Abstract
Plectranthus edulis (Vatke) Agnew is a tuber crop originated and cultivated in Ethiopia for food and medicinal uses. It has higher quality nutrient composition than other tuber crops. The cultivation of P. edulis is under threat because of introduction of exotic species, land use change, habitat destruction, population pressure, selection of only few local varieties by farmers and climate change. Although P. edulis is a high potential food security crop, there is no any improved variety as there has been very little research on the crop. This lack of research attention including absence of improved varieties and lack of conservation strategy may lead to significant genetic erosion of this crop. Previous studies of P. edulis include documentation of indigenous knowledge, analysis of nutritional composition and the use of its starch in drug formulation, traditional cultivation practices, micropropagation, in vitro regeneration, and morphological and molecular genetic diversity. However, more extensive research in all aspects is required for its improvement, use and conservation. Therefore, it is imperative to review the research results of this crop for the research community. This article reviewed research findings of this crop and presents it in a comprehensive way so that the readers will get ample information and can refer original research findings for the details.
Highlights
IntroductionData Availability Statement: All relevant data are within the paper and its Supporting Information files
Data Availability Statement: All relevant data are within the paper and its Supporting Information files.Author Contributions: All authors contributed to the work
Shortage of tuber seed is the major problem of this crop
Summary
Data Availability Statement: All relevant data are within the paper and its Supporting Information files. Coleus edulis) is an ancient indigenous tuber crop that occurs both as cultivated and wild spe cies in Ethiopia. There is enormous untapped potential in Ethiopia to exploit the rich and diverse plant genetic resour ces of underutilized root and tuber crops including P. edulis. In spite of this potential, very little research has been done to improve the productivity of P. edu‐ lis (IBC, 2007). The poor storability of tubers is found to be the major production constraint of P. edulis It is propa gated by vegetative methods so that it is susceptible to diseases that are transmitted from one generation to the through infected planting material (Taye, 2008). The objective of this article is to review some aspects of this crop, with particular regard to biotechnologi cal approaches and present it in a comprehensive way so that the readers will get summarized informa tion to design research or policy on conservation and improvement of the crop
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