Abstract
Nere (Parkia biglobosa) is a wild species preferred and overexploited for its multiple uses by rural populations in Sub-Saharan Africa. The study of its germination and seedlings could constitute a prerequisite for its domestication, necessary for its conservation. This study aimed to assess the germination and morphology of seedlings taking into account distinct habitats from its natural environment.A total of 2160 seeds from different mother plants and 540 seedlings from germination were selected and evaluated. The trials were conducted on three sites (two nurseries in Cote d'Ivoire vs one greenhouse in France) with different microclimates. The results showed that the larger the mother trees are, the larger the seeds they produce, which in turn generate more vigorous seedlings. This study showed that the species grows better in a milder environment that is different from its region of origin (fertile soil with a stable or humid tropical climate: Montpellier greenhouse and Daloa nursery). Overall, parent trees did not statistically influence each germination and seedling development parameter for the three sites combined (P > 0.05). However, analysis of variance showed that germination and seedling development parameters differed between experimental sites (P < 0.05). These results are useful and could be used as decision support tools to guide conservation (domestication) and agroforestry programmes based on Parkia biglobosa. This study could be extended to other endangered species in order to preserve biodiversity.
Highlights
The existence of many species is threatened by poverty combined with a galloping demography in most tropical countries (Chupezi et al 2009; Houndonougbo et al 2020)
It seems urgent to develop conservation strategies to compensate for the ever-increasing pressures on certain species that could lead to their extinctions, while taking human needs into account.In African savannah zone, trees and shrubs play a key role in the ecological balance in the face of the advance of the desert (Maazou et al 2017)
The germination of Parkia biglobosa is hypogeal generally with a thick epicotyl at the base reaching an average of 2.07 mm in diameter at the collar and an average of 8.3 cm in length about 22 days after sowing
Summary
The existence of many species is threatened by poverty combined with a galloping demography in most tropical countries (Chupezi et al 2009; Houndonougbo et al 2020). It seems urgent to develop conservation strategies to compensate for the ever-increasing pressures on certain species that could lead to their extinctions, while taking human needs into account.In African savannah zone, trees and shrubs play a key role in the ecological balance in the face of the advance of the desert (Maazou et al 2017). These trees are the main source of goods and services essential to populations (Avana-Tientcheu et al 2019).
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