note on research on vegetable crops in Reunion. Revue Agricole Et Sucriere De L’Ile Maurice 71(2-3): 

148-52. 

Following an introduction on marketing of vegetable crops in Reunion, research areas undertaken by 

CIRAD on interactions of different Pseudomonas solanacearum populations, resistance of Capsicum and 

melon to insect pests, resistance of tomato and lettuce to tomato spotted wilt tospovirus (TSWV), transmission 

of TSWV, zucchini yellow mosaic potyvirus and onion yellow dwarf potyvirus by insects, biological 

control of the leafminer Lyriomyza [Liriomyza], mechanization of vegetable production and analysis 

of yield/plot are outlined. 


Keywords: Production, Marketing, Plant-diseases, Plant-pathogens, Biological-control. 

211.Chadha, K. L. and G. Kalloo editors. 1993. Advances in horticulture: vegetable crops . Vol. 5 . Malhotra 

Publishing House, New Delhi, India. 

This is the fifth volume in a series of 13 volumes on Indian horticultural research and the first of 2 

volumes in this series which are devoted to vegetables. This volume comprises 29 chapters covering the 

history and infrastructure of vegetable research in India, genetic resources, crop improvement (tomato, 

chillies (Capsicum), bell pepper (Capsicum), brinjal [aubergine], cucurbits, onion, root crops, garden pea, 

French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), field bean (Lablab purpureus), cole crops 

(Brassica), amaranths (Amaranthus), leafy vegetables and okra), cultural practices (solanaceous vegetables, 

cucurbits, onion and garlic, root crops, legumes, cole crops, leafy vegetables and okra), cropping 

systems, water management, and weed control. Volume 5 has its own subject and author indexes. 

Keywords: Genetic-resources, Breeding, Irrigation, Research. 

212.Chambard, P. 1978. La situation agricole et alimentaire. Les perspectives de la campagne 1978-1979 

[Food and agricultural situation. Perspectives for the 1978-79 season]. Le-Mali-a-Une-Etape-Decisive- 

De-Son-Histoire (Europe Outremer (France)). Paris (France), Societe Nouvelle Des Editions France 

Outremer 56(586): 25-7. 

About 90% of the active population of Mali depends on agriculture, for which rainfall is a major limiting 

factor. Production, trade and perspectives for the season 1978/79 of various crops, including cotton 

(Gossypium spp.), ground nut (Arachis hypogaea), maize (Zea mays), rice (Oryza sativa), tobacco (Nicotiana 

tabacum) and kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus), are reviewed. 

Keywords: Agricultural-Production, Trade. 

213.Chigumira, F. 1997. Conservation and use of traditional vegetables in Zimbabwe. Pp.142-4. in Proceedings 

of the IPGRI International Workshop on Genetic Resources of Traditional Vegetables in 

Africa: Conservation and use. 29-31 August 1995 ICRAF-HQ, Nairobi, Kenya ICRAF-HQ, Nairobi, 

Kenya Traditional African Vegetables. Promoting the Conservation and Use of Underutilized and 

Neglected Crops.No. 16.(L. Guarino, editor). Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, 

Gatersleben\International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Rome, Italy. 

Keywords: Conservation, Utilization. 

47


214.Chweya, J. A. 1997. Genetic enhancement of indigenous vegetables in Kenya. Pp.86-95. in Traditional 

African Vegetables. Proceedings of the IPGRI International Workshop on Genetic Resources of traditional 

vegetables in Africa: Conservation and use. 29-31 August 1995, ICRAF-HQ, Nairobi, Kenya 

ICRAF-HQ, Nairobi, Kenya Promoting the Conservation and Use of Underutilized and Neglected 

Crops. No. 16.(L. Guarino, editor). Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, 


Keywords: Kenya, Genetic. 

215.Collins, W. et al. 1962. On the ecology of child health and nutrition in Nigerian villages. Tropical 

Geography and Medicine 14: 201-29. 

A combined ecological and dietary survey was conducted over a year to examine the relationship between 

farming systems and nutrition. While the information and approach are dated, some interesting 

facts on diet and food consumption practices is included. Data on seasonal variations in nutrient consumption 

are also provided. 


216.Damme, P. L. J. van and C. Vaneghem. 1992. The state of the art on the horticultural sector in northern 

Togo. Pp.241-8. in Tropical fruits: symposium on horticultural economics in developing countries. July 

1989. Alemaya (Ethiopia). Acta Horticulturae no. 296 (Tindall, H. D., F. G. Jr. Dennis and R. von 

Alvensleben, editors). ISHS, Wageningen (Netherlands). 

Keywords: Developing-countries, Farmers, Horticulture, Domestic-gardens. 

217.Delarbre, H. 1988. Le petit jardinier en Afrique [The small market gardener in Africa] . Ministere de 

la Cooperation, Paris (France). 

Keywords: Vegetable-growing, Market-gardens, Cultivation. 

218.Dembele, D., F. Diarra and M. Noussourou. 1994. Le potager au Sahel. 2. Fiches techniques sur les 

legumes. [Vegetable gardens in the Sahel. 2. Technical data on vegetable crops]. Guides-De-Vulgarisation 

(Mali). 

This technical guide describes cultivation and protection methods for Sahelian vegetable crops: garlic, 

aubergine (eggplant), carrot, roundheart cabbage, shallot, okra, green bean, lettuce, melon, onion, watermelon, 

sweet potato, red pepper, bell pepper, potato and tomato. 


Keywords: Cultivation, Crop-management, Domestic-gardens, Teaching-materials. 

219.Departement de l’ Agriculture. 1978. Developpement des cultures vivrieres et legumieres autour de 

Mbanza-Ngungu. [Food crops and vegetables development around Mbanza-Ngungu [Zaire]]. Pp. 

26.Kinshasa (Zaire). 

220.Diouf, M. 1997. Research on African vegetables at the Horticultural Development Centre (CDH), 

Senegal. Pp.39-45. in Proceedings of the IPGRI International Workshop on Genetic Resources of Traditional 

Vegetables in Africa: Conservation and use. 29-31 August 1995 ICRAF-HQ, Nairobi, Kenya 

ICRAF-HQ, Nairobi, Kenya Traditional African Vegetables. Promoting the Conservation and Use of 

Underutilized and Neglected Crops. No. 16.(L. Guarino, Editor). Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop 

Plant research, Gatersleben\International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Rome, Italy. 

Research has been carried out by the Horticultural Development Centre (CDH) on the following traditional 

African vegetables: cassava, sweet patato, okra, African eggplant and bissap (Hibiscus sabdariffa ). 

Technical pamphlets have been produced describing the genotypes that are adapted to our ecological, 

climatic and cropping conditions. These plant genetic resources are conserved in field genebanks (cassava 

and sweet potato) or as seed samples stored in freezers (African eggplant, okra and bissap). The 

main uses of these vegetables are: leaf vegetable and flour (cassava); chips, leaf vegetable and jam (sweet 

potato); fruit vegetable (okra, African eggplant, bissap - green calyx); juice (bissap - red calyx). the objec-


tives of current research are: widening the range of available adapted varieties;improving the productivity 

of the varieties that have already been developed, and identify varieties resistant to nematodes, the 

main pests in Senegal. 

Keywords: Uses, Conservation, Research . 

221.Dupriez, H. and P. de Leener. 1989. African gardens and orchards: growing vegetables and fruits. 

Terres-et-Vie (Belgium). Macmillan, London (UK), Belgium / London (UK). 

Growing vegetable crops and fruit crops in African gardens is described. The core of the book deals 

mainly with gardening methods and practices. It suggests ways of ensuring a more balanced diet, pest 

control, fertilizing the soil, choosing good seed, and many other aspects of gardening. The book is a 

manual to encourage vegetable and fruit growers to direct their efforts towards positive effects on their 

usual methods of cultivation. The rest of the book is more descriptive and presents information on the 

environment and growth needs, uses, propagation methods and cultural practices of 86 plant species. 

Keywords: Home-gardening, Fruit-crops, Crop-cultivation-and-maintenance. 

222.Ekpo, E. J. A. 1991. Antifungal activity of leaf powder and extract of Vernonia amygdalina (del.) on 

maize seed isolates of Curvularia lunata (Wakker) and Fusarium semitectum (Berk. and Rau.). Zimbabwe 

Journal of Agricultural Research 29(2): 129-32. 

Leaf extract and powder of Vernonia amygdalina (Del.) were evaluated for antifungal activity against 

Curvularia lunata (Wakker) and Fusarium semitectum (Berk. and Rau.). Hot water extract of leaves caused 

63.1 per cent., 66.2 per cent. and 9.8 per cent. inhibition of radial growth, spore germination and sporulation, 

respectively, in C. lunata. In F. semitectum, the leaf extract inhibited radial growth by 51.4 per cent., 

germination by 87.1 per cent. and sporulation by 57.1 per cent. The leaf powder was also fungi-toxic. It 

reduced mycelial growth by 68.8 per cent. in C. lunata and 44.8 per cent. in F. semitectum; germination was 

reduced by 57.7 per cent. in C. lunata and 77.5 per cent. in F. semitectum. The leaf powder caused 2.6 per 

cent. increase and 40.0 per cent. reduction in sporulation density in C. lunata and F. semitectum, respectively. 

Keywords: Antifungal-properties, Extracts, Germination, Sporulation, Growth. 

223.Emebiri, L. C. and M. I. Nwufo. 1994. Performance of the West African vegetable crop Telfairia 

occidentalis as a function of distance from a row of mango trees. Agroforestry Systems 27(2): 183-6. 

In Nigeria, during 1991-1992, the vegetable yield of Telfairia occidentalis, grown at various distances (3, 4, 

5 and 6 m) from a row of mango trees, remained unaffected by proximity to the tree line, until about 170 

days after planting (DAP). The onset of the dry season, when water usually becomes limited, occurred at 

about 170 DAP. The suggestion is supported that the vegetative, harvestable parts of the crops tend to be 

less affected when the crops are grown in the proximity of trees, provided water is not limited. 


Keywords: Agroforestry, Spacing, Crop-yield. 

224.Epenhuijsen, C. W. van. 1974. Growing native vegetables in Nigeria. FAO, Rome (Italy). 

An account is given of native leafy vegetables in Nigeria with details of their sowing, cultivation, yields, 

main pests and diseases and their control, and other information including number of seeds per unit 

weight, methods of harvesting, and identification of vegetables in their seedling stage. 

Keywords: Reference-Documents, Crop-Cultivation, Crop-Maintenance. 

225.Esenowo, G. and B. E. Ikoh. 1994. The effect of rain pH on germination and early seedling growth of 

some tropical seeds. West-African-Journal-of-Biological-and-Applied-Chemistry (Nigeria). 

The effect of rain pH on the germination and early seedling growth of a range of species was studied in a 

laboratory trial in Akwa Ibom, Nigeria. Germination was observed in petri dishes under light and dark 

conditions, using simulated acid rain. The species studied were Capsicum frutescens, Capsicum chinense, 

49


Capsicum annuum , a white and a brown sorghum variety, Amaranthus caudatus and pearl millet. Four pH 

levels (4.0, 3.2, 2.4 and control rain water of pH 5.6) were studied. The germination percentages (GP) of 

white and brown sorghum were not significantly affected by simulated acid rain with pH 4.0 compared 

with the GP at pH 5.6, and in most cases the fresh and dry weight and moisture uptake were not affected by 

rain pH in the crops tested. The GPs of pearl millet, C. annuum and A. caudatus were reduced at pH 2.4. The 

GPs of brown sorghum and C. annuum were reduced at pH 2.4 in the dark box. The shoot length and root 

length of brown sorghum and C. annuum were also reduced at pH 3.2. In C. frutescens the GP decreased 

significantly with a decrease in pH. Under light conditions, the GP of brown sorghum, pearl millet, A. 

caudatus, and C. annuum and the shoot length of white sorghum were stimulated under acid rain stress. 


Keywords: Germination, Seed, Seedlings, Growth. 

226.Esiaba, R. O. 1982. Cultivating the fluted pumpkin in Nigeria. World-Crops (UK) 34(2): 70-2. 

Fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae and is a native of tropical West 

Africa. It is grown in the heavy rainfall area of southern Nigeria. It is cultivated for the young shoots and 

leaves which are eaten boiled in soups as a pot-herb. The seed cotyledons are also eaten boiled or roasted. 

The seed has a high nutritional and industrial value. In traditional farming systems the fluted pumpkin 

is grown mixed with other crops, but pure stands are also planted. Propagation using vine cuttings has 

not been successful. The use of sprouted seed sections has been found to be an economical method of 

multiplying through seed. Diseases and pests are no problem. Despite the importance of the crop very 

little selection and no breeding has been done. However work is going on at various places to determine 

its agronomic requirements. 

Keywords: Crop-potential, Cultural-practices, Propagation-methods. 

227.Fasina, A. K. 1974. Extraction and utilisation of natural pigment of dyes and tannin from local vegetable 

sources. Research Report - Federal Institute of Industrial Research (Nigeria) , no. 47. 

It was attempted to document the art of local dyeing and tanning in Nigeria, and attention has been 

focused on the possible use of some local vegetables as sources of dyes and tannin. Extensive work was 

done on the use of dried, powdered Indigofera leaves for dyeing as a substitute for the imported synthetic 

indigo. A recipe has been formulated for the commercial production of packages of the natural leaves 

mixed with requisite chemicals. The production of tannin extract from Acacia arabica pods is briefly 

discussed. 

Keywords: Dye-and-Pigment-Products, Unit-Processes, Rural-Industries-Economics. 

228.Fube, H. N. and B. Djonga. 1987. Tropical vegetables in human nutrition: a case study of Ndole 

(bitterleaf) Vernonia calvoana (Hook). Acta-Horticulturae(198): 199-205. 

In Cameroon V. calvoana is a vegetable which plays an important role in human nutrition and it is also 

important medicinally. In trials in Younde, propagation by seeds gave better results than by stem cuttings. 

The quantity of protein in 4 Vernonia species (V. calvoana, V. pobegiuni, V. colorata and V. amygdalina) varied 

from 22.75 to 26.50 mg/100 g, Fe contents from 200 to 300 p.p.m., Mn from 580 to 885 p.p.m. and cellulose 

from 10.50 to 12.35 mg/100 g DM. 

Keywords: Nutritional-value, Proteins, Composition, Polysaccharides, Nutritive-value. 

229.Gaye, A. 1990. L’ approvisionnement de Brazzaville en produits maraichers (The supply to Brazzaville 

of vegetables). Pp. 561-6. in 10. Seminaire d’ Economie et de Sociologie. Montpellier (France). 11-15 

Sep 1989. (M. Griffon , editor.Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour 

le Developpement, Montpellier (France). MES, Mission Economie et Sociologie. Economy of agricultural 

commodity chains in the tropics and subtropics. Price formation and agricultural trade. Economie 

des filieres en regions chaudes. Formation des prix et echanges agricoles. Montpellier (France). CIRAD- 

MES. 

Pour completer la production de sa ceinture maraichere , Brazzaville s’ est tournee vers son arriere-pays 

et le Zaire. Quatre flux assurent ce complement : le flux sud-ouest;les districts de Boko, Kinkala et Kindamba


qui envoient aussi bien legumes-feuilles que legumes- fruits traditionnels; le flux ouest : a plus de 300 

kilometres, les villages-gares expedient leurs productions de tomates, gombos, piments et aubergines 

locales;le flux Nord-ouest d’ ou arrivent du district de Mayama les memes produits que ceux de la voie 

ferree;le flux Est par Kinshasa qui sert de transit aux produits du bas-Zaire, du Bandundu et d’ Afrique 

du Sud, du Rwanda et de France. Le flux interieur, lui est assure par une dizaine de perimetres maraichers 

et de jardins individuels. L’ organisation de la collecte est aux mains d’ une part, des femmes revendeusesgrossistes 

et des femmes revendeuses detaillantes et d’ autre part, les institutions specialisées dans la 

commercialisation. 


Keywords: Marketing, Distribution, Transport, Plant-products, Supply. 

230.Gbile, Z. O. 1976. Taxonomic studies of Triplochiton scleroxylon K. Schum. Pp.19-27. in Proceedings of 

the symposium on variation and breeding systems of Triplochiton scleroxylon (K. Schum.), 21-28 April, 

1975. Nigeria, Federal Department of Forest Research, Ibadan, Nigeria. 

Morphological variations in stems, leaves and floral parts in Nigeria suggest effects of local environment 

rather than geographical pattern. 

Keywords: Triplochiton-scleroxylon, Foliage, Morphology, Flowers, Anatomy, Broadleaves. 

231.George, J. B. 1989. Spontaneous vegetables and fruits in Sierra Leone. in Report. National Workshop 

on Promotion of Under Exploited Traditional Food Crops in Sierra Leone. 24-27 Oct 1989 Freetown 

(Sierra Leone) Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Forestry, Freetown (Sierra Leone). 

Keywords: Vegetable-crops, Fruit-crops, Land-races, Nutritive-value. 

232.Grubben, G. J. H. 1974. La lutte contre le Cyperus rotundus L. dans les cultures maraicheres au 

Dahomey.[Control of Cyperus rotundus L. in vegetable crops in Dahomey]. 26. International Symposium 

on Crop Protection. Ghent (Belgium). 7 May 1974.Internationaal-Symposium-Over-Fytofarmacie- 

En-Fytiatrie (Belgium). Rijksuniversiteit Faculteit Landbouwwetenschappen, Ghent 26(1): 483-92. 

233.Grubben, G. J. H. 1977. Leaf vegetables. Pp. 91-110 in Tropical vegetables and their genetic resources 

(G. J.H. Grubben). International Board for Plant Genetic Resources, Rome (Italy). 

Information is presented on breeding, centres of diversity and germplasm collection and conservation of 

a range of species many of which are not generally used as leaf vegetables except in certain countries or 

regions of the world; the genera include Amaranthus, Basella, Beta, Celosia, Colocasia, Corchorus, Hibiscus, 

Ipomoea, Lactuca, Manihot, Solanum, Vigna and Xanthosoma. Also included are a range of shrub and tree 

genera and minor herbs. 

Keywords: Variation, Plant-collections, Breeding. 

234.Guarino, L. 1997. Traditional African Vegetables. Proceedings of the IPGRI International Workshop 

on Genetic Resources of Traditional Vegetables in Africa: Conservation and use. 29-31 August 1995 

ICRAF-HQ, Nairobi, Kenya ICRAF-HQ, Nairobi, Kenya Promoting the Conservation and Use of 

Underutilized and Neglected Crops. No. 16 Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, 


Keywords: Vegetables, Africa, Leafy, Underutilized. 

235.Habiyaremye, F. X. 1988. Considérations botaniques sur les plantes medicinales de la Prefecture de 

Gisenyi [Botanical aspects of medicinal plants of the region of Gisenyi, Rwanda]. Bulletin Agricole 

Du Rwanda (Rwanda) 21(4): 254-63. 

In the region of Gisenyi, Rwanda, a study was made on the botany and adaptability to different environments 

of 237 local medicinal plants, including Polyscias fulva, Pavetta burundensis and Psychotria mahonii. 

The local names of all the plants studied are given. 

51


Keywords: Medicinal-plants, Plant-biology, Plant-nomenclature, Regional-survey. 

236.Hassan, M. S. and H. Burgstaller. 1984. African Symposium on Horticultural Crops. 8. 20-24 March 

Wad Medani (Sudan) Wad Medani (Sudan) Acta Horticulturae No. no. 143 International Society for 

Horticultural Science, Wageningen (Netherlands). 

Keywords: Genetic-resources, Evaluation, Nutritional-requirements, Plant-protection, Postharvest-technology. 

237.Heever, E. van den. 1997. The use and conservation of indigenous leafy vegetables in South Africa. 

Pp.154-8. in Proceedings of the IPGRI International Workshop on Genetic Resources of Traditional 

Vegetables in Africa: Conservation and use. 29-31 August 1995 ICRAF-HQ, Nairobi, Kenya. ICRAF- 

HQ, Nairobi, Kenya. Traditional African Vegetables. Promoting the Conservation and Use of 

Underutilized and Neglected Crops. No. 16 (L. Guarino, editor). Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop 

Plant Research, Gatersleben\International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Rome, Italy. 

Keywords: Utilization, Indigenous-vegetables. 

238.Heffes, T. A. P., P. L. Coates Beckford and H. Robotham. 1991. Effects of Meloidogyne incognita on 

growth and nutrient contents of Amaranthus viridis and two cultivars of Hibiscus sabdariffa. Nematropica 

21(1): 7-18. 

Pots with seedlings of callaloo (Amaranthus viridis) and the ‘Red’ and ‘White’ cultivars of sorrel (Hibiscus 

sabdariffa) were inoculated with 0, 100, 1000 and 10 000 eggs of Meloidogyne incognita race 1 and the 

plants were grown for 6 weeks in a greenhouse. Nematode reproduction was good on Red sorrel, poor on 

callaloo, and was inhibited by White sorrel. Dry weights of infested callaloo roots were greater than 

weights of noninfested roots. Shoot heights, leaf areas, and dry shoot and root weights of infested plants 

of both sorrel cultivars were less than those of noninfested plants. The concentrations of the nutrients 

varied with the host, plant organ, and initial nematode density. The shoot/root ratios of the elements 

were similar at all inoculum levels (Pi) except those of callaloo roots at Pi = 10 000, which had significantly 

lower and higher ratios of sodium and manganese, respectively, than those of noninfested plants. 

Keywords: Plant-parasitic-nematodes, Damage. 

239.Herrera, A. J. Delgado and I. Paraguatey. 1991. Occurrence of inducible crassulacean acid metabolism 

in leaves of Talinum triangulare (Portulacaceae). Journal of Experimental Botany 42(237): 493-9. 

Keywords: Photosynthesis, Light, Drought-stress. 

240.Hladik, C. M. et al. Se nourrir en foret equatoriale: anthropologie alimentaire differentielle des 

populations des regions forestières humides d’Afrique [Feeding yourself in equitorial forest, Food 

anthropology differentielle of populations of the humid forest regions of Africa]. Research Team 

Report 263, Centre Nationale de Recherches Scientifiques, Paris (France). 

A comparative interdisciplinary study of the food uses of forest resources by different ethnic groups in 

the equatorial forests of West and Central Africa (includes information from Cameroon, Central African 

Republic, Gabon, and Zaire). Agriculturalists, fishing people, and hunter-gatherers are all studies. Describes 

the forest resources, gathering, hunting, fishing, agricultural systems, food preparation, food 

consumption, food values (cultural), physical and biomedical data, as well as information on rituals and 

food taboos. 


241.Howland, P., M. R. Bowen, D. P. Lapido and J. B. Oke. 1978. The study of clonal variation in Triplochiton 

scleroxylon K. Schum. as a basis for selection and improvement. (Progress and problems of genetic 

improvement of tropical forest trees. Proceedings of a joint workshop): IUFRO working parties S2.02- 

08 and S2.03-01, Brisbane, 1977. V. Provenance trials and breeding programmes. H. Other hardwood 

species (excluding eucalypts). 1978, 898-904. Oxford, UK; Commonwealth Forestry Institute. 

Keywords: Genetics, Variation, Tree-breeding, Selection-criteria, Broadleaves.


242.Imbert, H. 976. La ceinture verte de Kinshasa [production de legumes]. (Reportage du mois) [The 

green belt around Kinshasa [vegetable crops]. (The monthly report)]. Bulletin De Liaison Departement 

De L’Agriculture (Zaire)(7): 34-41. 

243.Institut des Amenagements Regionaux et de l’ Environnement, Montpellier France. 1983. Fichier du 

potager familial dans les iles de l’ Ocean Indien (Comores, Seychelles, Mascareignes (Ile de La Reunion, 

Ile Maurice); techniques culturales. [File on family vegetable gardening in islands of the Indian 

Ocean (Comoro Islands, Seychelle Islands, Mascarene Islands (Reunion Island, Mauritius); cultural 

techniques] . ACCT, Paris (France). 

Keywords: Vegetable-crops, Domestic-gardens. 

244.Institut Senegalais de Recherches Agricoles, Dakar Senegal Direction des Recherches sur les Productions 

Vegetales. 1986. Rapport technique d’ activite 1985 de la Direction de Recherches sur les productions 

vegetales au Senegal (1985 technical report of the Direction of Research on the vegetable production 

in Senegal). Direction De Recherches Sur Les Productions Vegetales - Rapport Technique D’ 

Activites (Senegal)., ISRA, Dakar (Senegal). 

Keywords: Fruit-crops, Vegetable-crops, Storage. 

245.International Board of Plant Genetic Resources. 1981. Genetic resources of cruciferous crops. IBPGR, 

Rome, Italy. 

The origin and diversity, existing collections and need for further collecting are described for wild relatives 

of Brassica oleracea, kale, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi, cauliflower, broccoli, Chinese kale, 

fodder rape, swede, swede rape, turnip rape, Indian mustard, Chinese mustard (B. juncea), Chinese 

cabbage, pak-choi, broad-beaked mustard, turnip, Ethiopian mustard (B. carinata), black mustard, white 

mustard, radish and wild relatives of radish. The names and addresses of designated centres for base 

collections of cruciferous crops in Canada, the UK, the Netherlands,the German Federal Republic, Spain, 

Ethiopia, India, China and Japan and the priorities for collecting are listed. A summary of existing 

collections and a list of descriptors are given. 

Keywords: Centres-of-diversity, Gene-banks, Oilseed-plants, Centres-of-origin. 

246.Irvine, F. 1952. Supplementary and emergency food plants of West Africa. Economic Botany 6(1): 23- 

40. 

Irvine explores the ways in which forest food resources are exploited by West African populations. He 

distinguishes between plants eaten only in times of emergency and famine, those regularly collected by 

not marketed, those gathered and marketed, those that are “tended” in the “bush”, and those that are 

cultivated food plants. The article focuses on the emergency and subsistence uses of wild species. He 

notes that the wild plants that are consumed in famine periods are different from those eaten regularly. 

Famine foods are more energy rich and often require lengthy processing. For example, baobab leaves are 

regularly consumed in sauces, so too are its fruits in season. However, its roots are consumed in emergency 

periods. Irvine also notes that the consumption of wild animals may increase in famine periods. A 

great deal of detailed descriptive information on wild plant species’ food use is presented. However, it 

only provides a general indication of the extent to which the plants are used (e.g. emergency or regularly). 

The majority of species that are discussed are found in the forest zone. 

Keywords: Food-plants, Nutrition, Wild-species. 

247.Irvine, F. 1961. Woody plants of Ghana with reference to their uses. London Crown Agents, London 

(Great Britain). 

Described more than 700 commonly exploited wild and cultivated species from Ghana. Also included 

are nutrition composition tables for food products derived from 80 soecies of plants. Botanical descriptions 

are accompanied by detailed information on cultural, economic and dietary uses and values. 

Keywords: Wild-species, Nutrition, Botanical-descriptors. 

53


248.Isawumi, M. A. 1989. Leaf epidermal studies in the genus Vernonia Schreber tribe Vernoniceae 

(Compositae) in West Africa. Feddes Repertorium 100(7-8): 335-55. 

Keywords: Taxonomy, Morphology, Anatomy. 

249.Jahn, S. A. A. 1989. Moringa oleifera for food and water purification - selection of clones and growing 

of annual short-stem. Entwicklung + Landlicher Raum 23(4): 22-5. 

M. oleifera is a tropical multipurpose tree which is readily propagated from seeds or cuttings. Both in 

India, its country of origin, and in other areas of cultivation, the yield and quality of seeds is highly 

variable, ranging from 1500 to 2000/year in Java (cuttings) to 20 000 to 24 000/year in Tamil Nadu, India 

(seed-propagated). The latter large-seeded clones were collected in the kitchen garden of a college and 

the nursery of a horticultural research station. A sample from Burundi was derived from trees planted by 

Zaire fishermen and subsequently abandoned. Clones were small-seeded in Indonesia where Moringa 

is primarily grown for its leaves. By contrast, trees in the Antilles and Central America had been selected 

for oil yield, leading to many large-seeded genotypes. Comparative water treatment experiments, in 

which powdered seed extracts are used to purify drinking water, indicated that seed size does not affect 

purification efficacy. Mature seeds gave more satisfactory results than sun-dried green seeds of equal 

size. The annual short-stemmed M. oleifera variety from Kudumiamalai, Tamil Nadu, is suitable for 

consumption, oil extraction and water purification. Recommendations on its cultivation are presented. 


Keywords: Breeding, Oilseed-plants, Biotechnology, Genetic-resources, Seed-production, Seed-characteristics, 

Broadleaves. 

250.Jensen, A. and D. S. Mingochi. 1986. Growing vegetables in the dry season (in Zambia). Mazabuka 

(Zambia). 


Keywords: Green-vegetables, Dry-season. 

251.Johansson, E. 1989. Cultivated, semi-cultivated and wild leaf-vegetables used in Zambia. A pilot 

investigation for the regional SADCC genebank programme. A minor field study. Working-Paper— 

International-Rural-Development-Centre,-Swedish-Universityof-Agricultural-Sciences, no. 119. International 

Rural Development Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden. 

The literature is reviewed and results are presented of a field survey of the types of vegetable used in 

Lusaka and the eastern and southern provinces of Zambia. Plant species are listed, with botanical and 

vernacular names, uses and plant parts used. They include numerous field crops and some trees; many 

are indigenous species and the possibilities for their improvement through breeding and selection are 

discussed briefly. Appendices provide details of the villages visited, species whose leaves are used as 

relishes and some nutritious recipes using indigenous vegetables. 

