Topic
Dacryodes edulis
About: Dacryodes edulis is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 231 publications have been published within this topic receiving 2835 citations. The topic is also known as: African plum & Bush pear.
Papers published on a yearly basis
Papers
TL;DR: In this article, the authors describe some tree domestication activities being carried out in southern Cameroon, especially with Irvingia gabonensis (bush mango; dika nut) and Dacryodes edulis (African plum; safoutier).
Abstract: New initiatives in agroforestry are seeking to integrate indigenous trees, whose products have traditionally been gathered from natural forests, into tropical farming systems such as cacao farms. This is being done to provide from farms, marketable timber and non-timber forest products that will enhance rural livelihoods by generating cash for resource-poor rural and peri-urban households. There are many potential candidate species for domestication that have commercial potential in local, regional or even international markets. Little or no formal research has been carried out on many of these hitherto wild species to assess potential for genetic improvement, reproductive biology or suitability for cultivation. With the participation of subsistence farmers a number of projects to bring candidate species into cultivation are in progress, however. This paper describes some tree domestication activities being carried out in southern Cameroon, especially with Irvingia gabonensis (bush mango; dika nut) and Dacryodes edulis (African plum; safoutier). As part of this, fruits and kernels from 300 D. edulis and 150 I gabonensis trees in six villages of Cameroon and Nigeria have been quantitatively characterized for 11 traits to determine combinations defining multi-trait ideotypes for a genetic selection programme, I. gabonensis fruits are rich in vitamin A (67 mg 100 ml -1 ), while the kernels are rich in fat (51.3%) and contain a polysaccharide that is a food thickener. The fruits of D. edulis are also rich in oil (31.9%) and protein (25.9%). This poverty-reducing agroforestry strategy is at the same time linked to one in which perennial, biologically diverse and complex mature-stage agroecosystems are developed as sustainable alternatives to slash-and-burn agriculture. To meet the objective of poverty reduction, however, it is crucial that market expansion and creation are possible. Hence, for example, it is important to determine which marketable traits are amenable to genetic improvement. While some traits (such as fruit and kernel mass) that benefit the farmer are relatively easy to identify, there are undoubtedly others that are important to the food, pharmaceutical or other industries which require more sophisticated chemical evaluation. There is a need, therefore, for better linkages between agroforesters and the private sector. The domestication activities described are relevant to the enrichment of smallholder cacao farms and agroforests. This diversification is seen as being important for the support of the cacao industry.
111 citations
TL;DR: The pulp of the African pear, Dacryodes edulis, was investigated for its nutritional quality and oil characteristics as discussed by the authors, which showed significant levels of Ca, Mg, K and P.
Abstract: The pulp of the African pear, Dacryodes edulis, was investigated for its nutritional quality and oil characteristics. The crude protein, fat, fibre and carbohydrate contents were 25.9, 31.9, 17.9 and 13.5%, respectively. The pulp was found to contain significant levels of Ca, Mg, K and P. The fatty acid profiles showed a saturated fatty acid content of 50.85% and an unsaturated fatty acid content of 49.14%. The predominant fatty acids were palmitic and oleic acids. The saponification value and iodine value were 201.4 and 59.6. The amino acid profiles showed high contents of the essential amino acids lysine, leucine and threonine.
86 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the role played by the Dacryodes edulis (safou) in four communities in Southern Cameroon is reported, where it is particularly planted in association with cocoa and coffee plantations.
Abstract: This paper reports on the role played by the indigenous fruit tree species, Dacryodes edulis (safou), in four communities in Southern Cameroon. Safou is originally a forest species but has now almost completed the shift on to the farm, where it is particularly planted in association with cocoa and coffee plantations. Its oil-rich fruit are an important item in local diets and are widely marketed. The income is particularly important to women and its timing coincides with the need to pay school fees and associated costs. The reasons why different farmers plant safou are very complex and change over time. Extension services could help farmers obtain greater benefits from this resource by promoting participatory domestication and providing advice on tree management and fruit storage and processing.
77 citations
TL;DR: The domestication of Dacryodes edulis offers opportunities to improve the livelihoods of subsistence farmers and to diversify farming systems, such as cocoa farms, in Cameroon and Nigeria.
Abstract: A participatory approach to tree domestication is being pioneered by ICRAF and international partners in Cameroon and Nigeria. The domestication of Dacryodes edulis offers opportunities to improve the livelihoods of subsistence farmers and to diversify farming systems, such as cocoa farms. The trees produce marketable fruits as well as shade for cocoa and coffee. Twenty-four ripe fruits were collected from each of 100 D. edulis trees in Mgbuisi, southeast Nigeria by subsistence farmers. There was continuous and significant tree-to-tree variation in fruit mass (10.2±0.5–71.4±1.3 g), flesh mass (6.8±0.3– 62.2±1.2 g) and kernel mass (1.3±0.5–15.1±0.4 g). Mean fruit mass did not differ significantly between different land uses. Flesh mass:kernel mass ratio varied from 0.79 to 29.0. Two trees had fruits without kernels. There was also continuous and significant tree-to-tree variation in fruit length (39.0±0.6– 95.1±1.2 mm), fruit width (21.82±0.16–43.75±0.33 mm) and flesh thickness (1.82±0.1–6.39± 0.1 mm). Fruit length:width ratio varied from 1.35 to 3.18. Cooked fruits varied in taste with only 14% of trees getting the highest score. Similarly, fruits varied in oiliness with only 3% of trees getting the highest score. Thirteen skin colours were recorded, with the most common being dark blue (31%), greyish violet (29%) and deep blue (9%). Ninety-nine percent of the trees had been planted, with 57% in homegardens, 22% in crop fields, 17% in fallow land and 4% in cocoa. Tree height ranged from 4 to 22m, and DBH from 9.55 to 63.65 cm. Tree age ranged from 5 to 64 years. Farmers reported first fruiting from age 3 up to 22 years (average of 9.4 years). Most trees originated from seeds bought in markets (63%). Market prices of fruits from different trees, ranged from 2 to 12 fruits for 10 Naira (US0.07). These quantitative results will help in the identification of elite trees of D. edulis for cultivar development through clonal propagation.
69 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors describe the characterisation of tree-to-tree variation in fruit traits and the opportunities for selecting Dacryodes edulis cultivars based on the intraspecific variation found in local populations in Cameroon and Nigeria, identifying of multi-trait ideotypes for potential cultivar development, and an assessment of the relationships between fruit mass and market prices in fruit samples from three markets, at the peak season, in Cameroon.
Abstract: New initiatives in agroforestry are seeking to integrate trees with marketable products into farming systems. This is being done in order to provide marketable timber and non-timber forest products from farms that will enhance rural livelihoods by generating cash for subsistence farmers. Dacryodes edulis (Safou) is one of the candidate tree species in West and Central Africa for domestication, which has commercial potential in local, regional or even international markets. This paper describes: (i) the characterisation of tree-to-tree variation in fruit traits and the opportunities for selecting D. edulis cultivars based on the intraspecific variation found in local populations in Cameroon and Nigeria, (ii) the identification of multi-trait ideotypes for potential cultivar development, (iii) the organoleptic attributes which are important traits for selection, and (iv) an assessment of the relationships between fruit mass and market prices in fruit samples from three markets, at the peak of season, in Cameroon.
67 citations
Related Topics (5)
Performance Metrics
| Year | Papers |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2020 | 15 |
| 2019 | 9 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2017 | 18 |
| 2016 | 14 |