Keywords: Surveys, Genetic-resources, Edible-species, Food-crops. 

252.Johns, T., E. B. Mhoro and F. C. Uiso. 1996. Edible plants of Mara Region, Tanzania. Ecology-of-Foodand-Nutrition 

35(1): 71-80 

Information on wild edible plants and other food plants was obtained from 51 subjects (35 men and 18 

women) in the Mara Region, Tanzania. 53 cultivated plants used for food and 38 wild fruits/vegetables 

were identified. Additionally 35 other edible species found in this region were identified at the East 

Africa Herbarium, Nairobi. 


Keywords: Ethnobotany, Wild-plants, Identification, Plant-genetic-resources.


253.Jones, N. 1976. The distribution of Triplochiton scleroxylon K. Schum. with special reference to Nigeria. 

Pp.8-15. in Proceedings of the symposium on variation and breeding systems of Triplochiton 

scleroxylon (K. Schum.), 21-28 April, 1975. Ibadan, Nigeria. Federal Department of Forest Research, 

Ibadan, Nigeria. 

The distribution of T. scleroxylon in west tropical Africa is described from the literature, and that within 

Nigeria is described from a survey made by observing trees from the roads. The species is almost exclusively 

limited to moist forest areas at low and medium altitude, which corresponds to the moist monsoon 

climatic zone; it appears to colonize the drier and wetter margins of this zone more successfully than 

other indigenous tree species. The gregarious distribution of the species is discussed. Provenance trials 

were carried out with seed harvested from separate tree clusters. The seed harvests and seedling yields 

were considered poor. 

Keywords: Distribution-natural-range, Broadleaves. 

254.Jorge, L. I. F.v V. de O. Ferro and A. L. Sakuma. 1991. Hortalicas brasileiras - caracterizacao botanica e 

quimica das especies: Talinum paniculatum (Jacq.) Gaetrn., Xanthosoma atrovirens C. Koch e Bouche e 

Amaranthus hybridus L [Brazilian vegetables - botanical and phyto-chemistry characterization of species: 

Talinum paniculatum (Jacq.) Gaetrn., Xanthosoma atrovirens C. Koch e Bouche and Amaranthus 

hybridus L]. Revista Do Instituto Adolfo Lutz (Brazil) 51(1-2): 11-8. 

Keywords: Botanical-composition, Chemical-composition. 

255.Joshi, B. D. 1992. Genetic resources of leaf and grain Amaranthus and chenopods. Pp. 121-34 in 

Biodiversity: implications for global food security (M.S. Swaminathan and S. Jana, editors.) Macmillan 

India Limited, Madras, India. 

The potential of Amaranthus and Chenopodium species as grain and leaf vegetable crops, particularly in 

India, is assessed, with attention being paid to the germplasm collections, evaluation and breeding work 

carried out, crop production technology, nutritive value, and local and domestic uses. 


Keywords: Nutritive-value, Genetic-resources, Biodiversity. 

256.Kambi, M. M. 1990. Augmentation de la Production et de la Consommation d’ Aliments Riches en 

Vitamine A. Rapport de la mission effectuee du 28 octobre au 27 novembre 1990 specialiste en 

horticulture.[Increasing the Production and Consumption of Vitamin A-Rich Foodstuffs. Report of the 

mission of 28 October - 27 November 1990 [horticulture specialist]]. Pp. 40. FAO, Rome (Italy). Div. des 

Politiques Alimentaires et de la Nutrition, Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso). 


Keywords: Food-supply, Domestic-gardens, Villages, Extension-activities, Gardens, Horticulture, Supply. 

257.Kasa, Helen. 1995. Women’s Vegetable Gardens On-farm Trials in 1993. Pp. 121-4. in On-farm Trials in 

North Omo: Report for 1993.Farmers’ Research Project (Ethiopia)., Farm Africa, Addis Ababa (Ethiopia). 


Keywords: Women, Crops, Mankind, Research. 

258.Kemei, J. K. R. K. Wataaru and E. N. Seme. 1997. The role of the National Genebank of Kenya in the 

collecting, characterization and conservation of traditional vegetables. Pp.78-85. in Proceedings of the 

IPGRI International Workshop on Genetic Resources of Traditional Vegetables in Africa: Conservation 

and use. 29-31 August 1995, ICRAF-HQ, Nairobi, Kenya. Traditional African Vegetables. Promoting 

the Conservation and Use of Underutilized and Neglected Crops. No. 16. (L. Guarino, editor). 

Institute of Plant genetics and Crop Plant research, Gatersleben\International Plant Genetic Resources 

Institute, Rome, Italy. 

Keywords: Conservation, Genebank, Characterization, Collecting. 

55


259.Khoody, J. 1986. Agricultural diversification and the traditional vegetable and foodcrop growers: case 

study in the upper Plaines Wilhems [Mauritius]. Reduit (Mauritius). 

Keywords: Food-crops, Vegetable-crops, Small-scale-farming, Agricultural-structure, Diversification, Economics. 

260.Koagne, H. La dynamique des plantes et derives alimentaires dans la Chefferie Bafoussam. Memoire 

de Maitrise. Dept. of Geography, University of Yaounde, Yaounde (Cameroon). 

This detailed study compares the historic and current use of wild and cultivated food plants in the 

western region of Cameroon. It includes nutritional and medical information and the results of a food 

consumption survey. The food consumption survey includes information on forest and farm tree food 

preparation and consumption. It analyses the frequency with which these different foods are eaten. The 

piece also discusses the marketing and economic returns of several forest and farm tree products including 

raphia palm wine, the fruit of Pachylobus edulis, Dacryodes edulis, Canarium schweinfurthii and palm 

oil. In some cases Pachylobus edulis fruit provide an important source of income. The author compares the 

revenue earned from different crops in four case study households. The highest income is earned in a 

household which sells raphia palm wine. Provides data on the consumption of raphia palm wine, 

noting that while it is no longer consumed daily, it is still used at all ritual and cultural ceremonies. 

Gathered edible plants are less important in the diet today than they were in the past, however a few 

species are still consumed in about 80% of the meals (e.g. Vernonia amygdalina, Pteridium aguilinum, and 

Triumfetta rhomboidea). Palm oil is used almost daily. The fruit of Pachylobus edulis is also common and is 

often used in sauces to accompany the main meals. Generally each household has five or six Pachylobus 

edulis trees. Fruits is generally not considered “food”, it is eaten at any time of the day (especially by 

children), but there are many tree fruits which are sought after. The fruit of Cola acuminata are consumed 

daily and most households have at least one or two trees. The piece also includes data on nutrition 

composition of wild and domesticated indigenous food species. The piece notes that the natural vegetation 

of the region has all but disappeared, except in sacred groves. It discusses the frequency with which 

certain forest foods are still served at some ceremonies (e.g. weddings, funerals, initiations and births). 

Prominent among these ceremonially important plant foods are raphia palm wine, and sauces made 

with Vernonia amygdalina, Pachylobus edulis and Triumfetta rhomboidea. The raphia palm is the most “allpurpose” 

tree: it provides fruits that are eaten raw or cooked; leaves that are used for making fish nets 

and ropes, petioles and spines that are used in house construction. The wood is used for household 

furniture, musical instruments, and for the walls of houses. Its leaf spines are used in most basketry, for 

making harvest baskets and crop dryers. 


261.Kristkova, E. and A. Lebeda. 1995. Genetic resources of vegetable crops from the family Cucurbitaceae. 

Zahradnictvi 22(4): 123-8 

Of over 825 species in the family, 5 are of economic importance in the temperate area: Cucumis sativus, C. 

melo, Cucurbita pepo, C. maxima and Citrullus lanatus. India is considered a gene centre for the first of these, 

while most Cucumis species developed primarily in Africa. The isolation of C. sativus (including var. 

hardwickii) and C. hystrix from other species, reflected in a different chromosome number (n = 7 for C. 

sativus and = 12 for other species) accounts for their non-crossability, which must be overcome for the 

future success of cucumber breeding. All Cucurbita species come from Central America and have n = 20 

chromosomes, but crossability is poor. Two genetically distinct groups of wild species in this genus 

(mesophytic and xerophytic) are distinguished, the mesophytic C. lundelliana being compatible with 

wild and cultivated species. C. moschata is a bridge to overcome the non-crossability with xerophytic 

species. The Cucumis collection of the Olomouc gene bank in the Czech Republic has 548 accessions, C. 

sativus being represented by 392 accessions and wild species by 156. The Cucurbita collection has 598 

accessions, the main part (528 accessions) covering C. pepo and C. maxima, with 70 accessions of wild 

species. There are 2 differential sets for Pseudoperonospora cubensis and Sphaerotheca fuliginea, with respectively 

24 and 28 accessions (species and varieties), which form an important part of the collection. 


Keywords: Plant-diseases, Interspecific-hybridization, Plant-genetic-resources, Wild-relatives, Centres-of-diversity.

262.Kwapata, M. B. and M. F. Maliro. 1997. Indigenous vegetables in Malawi: germplasm collecting and 

improvement of production practices. Pp.132-5. in Proceedings of the IPGRI International Workshop 

on Genetic Resources of Traditional Vegetables in Africa: Conservation and use. 29-31 August 1995, 

ICRAF-HQ, Nairobi, Kenya. Traditional African Vegetables. Promoting the Conservation and Use of 

Underutilized and Neglected Crops. No. 16. (L. Guarino, editor). Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop 


Keywords: Collecting, Production, Improvement. 

263.Ladipo, D. O., R. R. B. Leakey and J. Grace. 1991. Clonal variation in apical dominance of Triplochiton 

scleroxylon K. Schum. in response to decapitation. Silvae Genetica 40(3-4): 135-40. 

Clonal trials with the West African hardwood Triplochiton scleroxylon have indicated a positive relationship 

between stem size (height and diameter) and branching frequency (mean number of branches per 

metre of mainstem). As part of a programme of vegetative propagation and clonal selection, young plants 

were examined for clonal variation in apical dominance, the process which determines branching frequency. 

Young potted plants of 5 clones were decapitated by removing the apex and uppermost node. 

The plants were partially defoliated, leaving 4 to 6 leaves at the apical nodes. These plants were grown 

in a glasshouse at 25°C to 30°C under (1) 2 rates of fertilizer application; (2) 3 rates of water application, 

ranging from field capacity to severe water stress; and (3) 2 daylengths. The length and number of lateral 

shoots formed on these decapitated plants were measured weekly to determine the percentage bud 

activity. In the first 4 weeks after decapitation, percentage bud activity increased (sprouting phase) and 

thereafter it declined as dominance was re-imposed (dominance phase). Peak bud activity at week 4 was 

greatest with the higher rate of nutrient application under the daily and 3-day watering regimes, but was 

unaffected by daylength. During the dominance phase, bud activity remained high at the higher rate of 

nutrient application, under the 3 and 12-day watering regimes and under long days. The relative performance 

of different clones was consistent in all treatments. Of the 3 clones used in all experiments, 

8038 and 8049 had similarly high activity (rank one or two) and clone 8053 displayed less activity. 

However, inconsistencies in clonal ranking occurred under the lowest rate of watering. Responses to 

decapitation can thus be used as a robust indicator of genetic variation in apical dominance, provided 

care is taken (1) to avoid extreme environmental conditions and (2) to maintain uniformity in the morphological 

(height, number of leaves etc.) and physiological state (e.g. water and nutrient status) of the 

plants and their growing environment (especially light). 


Keywords: Forest-trees, Clonal-variation, Stress, Genetics, Genetic-variation. 

264.Lamberti, F., D. K. Tuopay, L. Scrano, M. Di Vito, J. B. Boiboi and V. Radicci. 1988. Meloidogyne species 

(Nematoda: Heteroderoidea) occurring in Liberia. FAO Plant Protection Bulletin 36(2 ): 69-73. 

A survey of Meloidogyne spp. carried out in Liberia revealed the presence of Meloidogyne incognita as the 

most common and widespread species, representing 72% of the populations identified. Meloidogyne 

javanica represented 25% of the populations, and occurred mainly in the northern counties. Meloidogyne 

arenaria was found in only 2 localities. Plants that were severely attacked were okra, eggplant, bitter ball 

(Solanum incanum), cowpea and chilli pepper, but damage was also noted on bean (Phaseolus) and to a 

lesser extent on rice. 

Keywords: Nematodes, Meloidogyne-spp., Host-range, Survey. 

265.Leumassi, P. 1986. Les plantes alimentaires traditionnelles du Cameroun: cas du màis, de l’ arachide, 

du manioc, des taros et de la banane-plantain [Traditional food crops of Cameroon: maize, peanut, 

manioc, taro, and banana-plantain]. Yaounde (Cameroon). 

Keywords: Food-crops, Plant-production. 


266.Lewis, I. U. 1997. Network Vegetable Production in Africa: its contribution to conservation and use of 

traditional vegetables. Pp.159-60. in Proceedings of the IPGRI International Workshop on Genetic 

Resources of Traditional Vegetables in Africa: Conservation and use. 29-31 August 1995, ICRAF-HQ, 

Nairobi, Kenya Traditional African Vegetables. Promoting the Conservation and Use of Underutilized 

57

58 

and Neglected Crops. No. 16.(L.Guarino, editor). Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, 


Keywords: Conservation, Utilization, Network. 

267.Madisa, M. E. and M. E. Tshamekang. 1997. Conservation and utilization of indigenous vegetables in 

Botswana. Pp.149-53. in Proceedings of the IPGRI International Workshop on Genetic Resources of 

Traditional Vegetables in Africa: Conservation and use. 29-31 August 1995, ICRAF-HQ, Nairobi, Kenya 

Traditional African Vegetables. Promoting the Conservation and Use of Underutilized and Neglected 

Crops. No. 16. (L. Guarino, editor). Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, 


Keywords: Indigenous-vegetables, Conservation, Utilization. 

268.Makambila, C. and J. B. Goma. 1993. Choanephora cucurbitacearum Curr., un nouveau champignon 

pathogene de l’amarante au Cong (A new pathogenic fungus of amaranth in Congo). Cahiers 

Agricultures (France) 2(3): 217-9. 

Since 1990 the pathogenic fungus Choanephora cucurbitarum has been causing necrosis on stalks and 

petioles of Amaranthus in Congo. In a survey of vegetable production centres, the percentage of infected 

plants was 13.0-74.6%. Asexual spores (conidia), the major source of propagation and contamination, 

are formed on cabbage debris left in furrows after the cabbage harvest. Under high relative humidity and 

after stalk wounding by an insect, artificial inoculation produced symptoms similar to those found 

under natural conditions. 

Keywords: Fungal-diseases, Surveys. 

269.Manyafu, J. L. 1971. Indigenous vegetables. Annual report. Ilonga Agricultural Research Station, 

Keywords: Indigenous-vegetables. 


270.Martin, F. W. and L. Telek. 1979. Vegetables for the hot, humid tropics. Vegetables for the Hot, Humid 

Tropics Amaranthus and Celosia. Part 6. USDA, New Orleans, USA. 

Information is included on taxonomy, nomenclature, origin, distribution, chromosome numbers, breeding, 

varieties and the possibilities of breeding for improved flavour, quality and yield. 

Keywords: Breeding, Taxonomy, Chromosome-number. 

271.Mathenge, L. 1997. Nutritional value and utilization of indigenous vegetables in Kenya. Pp.76-7. in 

Proceedings of the IPGRI International Workshop on Genetic Resources of Traditional Vegetables in 

Africa: Conservation and use. 29-31 August 1995, ICRAF-HQ, Nairobi, Kenya. Traditional African 

Vegetables. Promoting the Conservation and Use of Underutilized and Neglected Crops. No. 16.(L. 

Guarino, editor). Institute of Plant genetics and Crop Plant research, Gatersleben\International Plant 

Genetic Resources Institute, Rome, Italy. 

Keywords: Nutrition, Vegetables, Indigenous, Utilization. 

272.Mathieu, C. 1994. Paysans montagnards de Tanzanie. Cohesion sociale et developpement chez les 

Walugurus.[Mountain peasants of Tanzania. Waluguru social cohesion and development]. Pp. 181. L’ 

Harmattan, Paris (France). 

Paysans montagnards, les Walugurus de Mgeta ont developpe depuis plusieurs decennies un systeme agraire 

unique et original, et ils ont toujours su innover. Pour supporter une pression demographique de plus en plus 

forte, le systeme de production maraichere s’ est intensifie, au detriment des regles elementaires de la reconstitution 

de la productivite du milieu. Cette intensification deregle aussi le systeme traditionnel de gestion 

fonciere base sur la transmission par filiation matrilineaire. Pour stimuler la croissance et assurer la cohesion 

sociale de cette communaute paysanne fragilisee, cet ouvrage propose des solutions. Il insiste sur la stimula-

tion des adultes vers des domaines d’ actions prioritaires : conservation des sols, education de l’ enfant, 

modification du regime alimentaire, organisation de la commercialisation... La connaissance du 

fonctionnement de ce systeme particulier a aussi son interet sur le plan du developpement national en 

sensibilisant aux methodes existantes, en provoquant une meilleure communication entre les vulgarisateurs 

et en permettant d’ etoffer nos propres references d’ analyse. 


Keywords: Rural-sociology, Social-change, Rural-development, Farming-systems, Innovation-adoption, Extension-activities. 

273.Mathooko, F. M. and J. K. Imungi. 1994. Ascorbic acid changes in three indigenous Kenyan leafy 

vegetables during traditional cooking. Ecology-of-Food-and-Nutrition (United Kingdom) 32(3/4): 239- 

45. 


Keywords: Nutrients, Losses, Cooking, Carbohydrates, Processing, Sugar-acids, Vitamins. 

274.Maundu, P. M. 1997. The status of traditional vegetable utilization in Kenya. Pp.66-75. in Proceedings 

of the IPGRI International Workshop on Genetic Resources of Traditional Vegetables in Africa: Conservation 

and use. 29-31 August 1995, ICRAF-HQ, Nairobi, Kenya Traditional African Vegetables. 

Promoting the Conservation and Use of Underutilized and Neglected Crops. No. 16.(L.Guarino, editor). 

Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant research, Gatersleben\International Plant Genetic 

Resources Institute, Rome, Italy. 

Leafy and fruit vegetables form a significant part of the traditional diets of agicultural communities. Their 

consumption is, however, generally less significant among pastoral communities. About 200 indigenous 

plant species are used as leafy vegetables in Kenya. Only a few (4) have been fully domesticated, more (15) are 

semi-domesticated while the majority are wild. The species used and the wealth of indigenous knowledge 

vary with the culture, economic pursuits, species availablilty and level of influence by modernization. The 

variety of species used as a vegetable, the diversity withing the species and the knowledge about their utilization 

is currently on the decline among many communities. This paper discusses the factors affecting utilization, 

current status of both fruit and leafy vegetable consumption, past and current trends and the role of 

indigenous knowledge in their utilization in Kenya. 

Keywords: Utilization, Fruit-vegetables, Species, Indigenous-knowledge. 

275.McGregor, J. 1995. Gathered produce in Zimbabwe’s communal areas: changing resource availability 

and use. Ecology of Food and Nutrition (USA). 

The relationship between environmental change (deforestation) and the availability and use of gathered 

produce in one of Zimbabwe’s deforested communal areas is analysed. The effect of population increase 

on resource availability, harvesting strategies and resource tenure is studied. Based on interviews with 

households of different socio-economic status conducted in 1988, the shifting contribution to rural livelihoods 

and diet made by gathered products such as fruit, nuts, leaf vegetables, mushrooms, insects, 

rodents and leaf litter is investigated. Species favouring arable and disturbed environments have become 

more abundant, whereas those flourishing in woodlands have diminished. There is no simple relationship 

between changing resource availability and shifting patterns of consumption and sale of gathered 

produce. Socio-economic changes and changing preferences are important influences on consumption, 

whereas the emergence of markets for gathered resources is related to processes of specialization and 

exchange rather than physical scarcity. There has been an overall decrease in the diversity of gathered 

produce eaten, with increased dependence on “weeds” and “pests” gathered from privately used land 

(homeyards, gardens and fields). Agricultural production has become more dependent on fertility inputs 

from common property woodland. Poorer households are more dependent on consumption, sale and 

other uses of woodland and gathered produce than are wealthy households. 



Keywords: Foods, Wild-plants, Forest-products, Resource-depletion, Markets. 

59

60 

276.Mendlinger, S., A. Benzioni, V. Kagan Zur, M. Ventura, S. Huyskens and J. Chweya. 1990. Southern 

African edible vegetables: germplasm collection, evaluation and breeding: annual report January - 

December 1989. BGUN-ARI (Israel), no. 7. Institute for Agriculture and Applied Biology, Ben Gurion 

Univ. of the Negev, Beersheva, Israel, 

The results of a programme, aimed at the determination and characterization of the genetic variability in a 

number of edible indigenous vegetable species of Africa and their economic potential, with emphasis on 

cucurbits and Amaranthus, are presented. During the first year of the programme, the following species were 

collected in Kenya: Cucumis metuliferus, Cucurbita pepo, Luffa acutangula, loofah, gourd, Coccinia sessilifolia, and 

amaranthus. The isoenzyme profiles of the accession lines of C. metuliferus were determined and compared 

with germplasm collected in Israel. Little genetic variation was found, while none of the accessions were 

heterozygotes. The vegetative growth, flower production, and fruit quality of Momordica charantia were determined. 

The Kenyan lines produced 3 times as many branches as the Israeli lines and had slightly longer 

leaves. Variation existed between all lines with regard to the number of male and female flowers produced per 

line, the fruit width and length, fruit quality, biochemistry and mineral content. 

Keywords: Genetic-resources. 


277.Messiaen, C. M., J. Fournet, A. Delplanque and O. Sobesky. 1972. Premiers resultats d’experience sur 

quelques epinards tropicaux [First results of experiments with some tropical spinach plants]. Nouvelles 

Maraicheres Et Vivrieres De L’INRA Aux Antilles(3): 24-33. 

In a 63-day trial 5 types of amaranthus were compared with Celosia argentea, Basella alba, B.rubra, Solanum 

nigrum var. guineense and Xanthosoma brasiliense. Two local amaranthus varieties, tentatively identified as 

A.gracilis and A. dubius, and the Dahomey cv. Fotete gave very high yields. Yields of X. brasiliense were low 

because of a mosaic virus infection but the spinach was of very good quality. 

Keywords: Cultural-methods, Diseases, Mosaic,Variety-trials. 

278.Mihindo, N. 1997. Organic agriculture in Kenya: fusion of science and traditional knowledge. Pp.96- 

7. in Proceedings of the IPGRI International Workshop on Genetic Resources of Traditional Vegetables 

in Africa: Conservation and use. 29-31 August 1995, ICRAF-HQ, Nairobi, Kenya. Traditional 

African Vegetables. Promoting the Conservation and Use of Underutilized and Neglected Crops. No. 

16. (L. Guarino, editor). Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, Gatersleben\International 

Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Rome, Italy. 

Keywords: Organic-farming, Traditional-knowledge. 

279.Mingochi, D. S. and S. W. S. Luchen. 1997. Traditional vegetables in Zambia: genetic resources, cultivation 

and uses. Pp.136-41. in Proceedings of the IPGRI International Workshop on Genetic Resources 

of Traditional Vegetables in Africa: Conservation and use. 29-31 August 1995, ICRAF-HQ, Nairobi, 

Kenya. Traditional African Vegetables. Promoting the Conservation and Use of Underutilized and 

Neglected Crops. No. 16.(L. Guarino, editor). Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, 


Keywords: Zambia, Vegetables, Traditional, Genetic-resources, Utilization, Cultivation. 

280.Ministry of Agriculture. 1989. Proposals for the promotion of traditional crops in Kenya. Nairobi (Kenya). 

Gives the proposals for the promotion of traditional food crops in Kenya such as sorghum, millets, teff, pulses, 

root crops and indigenous vegetables. Discusses the present production situation and the drawbacks facing 

it, research and extension activities and future promotion strategies of these crops. Describes the uses and the 

nutritive value of these indigenous food crops. 

Keywords: Food-crops, Traditional-farming, Food-security, Food-policies. 

281.Missano, H. C., W. Njebele, L. Kayombo and B. Ogle. 1994. in Dependency on forests and trees for 

food security. A pilot study: Nanguruwe and Mbambakofi villages, Mtwara region, Tanzania.Working- 

Paper—International-Rural-Development-Centre,-Swedish-University-of-Agricultural-Sciences. no. 

261. Uppsala, Sweden.

Forests and tree products play a major role in improving and maintaining nutrition status through improvement 

of household food security and control of diseases in Tanzania. This paper reports on a study, the 

objectives of which were to explore the degree of dependency on forest and tree products of two village 

communities in Mtwara region, and to develop and test informal methods of collecting information on dependency 

on forests and trees. The methodology used is described before the characteristics of the study 

villages are discussed. The agricultural production in the region is examined, looking at the cultivation 

system, main crops, livestock, domesticated fruits and labour demand. The use of forest products for food is 

examined, focusing in particular on root products, fruits, grains, vegetables, animal products, mushrooms 

and honey, and medicinal and other uses of forest products is covered. The importance of forest products for 

food security, particularly for resource weak households is highlighted. Some comparisons are made between 

the two villages. 

Keywords: Vegetables, Mushrooms, Nutrition, Forest-products, Tanzania. 

282.Mnzava, N. A. 1989. Indigenous vegetables in Zambia. Sveriges Utsaedesfoerenings Tidskrift (Sweden) 

99(4): 241. 

Paper presented at ‘Seed Production for the Small Scale Farming Sector in Africa’. Lusaka (Zambia). 30 

Jan- 10 Feb 1989. 

Keywords: Vegetable-crops, Species, Food-production, Small-scale-farming. 

283.Mnzava, N. A. 1997. Vegetable crop diversification and the place of traditional species in the tropics. 

Pp. 1-15. in Proceedings of the IPGRI International Workshop on Genetic Resources of Traditional 

Vegetables in Africa: Conservation and use. 29-31 August 1995, ICRAF-HQ, Nairobi, Kenya. Traditional 

African Vegetables.Promoting the Conservation and Use of Underutilized and Neglected Crops. 

No. 16.(L. Guarino , editor). Institute of Plant genetics and Crop Plant research, 


The nutritional dilemma caused by decreasing food choice and the inadequate priorization of balanced 

nutrition is a justification for diversified vegetable crop production. The merits and problems associated with 

diversification in the tropics are discussed. The importance of traditional vegetable species as a category of 

secondary food crops is illustrated from the agronomic, economic, nutritional, ecological and technical sides. 

Reasons for their neglect are discussed, and research needs and approaches are suggested while recognizing 

the regional specificity of the species and the intrinsic problems associated with the promotion of good 

nutrition as an incentive in itself. 

Keywords: Nutrition, Diversification. 

284.Mohanty, K. C. and S. N. Das. 1988. Resistance of some amaranthus varieties to root-knot nematode, 

Meloidogyne incognita. Indian-Journal-of-Nematology 18(1): 120. 

Of 13 Amaranthus varieties screened for resistance against M. incognita in pot experiments, Bhubaneswar 

local and Kantei Khada exhibited a resistant reaction with the gall index below 2.0. The rest were 

susceptible or highly susceptible. 


Keywords: Resistance, Varieties, Cultivars, Pests. 


285.Moustier, P. and D. L. Naire. 1990. Performance du système de commercialisation des legumes a 

Brazzville : un essai d’ evaluation socio-économique.[Vegetable marketing efficiency in Brazzaville : 

a socioeconomical evaluation test]. Pp. 567-84 in Economie des filieres en regions chaudes. Formation 

des prix et echanges agricoles. [Economy of agricultural commodity chains in the tropics and subtropics. 

Price formation and agricultural trade.] (M. Griffon, editor.) Centre de Coopération Internationale 

en Recherche Agronomique pour le Developpement, Montpellier (France). MES, Mission Economie 

et Sociologie. Montpellier (France). 

L’ analyse socio-economique de la filiere maraichere de Brazzaville est articulee autour de trois axes : l’ 

adequation de l’ offre et de la demande de legume a travers les prix;la formation et l’ utilisation des marges 

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commerciales; l’ integration de ces filieres a la socialite urbaine. L’ irregularite de l’ offre pour certains produits 

et la faible elasticite de la demande se traduisent par des variations souples des quantites disponibles pour 

des prix qui changent de facon discontinue, ce qui denote une bonne adaptation a la saisonnalite de la 

production et au comportement des consommateurs. L’ analyse des marges ne revele pas de comportement 

“monopolistique” ou “privilegie” d’ une “classe” de commercants. Par ailleurs, les phenomenes de collecte 

et d’ accumulation en vue d’ une expansion de l’ activite semblent limites. Enfin, les modes d’ acces a l’ 

activite, tout comme l’ utilisation des revenus commerciaux, doivent etre relies a la specificite sociale des 

commercants urbains. A cote de la transmission familiale, la ville induit l’ acces a l’ activite commerciale 

comme activite de survie dans un contexte materiel precaire. La ville determine egalement, chez les 

commercantes, des modes de consommation qui limitent l’ expansion de leur activite. 


Keywords: Marketing, Foods, Plant-products, Urban-areas. 

286.Moutsambote, J. M. 1990. Vernonia titanophylla, a new species in the Congo. Bulletin-Du-Jardin- 

Botanique-National-De-Belgique 60(3-4): 275-8. 

A description of this small (8-10 m) tree is given, with some notes on its distribution in central Africa. It 

is recorded for the first time in the Congo. 


Keywords: Broadleaves, Distribution. 

287.Mpoyi, K. and S. J. Paulus. 1997. JEEP: promoting home gardening in Kinshasa, Zaire. Pp. 52-6. in 

Proceedings of the IPGRI International Workshop on Genetic Resources of Traditional Vegetables in 

Africa: Conservation and use. 29-31 August 1995, ICRAF-HQ, Nairobi, Kenya. Traditional African 

Vegetables. Promoting the Conservation and Use of Underutilized and Neglected Crops. No. 16. (L. 

Guarino, editor). Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant research, Gatersleben\International Plant 


Keywords: Health, Nutrition, Home-garden. 

288.Mpuchane, S. and B. A. Gashe. 1996. Prevalence of coliforms in traditionally dried leafy vegetables 

sold in open markets and food stores in Gaborone, Botswana. Journal-of-Food-Protection (USA) 59(1): 

28-30. 

The aerobic mesophilic count, coliform count, and prevalence of Escherichia coli on two vegetables commonly 

consumed by a majority of people in Botswana were determined. The aerobic count was found to be > 10(5) 

CFU/g in both kinds of vegetables and as many as 27 to 30% of the samples had counts > 10(7) CFU/g. 

Escherichia coli was present in 82% of the Amaranthus leaves sold as morogo in food stores and 50% of the 

Phaseolus leaves purchased from open markets. Nonfecal coliforms were present in all samples. The nonfecal 

coliforms belong to species of Klebsiella and Enterobacter and were present in the samples at values of 1 X 

10(1) to 4 X 10(4) CFU/g. 


Keywords: Food-safety, Marketing, Plant-products, Quality, Southern-Africa, Vegetables. 

289.Mushita, A. 1997. Traditional vegetables in Zimbabwe: the NGO agenda. Pp. 145-8. in Proceedings of 


and use. 29-31 August 1995, ICRAF-HQ, Nairobi, Kenya. Traditional African Vegetables. Promoting 


Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, Gatersleben\International Plant Genetic Resources 


Keywords: Vegetables, Zambia. 


290.National Horticultural Research Institute. 1990. Annual report 1989. National Horticultural Research 

Institute, Ibadan, Nigeria. 

The 1989 annual report of the National Horticultural Research Institute (Nigeria) presents the results of 

current research programmes on citrus, vegetables and fruits and 2 new programmes on farming systems and 

crop utilization. Research was conducted on plant breeding and crop management (including plant protection, 

intercropping and mulching) of various horticultural crops, including Citrus, mango, plantain, pineapple, 

papaya, guava, avocado, tomato, okra, Amaranthus, jute, Telfaira occidentalis, cucumber, Solanum gilo, 

pepper ( Capsicum spp.), melon and watermelon. The farming systems programme includes different aspects 

of land use, soil conservation, input utilization, fabrication of equipment, and fruits and vegetables 

intercropping. A crop utilization programme was set up to improve and widen the uses of local fruits and 

vegetables. The major activities included various aspects of postharvest handling, development of recipes for 

plantain and amaranth confectionery, and the production of fruit juices. 

Keywords: Crop-management, Plant-breeding, Processing. 

291.Nekesa, P. and B. Meso. 1997. Traditional African vegetables in Kenya: production, marketing and 

utilization. Pp. 98-103. in Proceedings of the IPGRI International Workshop on Genetic Resources of 

Traditional Vegetables in Africa: Conservation and use. 29-31 August 1995, ICRAF-HQ, Nairobi, Kenya. 


Crops. No. 16.(L. Guarino, editor). Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, 


Keywords: Marketing, Utilization. 

292.Ngniado, B. 1994. Maraichage au Nord Cameroun : premier diagnostic agro-économique. Projet Garoua 

phase II. [Vegetables crop in North-Cameroon: first agroeconomical diagnosis. Project Garoua phase 

II]. Pp. 67. CIRAD, Montpellier (France). 

Dans le cadre d’ une etude agroeconomique sur le maraichage au Nord-Cameroun dont l’ objectif principal 

est d’ orienter la recherche agronomique dans le domaine des cultures maraichere, et suite a une 

mission de conception/identification de premiers resultats et recommandations ont pu etre fournis. Ils 

concernent l’ approvisionnement du Nord Cameroun en legumes, les exigences des consommateurs, les 

voies d’ approvisionnement, les circuits de commercialisation des legumes sortant du Nord Cameroun, 

la production maraichere dans cette zone et les contraintes d’ approvisionnement du marche interieur/ 

exterieur. Les etudes prevues pour completer ce diagnostic sont presentees, leurs objectifs etant d’ evaluer 

la competitivite de la production maraichere du Nord-Cameroun par rapport aux importations dans la 

region et aux importations d’ oignon dans l’ ensemble du pays et de mieux connaitre la population des 

maraichers a laquelle doit s’ adresser la recherche-developpement. 


Keywords: Marketing, Distribution, Trade, Production. 

293.Nigeria, Federal Department of Forest Research. 1976. Proceedings of the symposium on variation 

and breeding systems of Triplochiton scleroxylon (K. Schum.). 21-28 April, 1975, Federal Deparment of 

Forest Research , Ibadan, Nigeria. 

This is the first symposium organized by the Federal Department of Forest Research of Nigeria; in future 

such symposia will be regular features of the Department’s activities. 

Keywords: Tree-breeding, Broadleaves. 


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294.Njoku, K. U. 1983. Economic assessment of indigenous food producing forest tree species in Imo state, 

Nigeria. University of Ibadan, Ibadan (Nigeria). 

A thorough examination of the role and importance of forest food products in Imo State households. Examines 

the density of forest food trees on farms and notes that their density is much lower in natural forest areas. 

Presents information from a market study which compares the prices and availabilities of marketed forest 

foods. In general, wild fruits and vegetables sell for comparable for greater prices than cultivated varieties. For 

example, Gnetum sp. leaves sell for 1.60 naira/500 g while cultivated Amaranthus sp. sells for 0.50 naira/500g; 

Dennettia tripetala fruit sell for 1.800 naira/500 g while papaya sells for 0.40 naira/500 g. Vegetables are 

available daily in markets, especially in the dry season, when cultivated varieties are not available. Seeds are 

more seasonal than fresh fruits which are available in most periods. Describes 12 vegetable tree species. Also 

includes descriptive information of the ways forest foods are consumed (e.g. Dennettia tripetala fruit are consumed 

fresh with cola nuts to add a peppery taste) and the myriad of “other” uses for these locally valued 

species. For example, the leaves of Dacryodes edulis are used in marriage ceremonies to signify acceptance of a 

suitor. The paper also describes common dishes that are based on wild forest products (e.g. soups, salads and 

vegetable sauces for yams) and how they are processed. 

Keywords: Community-forestry, Marketing. 

295.Nkhoma, C. N., G. Y. Mkamanga and T. J. Ruredzo. 1997. Conservation of traditional vegetable 

germplasm in the SADC region. Pp.122-7. in Proceedings of the IPGRI International Workshop on 

Genetic Resources of Traditional Vegetables in Africa: Conservation and use. 29-31 August 1995, 

ICRAF-HQ, Nairobi, Kenya. Traditional African Vegetables. Promoting the Conservation and Use of 

Underutilized and Neglected Crops. No. 16. (L. Guarino, editor). Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop 


Keywords: Germplasm, Conservation. 

296.Nono-Womdim, R. and R. T. Opena. 1997. Scope and highlights of research on indigenous vegetables 

of southern and East Africa. Pp.19-21. in Workshop on African indigenous vegetables. January 13-18, 

1997 Limbe Cameroon. Limbe Cameroon Workshop Papers (Grubben, G. and C. Almenkinders) ODA. 

Keywords: Research. 

297.Norman, J. C. 1980. Advances in research on vegetable crops in Ghana. Technical Bulletin Department 

of Horticulture , no. 1. University of Science and Technology (Ghana), Ghana. 

This publication summarizes the results of recent research with the following crops: Solanaceae (tomato, 

eggplant, capsicum); other fruit vegetables (okra, French bean, cucumber, squash); bulbs (onion, shallot); 

brassicas (cabbage, chinese cabbage, cauliflower, kale); root crops (carrot, beetroot, radish, turnip); and 

leafy vegetables (lettuce, Indian spinach (Basella rubra), Talinum triangulare). 

Keywords: Vegetable-crops, Agricultural-research. 

298.Norman, J. C. 1990. Advances in tropical leafy vegetable crops research. UNISWA-Research-Journal 

(Swaziland) 3 : 11-21. 

The importance of tropical leafy vegetables in the diet of inhabitants of the tropics and sub-tropics is 

emphasized. Research, however, has been slow. This paper reviews recent advances in research and 

makes some suggestions for future studies. 



Keywords: Plant-production, Crops, Humid-zones, Production. 

299.Norman, J. C. 1992. Tropical vegetable crops. Arthur H. Stockwell, Elms Court (UK).

A comprehensive and up to date guide to the production of vegetables in the tropics, with special reference 

to West Africa and similar environments, is provided. Principles of vegetable production, including 

vegetable farm establishment, seeds, nursery practices and planting, crop management practices, and 

vegetable farm management, are discussed. Detailed information is given on the production of over 40 

vegetable crops, including bulbous vegetables, cucurbit vegetables, fruit vegetables, green vegetables, 

leafy vegetables, root vegetables and vegetable legumes. 

Keywords: Vegetable-crops, Crop-management, Cultivation, Teaching-materials. 

300.Nwauzo, E. E. and W. M. Brown Jr. 1975. Telfairia (Cucurbitaceae) mosaic virus in Nigeria. Plant- 

Disease-Reporter (USA) 59(5): 430-2. 

A mechanically transmitted virus of Telfairia occidentalis is newly described from Nigeria, including 

information on symptoms and differences with other mosaic viruses. 

Keywords: Vegetable-Crops, Plant-diseases. 

301.Nyananyo, B. L. and J. D. Olowokudejo. 1986. Taxonomic studies in the genus Talinum (Portulacaceae) 

in Nigeria. Willdenowia 15(2): 455-63. 

Morphological analysis of T. triangulare, widely cultivated as a leaf vegetable, and the closely related T. 

cuneifolium revealed few discrete phenetic discontinuities. However, microscopic studies of pollen, seeds, 

leaf anatomy, leaf cuticle and chromosomes (both 2n=24) revealed many useful distinguishing characters. 

Keywords: Taxonomy, Morphology. 


302.Nyarko, S. 1980. Effect of age of transplants on the growth and yield of water leaf (Talinum triangulare). 

University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (Ghana). 

The effect of age of transplant on growth and yield of water-leaf Talinum triangulare is reported. Seedlings 

were transplanted at ages of 11, 15, 19, and 23 days after pricking out. 23-day old transplants had highest 

% of surviving plants, number of side shoots, height increase, dry matter, marketable and edible yields 

but 15-day olds showed lowest values. Largest leaves were produced by 15-day olds and smallest leaves 

by 19-day olds. 

Keywords: Seedlings, Transplanting, Planting-date, Growth, Crop-yield. 

303.Obiagwu, C. J. and N. I. Odiaka. 1995. Fertilizer schedule for yield of fresh fluted pumpkin (Telfairia 

occidentalis) grown in lower Benue river basin of Nigeria. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 

(India) 65(2): 98-101. 

An appropriate schedule of N, P and K application for the growth and development of fluted pumpkin 

in an acid sandy soil was determined in Nigeria, during 1991-1992. The vine number, length of vines, 

girth and fresh-matter yield were measured at 2-week intervals after fertilizer application. Phosphorus 

alone at 22 kg/ha gave the highest fresh-matter yield (5.04 kg/plant) followed by 22 kg/ha P + 42 kg/ha 

K (4.98 kg/plant) and 50 kg/ha N + 22 kg/ha P (4.89 kg/plant). These yields were different from treatments 

and combinations without P. Two splits of NPK (4 and 8 weeks after germination) gave a freshmatter 

yield of 5.45 kg/plant compared with 4.16 kg/plant produced by a single application of NPK or 

4.76 kg/plant given by 3 splits of NPK. Fresh-matter yields obtained from band or broadcast application 

(6.4 and 6.3 kg/plant, respectively) were different from ring application or point placement methods (4.7 

and 4.4 kg/plant, respectively). Band application of NPK therefore proved to be the superior method of 

fertilizing fluted pumpkin. From authors’ summary. 

Keywords: Fertilizer-application, Placement, NPK-fertilizers. 

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304.Ogunfowora, A. O. 1982. Root-knot nematodes on cowpea and some selected vegetable crops. Pp.72- 

84. in Proceedings of the 3rd Research Planning Conference on root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne 

spp., Regions IV and V, 1 (International Meloidogyne Project). 6-20 November 1981 International Institute 

of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria. 

Out of 31 lines of cowpea [Vigna unguiculata], 20 lines of Amaranthus and 24 lines of Solanum, screened for 

resistance to Meloidogyne incognita, one Solanum line, 4 Amaranthus lines and no cowpea lines showed 

resistance. Crop rotation experiments using groundnut, rice, maize, tomato and stylozanthes gave a 

decrease in Meloidogyne infection and an increase in tomato yield. 

Keywords: Resistance, Rotations, Control-methods, Pest-resistance, Nematology. 

305.Ohigashi, H., M. Jisaka, T. Takagaki, H. Nozaki, T. Tada, M. A. Huffman, T. Nishida, M. Kaji and K. 

Koshimizu. 1991. Bitter principle and a related steroid glucoside from Vernonia amygdalina, a possible 

medicinal plant for wild chimpanzees. Agricultural and Biological Chemistry 55(4): 1201-3. 

Keywords: Drug-plants, Steroids, Bitter-principles, Stems, Leaves. 

306.Ohlander, L. J. R. 1977. Leguminous grains and vegetable Assignment report. [Crop diversification in 

the coffee growing areas in the South-West of Ethiopia]. FAO, Rome (Italy). 

Keywords: Vegetables, Ethiopia. 

307.Okafor, J. C. 1981. Woody plants of nutritional importance in traditional farming systems of the Nigerian 

humid tropics. PhD Thesis. Department of Forest Resource Management, University of Ibadan, 

Ibadan, Nigeria. 

An extremely interesting and thorough report on the household use of indigenous farm and wild trees. 

Presents the results of an extensive market study of indigenous edible woody plant foods (weekly at five 

markets over a three year period) examining the seasonal availability of products and their comparative 

prices over a three year period. Described the prevailing farming practices and the roles of and benefits 

from these trees in these different systems. Discusses farmers’ species preferences (approximately 400 

interviews). Examines the botanic, ecologic (including trade and market potential), economic, and nutrition 

aspects of five extremely common forest and farm trees: Irvingia gabonensia, Dacryodes edulis, Treculia 

africana, Pentaclethra macrophylla, Chrysophyllum albidum. Examines the density and distribution of edible 

woody plants (117 species identified) on farms. Okafor found that in the midwestern and southeastern 

zones these five major species were present on more than 72% of the farms. In the mid-western zone, 

Dacryodes edulis was found on all surveyed farms and Irvingia gabonensis was found on 95% of the farms. 

Analyses the frequency with which trees are planted, transplanted and protected. Presents data on 

fruiting periods of the study species, and the seasonal variations in sale and home consumption of ther 

products (over 50% of the produce from the five study species is sold). Presents information on how these 

tree foods are used and processed. Includes information on the nutritional composition of these different 

foods. Irvingia gabonensis is an especially good source of fat, while Pentaclethra macrophylla is high in 

protein. The study species are becoming increasingly popular on farms and fetch comparable or higher 

prices than traditional cultivated crops. 



308.Okafor, J. C. 1997. Conservation and use of traditional vegetables from woody forest species in southeastern 

Nigeria. Pp. 31-8. in Proceedings of the IPGRI International Workshop on Genetic Resources 

of Traditional Vegetables in Africa: Conservation and use. 29-31 August 1995, ICRAF-HQ, Nairobi, 

Kenya. Traditional African Vegetables. Promoting the Conservation and Use of Underutilized and 

Neglected Crops. No. 16. (L. Guarino, editor). Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant research, 

Gatersleben\International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Rome, Italy.

In Nigeria, where the diet is dominated by starchy staple foods, traditional vegetables are essential 

sources of proteins, vitamins, minerals and amino acids. The majority of these vegetables are still being 

harvested from the wild. Two research projects sponsored by the World-Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) are 

investigating the prospects of conservation and its attendant problems as perceived by the participating 

farmers. It is concluded that various inputs and education are necessary to promote the conservation 

and sustainable utilization of traditional vegetables in the region. 

Keywords: Conservation, Utilization, Wild. 

309.Okiwelu, S. N. O. A. Ugwa and S. C. Amadi. 1992. Insect pests of leafy vegetables in Rivers State, 

Nigeria: Studies on life cycle and foliage consumption of Spilosoma (Diacrisia) maculosa Stoll (Lepidoptera 

Arctiidae) [on Vernonia amygdalina, Telfairia occidentalis, Amaranthus hybridus, Talinum 

triangulare]. Revue De Zoologie Africaine (Belgium) / Journal of African Zoology 106(4): 283-8. 


Keywords: Feeding-preferences, Life-cycle. 

310.Okoli, B. E. and C. M. Mgbeogu. 1983. Fluted pumpkin, Telfairia occidentalis: West African vegetable 

crop. Economic Botany 37(2): 145-9. 

Fluted pumpkin, Telfairia occidentalis, is native to West Africa but occurs mostly in its cultivated form in 

various parts of southern Nigeria. It is widely cultivated for its palatable and nutritious leaves which are 

used mainly as vegetable. The seeds are also nutritious and rich in an oil which may be used for cooking 

and soap manufacture. Its taxonomy, morphology and potential uses are discussed in relation to its 

economic importance as a tropical crop. 

Keywords: Vegetable-crops, Economic-botany. 

311.Okusanya, O. T., B. A. Ola Adams and J. F. Bamidele. 1981. Variations in size, leaf morphology, and 

fruit characters among 25 populations of Luffa aegyptiaca. Canadian Journal of Botany 59(12): 2618-27. 

Variations in 25 southwestern Nigerian populations of L. aegyptiaca were most pronounced in the leaves 

(especially in texture, invagination, area and dry weight) but shoot and fruit dry weights and number of 

seeds/fruit also varied considerably. Populations growing in acidic soils with low nutrient contents had 

deep leaf invaginations, small leaf areas/shoot and low dry weights of leaf, shoot and fruit compared 

with populations in richer and more neutral-alkaline soils. When seeds from a population of one of these 

types were sown in soil taken from the site of a population of the other type, the plants developed the 

morphological characteristics of the other population. Light intensity was found to be partially responsible 

for variations in leaf colour and in the prominence of leaf veins in plants grown under shade or in 

full light for the whole or for part of the experiment. 

Keywords: Luffa-aegyptiaca, Development, Environmental-factors, Fruits, Variation. 

312.Olarewaju, J. D. 1977. A review of horticultural research in the northern states of Nigeria. Acta 

Horticulturae (53): 151-5. 

Vegetable research is confined to tomatoes, onions and peppers; with tree crops, the main emphasis is on 

mango and citrus. The research objectives, progress and the extension of the Institute’s findings to the 

farmers are described. 

Keywords: Research, Fruit-and-nut-crops. 


313.Omidiji, M. O. 1978. African Symposium on Horticultural Crops. 6. 19-25 July 1981, Ibadan (Nigeria) 

Acta Horticulturae No. 123 International Society for Horticultural Science, Wageningen (Netherlands). 

Keywords: Horticulture, Genetic-resources, Germplasm-conservation, Plant-breeding, Indigenous-species. 

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314.Opole, M. 1993. Revalidating women’s knowledge on indigenous vegetables: implications for policy. 

Pp. 157-64 in Cultivating knowledge. Genetic diversity, farmer experimentation and crop research (W. 

de Boef, K. Amanor and K. Wellard with A. Bebbington). Intermediate Technology Publications, London. 

This paper describes an approach for working with women on indigenous vegetable crops making use 

of their indigenous knowledge base. In Kenya, women’s local knowledge and the indigenous vegetables 

they have selected for cultivation have been downgraded by scientific knowledge, which is more concerned 

with the products of its own research and the validation of the abstract criteria it has developed. 

Scientist believed that indigenous vegetables cannot be cultivated, that they are poisonous and nutritionally 

inferior to exotic cultivars. This resulted in a research gap between local and scientific knowledge. 

The basis for starting the indigenous vegetable project was to develop a new form of relationship 

and interaction between scientist and end-users. Twelve varieties of indigenous vegetables were selected 

for cultural and agronomic trials and nutritional analysis. Indigenous vegetables were no less nutritious 

than exotic vegetables and their levels of nitrates and tannins were not high enough to warrant any 

concern. Some species of indigenous vegetables produce fewer leaves and show poor growth rates when 

planted with chemical fertilisers. The conceptual framework and methodology of the project were able to 

address issues concerned with the validity of women’s knowledge in agricultural production. Other 

factors with important implications for the indigenous knowledge base are the ideological underpinnings 

of the education and media systems. Policy changes need to be made in the national planning 

process to facilitate the participation of local knowledge systems in current mainstream framework of 

development. It is only by elevating producer knowledge that sustainable food production systems can 

be maintained. 

Keywords: Farmer-participatory-research, Gender, Local-knowledge, Policy. 

315.Opole, M. 1997. Participatory research approaches: community involvement in research. Pp.88-93. in 

Workshop on African indigenous vegetables. January 13-18, 1997 Limbe, Cameroon Limbe, Cameroon 

Workshop Papers. (Schippers, R. and L. Budd, editors). ODA. 

Keywords: Participatory, Research, Farmers. 


316.Orimoyegun, S. O. and O. Kadeba. 1983. Potential of obeche (Triplochiton scleroxylon K. Schum) as a 

leaf vegetable. Acta Horticulturae(123): 99-103. 

Data are tabulated on moisture, P, total N and crude protein contents in young and old leaves of 5-, 6- and 

13-year-old trees. Foliage nutrient composition did not vary appreciably with tree age. 

Keywords: Plant-composition, Proteins, Nutritive-value, Composition. 

317.Orluchukwu, J. A. and E. M. Ossom. 1988. Effect of management practice on weed infestation, yield 

and nutrient concentration of the fluted pumpkin, Telfairia occidentalis Hook. Tropical Agriculture 

65(4 ): 317-20. 

In Nigeria, fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) vines were grown on trellis or on platforms, or grown on 

mounds and on the flat without support to determine the influence of these management practices on 

weed infestation, fresh weight (FW) yield of leaves and nutrient accumulation. The crop planted on the 

flat had a considerable weed suppression effect and the highest leaf FW obtained. The leaf area was 

observed to be positively correlated with FW leaf yield. When planted on mounds, fluted pumpkin leaves 

accumulated more N, P and Mg than when other management practices were used. There were significant 

differences in the concentration of P and K under these management practices. Cultivation of the 

fluted pumpkin on the flat during the dry season is recommended. 

Keywords: Plant-support, Weed-cover, Nutrient-content, Leaf-quality.

318.Palada, M. C., B.T. Kang and S. L. Claassen. 1992. Effect of alley cropping with Leucaena leucocephala 

and fertilizer application on yield of vegetable crops. Agroforestry Systems 19(2): 139-47. 

Field experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of alley cropping vegetable crops with Leucaena 

leucocephala for 2 seasons on a sandy loam Oxic paleustalf in southwestern Nigeria. Four vegetable crops 

(Amaranthus cruentus, Celosia argentea, okra (Hibiscus esculentus) and tomato) were grown in control plots 

and in 4-m wide alleys between established Leucaena hedgerows without and with NPK fertilizers (30- 

13-24 kg/ha). Leucaena prunings yielded large amounts of dry biomass and nutrients during both seasons. 

Yield of the 4 vegetable crops responded more to fertilizer in the control than in the alley cropping 

treatments. Better yield of vegetables in alley cropped plots was in part due to fallowing effect of the 

Leucaena hedgerows. Fertilizer application increased mean yields of Amaranthus, Celosia, okra and tomato 

by 325, 164, 47 and 94% in control plots and by 36, 26, 4 and 20% in alley cropped plots, respectively. 

For both seasons, yields were not significantly different between alley cropping with and without 

fertilizer and the control with fertilizer application. Yield was least in the control without fertilizer. Alley 

cropping with Leucaena can reduce fertilizer requirement for vegetable production. 

Keywords: Agroforestry, Hedges, Intercropping, Fertilizers. 

319.Paulus, J. S. J. 1997. Extension of African winged bean in Zaire. Pp.42-5. in Workshop on African 

indigenous vegetables. January 13-18, 1997 Limbe, Cameroon Limbe, Cameroon Workshop Papers. 

(Schippers, R. and L. Budd, editors). ODA. 

Keywords: Vegetables, Extension. 

320.Peters, C. R. 1990. African wild plants with rootstocks reported to be eaten raw: the monocotyledons, 

part I. Mitteilungen Aus Dem Institut Fur Allgemeine Botanik Hamburg(23b): 935-52. 

A minority of wild rootstocks are eaten raw, including: in the Iridaceae, Babiana hypog[a]ea (southern 

Africa, including the Kalahari); Moraea fugax subsp. fugax (winter-rainfall area of South Africa, alluvial 

sands); in the Liliaceae Allium spp. (south Africa, Ethiopia); in the Orchidaceae Eulophia clavicornis var. 

nutans (South Africa to the Yemen, marshy conditions, upland dambos); Neobolusia tysonii (eastern South 

Africa, wet soils, upland sites); in the Gramineae, Phragmites australis (broadly distributed, seashore sites 

to highlands); and in the Tecophilaeaceae, Walleria nutans (southern Africa, including the Kalahari, 

fossil river valleys, bottomlands). These species are described and further information on their distribution 

is given. 

Keywords: Genetic-resources, Roots, Wild-plants, Edible-species, Distribution. 

321.Preez, R. J. du, C. P. Welgemoed and R. J. Du Preez. 1993. The pachira. Inligtingsbulletin. Instituut Vir 

Tropiese En Subtropiese Gewasse.(253): 13-4. 

Pachira insignis is briefly described. It is well adapted to subtropical climates, growing best in areas 

where the average minimum temperature is at least 8°C. It is not grown commercially in any country, but 

in countries such as Mexico and Guiana, limited numbers are grown for domestic purposes. It is propagated 

by seeds, which germinate 2-3 weeks after sowing. Harvesting consists of collecting fallen seeds 

(which must be done within a few days to prevent germination). The seed coat is removed by soaking, 

then the shelled seeds (nuts) can be roasted or eaten raw. Oil constitutes 50% of total seed mass. Young 

leaves and flowers are also cooked and eaten as vegetables in Mexico and Guiana. The tree is grown 

mainly for its ornamental value in South Africa. 



Keywords: Harvesting, Seed-germination, Propagation, Seeds, Composition. 

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322.Queck, P. 1997. Documenting Indigenous Knowledge - a challenge for all. Pp. 20-8. in Proceedings of 


and use. 29-31 August 1995, ICRAF-HQ, Nairobi, Kenya Traditional African Vegetables. Promoting 


Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant research, Gatersleben\International Plant Genetic Resources 


Keywords: Indigenous-knowledge. 


323.Redknap, R. S. 1981. The use of crushed neem berries in the control of some insect pests in Gambia. 

Pp. 205-14. in Natural Pesticides From the Neem Tree. Proc. 1st. Int. Neem Conf. Germany F.R. Jun, 

1980 Eschborn (Germany F.R.) GTZ,. Eschborn (Germany F.R.) 

Neem berries were crushed electrically or pounded in a mortar. Two diluted concentrates of each suspension 

were applied on cucumber, roselle, tomato and jute. The effects were compared with those of malathion 

and with the feeding-inhibitor release by biodegradation of neem leaves used as a mulch. Various neem 

suspensions controlled the leaf-eating flea beetles Podagrica uniforma and P. sjostedti on roselle, and the 

leaf-eating larva of Epilachna chrysomelina on cucumber. Neem suspensions and leaf mulch did not 

control nematodes on tomato or jute, though leaf-mulch had considerable manurial value for tomato. In 

addition, citrus seedlings sprayed with neem suspension were protected from larvae of the swallowtail 

butterfly, Papillio demodocus. Neem suspension compared favourable with malathion. 

Keywords: Insect-pests, Pest-control, Natural-pesticides, Application-methods. 

324.Rice, R. P., L. W. Rice and H. D. Tindall. 1987. Fruit and vegetable production in Africa. Macmillan, 

London (UK). 

Basic principles of fruit and vegetable production are presented, together with practical techniques 

relating to all operations from plant establishment to harvesting. The crops are discussed within the 

framework of African production systems. A large number of indigenous African crops are discussed, 

especially vegetables, but also many of the exotic fruits and vegetables produced in Africa. A short 

chapter on the production of temperature fruits in upland areas has been included. The book contains 

extensive appendices of data useful in the field, so that it serves both as a general textbook and a field 

reference manual. 

Keywords: Cultural-practices, Fruit-crops, Vegetable-crops, Root-and-tuber-crops, Grain-legume-crops. 

325.Roorda Van Eysinga, S. N. P. 1974. Notes sur quelques problemes du maraichage traditionnel au Cap- 

Vert (Notes on some problems of traditional vegetable production in Cap-Vert). Pp. 41. Ministry of 

Rural Development, Dakar (Senegal). 

These notes deal with (a) an analysis of 9 pilot vegetable farms in terms of characteristics of the operators, 

extension activities by the Centre of Horticultural Development on the farm, developments noted, and 

chances for further progress; (b) the results of an enquiry into the use of traditional organic fertilizer by 

the indigenous vegetable growers; and (c) the use of irrigation by the same category of growers, and 

characteristics of the water applied. 

Keywords: Crop-Cultivation, Maintenance, Extension. 

326.Rubaihayo, E. B. 1994. Indigenous vegetables of Uganda. Pp.120-4. in African-Crop-Science-Conference-Proceedings 

(Uganda). 14-18 June 1993. Kampala (Uganda). 

Uganda is endowed with diverse genotypes of indigenous vegetables. The indigenous vegetables catagory 

includes vegetables which are assumed to have their origin in Uganda, and those that were clearly 

introduced many years ago that there is no existing evidence as to when and from where by whom they 

were introduced. The last serious attempt to collect and study local vegetables was made between 1969 

and 1972, when a collection of over 160 species from all regions of Uganda was made at Kawanda 

Agricultural Research Institute. Many species from that collection have, unfortunately, been lost. Efforts 

to collect and improve local vegetables were again made in 1980’s but unfortunately these efforts were 

interrupted for about three years. During this period of interruption some collections were lost and 

others particularly Amaranthus species were physically and genetically mixed up. Since October 1990, a

number of Amaranthus species and their cultivars have been purified from original mixture through 

breeding. The selected cultivars are presently being evaluated and bulked for possible distribution to 

farmers. Preliminary results from evaluation trials are reported. 


Keywords: Land-varieties, Germplasm, Experimentation, Genetic-resources. 

327.Rubaihayo, E. B. 1994. Quarterly report on indigenous and local vegetables research activities for the 

period 1st Jul. to 30th Sept. 1994. Pp. 14. 


Keywords: Spacing, Germination, Flowering, Yields, Variety-trials, Crop-management. 

328.Rubaihayo, E. B. 1997. Conservation and use of traditional vegetables in Uganda. Pp.104-16. in Proceedings 

of the IPGRI International Workshop on Genetic Resources of Traditional Vegetables in 

Africa: Conservation and use. 29-31 August, 1995, ICRAF-HQ, Nairobi, Kenya. Traditional African 

Vegetables. Promoting the Conservation and Use of Underutilized and Neglected Crops. No. 16. (L. 

Guarino, editor). Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, Gatersleben\International Plant 


Uganda is endowed with agroclimatic conditions suitable for the cultivation of a wide range of African 

indigenous vegetables. However, few of these plants are domesticated, the majority being wild or volunteer 

plants. They are abundant in the rainy seasons but scarce during the dry season, except a few grown mainly 

for selling in trading centres and urban markets. Conservation is far from satisfactory. Most of the germplasm 

collected in 1943, 1969-74 and 1980-1984 has been lost. Current efforts to collect and conserve traditional 

vegetables have been hampered by lack of funds. No collecting has been done since 1993. Documentation 

work was being done by the Agricultural Research Institute, but was stopped in 1993 when the taxonomist 

joined the Banana Research Programme. However, the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) 

is planning to revive conservation of traditional vegetables as a priority. The most important traditional 

vegetables in Uganda are Amaranthus spp., Phaseolus vulgaris, Phaseolus lunatus, Vigna unguiculata, Sesamum 

indicum, Manihot esculenta, Corchorus spp., Cucurbita spp. and Solanum aethiopicum. They contain protein, 

calcium, phosphorus, potassium, iron and vitamins A, B en C in important quantities and are either curative 

or preventive of a number of diseases. The list of traditional vegetables used as folk medicine is long, and 

includes Bidens pilosa, Cassia obtusifolia, Celosia argentea, Commelina benghalensis, Corchorus spp., Guizontia 

abyssinica, Hibiscus spp., Lagenaria siceraria, Luffa cylindrica, Solanum indicum, Solanum indicum subsp. distichum, 

Tamarindus indica and Tribulus spp. Traditional vegetables are also used to obtain varous other products. 

Efforts are being made to increase awareness of the importance of traditional vegetables among rural woman, 

and to encourage the general population to cultivate and consume these species. 

Keywords: Conservation, Use, Medicinal, Collecting. 

329.Rugalema, G. H., F. H. Johnsen, A. Okting’ati and A. Minjas. 1994. The homegarden agroforestry 

system of Bukoba district, North-Western Tanzania. 3. An economic appraisal of possible solutions to 

falling productivity. Agroforestry-Systems (Netherlands) 28(3): 227-36. 


Keywords: Domestic-gardens, Agricultural-economics, Economics, Gardens. 

330.Rugalema, G. H., F. H. Johnsen and J. Rugambisa. 1994. The homegarden agroforestry system of 

Bukoba district, North-Western Tanzania. 2. Constraints to farm productivity. Agroforestry-Systems 

(Netherlands) 26(3): 205-14. 



Keywords: Domestic-gardens, Agroforestry, Productivity, Migration, Constraints, Farming-systems, Gardens, Pests. 

331.Salih, F. A. 1978. Effects of population densities and row spacings on kenaf yields and its components 

in the Kenana area of the Sudan. Acta-Agronomica (Hungary) 27(3/4): 349-56. 

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72 

Field trials were conducted in Sudan during 3 crop seasons on the effects of row width and plant density 

on kenaf dry ribbon yield and other crop characteristics. Effects of plant density on dry ribbon yields 

were not significant. This suggests that medium plant densities should be used to avoid gaps in the 

stands, thereby providing more competition against weeds. For kenaf production in the Kenana area, 

plant densities of 250 to 500 000 plants/ha at narrow spacings, such as 0.2 or 0.3m, are suggested as the 

recommended practice. 

Keywords: Fibre-Crops, Crop-Cultivation-and-Maintenance. 

332.Sanderson, K. W. 1974. Guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) in the Rhodesian lowveld. Rhodesia Agricultural 

Journal 71(1): 17-8, 21. 

In trials in 1969-71 at Chiredzi with 6 guar cultivars, seed yields were highest in cv. Mills, 2.81-3.72 t/ha. 

In trials in 1970-71 at Chisumbanje, cv. Hall yielded 3.33 t seed/ha and cv. Mills yielded 3.05 t, cv. Texsel 

and Groehler gave consistently poor yields, 1.8 and 1.55 t/ha, respectively. In further trials in 1970-71, 

cv. Mills was sown at spacings of 30, 50 or 70 cm between rows and at 1, 4 or 7 cm within rows and was 

given 0, 45 or 90 kg N/ha at sowing. Seed yields were not affected by the rate of N applied, but increased 

significantly with increase in spacing between rows up to 50 cm and within rows up to 4 cm. In trials in 

1971-2, cv. Mills was sown on 5 Nov. or 17 Dec. at the same spacings as in the 1970-71 trial and was 

subjected to 5 irrigation regimes. Seed yields increased with increase in between- and with-row spacings 

and with increase in soil moisture deficit up to 90 mm in the Dec.-sown crop. It was concluded that 

although capable of high yields, the indeterminate growth habit of guar precluded the production of 

economic yields of high-quality seed. 

Keywords: Cultivars, Fertilizers, Cultural-methods, Seeds, Seed-production. 

333.Santos, R. M. dos. 1989. Plantas uteis de Angola: contribuicao iconografica 2 (Useful plants of Angola). 

Ministerio da Educacao e Cultura, Lisbon (Portugal). 

A botanical description of 21 useful plants of Angola, from 12 different families, is presented, accompanied 

by sketches of their branches, flowers, and seed. Species of the following families are included: 

Leguminosae, Euphorbiaceae (castor), Cochlospermaceae, Cariceae (papaya), Combretaceae, Myrtaceae 

(guava), Ebenaceae, Apocynaceae, Labiatae, and Solanaceae. The vegetative growth, flowering, and the 

use of the plants are described. The plant distribution and local names are also included. 

Keywords: Ethnobotany, Plant-morphology. 

334.Sastrapradja, S. and K. Kartawinata. 1975. Leafy vegetables in the Sundanese diet. Pp. 166-70. in 

South East Asian plant genetic resources. Proceedings of a Symposium on South East Asian Plant 

Genetic Resources, Kopo, Cisarua, Bogor, Indonesia, 20-22 March 1975. (J.T. Williams, C.H. Lamoureux 

and N. Wulijarni-Soetjipto, editors). Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization, Bogor (Indonesia). 

Regional Center for Tropical Biology. FAO, Rome (Italy) . 

335.Schippers, R. and L. Budd. 1997. Workshop on African indigenous vegetables. January 13-18, 1997, 

Limbe, Cameroon. Limbe Cameroon Workshop Papers, ODA. 

Keywords: Vegetables, Traditional. 


336.Scoones, I. M. Melnyk and J. N. Pretty. 1992. The hidden harvest: wild foods and agricultural systems. 

A literature review and annotated bibliography. The Sustainable Agricultural Programme, International 

Institute for Environment and Development, London. 

This publication provides 971 leterature references concerning wild foods and agricultural systems. The 

bibliography is organised into a number of different thematic issues. The review refers extensively to the 

following references and to other sections. The references are indexed by geographical areas, by ethnic 

groups and by themes. The 11 overlapping themes are: wild foods in agricultural systems, swidden 

agriculture and foraging in forest areas, wild food use in pastoral systems, wildlife utilisation, food 

security, the nutritional significance of wild foods, tenure and local institutions for wild food resource 

management, socially differentiated use of wild foods, economic valuation, biodiversity conservation 

and non-timber forest products.

Keywords: Genetic-diversity. 

337.Seck, A. 1997. Conservation and utilization of germplasm of traditional African vegetabgles in Senegal. 


Vegetables in Africa: Conservation and use. 29-31 August 1995, ICRAF-HQ, Nairobi, Kenya. 


Crops. No. 16. (L. Guarrino, Editor). Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant research, 


Keywords: Conservation, Utilization. 

338.Seignobos, C. 1990. Domestication de la cueillette dans les perimetres maraichers de Maroua (Nord- 

Cameroun).[Domestication of the picking in the vegetables areas of Maroua (North Cameroon)]. Pp. 

611-6 in Economy of agricultural commodity chains in the tropics and subtropics. Price formation and 

agricultural trade. Economie des filieres en regions chaudes. Formation des prix et echanges agricoles. 

Seminaire d’ Economie et de Sociologie. Montpellier (France). 11-15 Sep. 1989. (M. Griffon, editor) 

CIRAD-MES., Montpellier (France). 

Dans la région de Maroua et pres des villes du Nord-Cameroun, on observe des dynamiques nouvelles 

de diversification alimentaire et de production. La Societe peule cherche de plus en plus a varier les 

“sauces” qui accompagnent les traditionnelles boules de cereales et les bouillies. Ces sauces sont 

composees de plantes alimentaires aromatiques et de legumes divers. Elles integrent des plantes 

traditionnellement utilisees et cueillies autrefois dans la brousse, mais qui sont aujourd’ hui cultivees 

dans les perimetres maraichers et les jardins au moyen de techniques nouvelles. Par ailleurs, les legumes 

non traditionnels sont de plus en plus integres dans les plats et participent au renouveau et aux modes 

culinaires. Ces modifications de l’ alimentation et de la production temoignent d’ une grande capacité d’ 

évolution de la demande et de l’ offre locales. 


Keywords: Market-gardens, Consumer-behaviour, Cultivation, Harvesting, Horticulture, Human-behaviour. 

339.Shiembo Nde, P. 1997. Domestication of Gnetum spp. by vegetative propagation techniques. Pp. 31-5. 

in Workshop on African indigenous vegetables. January 13-18, 1997 Limbe, Cameroon. Limbe, 

Cameroon Workshop Papers. (Schippers, R. and L. Budd, editors). ODA. 

The forests of Cameroon are fast disappearing under the pressure of timber exploitation, establishment 

of new farms , new roads, etc. The products that are found in these forests are disappearing along with 

them. This means that those local communities which depend on these products for their livelihood will 

suffer. Gnetum africana and G. buchholzianum are two valuable vegetable species which may disappear as 

happened in Nigeria where they are rarely seen nowadays, contrary to the situation there only ten years 

ago. 

To counteract this threat, an effort is being made in Cameroon to domesticate the two species concerned 

with the main aim of introducing them as a new crop for farmers. The technique being used to achieve 

this aim is vegetative propagation by rooting leafy vine cuttings. 

After the success recorded in the domestication of the two Gnetum species in the propagation unit and the 

nursery in Kumba the next step is to get the cloned material to the farmers. However, the technique for 

establishing them on the farms has not yet been developed. Research efforts need to be made to achieve 

this in order to save these natural resources from becoming extinct. 

Keywords: Domestication, Gnetum, Propagation. 


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340.Shoyinka, S. A., A. A. Brunt, S. Phillips, D. E. Lesemann, G. Thottappilly and R. Lastra. 1987. The 

occurrence, properties and affinities of Telfairia mosaic virus, a potyvirus prevalent in Telfairia 

occidentalis (Cucurbitaceae) in south western Nigeria. Journal of Phytopathology 119(1): 13-24. 

Telfairia mosaic virus (TeMV) was found to occur prevalently in Telfairia occidentalis (fluted pumpkin) in 

farms and private gardens in and near Ibadan, south western Nigeria. It was readily transmissible in the 

non-persistent manner by Aphis spiraecola and by mechanical inoculation of sap to 29 of 36 species from 

six of eight families, it was conveniently cultured in Nicotiana benthamiana and assyed in Chenopodium 

quinoa or Phaseolus vulgaris. TeMV has slightly flexuous filamentous particles ca. 800 nm long which 

sediment as a single component of 145 S and have a buoyant density in caesium chloride of 1.32 g cm(- 

3). They contain ca. 5 per cent ss-RNA, and 95 per cent protein composed of a single polypeptide with a 

mol. wt. of ca. 32,000. Within infected epidermal and parenchyma cells of N. benthamiana, the particles 

were found scattered throughout the cytoplasm or present in small aggregates or in monolayers adjacent 

to the tonoplast. Infected cells also contained conspicuous cylindrical inclusions which were seen in 

section as “pinwheels” and “scrolls”. Tube precipitin tests showed that TeMV is serologically related to, 

but distinct from, zucchini yellow mosaic virus (serological differentiation index 4), and distantly related 

to watermelon mosaic virus-2 and bean yellow mosaic virus (serological differentiation indices of 

7 and 9, respectively), these relationships were confirmed by immunosorbent electron microscopy. The 

virus is tentatively considered to be a distinct potyvirus. 

Keywords: Plant-viruses, Identification, Immunological-techniques, Biological-properties. 

341.Sinnadurai, S. 1979. Effect of photoperiod on Indian spinach (Basella alba L.). Vegetables for the Hot, 

Humid Tropics - Newsletter (Puerto Rico)(4): 57-8. 

Pot trials showed that Basella alba appeared to be a short day plant and flowering was inhibited by long 

days or a break in the dark period. 

Keywords: Vegetable-Crops, Plant-Physiology, Plant-Growth. Plant-Development. 

342.Smith, I. E. 1974. Chiredzi Research Station horticultural newsletter. Vegetables - squashes. Hortus(21): 

39-40. 

Data are tabulated on yield, fruit characteristics and times of flowering and maturity for 5 cvs given 4 

sowing dates. 

Keywords: Seeds, Sowing, Dates, Varieties. 

343.Stephens, C. E. 1979. The genetics of flower in Talinum triangulare (Willd). Ghana Journal of Science 

(Ghana) 17(1): 85-8. 

AGRIS Copyright. 

Keywords: Flowers, Hybrids, Genetics. 

344.Stevels, J. M. C. 1990. Legumes traditionnels du Cameroun, une étude agro-botanique [Traditional 

vegetables of the Cameroon: an agrobotanic study]. Wageningen Agricultural University Papers (Netherlands), 

no. 90-1. Landbouwuniversiteit, Wageningen (Netherlands). 

A study was carried out to present an inventory of traditional vegetable crops in Cameroon, indicating 

the importance for local agriculture, the significance as food and their nutritive value. Attention was also 

drawn to the plant taxonomy of the vegetable crops. The study deals with 67 traditional vegetables, 20 

species of which are discussed in detail, including jute, Portulaca oleracea, Indian spinach, Talinum 

fruticosum, Vernonia amygdalina and Solanum spp. Vernacular names, botanical description and utilization 

patterns are reviewed and some botanical drawings or photographs are included. 



Keywords: Vegetable-crops, Biogeography, Taxonomy.

345.Supaporn Ratanarat. 1987. Kan suksa prayot nai dan phochanakan khong som kin bai [Study on the 

nutritive value of Talinum triangulare Willd]. Raingan Phon Kan Khonkhwa Wichi Pi 2527 : Maiphon, 

Phutphak Lae Het, Maidok Maipradap, Phutsuan Usahakam Maphrao Lae Palm Namman, Phut 

Thisung, Phut Samunprai Lae Khruangthet [Research Report 1984 : Fruit, Vegetable, Mushroom, 

Ornamental Plants, Coconut, Oil Palm, Drug Plant and Spice Crops]. Department of Agriculture, 

Bangkok (Thailand). 

Article in Thai. 


Keywords: Nutritive-value, Mineral-content, Analytical-methods. 

346.Swai, R. E. A. 1989. Horticultural Production and Marketing in Tanzania. in Proceedings of the first 

International Horticultural Economics Symposium in Developing Countries. July-23rd 1989. Alemaya 

University, Ethiopia. 

Keywords: Marketing, Production 

347.Swai, R. E. A. 1997. Conservation and use of genetic resources of traditional vegetables in Tanzania. 


Vegetables in Africa: Conservation and use. 29-31 August 1995, ICRAF-HQ, Nairobi, Kenya. Traditional 

African Vegetables. Promoting the Conservation and Use of Underutilized and Neglected Crops. 

No. 16. (L. Guarino, editor). Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, 


Tanzania has accorded high priority to the development of traditional vegetables (TVs) and other nutrient-rich 

local foods as a strategy to overcome malnutrition. Many TVs are still collected from the wild and 

only a few have been domesticated. This paper describes efforts in Tanzania to conserve, characterize, 

evaluate and document TVs, and also to produce seeds to facilitate germplasm exchange and promote 

the use of these species. 

Keywords: Conservation, Utilization, Genetic, Resources. 

348.Teka, T., B. T. Tuku and S. Yetneberk. 1986. Broadening the food base with traditional food plants in 

Ethiopia. in FAO Expert Consultation on “Broadening the Food Base with Traditional Food Plants”. 

November 16-23, 1985, Harare(Zimbabwe). 


Keywords: Food-crops, Plant-production, Cultivation, Marketing. 

349.Terashima, H., S. Kalala and N. Malasi. 1991. Ethnobotany of the Lega in the tropical rain forest of 

eastern Zaire. 1. Zone de Mwenga. African Study Monographs. Supplementary Issue (Japan), no. 15. 

Ethnobotanical research was conducted on the traditional use of wild plants among the Lega slash-andburn 

agriculturalists of eastern Zaire. Data on 287 plants were collected and matched with scientific 

names, vernaculars, botanical observations, uses, and name etymology. From authors’ summary. 

Keywords: Ethnobotany, Nomenclature, Uses. 


350.Thrower, L. B. 1978. Vegetables in tropical Africa Part 2: Crop production and improvement. Chronica 

Horticulturae (Netherlands) 18(2): 24-5. 

The objectives of the improvement of cultural methods and vegetable varieties for tropical Africa are 

described. Quality requirements are different from western countries. Emphasis should be laid on the 

selection of disease and pest resistant, locally adapted cultivars of onions, tomatoes, chilli peppers, leaf 

vegetables and cucurbits. Investigations on the adaption of cultural methods to tropical African conditions 

are needed. 

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76 

Keywords: Vegetable-Crops, Crop-Cultivation, Crop-Maintenance. 

351.Toll, J. and D. H. van Sloten. 1982. Vegetables. Directory of Germplasm Collections. 4, International 

Board for Plant Genetic Resources, Rome, Italy. 

Information is included on collections of Abelmoschus [Hibiscus] esculentus and related species, Allium, 

Amaranthus, Capsicum, Cruciferae, Cucurbitaceae, Lycopersicon esculentum and its wild relatives, Solanum 

melongena and related species and other vegetables. 

Keywords: Collection, Germplasm, Gene-centres, Vegetables. 

352.Torreilles, J. C. 1991. Itineraires techniques de saison seche et strategie des maraichers de Brazzaville 

(Dry-season farming and vegetable gardening strategies in Brazzaville, Congo). CIRAD IRAT, 

Montpellier (France). 

Market gardening has existed in Brazzaville (Congo) for several decades, and has adapted to the inherent 

constraints of large urban centres, but also to constraints related to the region’s physical, social and 

economic environment. Agricongo, an agricultural research centre, has been working since 1986 in 

cooperation with IRAT’s agroeconomic laboratory on research and development activities aimed at 

modernizing Brazzaville’s market gardening systems. The development phase of the project began in 

1990. The cropping systems studied in urban districts and those tested by Agricongo have numerous 

points in common. The cropping systems analysed show considerable variation and include gardens 

where land constraints and leafy vegetables prevail to gardens of market gardening businessmen (with 

mostly European vegetables). Agricongo has been testing European vegetables rather than local leafy 

vegetables. Agricongo should take into account the existing diversity in adjusting the garden models 

that it proposes and the technical applications offered by extension services. 

Keywords: Vegetable-crops, Farming-systems, Modernization, Urban-areas. 

353.Torreilles, J. C. 1992. Les légumes dans la consommation et les preparations alimentaires des ménages 

brazzavilloi: suite (Vegetables in food preparations and consumption of households in Brazzaville, 

Congo: continuation). CIRAD IRAT, Montpellier (France). 

The comparison of the types of households in Brazzaville, Congo, and the sauces consumed demonstrates 

the parameters influencing the consumption. The household size and living standard act on the 

choice of certain types of sauces, whereas ethnic group membership and degree of household urbanization 

have little effect on consumption patterns. Analysis of sauce costs demonstrates that purchasing 

power has little effect on sauce composition, only the amount of each ingredient increases. Brazzaville 

dishes are dominated by fish-based sauces (salted, smoked and fresh), and local vegetables (koko, endive 

local, bari, mantsa and others). 

Keywords: Food-consumption, Vegetables, Fish-products, Surveys. 

354.Turay, S. 1989. Traditional processing possibilities of traditional food plants in Sierra Leone. in Report. 

National Workshop on Promotion of Under-Exploited Traditional Food Crops in Sierra Leone. Ministry 

of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Forestry, Freetown (Sierra Leone). 

National Workshop on Promotion of Under Exploited Traditional Food Crops in Sierra Leone. Freetown 

(Sierra Leone). 24-27 Oct 1989. 


Keywords: Food-crops. 


355.Uzo, J. O. 1983. Yield and harvest periodicities of some indigenous perennial fruits, nuts and leaf 

vegetables in tropical West Africa. Los Banos, Laguna (Philippines). 


Keywords: Leafy-vegetables. 

356.Van den Heever, E. 1995. The use and conservation of indigenous leafy vegetables. Roodeplaat-Bulletin 

(South Africa)(no.45): 16-7. 


Keywords: Nature-conservation, Biogeography, Natural-distribution, Plant-products. 

357.Voegborlo, R. B. 1993. Elements in raw leafy vegetables grown in wadi Al-shati (Central Sahara). Food- 

Chemistry (United Kingdom) 48(3): 317-9. 


Keywords: Trace-elements, Minerals, Contamination, Elements, Plant-products. 

358.Warid W.A., E. Matsuo (ed.) and P. D. Relf. 1995. Vegetable species known to the ancient Egyptians. 

Pp.283-90. in Horticulture in human life, culture, and environment, XXIVth international horticultural 

congress, Kyoto, Japan, 21-27 August 1994. Acta-Horticulturae, No. 391. 


Keywords: History, Horticulture, Culture, Environment. 

359.Watts, R. 1978. Vegetables can bring quick returns for small farmers. Kenya Farmer (Kenya): 7-20. 

Miscellaneous notes on the nutritive value of dark green leaf vegetables, the growing demand for vegetables 

in urban and tourist areas in Africa, the potential use for polythene covered greenhouses in certain 

areas, and the “Nethouse System” of vegetable growing practised in Botswana. 

Keywords: Crop-Cultivation, Crop-Maintenance, Farming-Types. 

360.Wehmeyer, A. S. and R. F. Rose. 1983. Important indigenous plants used in the Transkei as food 

supplements. Bothalia 14(3/4): 613-5. 

Some of the wild plants used in the Transkei as food supplements were analysed for nutrient composition. 

Many potentially useful spp. are also regarded as weeds, but their cultivation should, in some 

cases, be encouraged e.g. Sonchus asper, Chenopodium album, Amaranthus spp., Galinsoga parviflora and 

Urtica urens. 

Keywords: Taxonomy, Utilization. 

361.Weiss, E. A. 1979. Some indigenous plants used domestically by East African coastal fisherman [As 

fiber, fruit and vegetables]. Economic Botany 33(1): 35-51. 

Keywords: Indigenous-vegetables, Fruit-vegetables. 


362.Williams, T. J. editor. 1993. Pulses and vegetables. Underutilized Crops Series, Chapman and Hall Ltd, 

London (UK). 

This multi-author book contains an introductory chapter on underutilized pulses and vegetables, followed 

by chapters on individual crops or groups of crops described as either benefiting from major 

research or deserving more research attention. Crops in the 1st group are Vigna subterranea, Pachyrhizus 

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78 

spp., Lupinus spp. and Celosia sp., while crops in the 2nd group are jute (Corchorus), cactus (Opuntia) and 

soyabeans grown as vegetables, and hearts of palm (including Bactris, Euterpe and coconuts). Subjects 

considered for each crop include history, taxonomy and ecology, breeding, chemical composition/nutritive 

factors and agronomy. 

Keywords: Vegetables, Celosia, Corchorus. 

363.Wilson, F. D. 1978. Wild kenaf, Hibiscus cannabinus L. (Malvaceae), and related species in Kenya and 

Tanzania. Economic Botany (USA) 32(2): 199-204. 

Kenaf, Hibiscus cannabinus, occurs as a wild and ruderal plant in Kenya and Tanzania. It is polymorphic, 

varying in height, growth habit, spininess, flower colour and size of floral parts, capsules, and seeds. It 

occupies several distinct environmental niches, from low-lying meadows close to swamps and streams 

to semi-arid grassland/thornbush plains. It is also found in various weedy situations, such as cultivated 

and fallow fields, and fence- and hedgerows. At least one ecotype appears to be specifically 

adapted as a weed of cultivated fields. Leaves and stem-tips of this plant are used as food. It is not 

cultivated for this purpose although it is sometimes encouraged in fields of maize, cassava, and perhaps 

other crops. It is apparently not used for fibre by the natives, possibly because fibre of the introduced sisal 

(Agave sisalana) is readdily available everywhere. Author’s summary. 

Keywords: Fibre-Crops, Plant-Breeding-Selection. 

364.Wilson, G. F. and F. E. Caveness. 1980. The effects of rotation crops on the survival of root-knot, rootlesion 

and spiral nematodes. Nematropica (USA) 10(1): 56-61. 

Studies were conducted in Nigeria on the effect of crop rotation on the incidence of root-knot nematodes. 

Potential rotation crops (legumes and grasses) were grown following Celosia argentea, which is known to 

build up root-knot nematode populations. After 6 months, the aggregate nematode population mean 

was one third the preplant mean. Meloidogyne incognita juvenile soil populations were reduced under 15 

crops and maintained under 3. Helicotylenchus pseudorobustus populations were reduced under 8 crops 

and maintained under 10. Pratylenchus sefaensis were maintained under 17 crops and significantly increased 

under Crotalaria juncea. 

Keywords: Crop-Protection, Plant-Pests. 

365.Yazawa, S. and S. Hirose. 1988. Traditional vegetable growing in the Embu district, Kenya. Scientific 

Reports of the Kyoto Prefectural University. Agriculture (Japan) (40): 15-33. 



Keywords: Vegetable-crops, Plant-production, Small-scale-farming. 

366.Zemede Asfaw, Ayele Nigatu A. Zemede and N. Ayele. 1995. Home-gardens in Ethiopia: characteristics 

and plant diversity. Sinet,-an-Ethiopian-Journal-of-Science 18(2): 235-66 

A study was conducted on 111 home gardens located at 58 sites in central, eastern, western and southern 

Ethiopia. The study area covered urban, peri-urban and rural settings of dega (high land), weyna-dega 

(middle land) and kolla (low land) agroecological zones. Variations were observed in home garden 

frequency, position, size, shape, crop composition, planting pattern and level of development. The gardens 

studied could be grouped into backyards (48%), front-yards (26%), side-yards (13%) and enclosing 

yards (13%). On the average, many homes located in peri-urban towns of the weyna-dega zone have 

gardens. The variations observed can best be accounted for by agroclimatic and sociocultural factors. 

High diversity of species (162), of which 78% were food crops, was observed in home gardens. Typical 

garden crops (52%), conventional field crops (22%) and those cultivated in both setups (27%) were 

recorded during the survey. The garden crops included perennials (such as Coffea arabica, Catha edulis, 

Musa paradisiaca, Citrus spp., Mangifera indica, Psidium guajava) and annuals (vegetables and herbs). On 

the whole, maize (Zea mays) and enset (Ensete ventricosum) were the most frequent crops in home gardens. 

Fruit and vegetable crops constituted 41% of the species recorded, while other economically useful 

species occurred in gardens that produced cash and staple crops. Tables are given listing the different 

crops found, by type: cereals and pulses; root and tuber crops; fruit crops; vegetables; spices, herbs and 

shrubs; oil and nut crops, sugar crops; spices; non-food oil crops; fragrant plants; stimulants/narcotics;

craft and implement plants (fibre crops and bamboos); medicinal plants; and other useful plants. A 

multistoreyed woody perennial complex integrating fruit trees and lower plants characterized environments 

where home gardening is widely practised, as in the enset growing parts of the country. Many 

multipurpose tree and shrub species were used as live fences - a table is given showing species commonly 

used in the 3 agroecological zones. Rural farming families frequently use both home gardens and 

fields to produce most of their crops. The home garden complex is viewed as reminiscent of traditional 

agroforestry systems. It is a place where evolution and diversification of many crops of indigenous taxa 

have occurred. Also, crops introduced in the primal stage of agricultural innovations and species planted 

at experimental levels are found in home gardens. It is concluded that the potential of home gardening in 

Ethiopia is quite significant. 



Keywords: Food-crops, Multistorey-cropping, Species-diversity, Home-gardens, Botanical-composition, Surveys. 

367.Zinyama, L. M., T. Matiza and D. J. Campbell. 1990. The use of wild foods during periods of food 

shortage in rural Zimbabwe. Ecology of Food and Nutrition (USA) 24(4): 251-65. 

The nature and extent of wild foods utilization by small farmers in low rainfall areas of Zimbabwe 

during times of drought and severe food shortages is examined. The article is based on a survey which 

was conducted in 1988 among 194 households in 7 villages in regions that experienced repeated droughts 

and food shortages during the 1980s. Wild foods collected by the households surveyed included fruits, 

mushrooms, leafy vegetables, insects and small animals. The results of the survey show that, although 

wild plants and wild animals are part of the diet of the villagers, they were not utilized as a coping 

mechanism to a great extent during the droughts of the 1980s as was the case elsewhere in semi-arid 

regions of Africa. Wild foods continue to be consumed rather as a supplement to the diet than as the 

primary source of sustenance during periods of stress. This is attributed to a number of factors, particularly 

the availability of cash to purchase food and the existence of effective government food transfer 

programmes. 

Keywords: Food-resources, Wild-plants, Food-shortage, Small-farmers, Diets. 

368.Zon, A. P. M. van der and G. J. H. Grubben. 1976. Les legumes-feuilles spontanes et cultives de Sud- 

Dahomey [The wild and cultivated leaf vegetables of South Dahomey]. Communications of the Department 

of Agricultural Research, Royal Tropical Institute (Netherlands). no. 65. 

This booklet gives a description of 69 wild and cultivated plant species used as leaf vegetables in the 

southern part of Benin, formerly Dahomey. The most important types for the city markets are Amaranthus 

cruentus, Celosia argentea, Corchorus olitorius, Vernonia amygdalina and Solanum macrocarpon. Recommendations 

are given for cultivation in home gardens and for commercial growers. 

Keywords: Vegetable-Crops, Plant-Biology, Reference-Documents. 

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K: Nutrition 

369.Abe, L. O. and S. K. Imbamba. 1977. Levels of vitamins A and C in some Kenyan vegetable plants. East 

African Agricultural and Forestry Journal (EAAFRO) 42(3): 316-21. 

Keywords: Indigenous-vegetables, Nutrition, Quality. 

370.Ajayi, S. O., S. F. Oderinde and O. Osibanjo. 1980. Vitamin C losses in cooked fresh leafy vegetables. 

Food Chemistry 5(3): 243-7. 

The total vitamin C levels in six freshly harvested vegetables ranged from 482 to 582 mg/100 g dry 

weight. The total vitamin C losses of blanched vegetable leaves varied from 62.2 to 93.1%. 

Keywords: Vegetable-crops, Product-properties. 

Nutrition 

371.Akpapunam, M. A. 1984. Effects of wilting, blanching and storage temperatures on ascorbic acid and 

total carotenoids content of some Nigerian fresh vegetables. Qualitas Plantarum Plant Foods for Human 

Nutrition 34(3): 177-80. 

Wilting resulted in high losses in ascorbic acid and carotenoids in leaves of Amaranthus hybridus, Hibiscus 

esculentus, Talinum triangulare and Telfairia occidentalis. Losses were lower in samples stored for 21 

days at -10 and 5°C, and lowest in samples blanched in water at 98° for 3 minutes. The carotenoids were 

generally more stable than ascorbic acid. 

Keywords: Biochemistry, Handling, Ascorbic- acid, Metabolism, Storage. 

372.Awasthi, C. P. and P. K. Tandon. 1988. Biochemical composition of some unconventional Indian leafy 

vegetables. Narendra Deva Journal of Agricultural Research 3(2): 161-4. 

The nutritional attributes of 15 unconventional leafy vegetables (both cultivated and wild) consumed in 

different parts of rural India, were determined. Among different vegetables under investigation, the 

leaves of Moringa oleifera, Glyine max and Solanum nigrum had a high protein value as well as low fibre 

content which could make them suitable for the extraction of leaf proteins for use as a low-cost source of 

proteins. Some of these leafy vegetables, particularly the leaves of Trichosanthes dioica, Vicia faba and 

Carthamus tinctorius, have a high fibre content and would be useful in supplementing the dietary constituents 

needed for preventing obesity and coronary diseases. 

Keywords: Leaves, Composition, Nutritive-value, Proteins, Fibre. 

373.Badifu, G. I. O. 1991. Effect of long-term storage of processed Nigeria-grown edible leafy green vegetables 

on vitamin C content. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (USA) 39(3): 538-41. 

Fresh edible green leaves from Celosia argentea, Amaranthus hybridus, Solanum nodiflorum, and Corchorus 

olitorius were studied. They had high contents of ascorbic acid. About 47-58% and 25-33% of the ascorbic 

acid contents were lost in the leaves by water blanch and steam methods, respectively. In the blanched 

but undehydrated leaves, the ascorbic acid content of the product was deleteriously affected under 

ambient storage. A loss of about 54-64% was observed after a 6-month storage period. The steam-blanched 

and dehydrated vegetable leaves kept for 6 months without much loss in ascorbic acid content. Sodium 

sulfite/sodium metabisulfite significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced the retention of ascorbic acid in the processed 

leaves. 

Keywords: Leaves, Chemical-composition, Nutritive-value, Storage-losses. 

374.Bassir, O. and M. Fafunso. 1975. Variations in the protein, carbohydrate, lipid and ash content of six 

tropical vegetables. Plant Foods for Man 1(3/4): 209-16. 

Analyses are tabulated for stems + leaves of Amaranthus hybridus, Corchorus olitorius, Solanum africanum, 

Talinum triangulare, Solanum nodiflorum and Vernonia amygdalina. They were recorded at 2-week intervals 

during (1) the transition period, April-June, between the wet and dry seasons, and (2) the wet season, 

July-late September. Few, if any, differences in composition were noted between the 2 seasons, but nutrient 

levels varied considerably with plant age.

Keywords: Nutritive-value, Proteins, Carbohydrates, Lipids, Composition. 

375.Chishya, B. E. 1986. Processing and preserving traditional plant foods in Zambia. Food and Nutrition 

(FAO) 12(1): 45-9. 


Keywords: Food-crops, Food-supply, Preservation, Food-technology, Fruits. 

376.Chweya, J. A. 1985. Identification and nutritional importance of indigenous green leaf vegetables in 

Kenya. Pp.99-108. in Ninth African symposium on horticultural crops. 27-29 Jul 1983. Mahe (Seychelles) 

Mahe (Seychelles) Acta Horticulturae (Netherlands)No. 13 (G.E. Tidbury and H.D. Tindall, 

editors). ISHS, Wageningen (Netherlands). 

Species identified include Amaranthus hybridus [cruentus], Crotalaria brevidens, Solanum nigrum, 

Gynandropsis gynandra and Erucastrum arabicum. They normally grow wild in most parts of Kenya and the 

leaves are used as vegetables. The carotene content of the leaves exceeded 7000 mug/100 g fresh weight. 

S. nigrum and G. gynandra leaf ascorbic acid contents were as high as 144 and 131 mg/100 g, respectively. 

Fe content in S. nigrum, G. gynandra and A. hybridus leaves was about 10 mg/100 g, and the Ca contents 

291, 251 and 480 mg/100 g, respectively. Protein contents in the leaves of these plants ranged between 28 

and 36% dry weight. 

Keywords: Green-vegetables, Carotenoids, Ascorbic-acid, Proteins, Trace-elements, Kenya. 

377.Fafunso, M. and O. Bassir. 1976. Nutritional qualities of some African edible leafy vegetables. Effect 

of boiling on the essential amino acid composition of their extracted protein. Journal of Food Science 

41(1): 214-5. 

Tete (Amaranthus hybridus), ewedu (Corchorus olitorius), igbo (Solanum africana), ogunmo (S. nudiflorum), 

gbure (Talinum triangulare) and ewuro (Vernonia amygadalina) were boiled at about 150 deg C for 20 min. 

Proteins from raw and cooked leaves were prepared by pressing and steam precipitation from juice. Values 

for amino acids in these proteins are tabulated. Boiling reduced the first limiting amino acids, lysine by 12 

to 22%, S-amino acids by 6 to 11%, and chemical scores by 9 to 19%. The leaf proteins were of high quality. 

Keywords: Nutritive-value, Amino-acids. 

378.Fafunso, M. and O. Bassir. 1976. Protein quality of local vegetables: the comparative assessment of the 

protein quality of Nigerian leafy vegetables with that of soyabean. Plant Foods for Man 2(1/2): 35-41. 

In metabolism experiments with growing albino rats the nutritional quality of proteins from 4 Nigerian 

leafy vegetables, gbure (Talinum triangulare), igbo (Solanum africana), soko (Celosia argentea) and tete 

(Amaranthus hybridus), was compared with that of soya bean protein. The biological value of soya bean 

protein was 90.2% and that of the vegetable proteins 83.2 to 84.1; the difference was significant. The true 

digestibility values of the 4 proteins were similar, from 80% for soko to 82.6% for tete, but was slightly less 

than that of soya protein, 86.8%. Net protein utilization values were significantly less for the 4 vegetable 

proteins than for soya bean protein. Protein efficiency ratio for soya bean protein was 1.93; that of the leaf 

proteins from 1.58 to 1.61. Of the 4 vegetable proteins tete was of marginally higher quality. The conclusion 

was that the leaf proteins have a high nutritive value which appears to justify their traditional role 

in the diets of some Nigerian communities. 

Keywords: Protein-value, Proteins, Plants, Sources. 

Nutrition 

379.Fafunso, M. and O. Bassir. 1977. Variations in the loss of vitamin C in leafy vegetables with various 

methods of food preparation. Food Chemistry (UK) 21(1): 51-5. 

The vitamin C content of 12 common edible leaves, freshly harvested, ranged from 109 to 421 mg per 100 

g on a dry weight basis. These were lowered by cooking for 5 min in 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 volumes of water by 

15 to 22%, 28 to 39%, 54 to 60%, 59 to 70% and 63 to 76%, respectively. Significantly, cooking in the same 

volumes of water for 10 min slightly increased their ascorbate loss. There was greater loss of vitamin C 

with increased volume of the blanching water, although the rate differed for different leaves. Generally, 

there was an increase in the rate of ascorbate loss per volume of the blanching water until about 6 

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volumes during the two periods considered. Corchorus olitorius, Piper guineensis, Gnetum bucholzianum, 

Manihot esculenta (cassava), Xanthosoma sagittifolium, and Abelmoschus esculentus. 

Keywords: Vegetable-Products, Product-Properties. 

380.Fafunso, M. and O. Bassir. 1979. Nutritional effects of heat processing of some Nigerian leafy vegetables. 

Journal of Plant Foods 3(3): 187-90. 

Six leafy Nigerian vegetables were cooked by local methods. Weanling albino rats were given diets with 

cooked or raw tete (Amaranthus hybridus), ewedu (Corchorus olithorus), igbo (Solanum africana), gbure 

(Talinum triangulare), ogunmo (Solanum nodiflorum) and ewuro (Vernonia amygdalina). Biological values of 

the vegetables were 83.0 to 84.1% raw and 68.5 to 73.8%, cooked; cooked ewuro had the least and raw tete 

the greatest value. Net protein utilization and protein efficiency ratios of the vegetables were reduced by 

cooking. 

Keywords: Cooking, Heat-treatment, Nutritive-value, Proteins. 

381.Ifon, E. T. and O. Bassir. 1979. The nutritive value of some Nigerian leafy green vegetables. Part 1. 

Vitamin and mineral contents. Food Chemistry (UK) 4(4): 263-7. 

Ten leafy green vegetables, including Abelmoschus esculentus, Ocimum basilicum, Amaranthus hybridus and 

Cucurbita pepo, commonly eaten by peasant Nigerians, have been analysed for their vitamin and mineral 

contents. The range of thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine and ascorbic acid contents was follows (in mg 

per 100 g DM): 0.06-0.27, 0.46-2.07, 1.08-1.95 and 20.6-160, respectively. The range of values of mineral 

elements assayed were sodium: 0.034%-0.28%, potassium: 1.43%-6.10%, calcium: 1.08%-3.62%, magnesium: 

0.45%-2.22%, manganese: 0.015%-0.115%, iron: 0.03%-0.059%, copper: 0.001%-0.0025%, zinc: 

0.0006%-0.0135%, sulphur: 0.23%- 0.59%, phosphorus: 0.21%-0.71% and chlorine: 0.14%-0.67% on a 

dry matter basis. The implication of these results for the rural population is discussed. 

Keywords: Vegetable-Crops, Product-Properties. 

382.Ifon, E. T. and O. Bassir. 1980. The nutritive value of some Nigerian leafy green vegetables. Part 2: The 

distribution of protein, carbohydrates (including ethanol-soluble simple sugars), crude fat, fibre and 

ash. Food Chemistry 5(3): 231-5. 

Analyses are presented for the following species commonly eaten in the Cross River State: Abelmoschus 

esculentus, Corchorus olitorius, Talinum triangulare, Amaranthus hybridus, Piper guineense, Ocimum basilicum, 

Cucurbita pepo, Vernonia amygdalina, Telfairia occidentalis and Marsdenia latifolia. The crude protein content 

ranged between 17.2% and 28.5% dry matter; the fibre content range was 8.5- 20.9%; crude fat was 2.7- 

8.1%; ash was 9.7-18.6%; dry matter was 7.7-24.7% of the fresh weight; and the fructose, glucose, sucrose 

and maltose contents (ethanol-soluble) were 0.6-1.6%, 0.6-1.8%, 0.8-2.6% and 0.3-2.3% dry matter, respectively. 

[For part 1 see HcA 50, 5284.]. 

Keywords: Nutritive-value. 

383.Imbamba, S. K. 1973. Leaf protein content of some Kenya vegetables. East African Agricultural and 

Forestry Journal 38(3): 246-51. 

The protein content (N X 6.25) of tender leaves of collected Kenyan plants which can be classified as 

herbs except for Erythrococca bongensis, a shrub, was as follows: Basella alba 20.5, E. bongensis 18.1, Solanum 

tuberosum 31.8, Capsicum frutescens 26.2, Lycopersicum esculentum 31.8, Cucurbita pepo 31.1, Commelina 

nudiflora 15.6, Vigna schimperi 18.6, Triumfetta annua 24.7, Bidens pilosa 25.7 and Corchorus trilocularis 

25.4%; the last 5 were wild species. Values for plants bought in the market were Amaranthus lividus 26.7, 

A. hybridus 27.8, Gynandropsis gynandra 35.8, V. unguiculata 28.5, Crotalaria brevidens 32.5, Corchorus 

olitorius 22.5, Brassica integrifolia 28.9 and S. nigrum 29.3%. A study with 4 species showed that values 

depended greatly on plant age. 

Keywords: Proteins, Composition. 

Nutrition

384.Lyimo, M. H., S. Nyagwegwe and A. P. Mnkeni. 1991. Investigations on the effect of traditional food 

processing, preservation and storage methods on vegetable nutrients: a case study in Tanzania. Plant 

Foods for Human Nutrition (Netherlands) 41(1): 53-7. 

The effect of traditional Tanzanian food processing, preservation and storage methods on vegetable 

nutrients was studied using cassava, pumpkin and mwage (Sesbania spp.) leaves. Traditional cooking 

times of 90 min for cassava, and 50 min for pumpkin and mwage leaves resulted in significant losses in 

protein, fats and vitamins. Sun drying using traditional mats caused losses of vitamin A of 36.3%, 38.0% 

and 50.3% for cassava, pumpkin and mwage leaves, respectively. Storage in earthenware pots for 6 

weeks resulted in significant losses of vitamin C. In general, traditional methods for processing, preservation 

and storage of vegetables caused significant losses of nutrients. 

Keywords: Processing, Nutritive-value, Traditional-storage. 

385.Malaisse, F. and G. Parent. 1985. Edible wild vegetable products in the Zambezian woodland area: a 

nutritional and ecological approach. Ecology of Food and Nutrition (USA) 18(1): 43-82. 

The edible wild vegetable products occurring in the Zambezian woodland, especially in the area surrounding 

Lubumbashi, in Zaire, are reviewed. Some 262 species are recognized and listed, including 

241 wild species and 21 cultivated species, of which 184 were sampled and their nutritional value 

established. The edible plant products are ranked into 6 groups, namely oil seeds, starchy fruits, flowers, 

storage organs, leaves and fleshy fruits, and the results are discussed. Where available, the collecting 

period, the type of vegetation in which the species occurs, the Kibemba dialect name and the herbarium 

voucher number of the reference specimen are also given. 

Keywords: Food-resources, Wild-plants, Plant-products, Nutritive-value, Plant-ecology. 

386.Marek, T., T. Brun and J. Reynaud. 1990. Do home garden projects improve income and nutritional 

status? A case study in Senegal. Food and Nutrition Bulletin 12(1): 20-5. 

Keywords: Nutritional-status, Income, Domestic-gardens, Nutrient-uptake, Nutritional-requirements. 

387.Martin, F. W., L. Telek and R. Ruberte. 1977. Some tropical leaves as feasible sources of dietary protein. 

Journal of Agriculture of the University of Puerto Rico (USA) 61(1): 32-40. 

Thirty-four species of tropical plants found in Puerto Rico were considered for possible use as high 

protein green leaf vegetables and as sources of leaf protein concentrate. They were tested for protein and 

carotenoid contents, and for toxins, including alkaloids, hydrocyanic glucosides, and oxalic acid. Six 

species (Manihot esculenta, Sauropus androgynus, Cnidoscolus chayamansa, Canavalia ensiformis, Lablab niger, 

and Vigna unguiculata) that combine high protein yields with suitable agronomic characteristics were 

selected for further trials and were described. Green leaf vegetables are concluded to be crops of high 

potential for Puerto Rico and the protein-hungry tropics. 

Keywords: Vegetable-Crops, Product-Properties. 

388.Mnzava, A. 1997. Comparing nutritional values of exotic and indigenous vegetables. Pp.70-5. in Workshop 

on African indigenous vegetables. January 13-18, 1997. Limbe Cameroon. Limbe Cameroon 

Workshop Papers. (R. Schippers and L. Budd, editors). ODA. 

Keywords: Indigenous, Nutritional-value. 

Nutrition 

389.Mugerwa, J. S. and R. Bwabye. 1974. Yield, composition and in vitro digestibility of Amaranthus hybridus 

subspecies incurvatus. Tropical Grasslands (Australia) 8(1): 49-53. 

The dry matter (DM) production, chemical composition and in vitro DM digestibility of Amaranthus 

hybridus spp. incurvatus were determined from 38 days to 66 days after sowing. In vitro digestibility 

remained high over the sampling period, averaging 82.1% on day 38 and 72.5% on day 66. Crude protein 

contents in, respectively, whole plants, leaves and stems were 27.7, 35.8 and 20% at day 38 but declined 

to 11.3, 21.9 and 7.7% at day 66. Calcium percentages averaged 1.3, 2.2 and 0.8% and phosphorus 

percentages 0.6, 0.7 and 0.5% in, respectively, whole plants, leaves and stems over the sampling period. 

The mean oxalic acid content in the whole plants was 6.7% and its possible toxicity and interference 

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with dietary C utilization are discussed. It is concluded that A. hybridus is a potential valuable forage 

crop. 

Keywords: Forage-Plants, Energy-Feeds. 

390.Mugerwa, J. S. and W. Stafford. 1976. Effect of feeding oxalate-rich Amaranthus on ovine serum, 

calcium and oxalate levels. East African Agricultural and Forestry Journal (EAAFRO) 42(1): 71-5. 

The sub-species Incurvatus and Hybridus of Amaranthus hybridus were each fed to yearling wethers. 

Faeces oxalate content, calcium and free oxalate contents of serum and histopathological changes in the 

renal system of animals are discussed. For both plants > 70%, on average, of the ingested oxalate did not 

appear in the faeces. It is concluded that both Amaranthus plants can safely be fed to mature ruminants. 

Keywords: Forage-Plants, Animal-Biology. 

391.Okigbo, B. N. 1977. Neglected plants of horticultural and nutritional importance in traditional farming 

systems of tropical Africa. Acta Horticulturae (53): 131-50. 

The potential importance of neglected indigenous vegetables and fruits encountered in traditional farming 

systems in Nigeria, is described. 

Keywords: Vegetable-crops, Human-biology, Nutrition, Farming-types. 

392.Oliveira, J. S. and M. F. de Carvalho. 1975. Nutritional value of some edible leaves used in Mozambique. 

Economic Botany 29(3): 255-63. 

The results of a chemical study of several edible leaves in Mozambique, mainly conducted for their value 

as a protein supplement in common diets, are presented. Of the species studied, which also included the 

fruits of Momordica balsamina, the most valuable species as a protein supplement proved to be Amaranthus 

spinosus. 

Keywords: Vegetable-Products, Product-Properties. 

Nutrition 

393.Onayemi, O. and G. I. O. Badifu. 1987. Effect of blanching and drying methods on the nutritional and 

sensory quality of leafy vegetables. Plant Foods for Human Nutrition 37(4): 291-8. 

In Nigeria, the nutrient retention and sensory quality factors of Amaranthus (Amaranthus hybridus), Celosia 

and Solanum nodiflorum, blanched by 2 methods and solar-dried or dried in the cabinet dryer were 

evaluated. The type and conditions of the blanching treatment prior to drying affect the retention of 

ascorbic acid, carotene, and ash in the dried vegetables. The sun-dried vegetables had inferior colour, 

texture and acceptability compared with the vegetables dried in the cabinet dryer. There were significant 

differences in the rehydration and drying ratio of the dried vegetables. The implications of the blanching 

and drying processes for an effective preservation technique are discussed. 

Keywords: Nutritive-value, Blanching, Drying, Food-preservation. 

394.Oyejola, A. O. and O. Bassir. 1975. The physiological availability of the iron content of some Nigerian 

leafy vegetables. Plant Foods for Man 1(3/4): 177-83. 

Fe in leafy Nigerian plants was for Corchorus olitorius 810, Venonia amygdalina 190, V. cinerea 270, Talinum 

triangulare 360, Solanum incanum 1010, S. nudiflorum 470, S. anomalus 460, Celosia argentea (green) 410, C. 

argentea (red) 460 and Amaranthus hybridus 970 mg/kg DM. Male rats 3 weeks old were given a diet low 

in Fe for 4 to 5 weeks or until their Hb values were about 5 g/100 ml. They were then given a diet without 

or with 5, 10, 15 or 20 mg Fe/kg as ferrous sulphate or with Fe 20 mg/kg supplied by each of the 

vegetables. Vegetables of the solanum family produced the greatest growth in rats but although S. incanum 

had the highest content of Fe it was 9th in order of physiological availability of Fe. From gains in Hb 

value it was concluded that Fe of all the vegetables except V. amygdalina was to a large extent physiologically 

available. 

Keywords: Iron, Availability, Rats, Nutritive-value, Sources.

395.Pacey, A. 1978. Gardening for Better Nutrition. The Russel Press Ltd., Nottingham. 

Keywords: Nutrition, Vegetables. 

396.Sai, F. A. 1976. Nutritional value of West African fruits and vegetables. Pp. 5-14 in Fruits and vegetables 

in West Africa (H.D. Tindall, editor). FAO Plant Production and Protection Series (FAO). Collection 

FAO. Production Vegetale Et Protection Des Plantes (FAO), no. 4. FAO, Plant Production and 

Protection Division, Rome (Italy). 


Keywords: Nutrition, Fruits. 

397.Sajid, N., S. Umar, M. Siddiqui and B. A. Siddiqui. 1976. Catechol oxidase of some vegetables. Acta 

Botanica Indica 4(2): 167-9. 

Catechol oxidase activity, which is responsible for enzymic browning, was high in leaves, buds and 

fruits of Lagenaria vulgaris, Luffa cylindrica, Cucurbita maxima, Solanum melongena and S. nigrum but very 

low in Cucumis melo and Momordica charantia. Fruits of S. melongena and S. nigrum showed the greatest 

activity. 

Keywords: Enzyme-activity, Plant, Fruit-vegetables. 

398.Sanni, S. B. 1982. The fluoride contents of common Nigerian vegetables. Journal of the Science of 

Food and Agriculture 33(7): 686-7. 

The following vegetables were examined: Celosia argentea (fluoride content 33 mu g/g), Amaranthus hybridus 

(27 mu g), Vernonia amygdalina (28 mu g), Telfairia occidentalis (21 mu g), Talinum triangulare (39 mu g), 

Corchorus olitorius (22 mu g), Brassica oleracea (20 mu g), Ocimum gratissimum (21 mu g), Basella alba (16 mu 

g) and lettuce (91 mu g). Fluoride contents were important because Nigerian drinking water is not 

fluoridated. Information on native names is given. 

Keywords: Nutritive-value, Sources. 

Nutrition 

399.Sreeramulu, N. 1982. Chemical composition of some green leafy vegetables grown in Tanzania. Journal 

of Plant Foods 4(3): 139-41. 

Analyses of moisture, ash, protein, fibre, ether extractives and carbohydrate are tabulated for foliage of 22 

cultivated and wild vegetable species. Cassia tora, Gynandropsis gynandra, Solanum nigrum and Moringa 

oleifera contained the highest protein, followed by Basella alba [rubra], Amaranthus gangeticus [tricolor] 

and Celosia argentea. These 7 species had low fibre values; extraction of leaf proteins would be aided by 

this high protein:fibre ratio. Fibre was highest in Amaranthus viridis (21.3 g/100 g) and lowest in M. 

oleifera (5.7 g). Most species were good sources of both carbohydrate and protein. 

Keywords: Nutritional-value, Proteins, Plant-composition, Surveys. 

400.Sridhar, R. and G. Lakshminarayana. 1993. Lipid classes, fatty acids, and tocopherols of leaves of six 

edible plant species. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 41(1): 61-3. 

Young leaves of six plants, namely Tamarindus indica (tamarind), Oxalis corniculata (Indian sorrel), Rumex 

vesicarius (bladder dock), Alternanthera sessilis, Trigonella foenumgraecum (fenugreek), and Talinum triangulare 

(Ceylon spinach), yielded, on extraction with chloroform-methanol 1.16, 1.47, 0.47, 0.54, 1.50, and 2.42 % 

lipids (dry weight), respectively. Silica gel column chromatography yielded 37.0-80.5% neutral lipids 

(NL), 21.7-44.7% glycolipids (GL), and 1.2-26.5% phospholipids (PL). Capillary gas-liquid chromatography 

(GC) showed the major fatty acids to be 18:2 and 18:3 in NL, 18:3 in GL, and 18:3 followed by 18:2 

and 16:0 in PL. T. triangulare leaf lipids contained medium-chain saturated fatty acids (C10-C14)in an 

appreciable amount (36.7%). GC-mass spectrometric and ultraviolet and infrared spectrophotometric 

analyses did not reveal the presence of gamma-linolenic (GLA), trans, conjugated, or other unusual fatty 

acids. High-performance liquid chromatography showed the presence of alpha- and beta-tocopherols 

but not other tocopherols and tocotrienols. 

85

86 


Keywords: Leaves, Chemical-composition. 

401.Stafford, W. L., J. S. Mugerwa and R. Bwabye. 1976. Effects of methods of cooking, application of 

nitrogen fertiliser and maturity on certain nutrients in the leaves of Amaranthus hybridus sub-species 

hybridus (Green Head). Plant Foods for Man 2(1/2): 7-13. 

The ascorbic acid, iron, protein and total and free oxalate contents of the leaves of Amaranthus hybridus 

subspecies hybridus were estimated after different methods of cooking. Steaming the leaves or boiling for 

only 10 min produced the least loss of nutrients and oxalate. Increasing application of N fertilizer led to 

a rise in the percentage protein of the DM in the plant but this diminished with increasing maturity. The 

Fe content rose steeply when harvest was delayed until the 63rd day after planting. It was concluded 

that, depending on the method of cooking, Amaranthus leaves are a useful source of ascorbic acid, Fe and 

protein for human nutrition. 

Keywords: Cooking, Maturity-variation, Composition, Seasonal-variation. 

402.Standal, B. R. 1983. Nutritive value [Taro, Colocasia esculenta, leaves and stems for green vegetables in 

Hawaii, Pacific Countries, Southeast Asia, India, West Indies, Africa; Pacific Islands; South East Asia; 

West Indies Associated States]. Pp. 141-7 in Taro: a review of Colocasia esculenta and its potentials. 

University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu (USA). 


Keywords: Nutritive-value. 

403.Tabekha, M. M., M. I. Hamed and A. E. Kassem. 1988. The role of food processing on phytate content 

of broad beans, and oxalate content of some leafy vegetables [Egypt]. Journal of Agricultural Sciences 

Mansoura University. (Egypt) 13(4): 2392-7. 

The effects of soaking, germination, cooking and canning processes on phytic acid (PA) and in organic 

phosphorus (IP) contents of dry broad beans were investigated. Soaking of dry beans in water for 12, 16 

and 24 hrs. resulted in a gradual decrease in PA and slight decrease in IP contents as the time of soaking 

increased. Germination led to considerable decrease in PA after 72 hrs. and increase in IP after 96 hrs. or 

longer. Cooking resulted in slight reduction in PA and IP while canning process caused considerable 

decrease (69.51%) in PA and marked increase in IP (36.68%) contents of dry broad beans. Cooking spinach 

and purslane leaves then discarding the boiling water showed nutritionally superior results as it 

reduced the total and soluble oxalate content more than cooking and retaining the boiling water with the 

leaves. Calcium advisability in fresh and cooked leaves was also determined in order to know the appropriate 

technology for removing oxalate to get better utilization of calcium. 


Nutrition 

Keywords: Processing, Composition, Food-technology. 

404.Taylor, O. O. A., B. L. Fetuga and V. A. Oyenuga. 1983. Accumulation of mineral elements in five 

tropical leafy vegetables as influenced by nitrogen fertilization and age. Scientia Horticulturae (Netherlands) 

18(4): 313-22. 

The edible portions of 5 tropical leaf vegetables: Amaranthus caudatus, Cucurbita pepo, Telfairia occidentalis, 

Solanum aethiopicum and Solanum macrocarpon were analysed on Ca, P, K, Mg, Na, Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu and Cl 

content. The analyses were performed in relation to 0, 100, 150 and 200 kg N/ha and post-planting 

harvest periods at 7, 9, 11 and 13 weeks. N application had no significant effect on accumulation of Ca, 

K, Na, Cu and Zn in any of the 5 vegetables and on P and Mg of Telfairia, S. aethiopicum or S. macrocarpon 

. It depressed the Fe content of all vegetables and the Mg content of Amaranthus and Cucurbita, but 

increased the Mn and Cl contents of all vegetables and P content of Amaranthus and Cucurbita. With 

increasing age the P, Na, Zn and Mn contents of vegetables increased significantly. 

Keywords: Fertilizer-response, Nitrogen, Plant-age, Nutrient-accumulation.

405.Udosen, E. O. and U. M. Ukpanah. 1993. The toxicants and phosphorus content of some Nigerian 

vegetables. Plant Foods for Human Nutrition (Netherlands) 44(3): 285-9. 

The oxalate, hydrocyanic acid, phytic acid and P contents of 12 leafy vegetables were determined in 

Cross River State, Nigeria. The values ranged from 47.7 to 194.3 mg/100 g dry matter (DM), 4.32 to 23.8 

mg/100 g DM, 90 to 260 mg/100 g DM and 215 to 1110 mg/100 g DM, respectively. The ratio of phytic 

acid to P ranged from 13.9 to 90.7. The leaves contained low levels of hydrocyanic acid, whereas the 

oxalate, phytic acid and P contents were high. Clinical implications and nutritive values are discussed. 

Authors’ summary. 

Keywords: Nutritive-value, Green-vegetables. 

Nutrition 

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88 

L: Ethnobotany 

406.Becker, B. 1986. Wild plants for human nutrition in the Sahelian zone. Journal of Arid Environments 

11(1): 61-4. 

The range of wild plants used in human nutrition among pastoralists of the Sahelian zone was investigated 

in 3 case studies, 2 in northern Kenya and 1 in northern Senegal. Also, literature was reviewed to compile a list 

of Sahelian plant spp. used as food by other people living in this area. The 5 most important species of each 

region are tabulated, together with an indication of the method of preparation. The literature review revealed 

a total of about 800 food plants in the arid and semi-arid region from Senegal to Kenya. Wild plants are a 

considerable source of vitamins, particularly A, B2 and C and of minerals, especially the leafy vegetables 

Cyphostemma maranguensis and Cassia obtusifolia. There is an unused potential of plants, which are reported to 

be edible from elsewhere. Trees and shrubs supply about 75% of all edible wild plant products. 

Keywords: Wild-food-plants, Food-preparation. 

407.Besong, M. T. and P. Sama-Land. 1997. Identification of vegetables in Fako markets. Pp.67-9. in Workshop 

on African indigenous vegetables. January 13-18, 1997 , Limbe, Cameroon. Workshop Papers. (R. 

Schippers and L. Budd, editors). ODA. 

Keywords: Vegetables, Markets. 

408.Bukenya-Ziraba, R. 1997. Uganda’s indigenous vegetables with particular reference to post-harvest. 

Pp.98-9. in Workshop on African indigenous vegetables. January 13-18, 1997 Limbe, Cameroon Limbe, 

Cameroon Workshop Papers.(R. Schippers and L. Budd, editors). ODA. 

Keywords: Post-harvest. 

409.Cunningham, A. B. 1992. The role of ethnobotany and indigenous knowlege in conservation of plant 

genetic resources. Dinteria(23): 119-31 

The value of ethnobotany and indigenous knowledge of the Namibian people in directing ex situ conservation 

efforts of potentially important Namibian plants is described. Examples are given of species that 

occur in Namibia that are being developed elsewhere, including oil-seed rich plants, edible bulbs, edible 

fruits, multipurpose agroforestry species, aromatic plants and edible wild greens, as well as others for 

which further investigation is recommended. The importance of recognizing the regional value of both 

the plant resources and the local indigenous knowledge in the process of identifying species with economic 

value is highlighted and a method of facilitating the equitable distribution of benefits from these 

regional resources is outlined. 


Keywords: Leafy-vegetables, Genetic-resources, Ethnobotany, Namibia, Indigenous-knowledge. 

410.Getahun, A. 1974. The role of wild plants in the native diet in Ethiopia. Agro-Eco-Systems (Netherlands) 

1(1): 45-56. 

A table is presented giving the botanical name, vernacular name and family of wild edible plants. These 

plants are classified into leafy vegetables (including stems and young shoots), fruits and seeds, and 

starchy roots and tubers. 

Keywords: Human-Biology, Plant-Biology, Reference-Documents. 

411.Irvine, F. 1956. The edible cultivated and semi-cultivated leaves of West Africa. Qualitas Plantarum Et 

Materiaea Vegetabilies(2): 35-42. 

Identifies more than 150 species whose leaves are regularly consumed in stews, sauces and as condiments. 

A significant number are wild species (some are from forest areas). 


Ethnobotany

412.Johnson, E. J. and T. J. Johnson. 1976. Economic plants in a rural Nigerian market. Economic Botany 

(USA) 30(4): 375-81. 

Presents the results of a year-long market survey examining the fresh plants sold in a rural Nigerian market. 

The authors assess species’ availability, and the frequency and seasonalities in the sale of 58 wild and 

cultivated foods. Among the most commonly sold products were the nut of Irvingia gabonensis, the fruit of 

Dacryodes edulis; other popular species included Cola acuminata, Cola nitida, Pentaclethra macrophylla, 

Tetracarpidium conophorum and Thaumatococcus danielli. The fact that farm and forest foods were sold with 

relative frequency gives an indication of their local value. The plants encountered during a 1 year study in 2 

rural markets about 28 km north of Benin City are tabulated. The scientific name, family, origin, common and 

local names and the frequency with which the plant was encountered are given. The plants are grouped into 

medicinal, spices, nuts and seeds, leafy vegetables, fruits and starchy roots and tubers. 

Keywords: Human-Biology, Nutrition, Marketing. 

Ethnobotany 

413.Ogle, B. M. and L. E. Grivetti. 1985. Legacy of the chameleon: edible wild plants in the Kingdom of 

Swaziland, Southern Africa; a cultural, ecological, nutritional study. 2. Demographics, species availability 

and dietary use, analysis by ecological zone. Ecology of Food and Nutrition (USA) 17(1): 1-30. 

This paper, the 2nd of 4, presents demographic characteristics for 211 adults and 140 school children surveyed 

in 4 ecological zones in Swaziland. It identifies edible species of wild plants recognized and consumed, 

and concludes with an analysis of edible wild plant use by ecological zone. Swaziland is culturally homogeneous; 

90% of the persons interviewed were ethnic Swazi; 46% had no formal education; and 60% of the 

adults were born or had lived for more than 13 years at their present homestead in a specific ecological zone. 

All respondents consumed wild plants; 11% never purchased food. More older respondents occupied the 

Highveld, more younger Swazi Middleveld and Lowveld. Most land was cultivated at Middleveld sites. Food 

production varied significantly by ecological zone. Most maize was produced in the Highveld. Adults reported 

a range of edible species (9-90) in each of the 4 ecological zones. Adults ate, on average, 10 more species 

than school children. Most prominently consumed edible leaves were from the genera Amaranthus, Bidens and 

Corchorus. More than 200 edible species are identified taxonomically. Recognition and use of each species by 

adults and school children is compared. Wild fruits were more commonly associated with school children. 

Traditional edible species once associated with the Middleveld have declined in number due to intensive 

agricultural development. 

Keywords: Diets, Wild-plants, Food-consumption, Physical-environment, Plant-ecology. 

414.Ogle, B. M. and L. E. Grivetti. 1985. Legacy of the chameleon: Edible wild plants in the kingdom of 

Swaziland, southern Africa. A Cultural, ecological, nutritional study. Part I - Introduction, objectives, 

methods, Swazi culture, landscape and diet. Ecology of Food and Nutrition (USA) 16(3): 193-208. 

This study provides an excellent example of how information from different “disciplines” must be synthesised 

in order to understand the role of wild plants in peoples’ day to day lives. Ogle and Grivetti examine the 

cultural, ecological and nutritional aspects of wild plant use. They include a quantitative analysis of the 

frequency with which different species are consumed. Wild plant resources have long been neglected by 

development planners, but are extensively used by rural people to supplement their diet. More than forty 

percent of the agriculturalists interviewed claimed they consumed more wild plants than cultivated varieties. 

Indeed, Ogle and Grivetti found that over 220 wild plant species were commonly consumed. There was 

considerable variation between different ecological zones. The reasons given for the continued use of wild 

plants were superior taste, cultural value, greater health benefits and low cost. Nonetheless, many species 

were no longer available and many felt the use of wild plants would decline. 

Keywords: Feeding-habits, Diet, Epidemiology, Ethnicity, Food-consumption. 

415.Okafor, J. C. 1979. Edible indigenous woody plants in the rural economy of the Nigerial forest zone. 

Pp.262-301. in Proceedings of a MAB state of knowledge workshop on the Nigerian rainforest ecosystem. 

24-26 January, 1979 Nigeria (Okali, D. U. U., editor). 

This chapter explores the role of indigenous tree and liana species in the lives of rural people in southern 

Nigeria. It reviews the different dietary roles of these species: Treculia africana fruit are consumed as a 

staple, while the fruit of Pentaclethra macrophylla and Dacryodes edulis are used as food supplements, the 

processed fruits of Irvingia gabonensis, Mucuna sloanei and Parkia clappertoniana are used as condiments, 

89

90 

and the leaves of Pterocarpus sp., Myrianthus arboreus, Vernonia amygdalina, Gnetum sp. and Ceiba pentandra 

are consumed as vegetables. Discusses different farming practices and tenure arrangements. Also discusses 

the households’ non-food use of trees: as structural materia, stakes, mulch, animal fodder, firewood, 

for medicines, dyes, fibres, and essential oils. Provides a few illustrative examples of the symbolic 

role specific trees play, e.g. the breaking of cola nut is a gesture of welcome and hospitality; bread fruit 

(Treculia africana) is served in ceremonies to celebrate a girl’s departure from her family to join her husband. 

It is also served at women’s burian ceremonies. Chrysophyllum albidum is used by fetish “healers” 

and is frequently protected in sacred groved. 


416.Okafor, J. C. 1983. Horticulturally promising indigenous wild plant species of the Nigerian forest 

zone. Pp. 165-76 in Paper presented at Sixth African Symposium on Horticultural Crops, Ibadan, 

Nigeria. Acta Horticulturae No. 123 

Reviews the results of research conducted on edible indigenous woody plants in southern Nigeria. Notes that 

an inventory of edible wild trees revealed a total of 112 exploited species. Market studies have revealed that 57 

species of wild and semi-wild edible woody plants are available seasonally in markets in the southeastern 

region of Nigeria. Notes that most of the wild fruit and vegetable species are expensive, though available 

during strategic periods (e.g. during the hungry season for fruits and the dry season for vegetables). Okafor 

adds that high prices are probably due to scarcity and consumer preferences. Commonly marketed species 

include Chrysophyllum albidum, Dacryodes edulis, Irvingia gabonensis, Pentaclethra macrophylla, Treculia africana, 

Parkia clappertoniana, Dennettia tripetala, Garcinia cola, Pterocarpus sp., and Afzelia bella. 


417.Oryem-Origa, H., E. K. Z. Kakudidi, A. B. Katende and Z. R. Bukenya. 1995. Preliminary ethnobotanical 

studies of the Rwenzori mountain forest area in Bundibugyo District, Uganda. Bothalia 25(1): 111-9. 

Ethnobotanical studies of the Rwenzori Mountain forest area in Bundibugyo District in Uganda were 

carried out between May and Dec. 1991, and covered the northern part of the Rwenzori Mountain slopes 

occupied by the Bakonjo people. The presence of a major footpath through the forest with numerous 

utility trails radiating from it showed that some forest resources are being sought by the local population. 

Plant biodiversity was high, as indicated by the fact that in a study plot of only 4250 m2, a total of 115 

plant species, 101 genera and 57 families were identified from a collection of 300 plant specimens. 77 

plant species were found import to local communities. Of these, 22 were used for medicinal purposes, 16 

for firewood, 13 for construction, joinery and furniture, 12 for craftwork, 10 for edible fruits and vegetables 

and 27 were used for a variety of other purposes. These other purposes include construction of 

shrines, covering of granary floors, use as toilet paper, carrying luggage, and fodder for goats, sheep and 

cattle. Arundinaria alpina K. Schum. (bamboo) was the species most extensively harvested from the forest. 


Ethnobotany 

Keywords: Medicinal-plants, Ethnobotany, Indigenous-knowledge, Utilization, Genetic-resources. 

418.Thomo, M. A. and M. B. Kwapata. 1983. A survey of indigenous fruits and vegetables in villages 

around Bunda College of Agriculture. Research Bulletin Bunda College of Agriculture (Malawi) 12: 

135-67. 

A survey was conducted to identify species, distribution and popularity of indigenous wild fruits and 

vegetables, defined as any produce growing wild or semi-wild in the natural forests and waste lands. 

The survey involved 60 farm families from 4 villages. Thirty fruit species and 45 vegetables were identified. 

The farm families ate more wild fruits and vegetables during the critical times of food shortage of the 

dry and rainy seasons. Deforestation and cultivation of land near the homes increased the distance to 

areas where these fruit and vegetables were found. Scientific and vernacular names, growth habits, time 

of the year available, which part of the plant is eaten, where it is found (environment), other uses and 

methods of preparation, are reviewed. 

Keywords: Wild-species, Fruit-crops, Regional-survey.

M: General 

419.Adebanjo, A. and E. Shopeju. 1993. Sources and mycoflora associated with some sundried vegetables 

in storage. International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation 31(4): 255-63. 

The sources and mycoflora of sundried, preserved: Abelmoschus esculentus, Corchorus olitorius, Solanum 

macrocarpon and Capsicum annum collected from 3 markets in Nigeria were investigated over a period of 

8 weeks. The predominant fungi isolated from stored vegetables were Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, A. 

fumigatus, Rhizopus oryzae, Penicillium oxalicum, Rhizomucor pusillus and Fusarium equiseti. The mycoflora 

of fresh vegetables differed from that following sundrying. Some microorganisms were isolated immediately 

after sundrying and throughout storage. There was also evidence that some of these species were 

acquired in the field and carried into storage. Post-harvest contaminants, handling, air spora during 

sundrying and storage fungi were other sources of contamination of these vegetables. 


Keywords: Postharvest-losses, Storage-losses. 

General 

420.Agbakli, R., H. Maraite and J. E. Colin. 1992. L’utilisation des extraits de neem (Azadirachta indica) 

dans la lutte contre les nematodes a galles (Meloidogyne sp.) en culture de legumes feuilles au Sud- 

Benin [The use of neem extracts to control root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne sp.) in leaf vegetables in 

southern Benin]. Mededelingen Van De Faculteit Landbouwwetenschappen, Rijksuniversiteit Gent 

(Belgium) 57(3a): 913-8. 

In Benin, different concentrations of leaf and cake extracts of neem were applied in soils infested with 

root-knot nematodes as protective treatments. Three leaf vegetable crops were grown, viz. jute (Corchorus 

olitorius), celosia (Celosia argentea) and lettuce. Treatment with leaf extract had no effect. On the other 

hand, neem cake applications at 0.5 and 1 kg/m2 produced a yield increase and a decrease in the disease 

rate. These effects were often stronger than that of the chemical reference treatment with carbofuran. 

Keywords: Plant-nematodes, Meloidogyne, Pest-control, Azadirachta-indica. 

421.Agbakli, R., J. E. Colin and H. Maraite. 1992. L’ utilisation des extraits de neem (Azadirachta indica) 

dans la lutte contre les nematodes a galles (Meloidogyne sp.) en culture de legumes feuilles au Sud- 

Benin [The use of neem extracts (Azadirachta indica) to control root knot nematodes (Meloidogyne sp.) 

in leafy vegetables cultures in the South-Benin]. Internationaal Symposium Over Fytofarmacie En 

Fytiatrie (Belgium). [Rijksuniversiteit Faculteit Landbouwwetenschappen, Gent] 44(3): 913-8. 

Keywords: Azadirachta-indica, Botanical-insecticides, Plant-extracts, Nematode-control,Yields. 

422.Ahmed, A. H. 1978. Studies on the virus diseases of vegetable crops in the Sudan. Acta Horticulturae(84): 

65-72. 

This paper was given at the 5th Africa symposium on horticultural crops in Khartoum, 27 Nov. -2 Dec., 

1977. In field tests against tomato leaf curl virus by insecticidal spraying against Bemisia tabaci , combined 

with frequent rogueing of infected plants, incidence was significantly reduced and yield increased. 

All 15 Hibiscus esculentus cvs. tested in the field proved susceptible to H. esculentus leaf curl virus. A severe 

str. of tobacco mosaic virus was isolated from tomato and a str. of watermelon mosaic virus causing 

severe damage to cucurbits is also reported. 

Keywords: Viruses, Tomato-leaf-curl-virus, Transmission, Diseases, Tobacco-leaf-curl, Pests, Plant-pathology. 

423.Amat, J. P., M. Esquerre, S. Eddine, K. Daoud and J. Prini. 1981. L’agriculture maraichere et fruitiere 

traditionnelle en Republique de Djibouti [Traditional horticulture and fruitculture in the republic of 

Djibouti]. Agence de Cooperation Culturelle et Technique, Paris (France). 

General 

In this booklet, data obtained from numerous interviews with local vegetable and fruit growers are presented. 

During these interviews, information was gathered on the structure of the smallholding, production 

factors, area, yields and types of crops, cultural practices and methods of distribution of the produce. 

Soil and water samples were taken for analysis. The agricultural area of the Republic of Djibouti covers 

about 100 ha of which 74 ha are devoted to vegetable growing, occupying about 400 people. The vegetable 

91

92 

gardens are very small, 10-60 are, on the average, with daily irrigation a necessity. The water is often 

excessively saline. In the third part of this booklet, ways to increase areas and production are discussed. 

Keywords: Traditional-farming, Fruit-crops, Crop-production, Cultural-practices, Farm-survey. 

424.Appert, J. and J. Deuse. 1988. Insectes nuisibles aux cultures vivrieres et maraicheres [Insect pests in 

food crops]. Technicien D’Agriculture Tropicale (Netherlands), no. 8. 

The insect pests in the African countries and pest control methods are dealt with. In the first volume, the 

basic principles of entomology (including a short description of the various insect families), pest symptoms, 

types of pest damage, pest control methods, the different classes of pesticides, pesticide formulations, 

application methods, toxicity levels and the corresponding withholding periods and the pesticide 

distribution canals are discussed. In the second volume, the biology and methods of control of various 

tropical pests (such as Heliothis armigera, grass hoppers, termites and borers) in various crops, including 

rice, maize, sorghum, potato, yam, cassava, groundnut and vegetable crops are reviewed. 

Keywords: Insect-pests, Vegetable-crops, Pest-control. 

425.Asfaw, Z. 1997. Ethiopian traditional vegetables: synopsis of situation and desirable steps ahead. 

Pp.100-3. in Workshop on African indigenous vegetables. Limbe Cameroon. January 13-18, 1997. Workshop 

Papers. (R. Schippers and L. Budd, editors). ODA. 

Keywords: Indigenous, Vegetables. 

426.Asoegwu, S. N. 1989. The industrial potentials of some Nigeria’s fruit and vegetables. Occasional 

Paper National Horticultural Research Institute (20): 11. 

Emphasis is now being laid in Nigeria on the production of horticultural produce such as fruits and 

vegetables. The industrial potentials of some of these fruits, such as cashew apple, papaya, West African 

serendipity berry (Dioscoreophyllum cumminsii), African bush mango (Irvingia gabonensis) and African 

pear (Dacryodis edulis) and vegetables, including Amaranthus spp, egusi and fluted pumpkin (Telfairia 

occidentalis) are highlighted, while some problems encountered in the development of the fruit industry 

are discussed. 

Keywords: Crop-potential, Fruit-crops, Industrial-crops. 

427.Attere, A. F. and L. Guarino. IPGRI; A strategy for the development of indigenous vegetables. Pp. 8-11 

in Workshop on African indigenous vegetables.Limbe Cameroon, January 13-18, 1997. Workshop 

papers. (R. Schippers and L. Budd, editors) ODA, 

Keywords: Vegetables, Indigenous, Strategies. 

General 

428.Badifu, G. I. O. 1993. Food potentials of some unconventional oilseeds grown in Nigeria: a brief 

review. Plant Foods for Human Nutrition (Netherlands) 43(3): 211-24. 

A brief review of literature on kernels of Citrullus spp.; Cucumeropsis spp. (egusi melon); Telfairia occidentalis 

(fluted pumpkin), and Lagenaria spp. (gourd), and of other oilseeds such as Pentaclethra macrophylla 

(African oil bean), Parkia spp. (African locust bean), and Butyrospermum paradoxum (shea butter), all of 

which are grown and widely used as food in Nigeria, is presented. The kernels of Cucurbitaceae species 

form the bulk of conventional oilseeds used for food in Nigeria. The nutritional value (protein content 

and other) of some of the kernels and the chemicophysical properties and storage stability of the oils 

obtained from them are discussed. The various consumable forms in which they exist are also described. 

The potential and constraints of these neglected oilseeds in Nigeria are highlighted. 

Keywords: Oilseeds, Nutritive-value, Keeping-quality, Food-crops. 

429.Badra, T., A. A. O. Edema, P. Nath, Prem Nath and Prem Nath. 1982. Vegetable and fruit collecting in 

Nigeria. Plant Genetic Resources Newsletter (50): 41-4. 

A total of 787 accessions of 33 vegetable and fruit crops (listed) was collected in 1981. The distribution, 

abundance and variation found are given.

Keywords: Maps, Fruit-crops, Genetic-resources. 

430.Berinyuy, J. E., F. C. Nguy and A. Boukong. 1997. Potentials and constraints for indigenous vegetables 

in Cameroon. Pp. 36-41. in Workshop on African indigenous vegetables. Limbe Cameroon. January 13- 

18, 1997. Workshop Papers. (R. Schippers and L. Budd, editors). ODA. 

Cameroon has a wide range of indigenous vegetables including wild species many of which are only 

found in the lowlands or highlands. Their true potential has never been exploited as no standardized 

practices exist for their production and because they are always grown together with other crops that 

compete for the same nutrients. When harvested, a large proportion of the crop gets lost because handling 

and marketing are poor. No post-harvest technologies exist or where they do, are either too complex or unaffordable 

for the producer. In addition, there is no pricing structure that is part of an overall agricultural 

policy and this discourages entrepeneurs who would like to produce these vegetables on a commercial 

basis. These constraints are examined and it is suggested that to attain the full potential of these indigenous 

vegetables, research is needed into the different stages of production, handling and distribution. 

Keywords: Marketing, Indiginous, Vegetables. 

431.Bola, M. L. and F. Szafranski. 1991. Plantes spontanées à feuilles-legumes de Kisangani et environs 

(Zaire) [Wild plants used as leafy vegetables from Kisangani and surroundings (Zaire)] [Talinum 

triangulare, Gnetum africanum, Amaranthus viridis, Amaranthus spinosa, Portulacaceae, Araceae, 

Fabaceae, Malvaceae, Vitaceae]]. Belgian Journal of Botany (Belgium) 124(2): 222-34. 

Keywords: Wild-plants, Natural-distribution, Habitats, Consumer-surveys, Chemical-composition. 

432.Boutler, D. and J. S. Gilroy. 1992. Partial sequences of 18S ribosomal RNA of two genera from each of 

six flowering plant families. Phytochemistry 31(4): 1243-6. 

Sequences of 18S rRNA were determined for Amaranthus caudatus, Celosia cristata [C. argentea var. cristata] 

(Amaranthaceae), Calandrinia discolor, Portulaca grandiflora (Portulacaceae), Liriodendron tulipifera, Magnolia 

soulangiana (Magnoliaceae), Saponaria officinalis, Stellaria media (Caryophyllaceae), Ranunculus repens, 

R. acris (Ranunculaceae), Spinacia oleracea and Chenopodium album (Chenopodiaceae) and analysed using 

parsimony programmes. Parsimonious trees that were generated revealed that the 2 genera of the 

same family generally appeared together except that Calandrinia was often linked with Amaranthus, and 

Portulaca with the Caryophyllaceae. The results are discussed with reference to the value of rRNA 

sequencing in phylogenetic studies. 


General 

Keywords: Evolution, Biotechnology, Molecular-genetics, Taxonomy. 

433.Brun, T., J. Reynaud and S. Chevassus Agnes. 1989. Food and nutritional impact of one home garden 

project in Senegal. Ecology of Food and Nutrition 23(2): 91-108. 

The nutritional impact of a vegetable gardening project at the household level in Kumbija, a village in 

western Senegal, is assessed using the results of 7 separate food and nutrition surveys conducted in the 

project area between 1970-82. The project introduced dry season home gardening to improve the villagers’ 

nutritional status and income. Contrary to expectations women, not men, ultimately engaged in 

horticulture primarily to increase their income. The survey results provide no evidence of a significant 

impact of home gardening on nutrient intake. The major reason seems to be that only a small fraction of 

the vegetables produced is consumed by the family and that the income generated by the sale of vegetables 

is mainly used for other than food purchases. The vegetable gardening project, however, has had a 

marked impact on women’s income. It has affected their social status and their awareness of urban social 

and food habits. Suggestions to improve nutritional status by increasing home gardening productivity 

throughout the year and by developing local vegetable preservation technologies are put forward. 

Keywords: Nutritional-impact, Gardening, Nutrient-intake, Nutrition-surveys. 

93

94 

434.By, U. and J. Wittern. 1988. Local vegetables - an example from Zambia. Entwicklung Und Laendlicher 

Raum 22(2): 22-3. 

This article will describe the following vegetables: -Corchorus olitorius (english: jute) - Cleome gynandra 

(english: cat’s whiskers) - Amaranthus ssp. (english: wild spinach) - Solanum macrocarpon (english: African 

eggplant). Promotions, preparations of local vegetables, limitations, conclusions. 

Keywords: Planting, Wild-plants, Development-projects. 

435.Charrier, A. 1991. Germplasm collection, conservation, utlization activities of the Office de la Recherche 

Scientifique et Technique d’Outre-Mer (ORSTOM). Pp.41-52 . in Crop Genetic Resources of Africa. 

17-20 Oct 1988 Ibadan (Nigeria) Ibadan (Nigeria)(S. Hamon, N. Q. Ng P. Perrino F. Attere and H. 

Zedan, editors). International Inst. of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan (Nigeria) and International Board 

for Plant Genetic Resources, Rome (Italy) UNEP, Nairobi (Kenya), Ibadan (Nigeria). 


Keywords: Germplasm-conservation, Research-institutions. 

436.Chidosa, D. N. and M. K. Rai. 1991. Vegetable seed production programme in Tanzania. Research and 

Training Newsletter (Dar Es Salaam) 6(1-4): 8-9. 

As part of the programme to establish a commercial vegetable seed industry in Tanzania, seed production areas 

and sites for testing cultivars of temperate and subtropical vegetables have been selected, imported cultivars of 

tomatoes, onions, chillies, sweet peppers, cucumbers and aubergines tested, and local cultivars of tomatoes, 

Amaranthus cruentus and A. hypochondriacus, onions and cabbages selected, purified and maintained up to 

acceptable levels of uniformity. Seed processing units are to be established at Tengeru and Dakawa. 

Keywords: Seed-industry, Tanzania. 

437.Chigumira Ngwerume, F. 1997. Traditional vegetables as a strategic food reserve during periods of food 

scarcity in southern Africa. Pp.94-7. in Workshop on African indigenous vegetables. January 13-18, 1997 

Limbe, Cameroon Limbe, Cameroon Workshop Papers. (R. Schippers and L. Budd, editors). ODA. 

Keywords: Indigenous, Famine. 

438.Chweya, J. A. 1994. Potential for agronomic improvement of indigenous plant germplasm in African 

agriculture: a case study of indigenous vegetables in Kenya. Pp.p. 105-13. in Safeguarding the genetic 

basis of Africa’ s traditional crops. Proceedings of a CTA/IPGRI/KARI/UNEP seminar. 5-9 Oct. 1992 

Nairobi, Kenya. Nairobi, Kenya. (A. Putter, (ed.)). International Plant Genetic Resources Inst., Rome 

(Italy). Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation, Wageningen (Netherlands). 


General 

Keywords: Land-varieties, Nutrients, Breeding-methods, Plant-products, Taxa, Varieties. 

439.Chweya, J. A. 1997. Domestication strategy for underutilized African vegetables. Pp.22-4. in Workshop 

on African indigenous vegetables.Limbe Cameroon, January 13-18, 1997. Workshop papers. (R. 

Schippers and L. Budd, editors). ODA. 

Keywords: Underutilized, Vegetables, Africa, Domestication. 

440.Colin, J. E. and J. C. Heyd. 1991. La situation des legumes feuilles dans la production maraichère au 

Sud-Benin [Amaranthus cruentus, Celosia argentea, Corchorus olitorius, Vernonia amygdalina, Basella 

alba, Solanum macrocarpon, Solanum aethiopicum] [The situation of tropical leafy vegetables in the 

vegetable production in the South-Benin]. Tropicultura (Belgium) 9(3): 129-33. 

The importance of tropical leaf vegetables in market garden production in south Benin is demonstrated. 

The quantities harvested and consumed are considerable, and the products are of a high value, in spite 

of their limited impact on producers’ income. Production constraints are described, and measures are 

suggested to improve plant protection.

Keywords: Production-location, Production-factors, Production-possibilities, Consumer-behaviour. 

441.Dupriez, H. and P. de Leener. 1987. Jardins et vergers d’afrique(African gardens and orchards). Terres 

et Vie, Nivelles. 

This well illustrated publication is meant as a practical guide to gardening i.e. the production of vegetables, 

fruits and spices under African conditions. It was stated that the production methods were very similar in all 

the regions visited. Research on horticulture, however, is still underdeveloped. This publication consists of 2 

parts. In the first part the principal cultural practices are dealt with. In the second part, 86 local vegetables and 

fruit plants, which were found on local markets, including Brassica carinata, Corchorus olitorius, Amaranthus 

spp. Basella rubra and Basella alba, Ocimum sp. horse-radish tree Moringa oleifera and Cyperus esculentus, are 

characterized. Scientific French, English and vernicular names (up to 21) of each crop are indicated. 

Keywords: Cultural-practices, Fruit-crops, Vegetable-crops, Spices-and-condiment-crops, Home-garden. 

442.Eyzaquirre, P. 1997. Conservation through increased use: Complementary approaches to conserving 

Africa’s traditional vegetables. Pp.16-9. in Proceedings of the IPGRI International Workshop on Genetic 

Resources of Traditional Vegetables in Africa: Conservation and use. 29-31 August 1995 ICRAF-HQ, 

Nairobi, Kenya. ICRAF-HQ, Nairobi, Kenya. Traditional African Vegetables. Promoting the Conservation 

and Use of Underutilized and Neglected Crops. No. 16.(L. Guarino, editor). Institute of Plant genetics 

and Crop Plant research, Gatersleben\International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Rome, Italy. 

Keywords: Vegetables, Conservation, Use, In-situ, Ex-situ. 

443.Gbile, Z. O. 1983. Indigenous and adapted African vegetables. Pp.71-80. in Proceedings of the Sixth 

African Symposium on Horticultural Crops. 19-25 July 1981 Ibadan, Nigeria. Acta Horticulturae No. 123. 

Discusses indigenous vegetables species consumed in Nigeria. Presents information on the nutrient 

value and medicinal properties of each species. Includes a description of some farm and forest species as 

well as some herbaceous forest plants. For example, the seeds of Ceiba pentadra, a rain forest tree, are used 

in soups, its young leaves are cooked as vegetables. The leaves of Strunchium sparganophora are gathered 

in bush areas especially during the dry season and cooked as a vegetable. The fruit and leaves of Momordica 

charantia are used as a laxative. The fruit of Solanum aethiopicum are used in remedies for colic; its young 

leaves are used as a light sedative. Some forest and bush species discussed include Vernonia amygdalina, 

Gnetum sp., Irvingia gabonensis, and Ceratotheca sesamoides. 


444.Geneif, A. A. M. K. Ahmed S. A. El Hussein and H. M. Dinar. 1985. Horticultural germplasm of 

northern Sudan. Plant Genetic Resources Newsletter (64): 10-3. 

Keywords: Plant-collections, Germplasm. 

445.Gerson, R. T. 1991. Home gardening of indigenous vegetables: the role of women. Pp.331-6. in First 

International Symposium on Horticultural Economics in Developing Countries. 16-23 Jul 1989 Alemaya 

(Ethiopia) Alemaya (Ethiopia) Acta Horticulturae (Netherlands)No. no. 270(Jager, A. de and A. P. 

Verhaegh, editors). ISHS, Wageningen (Netherlands). 

Keywords: Vegetable-crops, Domestic-gardens, Role-of-women. 

446.Gockowski, J. and M. Ndumba. 1997. The transformation of leafy vegetable cropping systems along 

Cameroon’s humid forest margins. Pp.46-51. in Workshop on African indigenous vegetables. January 13- 

18, 1997 Limbe, Cameroon Limbe, Cameroon Workshop Papers. (R. Schippers and L. Budd, editors). ODA. 

Keywords: Cropping-systems. 

General 

447.Goode, P. M. 1989. Edible plants of Uganda: the value of wild and cultivated plants as food. FAO-Foodand-Nutrition-Paper 

(FAO). 1989, No. 42(1) 156 

An inventory of edible wild and cultivated plants in Uganda was made. The local, scientific and common 

names are listed for every region. The preparation and use of a large number of staple foods and 

95

96 

vegetables is described, including short recipes. The production of vegetables and the traditional food 

habits are discussed. 

Keywords: Food-crops, Wild-food-plants, Ethnobotany, Food-preparation, Fruit-crops. 

448.Grivetti, L., C. J. Frentzel, K. E. Ginsberg, K. L. Howell and B. M. Ogle. 1987. Bush foods and edible 

weeds of agriculture: perspectives on dietary uses of wild plants in Africa, their role in maintaining 

human nutritional status and implications for agricultural development. Pp. 51-81 in Health and disease 

in tropical Africa (Akhtar, editor). Harwood, London, Great Britain. 

Provides an extensive review of peoples’ consumption of wild plants in different regions of Africa. It 

draws on information from ethnobotanical, archaeological, anthropological and nutrition studies. It 

demonstrates that wild plants are essential components of many Africans’ diets, especially in periods of 

seasonal shortage. The authors suggest that by maintaining and increasing current use of locally available 

wild foods the economic and nutritional situation of rural Africans might improve. 


449.Grubben, G. and C. Almenkinders. 1997. Developing the potential of local vegetables, using experiences 

from Africa and Southeast Asia. Pp.12-8. in Workshop on African indigenous vegetables. January 13-18, 

1997. Limbe, Cameroon Limbe, Cameroon Workshop Papers. (R. Schippers and L. Budd, editors). ODA. 

The development of local vegetables in Africa is far behind that of South-East Asia. Experiences with 

home-garden projects in West Africa following the Indonesian model and with research on lowland 

vegetables in Indonesia, indicate the large potential for raising the yield levels of local vegetables with a 

consequent improvement in human nutrition and farmers’ incomes. It is recommended that the social 

status of local vegetables should be raised and that plant breeding and seed production by farmers and 

the private sector should be stimulated. The serious risks of genetic erosion in local vegetables may be 

reduced by stimulating their utilization and improving their productivity. 

Keywords: Africa, Seed-production, Breeding . 

450.Grubben, G. J. H. H. D. Tindall and J. T. Williams. 1977. Tropical vegetables and their genetic resources. 

IBPGR Report 77/23. 

Reference is made to fruit vegetables, leafy vegetables, curcurbits, allium and brassicas including a list of 

agricultural institution dealing with vegetables germplasm resources. Includes bibliographies. 

Keywords: Vegetable-crops, Plant-breeding, Germplasm-conservation. 

451.Haile-Mariam, S. N. 1985. Tenth African Symposium on Horticultural Crops. in Paper from the 10 African 

Symposium on Horticultural Crops. 16-21 Jan. 1984 Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) ISHA, Wageningen (Netherlands). 

Keywords: Plant-population, Yields. 

452.Hassan, M. S., A. A. Geneif, M. K. Ahmed, S. A. El Hussein, H. M. Ali Dinar and F. Attere. 1983. 

Horticultural crops collected in Sudan. Plant Genetic Resources Newsletter(56): 33-41. 

A total of 275 samples of 16 vegetable, six fruit and 18 medicinal and aromatic crop species were collected 

throughout central and eastern Sudan during November 1982. Many indigenous cultivars of Cucurbita 

species are reported to have disappeared in some localities. Brief descriptions are given of the variation 

found in Hibiscus, Cucurbita, Capsicum, Corchorus olitorius and Psidium guajava. 

Keywords: Varieties, Crop-plants, Genetic-resources. 

General 

453.Hassan, M. S., H. M. Dinar, S. A. El Hussein, M. K. Ahmed and A. A. Geneif. 1984. Indigenous horticultural 

germplasm of western Sudan. Plant Genetic Resources Newsletter(59): 4-11. 

Information, some of it tabulated, is presented with respect to the Darfur and Kordofan regions on (1) 

genetic erosion and (2) variability in tomatoes, Hibiscus esculentus, guava, watermelon, pumpkin and 

Citrus aurantifolia found in samples of these crops collected during 1983-84.

Keywords: Genetic-resources, Fruit-crops. 

454.Hedberg, O. 1992. Conservation of biodiversity in the SADCC countries - possibilities and needs. 

Dinteria(23): 90-3 

The purpose of the Southern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC) Gene Bank (SRGB) 

is to preserve the maximum possible diversity of all plants of interest (including, cereals, fodder plants, oil 

seed crops, cultivated, wild and weedy vegetables, wild fruits and nuts, ornamentals, medicinal plants 

and forest trees) through in situ and ex situ conservation. Adequate documentation of SRGB collections 

through collaboration with national herbaria existing in each SADCC country is an essential prerequisite 

for meaningful genetic resources conservation. The function of the national herbaria is to hold a reference 

collection of named and labelled specimens as documentation of the flora of each SADCC country to 

facilitate naming of any plants that are collected. The needs of the national herbaria are outlined. 


Keywords: Conservation, Genetic-resources, Genetic-variation, Identification. 

455.Helsloot, L. 1991. Vegetable gardens as a strategy to improve the position of rural women: the case of 

Ile a Morphil, Senegal. Pp.359-68. in First international symposium on horticultural economics in 

developing countries. 16 - 23 Jul 1989 Alemaya (Ethiopia) Alemaya (Ethiopia) Acta HorticulturaeNo. 

no. 270(A. Jager and A.P.de Verhaegh., editors). ISHS, Wageningen (Netherlands). 

This paper is from the First International Symposium on Horticultural Economics in Developing Countries 

held in Alemaya (Ethiopia) 16 -3 Jul 1989. (Issue no. 270 is conference proceedings. 

Keywords: Domestic-gardens, Gender, Irrigation-systems. 

456.Hoogerbrugge, I. D. and L. O. Fresco. 1993. in Homegarden systems: agricultural characteristics and 

challenges.Gatekeeper Series - Sustainable Agriculture Programme, International Institute for Environment 

and Development (United Kingdom), no. 39. International Institute for Environment and 

Development (IIED), London (United Kingdom). 


General 

Keywords: Land-use, Home-garden, Low-input-agriculture, Population-pressure. 

457.Ikeorgu, J. E. G. 1990. Glasshouse performance of three leafy vegetables grown in mixtures in Nigeria. 

Scientia Horticulturae (Netherlands) 43(3): 181-8. 

Two trials were conducted in a glasshouse in Ibadan, Nigeria to investigate the performance and competitive 

abilities of 3 tropical leafy vegetables Amaranthus hybridus, Celosia argentea and Corchorus olitorius, grown in 

pure stands and in mixtures. Shoot and root fresh and dry weight per plant, plant height and root length were 

determined. Two competition functions, relative crowding coefficient and aggressivity, were used to estimate 

competitive abilities in mixtures. A. hybridus, identified as a C-4 plant, was the most aggressive species and 

performed better in mixtures than under sole cropping. C. argentea was slightly more competitive than C. 

olitorius but appeared more compatible with C. argentea than with A. hybridus. However there were indications 

from land equivalent ratio (LER) calculations that the vegetable grower saved more land by intercropping 3 

vegetable species (LER=3.8) than two (LER 2.0-2.5) and also harvested more. 

Keywords: Intercropping, Plant-competition, Biological-competition, Intercropping. 

458.Imbamba, S. K., M. S. Ndawula Senyimba and G. Papa. January 1977. The effect of soil moisture 

stress on photosynthesis, transpiration and leaf enlargement in some Kenyan vegetable plants. East 

African Agricultural and Forestry Journal (EAAFRO) 42(3): 309-15. 

459.Kokwaro, J. O. 1990. Seasonal traditional fruits and vegetables of Kenya. Pp.911-28. in Proceedings of 

the Twelfth Plenary Meeting of AETFAT. September 4-10, 1988 Hamburg (Germany) Hamburg (Germany) 

Mitteilungen Aus Dem Institut Fur Allgemeine Botanik (Hamburg)No. 23b (H.D. Ihlenfeldt et 

al, editors). 

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98 

Notes are given on about 100 indigenous species of wild and semi-domesticated plants traditionally 

used for food in Kenya. They include about 50 species of trees and shrubs with edible fruits. Their 

importance is briefly discussed. 


Keywords: Ethnobotany, Fruit-crops, Wild-plants. 

460.Ladipo, D. O. 1997. Marketing and post-harvest constraints of traditional vegetables in Sub-Saharan 

Africa. Pp.58-62. in Workshop on African indigenous vegetables. January 13-18, 1997 Limbe, Cameroon. 

Limbe, Cameroon. Workshop Papers.(R. Schippers and L. Budd, editors). ODA. 

Vegetables form a major part of the diet of many African people. Various leafy vegetables and native fruits 

are consumed but these vary between and within countries in Sub-Saharan Africa . Some traditional 

vegetables are still collected from the wild but many are grown within the compound near people’s 

homes and on farms in the inland valley or wet sites, where large scale market gardening is practised. 

Trade in some of these traditional vegetables is mainly local but is slowly changing to a regional and even 

international trade, particularly Gnetum africanum , Amaranthus, okra and fruits such as Irvingia gabonensis 

and Dacryodes edulis. Production is inefficient and little attention is paid to produce quality or its marketing. 

efficient marketing systems are almost non-existent. A large proportion of traditional vegetables are rendered 

unsaleable on farms and in the markets as a result of moor post harvest handling and inefficient 

marketing systems. In west and Central Africa this problem is particularly acute. Our study of four production 

sites in Nigeria showed that over 30% of leafy vegetables are lost on the farm or in markets. 

If the immediate and strategic benefits inherent in the consumption of vegetables are to be realised, better 

production and more efficient post-harvest techniques will be needed. Marketing and post-harvest constraints 

are identified and research and development needs emphasised. Emphasis is placed on the 

Nigerian situation as a typical case in Sub-Saharan Africa. 

Keywords: Marketing. 

461.Lan Chow Wing, K. F. and I. Rajkomar. 1985. Selection and planting density of early-yielding leaf 

vegetables and the ‘consumption index’. Pp. 127-34 in Ninth African symposium on horticultural 

crops (G.E. Tidbury and H.D. Tindall, editors). Acta Horticulturae (Netherlands), no. 153. ISHS, 

Wageningen (Netherlands). 

Paper at the 9. African Symposium on Horticultural Crops. Mahe (Seychelles). 27-29 Jul 1983. 

Keywords: Selection, Spacing, Mauritius, Yields. 

462.Longhurst, R. 1985. Cropping systems and household food security: evidence from three West African 

countries. Food and Nutrition 11(2): 10-6. 

Using case studies from Sierra Leone, Gambia and Nigeria this article describes the seasonal variations in 

food supply in different farming systems. Longhurst examines different factors including the differences in 

women’s role, the effects of climate, disease, income, and work loads. In Sierra Leone, palm oil provides a 

significant portion of the overall energy intake (14%). In Nigeria, fermented Parkia sp. is a common food. 

Keywords: Food-supply. 

463.Lucas, E. O. 1988. The potential of leaf vegetables in Nigeria. Outlook on Agriculture 17(4): 163-8. 

In Nigeria, various plant species are used as leaf vegetables by the people. Only a few of them are brought 

into proper cultivation. The potentials of the species that have been studied until now are described. 

These include Amaranthus, Celosia, Indian spinach, Vernonia calvoana (bitter leaf), Telfairia occidentalis 

(fluted pumpkin), Cucurbita pepo, roselle, Talinum triangulare, Solanum spp., and Corchorus olitorius (jute). 

The botany, cultural requirements, fertilizer requirement, major diseases and pests, the nutritive value, 

processing and storage, and the place of these leafy vegetables in the farming system are described. 


General

Keywords: Crop-potential, Cultural-practices, Nutritive-value. 

464.Malassis, V. 1985. Les cultures maraichères au Gabon. Experimentation, développement [Market 

garden crops in Gabon. Experiments, development]. PHM Revue Horticole (France)(no. 256): 41-7. 

Keywords: Vegetable-crops, Plant-production. 

465.Messiaen, C. M. 1975. Le potager tropical 3. Cultures speciales. [The tropical garden 3. Special cultivations]. 

Presses Universitaires de France, Paris (France). 

The third and final volume of this work deals with tropical spinach plants (including Basella rubra and 

Amaranthus spp.), tuber- producing plants (including sweet potato, yams, aroids and jerusalem artichoke), 

breadfruit (seedless and seeded forms), okra and other malvaceous plants, Allium spp., strawberry, asparagus, 

and some labiaceous and umbelliferous aromatic plants. There is a short note on storage conditions of 

market garden produce in the tropics, a brief list of useful addresses, and an alphabetical index to the three 

volumes. The high level of information associated with the previous two volumes is here maintained. Data 

are given on the physiology of the crops, their food value, their propagation and culture, pests and diseases, 

the choice of cultivars, the maintenance of existing cultivars and the breeding of new ones. The range of 

plants covered is interestingly wide, including lesser-known aromatic plants such as Coleus amboinicus, 

tuber-producers such as Amorphophallus campanulatus, the duckweed Wolffia arrhiza (said to be the world’s 

smallest flowering plant) and its pond culture in the East, and even, for the record, tropical failures such as 

bay laurel and winter savory. There is perhaps a slight emphasis on West Indian conditions as regards 

details of names and uses. Some plants are rather briefly treated (Hibiscus sabdariffa, for instance) even 

though they are widely grown. The book is nevertheless a most valuable one for the agronomists, extension 

workers and market gardeners for whom it is intended, and should appeal particularly to newcomers to 

the tropics who are puzzled by the range and variety of the vegetable crops to be found there. 

Keywords: Vegetable-garden, Crops, Cultural-methods. 

466.Mhlanga, L. 1992. The National Genebank of Zimbabwe: its role in plant genetic resource conservation. 

Zimbabwe Science News 26(10-12): 75-6 

As part of the programme for the conservation of genetic resources by the member states of the Southern 

African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC), the National Genebank of Zimbabwe (NGBZ) is 

being set up at the National Herbarium and Botanic Garden. The NGBZ will concentrate on the collection, 

documentation, characterization and evaluation of indigenous material. An active collection will be maintained, 

with breeders being encouraged to fully use the stored germplasm, and the base collection will be 

sent to the SADCC Regional Genebank in Zambia for long-term storage. The major germplasm to be stored 

includes cereals (finger millet, pearl millet, barley and sorghum), pulses (cowpeas and soyabeans), forages, 

industrial crops (cotton, sunflower and tobacco) and indigenous vegetables and fruit trees. 


General 

Keywords: Genetic-resources, Conservation, Fruit-trees, Fodder-crops, Gene-banks. 

467.Mutsaers, H. J. W., P. Mbouemboue and M. Boyomo. 1981. Traditional food crop growing in the Yaounde 

area (Cameroon). Part 2. Crop associations, yields and fertility aspects. Agro Ecosystems (Netherlands) 

6(4): 289-303. 

Crop associations include: groundnuts, maize, cassava, tannia, cocoyam, plantain, okra, yam, Cucumis 

sativus, leafy vegetables, tomatoes, sugar-cane, tobacco, Cucurbita maxima, and Solanum sp. Yields of 

groundnuts, cassava, tannia, maize and plantain are 417-1464, 2700-15 000, 1150-5000, 320-680 and 12 

000 kg/ha. It is concluded that yields correspond closely with the fertility of the land. Some improvement 

or stabilization of the system is possible through better crop residue and fallow management, but in 

order to raise productivity significantly, external fertility would have to be introduced. 

Keywords: Cropping-system, Food-crops, Yield, Soil-fertility. 

468.Nath, P. and L. Denton. 1979. Vegetable germplasm in Nigeria. Plant Genetic Resources Newsletter(39): 

24-5. 

99

100 

Vegetables play an important role in the Nigerian diet. During 1977-79 a total of 928 samples were collected 

in the country: okra (303), tomato (222), Amaranthus hybridus (39), A. viridis (4), other A. species (87), Corchorus 

olitorius (21), Celosia argentia (6), Citrullus colocynthis (149), onion (74), Hibiscus sabdariffa (11), and others (12). 

Part of the material has been evaluated for various economic characters and is used in breeding programmes. 

Keywords: Plant-Breeding, Plant-Selection, Vegetable-Crops, Germplasm-conservation. 

469.Nath, P. and L. Denton. 1980. Leafy vegetables in Nigeria. Plant Genetic Resources Newsletter(42): 14-7. 

The results of an expedition to collect and identify leafy vegetables, in cultivated form, as volunteer 

plants or in the wild, are tabulated and areas of availability are shown on a map. Details are given of 

material of several species of Amaranthus, two of Telfairia, two of Basella, two of Gnetum as well as of 

Corchorus olitorius, Hibiscus sabdariffa, Lactuca sativa, Nastu. 

Keywords: Genetic-characters. 

470.Nath, P. and Prem Nath. 1976. Vegetables for the tropical region. I.C.A.R.-Low-Priced-Books-Series, no. 2. 

Indian Council for Agricultural Research, New Delhi, India. This small book gives value for money, by 

packing into its pages information on Solanaceous crops, cucurbits, beans, pea, root crops (radish, 

carrot, turnip and beetroot), bulb crops (onion and garlic), leafy crops (spinach beet, spinach and 

Amaranthus), lettuce, cole crops (cabbage, califlower and knol-khol) and okra. Under each crop information 

is provided on origin, distribution and uses, botany, breeding, climatic and soil requirements, planting 

requirements, manurial and fertilizer requirements, intercultural operations, harvesting, diseases, 

pests and their control, seed production and improved varieties. There is a large bibliography and data 

on vegetable nutritive value and on the favourable temperature range and days to maturity of various 

vegetables are presented in two appendices. Some of the crops mentioned are illustrated by black-andwhite 

photographs. Those interested in the present state of vegetable growing in India will find here the 

information they require, clearly presented in summarized form. 

Keywords: Cultural-methods. 

471.Numfor, F. A. 1997. Post -harvest handling, processing and preservation of indigenous vegetables in 

Cameroon; problems and constraints. Pp.63-6. in Workshop on African indigenous vegetables. January 13- 

18, 1997. Limbe Cameroon Limbe Cameroon Workshop Papers. (Schippers, R. and L. Budd, editors) ODA. 

Keywords: Post-harvest, Marketing. 

472.Ogle, B., A. L. Malambo, D. S. Mingochi, A. Nkomesha and I. Malasha. 1990. Traditional vegetables in 

Zambia. A study of procurement, marketing and consumption of traditional vegetables in selected 

urban and rural areas in Zambia. International Development Centre, Rural Development Studies , 

No. 28. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala. 

This is a study of the production, marketing and use of traditional vegetables in Zambia. A wide range of local 

vegetables, both wild and cultivated, are grown. Vegetables such as beans, cowpeas, sweet potatoes, and pumpkins 

may be grown primarily for their fruits, seeds or tubers, or for their leaves. Most vegetables are sown 

intercropped. A small section of the publication discusses farmer selection and storage. Most households collect 

seed from their own harvests, although exchange and gifts are also methods of obtaining seed. Seeds are collected 

from healthy plants. In many cases, seeds of several species are mixed together for storage in containers 

such as bottles or calabashes. This practice may minimise pest infection. 

Keywords: Seed-selection, Seed-storage. 

General 

473.Ojeifo, I. M. 1989. The place of vegetable production in the cropping systems of rural communities. in 

Occasional Paper National Horticultural Research Institute (Nigeria). 

A classification of vegetables in their varying degrees of domestication in Africa is given. Mixed cropping systems 

with major staples, such as cassava + yam or cassava + plantain with vegetable crops such as pumpkin and 

fluted pumpkin as minor crop are discussed. To extend the growing season, vegetable crops, planted towards the 

end of the growing season should be relatively drought tolerant such as okra and melons. The status of vegetables 

in the farming systems of tropical Africa is discussed.

Keywords: Vegetable-crops, Cropping-system. 

101 

474.Okafor, J. C. 1977. Development of forest tree crops for food supplies in Nigeria. Forest Ecology and 

Management 1(3): 235-44. 

Reviews findings and research on the distribution of indigenous forest and farm trees with edible products. 

The most favoured species are incorporated into farm and village areas. Among the more common species 

are: Treculia africana, Pentaclethra macrophylla, Dacryodes edulis, Chrysophyllum albidum and Irvingia gabonensis. 

A general discussion of the socioeconomic importance of edible trees provides some interesting information: 

one market survey revealed that foods from 44 forest tree species were being sold at competitive prices. 


475.Olasantan, F. O. 1992. Vegetable production in traditional farming systems in Nigeria. Outlook on 

Agriculture 21(2): 117-27. 

Most increases in vegetable production in Nigeria come from areas under traditional agriculture, and small scale 

farmers seldom adopt any intercropping technology that excludes vegetables, yet less attention has been paid to 

these crops in mixed cropping studies, compared with field crops. Vegetables are of good nutritional value, and 

have considerable potential as income-generating crops and as a supplement to diets consisting mainly of carbohydrates. 

To realize this potential, however, adequate information about the present system of production is 

essential, as well as improved cultivars and better crop management. 


Keywords: Cropping-systems, Traditional-farming. 

476.Pandey, S. C. 1993. Improvement of leafy vegetables. Pp. 325-42 in Advances in horticulture: vegetable 

crops, Vol. 5 (K. L Chadha, editor). Malhotra Publishing House, New Delhi, India . 

Information on origin and history, taxonomy, breeding objectives, genetic resources, cytogenetics, genetics, 

breeding and cultivars is presented for: spinach beet (Beta vulgaris), Trigonella foenum-graecum and 

Indian spinach (Basella). It is suggested that there is a need to initiate systematic programmes for the 

collection and maintenance of germplasm and development of improved varieties. 

Keywords: Genetic-resources, Breeding. 

477.Poubom-Ngunduam, C. F. 1997. The place of indigenous vegetables in the farming system of Cameroon. 

Pp.52-7. in Workshop on African indigenous vegetables. January 13-18, 1997. Limbe, Cameroon. Limbe, 

Cameroon. Workshop Papers. (Schippers, R. and L. Budd, editors). ODA. 

Keywords: Farming-systems. 

General 

478.Rajasekaran, L. R. and K. G. Shanmugavelu. 1981. Studies on screening of certain vegetable crops for 

salt tolerance. South Indian Horticulture 29(1): 38-48. 

Twenty-one tomato lines, 27 curcurbit, 41 French bean, 32 radish, 16 coriander (Coriandrum sativum), 14 

onion (Allium cepa var. aggregatum), 10 sweet potato, 13 each of cabbage and cauliflower, 5 Amaranthus, 

16 okra [Hibiscus esculentus] and 15 chilli [ Capsicum] were examined. Transverse sections of stem, petiole 

and root tissues of seedlings were treated with sodium chloride solutions (0-2 m) and tolerance was 

assessed by examining the pink colour developed after 24 h in 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride. The 

tissue type showing effective response to salt concentration varied between species. Variation in salt 

tolerance was apparent and the most tolerant lines for each species are given. As salt concentration 

increased, tissue survival percentage decreased. 

Keywords: Salinity, Varieties, Salinity-responses, Tolerance, Root-crops. 

479.Remedios, T. and A. R. Persson. 1976. Background notes to the proposed project: The local production 

of vegetables in Tanzania with the aims of improving the nutritional standards of families and for 

supplying to the urban areas. Strensiltrykk Norges Landbrukshoegskole. Institutt for 

Groennsakdyrking (Norway)(no.89): 1-32.

102 

Keywords: Nutrition, Marketing, Vegetables. 

480.Samson, J. A. 1972. Tropical spinach from Amaranthus, Ipomoea and Xanthosoma. Surinaamse 

Landbouw 20(1): 15-21. 

In preliminary tests with Amaranthus material at Wageningen, a Surinam cultivar showed no differences 

in flowering response to day lengths of 10.5 and 13.5 h, while a reddish-leaved Ethiopian cultivar 

showed considerable delay at day lengths above 12.5 h. In the hothouse, under high temperatures, low 

light intensity and low days, two Surinam varieties of X. satittifolia designated Butter Leaf and Buffalo 

Leaf differed in content of ascorbic acid and in tuber characters. 

Keywords: Netherlands, Photoperiodism, Plant-composition, Composition, Cultural-methods. 

481.Seck, A. 1997. Developing new varieties of indigenous vegetables. Pp.76-80. in Workshop on African 

indigenous vegetables. January 13-18, 1997 Limbe, Cameroon Limbe, Cameroon Workshop 

Papers(Schippers, R. and L. Budd, editors). ODA. 

Keywords: Development, Varieties. 

482.Seck, A. 1997. Seed production and storage of indigenous vegetables. Pp.81-7. in Workshop on African 

indigenous vegetables. January 13-18, 1997. Limbe, Cameroon Limbe, Cameroon Workshop 

Papers(Schippers, R. and L. Budd, editors). ODA. 

Keywords: Seed-production, Storage. 

483.Seme, E. N. 1988. The National Genebank of Kenya. PGRC/E ILCA Germplasm Newsletter(17): 18-27. 

To prevent further erosion of plant genetic resources in Kenya, the National Genebank was established 

in 2 phases. Phase I involved the establishment of a genetic resources network among existing research 

stations and renovating the cold storage facilities for their collections. Phase II involved the construction 

of a central genebank at Muguga. Crops which cannot be stored as seed are maintained as living. 


Keywords: Genetic-resources, Cash-crops, Gene-banks, Genetics. 

484.Shalaby, M. T. 1991. Household productivity in new rural settlements in Egypt: perspectives on kitchen 

gardens. Third World Planning Review 13(3): 237-59. 

Keywords: Vegetable-growing, Domestic-gardens, Households, Income, Gender. 

485.Shongwe, V. D. and J. C. Norman. 1992. A review of fruit vegetable crops research at the University of 

Swaziland. Uniswa Journal of Agriculture(1): 77-82 

Research on fruit vegetable crops at the University of Swaziland has been reviewed and found to be 

inadequate. Very little research has been done on tomatoes, pumpkins, green beans [Phaseolus vulgaris] 

and okras. No research has been done on important crops such as sweet pepper [Capsicum], hot pepper 

[chillies], egg plant [aubergines], sweet corn, peas, melons, squash, cucumbers and watermelons. The 

high turnover of expatriate horticulturists might be a factor contributing to the present state of affairs. 

There is therefore an urgent need for more emphasis to be placed on fruit vegetable crop research. Research 

efforts should be concentrated on cultivar evaluation and selection, crop rotation, cultural practices, 

crop protection (diseases, pests and weeds) and crop physiology. 


Keywords: Research,Weed-control, Fruit-vegetables. 

General 

486.Sinnadurai, S. 1980. Vegetable genetic resources in Ghana. Plant Genetic Resources Newsletter(42): 12-3. 

The characteristics of local varieties of tomato, okra and onion are briefly described, with reference to 

breeding objectives at the University of Ghana. The local tomato variety Wosowoso is high yielding and

103 

tolerant of nematodes. It is an indeterminate variety with ridged fruits which have low pulp content. A 

survey of varieties of Hibiscus esculentus from the various regions of the country showed differences in 

earliness of flowering, size, shape and dehiscence of fruit. Bawka is the most widely grown local variety 

of Allium cepa var. cepa. Its bulbs vary in colour from white to deep red and in shape from elliptical to 

round. The variety can be subdivided into three different classes for maturity. 

Keywords: Genetic-resources. 

487.Tidbury, G. E. and H. D. Tindall. 1985. Ninth African symposium on horticultural crops. in Paper from 

the 9 African Symposium on Horticultural Crops. 27-29 July 1983 Mahe, Seychelles. ISHA, Wageningen 


Keywords: Harvesting, Regeneration, Yields. 

488.Tindall, H. D. 1976. Fruits and vegetables in West Africa. FAO Plant Production and Protection Series 

(FAO). Collection FAO. Production Vegetale Et Protection Des Plantes (FAO), no. 4. FAO, Rome (Italy). 

Keywords: Species, Vegetables. 

General 

489.Tindall, H. D. 1983. Vegetables in the tropics. Macmillan Press Ltd, London, UK. 

Vegetables in the tropics are numerous and diverse. They include plants better known elsewhere as 

ornamentals (e.g. Celosia argentea) or weeds (e.g. Solanum nigrum) and plants of non-tropical origin which 

rarely set seed in the tropics (e.g. cabbage). This very comprehensive book covers some 140 vegetable crops 

(belonging to 23 families) described in alphabetical order of family, genus and species. Information is 

provided on: common names; botanical varieties; cultivars selected for specific regions; centre of origin and 

distribution; areas of cultivation; botanical description; environmental response; cultural requirements; 

growth period and harvesting; preparation for market and storage; use and nutritional composition; and 

pests and diseases. Most crops are illustrated by clear line drawings or monochrome photographs. Each 

chapter is followed by a bibliography. Some standard books on tropical agricultural are extensively quoted. 

No attempt has been made to include the numerous non-herbaceous tropical plants, parts of which are 

used as vegetables (e.g. baobab leaves). The introduction of new vegetables may lead to unexpected reactions. 

Raw carrots became very popular as snacks in Northern Nigeria. Soya beans were not popular 

because they required much cooking, a disadvantage where firewood is scarce. The data presented in this 

book will be most useful to those concerned with introductions and research, and to students and vegetable 

growers. The author, well-known for his publications on tropical agriculture, has produced a work which 

will be considered a standard reference for many years to come. D. O’D. BOURKE. 

Keywords: Natural-distribution, Plant-anatomy, Plant-breeding, Plant-diseases, Plant-production. 

490.Tindall, H. D. Vegetable crops. Pp. 101-25 in Food crops of the lowland tropics. (CL. A. and J. B. Wills 

Leakey, Editors. Oxford University Press, UK. 

In this review of vegetable-crop research in West Africa, mention is made of methods of seed storage, 

resistance to a range of diseases in Solanum melongena, Lycopersicon esculentum and cucurbits, varieties of 

L. esculentum which are suitable for canning and others which give high yields and are suited to specific 

climatic conditions, variety-trial data on Capsicum annuum, the adaptation of onion varieties from the 

USA to West African conditions, and varieties of cabbage and cauliflower suitable for cultivation in West 

Africa. Investigation into the possible usefulness of local strains and species, particularly with reference 

to Amaranthus, Basella and egg plant and their collection, is stressed. 

Keywords: Breeding, Varieties, Seed-storage, Variety-trials. 

491.Toll, J. and V. Gwarazimba. 1983. Collecting in Zimbabwe (cereal, legume and vegetable species). 

Plant Genetic Resources Newsletter(53): 2-5. 

Keywords: Plant-collection, Zimbabwe, Germplasm, Legume-crops, Genetic-stocks. 

492.Torreilles, J. C. 1989. Itineraires techniques de saison sèche et stratégies des maraichers de Brazzaville, 

Congo (Dry-season farming and vegetable gardening strategies in Brazzaville, Congo). Agricongo, 

Brazzaville, Congo. CNEARC, Montpellier (France).

104 General 

Since 1986 a study has been carried out by Agricongo, an agricultural research centre, and IRAT’s 

agroeconomics laboratory, on the modernization of vegetable growing systems in Brazzaville (Congo). 

Studies of farming systems in urban outskirts and those studied by Agricongo show numerous points in 

common. The development phase of the initial project started in 1990. The desire to modernize vegetable 

growing systems has oriented Agricongo towards testing European vegetables rather than local leafy 

vegetables. The analysis of production systems demonstrates that there is a large variety of situations: 

from farms with land ownership constraints (with leafy vegetables), to farms of commercial vegetable 

growers (where European vegetables predominate). Agricongo must take into account this diversity by 

adjusting its recommendations and farming models. 

Keywords: Vegetable-crops, Farming-systems, Modernization. 

493.Torreilles, J. C. 1991. Les légumes dans la consommation et les préparations alimentaires des ménages 

brazzavillois (Vegetables in the food preparation and consumption of households in Brazzaville 

(Congo)). CIRAD IRAT, Montpellier (France). 

Surveys were carried out in Brazzaville (Congo) within the framework of research and development 

activities undertaken by Agricongo (an agricultural research centre) in cooperation with IRAT. These 

activities focused on the socioeconomic mechanisms of market garden commodity chains and how they 

will be affected by the innovations proposed by Agricongo. The socioeconomic characteristics of households, 

and the preparation and consumption of various foods were examined. Vegetable consumption 

by households in Brazzaville was found to depend on a number of factors, including the type of work, 

standard of living and the consumer’s region of origin. Urban constraints play an important role in the 

organization of collective dining groups. Their food is characterized by basic fish dishes and sauces 

with leafy vegetables. Prices have little influence on the amount of vegetables consumed in different 

seasons. 

Keywords: Food-consumption, Urban-areas, Surveys. 

494.Uzo, J. O. 1988. Yield and harvest periodicities of some indigenous perennial fruits, and leaf vegetables 

in tropical West Africa. Pp.259-65. in International Symposium on Current Problems on Fruits and 

Vegetables (Tropical and Sub Tropical). 1988 Los Banos, Laguna (Philippines) Los Banos, Laguna 

(Philippines) Picarrd Book Series (Philippines)No. 60 Piccard Book Series (Philipines), Los Banos, 

Laguna (Philippines). 

The major problems facing the perennials in tropical Africa have been investigated. Results show that 

under semi-wild and wild environment, yield of the edible organ is very low because of lack of intensive 

care and more so because there is no selection of planting stocks. Additional screening and classification 

into photoperiodic classes would facilitate a break in the seasonality of production and this is an urgent 

research need. There is a need to develop appropriate technique for easy propagation of the semi-wild 

and wild edible species. Adaptation of crops to conditions under cultivation in pure culture and studies 

on their biochemical value as food demand a lot of horticultural research commitment. 


Keywords: Vegetable-crops, Wild-plants, Yields, Environmental-factors, Photoperiodicity. 

495.van Sloten, D. H. 1980. Vegetable genetic resources. Plant Genetic Resources Newsletter(44): 20-5. 

Keywords: Genetic-stocks. 

496.Wehmeyer, A. S. 1986. Why so little research on the ennoblement of indigenous edible wild plants? 

Pp. 47-53 in International symposium on fruit and vegetables for processing (D. K. Strydom, editor.Acta 

Horticulturae (Netherlands), no. 194. ISHS, Wageningen (Netherlands). 

International Symposium on Fruit and Vegetables for Processing. Capetown (South Africa). 18-22 Nov 

1985. 

Keywords: Food-crops, Plant-resources, South Africa.

A 

Adaptability 25 

Agricultural 

economics 71 

Production 47 

research 38, 64 

structure 55 

Agroforestry 33, 49, 68, 71 

Agronomic-characters 25, 31, 34 

Agronomy 15, 27 

Allelopathy 33 

Amino 

acids 27, 80 

Analytical 

methods 27, 74 

Anatomy 51, 53 

Animal 

biology 83 

Anther 

culture 36 

Antifungal-properties 49 

Application-methods 69 

Ascorbic 

acid 8, 79, 80 

Assessment 8 

Availability 83 

B 

Backcrossing 34 

Bananas 23 

Beta 

carotene 3 

Beverages 26 

Biochemistry 79 

Biodiversity 55 

Biogeography 74, 76 

Biological 

competition 97 

control 47 

properties 27, 73 

Biology 1, 5, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 30 

Biotechnology 36, 54, 92 

Bitter-principles 65 

Blanching 46, 83 

Botanical 

composition 55, 78 

descriptors 53 

insecticides 90 

Breeding 

2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 11, 16, 17, 21, 22, 31, 32, 47, 51, 54, 

58, 95, 100, 103 

methods 93 

Broadleaves 51, 52, 54, 55, 62, 63 

C 

Carbohydrates 59, 80 

Carotenoids 46, 80 

Cash 

crops 101 

Cassava-mosaic-virus 37 

Centres-of-diversity 5, 53, 56 

Index 

105 

Centres-of-origin 53 

Cereals 40 

Characteristics 23, 27 

Characterization 55 

Chemical-composition 

6, 12, 25, 27, 30, 55, 79, 85, 92 

Chemistry 27 

Choanephora-cucurbitarum 1 

Chromosome 

aberrations 18 

number 15, 20, 23, 30, 58 

pairing 20 

Climatology 25 

Clonal 

variation 57 

Cluster 

analysis 10 

Collecting 55, 56, 70 

Collection 75 

Colour 8, 20, 30 

Community 

forestry 

40, 43, 48, 52, 63, 66, 87, 89, 94, 95, 100 

Composition 

10, 16, 37, 50, 68, 69, 79, 80, 82, 85, 101 

Conservation 

40, 47, 48, 55, 57, 58, 64, 66, 70, 72, 74, 94, 96, 98 

Constraints 71 

Consumer 

behaviour 72, 94 

surveys 92 

Consumption 45 

Contamination 76 

Control 46 

methods 65 

Controlled-atmosphere-storage 11 

Cooking 59, 81, 85 

quality 1 

Crop 46, 55, 64, 98 

Cultivation 4, 32, 46, 49, 70, 71, 75, 76 

Maintenance 48 

evolution 28 

harvesting 38 

maintenance 49, 75, 76 

management 48, 62, 65, 70 

plants 96 

potential 50, 91, 98 

production 91 

protection 46, 77 

rotations 4 

yield 13, 44, 49, 65 

Cropping 

pattern 44 

system 43, 46, 95, 99, 100 

Cultivars 8, 13, 23, 28, 61, 71 

Cultivation 42, 43, 48, 60, 65, 72, 74 

Cultural 

methods 6, 27, 35, 42, 60, 71, 98, 99, 101 

practices 4, 7, 11, 43, 50, 69, 91, 94, 98 

Culture 76 

Cyanide 37 

Cytology 7, 14, 16, 18, 22

D 

106 

Damage 52 

Dates 73 

Developing-countries 48 

Development 3, 67, 101 

projects 93 

Diet 88 

Diets 78, 88 

Disease 

incidence 39 

Diseases 4, 60, 90 

diagnosis 45 

resistance 33, 36 

Distibution 27 

Distribution 15, 18, 24, 30, 50, 62, 63, 68 

natural-range 55 

Diversification 55, 61 

Domestic 

gardens 42, 48, 53, 55, 71, 82, 94, 96, 101 

Domestication 73, 93 

Drought 

stress 52 

Drug 

plants 30, 40, 65 

Dry 

season 54 

Dry-matter-content 10 

Drying 12, 25, 46, 83 

Dye-and-Pigment-Products 50 

E 

Earliness 33 

Ecology 1, 15, 27, 30 

Economic 

botany 66 

Economics 55, 71 

Edible 

species 29, 54, 68 

Eggplant 28, 31 

Electrophoresis 6 

Elements 76 

Energy 

feeds 83 

Environment 2, 76 

Environmental 

factors 67, 104 

Enzyme 

activity 84 

Epidemiology 88 

Epidermis 18 

Ethnicity 88 

Ethnobotany 

27, 29, 30, 40, 43, 54, 71, 74, 87, 89, 95, 97 

Evaluation 13, 31, 51 

Evolution 15, 16, 20, 21, 22, 92 

Ex-situ 94 

Experimentation 70 

Export 43 

Exports 45 

Extension 28, 68, 70 

activities 55, 58 

Extraction 14 

Extracts 49 

F 

Famine 93 

Farm 

survey 91 

Farmer-participatory-research 67 

Farmers 48, 67 

Farming 

systems 44, 58, 71, 75, 100, 103 

types 76, 83 

Fatty 

acids 6, 27 

Feeding 

habits 88 

preferences 66 

Fertility 34 

Fertilizer 6, 68, 71 

application 5, 65 

response 10, 12, 85 

Fibre 79 

crops 24, 25, 26, 71, 77 

plants 12, 13 

Field trials 1 

Fish 

products 75 

Flours 38 

Flowering 11, 12, 18, 33, 70 

Flowers 22, 51, 73 

Fodder 


Foliage 51 

Food 

consumption 75, 88, 103 

crops 28, 30, 40, 45, 54, 55, 57, 60, 74, 76, 78, 

80, 91, 95, 99, 104 

plants 53 

policies 60 

preparation 1, 87, 95 

preservation 83 

production 61 

resources 78, 82 

safety 62 

security 60 

shortage 78 

supply 55, 80, 97 

technology 40, 46, 80, 85 

Foods 59, 61 

Forage 

Plants 83 

Foreign 

trade 45 

Forest 

products 59, 61 

trees 57 

Fruit 35 

crops 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 48, 51, 53, 69, 89, 91, 

92, 94, 95, 96, 97 

trees 98 

vegetables 30, 34, 42, 59, 76, 84, 102 

Fruit-and-nut-crops 67 

Fruiting 42 

Fruits 19, 40, 42, 67, 80, 84 

Fungal 

diseases 1, 33, 58

G 

Gardening 92 

Gardens 46, 55, 71 

Gender 67, 96, 101 

Gene 

banks 42, 53, 55, 98, 101 

centres 75 

flow 31 

Genes 31 

Genetic 47, 74 

characters 99 

differences 8 

diversity 72 

markers 31 

resources 

3, 4, 5, 9, 11, 24, 27, 31, 47, 51, 54, 55, 60, 67, 

68, 70, 87, 89, 92, 96, 98, 100, 101, 102 

stocks 103, 104 

transformation 31 

variation 10, 57, 96 

Genetics 7, 17, 21, 27, 29, 30, 33, 52, 57, 73, 101 

Genome 

analysis 23 

Genotype-environment-interaction 2, 13 

Germination 14, 41, 49, 70 

Germplasm 31, 33, 43, 64, 70, 75, 94, 103 

conservation 12, 67, 93, 95, 99 

Grain-legume-crops 69 

Green 

vegetables 54, 80, 86 

Growing 

media 5 

Growth 2, 5, 13, 38, 41, 45, 49, 65 

period 11 

rate 10 

regulators 23, 33 

H 

Habit 18 

Habitats 12, 92 

Handling 79 

Harvest 

timing 25, 34, 39, 44 

Harvesting 7, 38, 39, 69, 72, 102 

date 6 

frequency 8 

methods 25, 44 

Health 43, 62 

Heat 

treatment 81 

Hedges 68 

Herbaria 12 

Heritability 28 

Heterosis 28 

History 76 

History-and-evolution 6, 9, 23 

Home 

garden 62, 78, 94, 96 

gardening 48 

Horticulture 48, 55, 67, 72, 76 

Host 

range 45, 57 

Households 101 

Human 

behaviour 72 

Biology 83, 87, 88 

Humid 

zones 64 

Hybridization 6, 29 

Hybrids 73 

I 

107 

Identification 12, 31, 54, 73, 96 

Immunological 

techniques 73 

Improvement 56 

In 

situ 94 

Income 82, 101 

Incompatibility 15 

Indigenous 28, 40, 58, 82, 91, 92, 93 

knowledge 30, 59, 69, 87, 89 

species 67 

vegetables 52, 58, 76, 79 

Industrial 


Inheritance 29 

Innovation 

adoption 38, 58 

Insect 

pests 69, 91 

vectors 45 

Intercropping 33, 38, 68, 97 

Interspecific 

hybridization 

2, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 29, 31, 34, 56 

Introduction 28 

Iron 83 

Irrigation 45, 46, 47 

frequency 45 

systems 96 

Isoenzymes 6 

J 

Juice 

extraction 26 

K 

Keeping 

quality 11, 91 

Key 28 

L 

Land 

races 51 

use 96 

varieties 70, 93 

Leaf 38 

area 41 

bases 19 

number 7 

quality 11, 37, 68 

Leafy 51 

vegetables 7, 76, 87 

Leaves 5, 6, 9, 18, 30, 37, 38, 41, 65, 79, 85 

Legume 


Legumes 40 

Life 

cycle 66

108 

Light 2, 36, 52 

Lipid 

content 6 

Lipids 80 

Local 

knowledge 67 

Losses 59 

Low-input-agriculture 96 

M 

Maintenance 32, 70 

Mankind 55 

Maps 24, 92 

Market 

gardens 46, 48, 72 

Marketing 

38, 45, 46, 47, 50, 61, 62, 63, 64, 74, 88, 92, 97, 99, 101 

Markets 59, 87 

Maturation 25 

Maturity 

variation 85 

Measurement 41 

Medicinal 70 

plants 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22, 28, 29, 30, 51, 89 

properties 30, 40 

Meiosis 18, 19, 20, 22 

Meloidogyne 90 

Metabolism 2, 10, 79 

Methods 41 

Migration 71 

Mineral 

content 74 

Minerals 76 

Mixoploidy 19 

Modernization 75, 103 

Molecular 

genetics 92 

Morphology 14, 18, 22, 51, 53, 65 

Mosaic 60 

Mulching 19 

Multistorey 

cropping 78 

Multivariate 

analysis 2, 14 

Mushrooms 61 

Mutations 11 

N 

Natural 

distribution 12, 76, 92, 102 

pesticides 69 

Nature 

conservation 76 

Nematode 

control 90 

Nematodes 57 

Nematology 65 

Network 57 

Nitrogen 12, 85 

Nomenclature 74 

NPK 

fertilizers 65 

Nutrient 

accumulation 85 

content 19, 68 

intake 92 

uptake 82 

Nutrients 59, 93 

Nutrition 10, 53, 58, 61, 62, 79, 83, 84, 88, 101 

surveys 92 

Nutritional 

impact 92 

requirements 51, 82 

status 82 

value 

2, 7, 9, 16, 23, 27, 37, 41, 43, 50, 51, 55, 68, 

74, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 91, 98 

O 

Oil 


Oils 36 

Oilseed 

plants 53, 54 

Oilseeds 41, 91 

Organic 6 

farming 60 

Organogenesis 23 

Ornamental 

plants 28 

Outcrossing 31 

Oxalates 3 

P 

Participatory 67 

Pathogenicity 2 

Pest 

control 27, 69, 90, 91 

damage 34 

Nematodes 2 

resistance 65 

Pests 2, 4, 27, 46, 61, 71, 90 

Photoperiod 12 

Photoperiodicity 104 

Photoperiodism 11, 12, 101 

Photosensitivity 24 

Photosynthesis 52 

Physical-environment 88 

Physiology 

plant 24 

Placement 65 

Plant 84 

age 85 

anatomy 5, 27, 102 

biology 51, 78, 87 

breeding 26, 32, 33, 41, 62, 67, 95, 99, 102 

collection 24, 31, 33, 35, 51, 94, 103 

competition 97 

composition 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 16, 68, 84, 101 

development 73 

diseases 25, 26, 27, 39, 47, 56, 65, 102 

ecology 82, 88 

extracts 90 

growth 3, 73 

habit 13 

height 30 

morphology 71 

nematodes 90 

pathogens 47 

pathology 46, 90

Pests 77 

physiology 73 

population 7, 34, 95 

production 42, 43, 57, 64, 74, 77, 98, 102 

products 45, 50, 61, 62, 76, 82, 93 

protection 51 

resources 104 

selection 26, 99 

support 68 

viruses 73 

Plant-breeding-and-selection 46 

Plant-Breeding-Selection 77 

Plant-genetic-resources 14, 29, 30, 54, 56 

Plant-Growth-and-Development 8, 30, 35 

Plant-growth-and-development 12 

Plant-nomenclature 51 

Plant-parasitic-nematodes 52 

Plant-water-relations 5 

Planting 93 

date 44, 65 

density 7, 10 

Plants 80 

Policy 67 

Pollen 2 

Pollination 21, 42 

Polyploidy 2, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 31 

Polysaccharides 50 

Population-pressure 96 

Post 

harvest 87, 99 

Post-harvest- handling 46 

Postharvest 

losses 90 

Postharvest-technology 51 

Preservation 80 

Priority 

species 42 

Processed 

foods 42 

Processing 26, 38, 59, 62, 82, 85 

Product 

properties 26, 32, 79, 81, 82, 83 

Production 23, 40, 47, 56, 63, 64, 74 

factors 94 

location 94 

policies 43 

possibilities 94 

Production-structure 45 

Productivity 71 

Propagation 23, 69, 73 

Propagation-methods 50 

Protein 8 

content 3, 37 

value 80 

Proteins 2, 3, 8, 50, 68, 79, 80, 81, 82, 84 

Pseudocereals 3 

Q 

Quality 14, 42, 62, 79 

R 

Rainfall 44 

Rats 83 

Reference-Document 4 

Reference-Documents 32, 49, 78, 87 

Regeneration 7, 36, 102 

Regional 

survey 31, 51, 89 

Repellents 27 

Reports 30, 34 

Research 30, 34, 43, 45, 47, 48, 55, 64, 67, 102 

policies 44 

Research-institutions 44, 93 

Resistance 61, 65 

Resource-depletion 59 

Resources 74 

Role-of-women 94 

Root 


Root-and-tuber-crops 69 

Roots 38, 39, 68 

Rotations 46, 65 

Rural 

development 58 

sociology 58 

Rural-Industries-Economics 50 

S 

Salinity 101 

responses 101 

Seasonal 

variation 1, 85 

Seed 41, 49 

germination 69 

industry 93 

production 7, 17, 41, 46, 54, 71, 95, 101 

selection 100 

storage 100, 103 

treatment 14 

Seed-characteristics 18, 54 

Seedlings 13, 49, 65 

Seeds 1, 8, 14, 27, 69, 71, 73 

Selection 31, 32, 97 

criteria 52 

Semiarid 

zones 43 

Senescence 9 

Sex 

ratio 41 

Shoot 

pruning 13 

Silage 37 

Small 

farmers 78 

Small-scale-farming 55, 61, 77 

Social 

change 58 

Soil 

fertility 99 

types 5 

Solanaceae 18 

Sources 80, 83, 84 

Sowing 73 

Spacing 34, 49, 70, 97 

Species 34, 59, 61, 102 

diversity 78 

Spectral 

analysis 27 

Spices-and-condiment-crops 94 

Sporulation 49 

109

110 

Stability 13 

Statistical 

analysis 41 

Stems 65 

Sterility 34 

Sterility-and-fertility 9, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 31 

Steroids 65 

Stomata 5 

Storage 16, 37, 53, 79, 101 

losses 79, 90 

Storage-temperature 12 

Strategies 91 

Stress 57 

Sugar 

acids 59 

Supply 50, 55 

Survey 57 

Surveys 12, 46, 54, 58, 75, 78, 84, 103 

T 

Taxa 28 

Taxonomy 

1, 5, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 

23, 24, 27, 29, 53, 58, 65, 74, 76, 92 

Teaching 

materials 48, 65 

Temperature 3, 12, 16 

Tissue 

culture 19, 23, 36 

Tolerance 101 

Trace 

elements 76, 80 

Trade 47, 63 

Tradional-vegetables 43 

Traditional 60, 72 

farming 38, 60, 91, 100 

storage 82 

Traditional-knowledge 60 

Translocation 9 

Transmission 90 

Transplanting 13, 65 

Transport 50 

Tree 

breeding 52, 63 

Tubers 38, 40 

U 

Uganda 28 

Underutilized 15, 51, 93 

Unit 

Processes 50 

Unreduced-gametes 16 

Urban 

areas 61, 75, 103 

Use 40, 70, 94 

Uses 12, 48, 74 

Utilization 

5, 15, 27, 29, 30, 40, 41, 47, 52, 57, 58, 59, 60, 

63, 66, 72, 74, 76, 89 

V 

Variability 2 

Variation 51, 52, 67 

Varieties 3, 4, 6, 7, 42, 61, 73, 93, 96, 101, 103 

Variety 

classification 13 

performance 24, 25, 39 

quality 25 

trials 1, 3, 36, 42, 60, 70, 103 

Vegetable 

crops 

8, 19, 32, 33, 35, 37, 42, 43, 44, 45, 51, 

53, 55, 61, 64, 65, 66, 69, 73, 74, 75, 

77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83, 91, 94, 95, 98, 99, 

100, 103, 104 

garden 98 

growing 48, 101 

products 81, 83 

Vegetables 

5, 34, 35, 40, 51, 58, 60, 61, 62, 65, 68, 72, 75, 

77, 87, 91, 92, 93, 94, 101, 102 

Vegetative 

growth 16 

period 41 

Viability 14 

Villages 55 

Viral 

diseases 37, 45 

Viruses 90 

Vitamins 46, 59 

W 

Water 

use 45 

Weed 

biology 19 

control 102 

cover 19, 68 

utilization 5 

Weeds 1, 5, 14, 15, 19 

Wild 43, 66 

plants 

41, 42, 54, 59, 68, 78, 82, 88, 92, 93, 97, 104 

relatives 29, 56 

species 53, 89 

Wild-food-plants 87, 95 

Women 55 

Y 

Yield 1, 2, 7, 99 

components 6, 8, 10, 13, 14 

correlations 27 

Yields 7, 8, 36, 38, 39, 41, 70, 90, 95, 97, 102, 104 

Z 

Zeatin 23

ISBN 92-9043-531-3

Neglected leafy green vegetable crops in Africa Vol. 2 - GFU for ...

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