Plants In Homegardens Research Articles

Characterization and fungicides sensitivity of Colletotrichum species causing Hydrangea macrophylla anthracnose in Beijing, China.

Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) Ser. is one of the widely cultivated plants in home gardens and scenic areas of China. Anthracnose disease is commonly observed during the normal growth of H. macrophylla, significantly impacting its ornamental and economic values. From 2021 to 2023, an investigation on H. macrophylla anthracnose was carried out in nine parks of Beijing, China, and a total of 114 Colletotrichum isolates were obtained from the diseased leaves with typical anthracnose symptoms. Based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of six genomic loci including rDNA-ITS, ACT, TUB2, CAL, CHS-1, and GAPDH, these isolates were identified as belonging to six Colletotrichum species. Among which, C. gloeosporioides was the most abundant (65 isolates, 57.0%), followed by C. fructicola (33 isolates, 28.9%), C. aenigma (8 isolates, 7.0%), C. truncatum (4 isolates, 3.5%), C. subacidae (2 isolates, 1.8%) and C. sojae (2 isolates, 1.8%). Pathogenicity test conducted on detached leaves of H. macrophylla revealed a distinct variation in virulence among isolates from different Colletotrichum species, and wounding was either essential or conducive to successful infection. Specifically, C. gloeosporioides exhibited greater aggressiveness, resulting in larger lesions, while C. subacidae induced lesions most quickly. Fungicide sensitivity assays demonstrated that prochloraz exerted a remarkable inhibitory effect on the mycelial growth of representative isolates belonging to the three predominant Colletotrichum species. In contrast to difenoconazole and tebuconazole, the mean EC50 values for prochloraz against C. gloeosporioides, C. fructicola, and C.aenigma were 0.062, 0.033, and 0.023 μg/ml, respectively. This is the first report of C. aenigma, C. truncatum, C. subacidae and C. sojae causing H.macrophylla anthracnose worldwide including China. These findings have elucidated theColletotrichum species associated with H. macrophylla anthracnose as well as their fungicides sensitivities in Beijing, China. This provides a scientific foundation for the accurate diagnosis and local management of H. macrophylla anthracnose.

Ethnobotanical study on factors influencing plant composition and traditional knowledge in homegardens of Laifeng Tujia ethnic communities, the hinterland of the Wuling mountain area, central China

BackgroundA homegarden is a conventional small-scale agricultural ecosystem dominated predominantly by humans. Homegarden plants, which are plants with specific functionalities that are either cultivated or consciously preserved within the homegarden, are the most critical elements of the homegarden and are capable of providing a multitude of products and services. Recognized as one of China’s biodiversity hotspots, the Wuling mountain area has long been inhabited by multiple ethnic groups, each of which has accumulated a wealth of traditional knowledge. This study focuses on the Tujia ethnic communities in Laifeng County, situated in the hinterland of the Wuling mountain area, with the primary objective of collecting, documenting, and organizing local homegarden plants, their functions, and the associated traditional knowledge, and exploring the factors influencing their composition and diversity.MethodsFrom May 2023 to August 2024, field surveys were conducted in Laifeng County, Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hubei Province, China. Semi-structured interviews and participatory observation were used to gather information on homegarden plants with informed consent. To analyze and evaluate homegarden plants, we employed the relative frequency of citation (RFC) and Jaccard index (J) for quantitative analysis. Additionally, the factors influencing the composition of homegarden plants were investigated using redundancy analysis (RDA).ResultsThis study documented a total of 414 species of homegarden plants from 114 families. These plants are primarily sourced from market purchases (158), spontaneous species (107), wild introductions (103), neighborhood sharing (59), and self-preservation (36). Homegarden plants serve multiple functions, including ornamental (201), medicinal (189), edible (165), traded (95), timber (34), forage (28), and other functions (11). There are 24 homegarden plants with an RFC greater than 0.5, indicating their high importance, including Allium fistulosum, Raphanus sativus, and Brassica rapa var. chinensis. The Jaccard index results suggest the highest degree of similarity between the homegarden plants in Geleche Town and Dahe Town. The RDA results established that knowledge of herbal medicine and homegarden area are two significant factors impacting the composition and diversity of homegarden plants, with the average age of the household resident population also exerting an influence.ConclusionsThis study reveals the composition, source diversity, and functional diversity of homegarden plants within the Laifeng Tujia ethnic community, along with the influencing factors. These homegarden plants play an integral role in sustaining the balance of the homegarden ecosystem and supporting the daily lives of local residents. The management of homegarden plants by the Laifeng Tujia ethnic community carries traditional agricultural knowledge and wisdom. Emphasis should be placed on bolstering the understanding, protection, and transmission of traditional knowledge and culture related to homegardens, which play a vital role in safeguarding local agricultural biodiversity and fostering sustainable development.

Diversity and ethnobotanical study of homegarden plants in Goba district, Oromia region, Ethiopia

Homegardens are one of the most diverse agroforestry systems and make a vital contribution to meeting various household needs, especially for smallholder farmers in developing countries. The aim of this study was to record the diversity and use of homegarden plant species in the Goba District. The households were randomly selected from five kebeles, with the number selected proportionate to the size of each kebele using the probability proportional to size (PPS) calculation. Seventy-one homegarden owners were chosen for the detailed study and data collection. Of the fifteen kebeles in the Goba District, five kebeles were chosen at random. Observations, semi-structured interviews, preference rating, direct matrix rankings, and paired comparisons were the methods used to gather ethno-botanical data. Descriptive statistical approaches, including density, frequency, relative frequency, relative density, and the Shannon and Wiener indices for species diversity were used to analyze the data. A total of 67 plant species belonging to 31 families were identified. Of the 67 plant species, 36 (or 54%) were herbs, 15 (or 22%) were tree species, 22% shrubs, and 2% were climbers. Twenty-eight (20.8%) species collected from homegardens had food and forage value, 17 (25.3%) had fence value, 12 (18%) had shade value, and 23 (34.3%) had medicinal value; moreover, 90% of the homes had home gardens, indicating that farmers value gardening plants that helps improve household food security and revenue generation. The involvement of the local population and government institutions in providing awareness through instruction or training on the sustainable use and management of plant resources is vital to conserve homegarden plants.

The diversity and traditional use of home garden plants near Kerinci Seblat National Park, Indonesia

Abstract. Suwardi AB, Navia ZI, Mubarak A, Rahmat R, Cristy P, Wibowo SG, Irawan H. 2024. The diversity and traditional use of home garden plants near Kerinci Seblat National Park, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 25: 3284-3299. Home gardens are traditional agroforestry systems that improve plant diversity and ecosystem services while also having a direct and beneficial effect on human well-being. Each plant species in a home garden provides a variety of ecosystem services, which are linked to specific ecological functions and social drives. Although home gardens are biodiversity hotspots and have recently been identified as essential to tropical biodiversity conservation, the benefits of ecosystem services offered by home gardens are frequently undervalued. This study aims to analyze the diversity, usage, and traditional knowledge of home garden plants among the local communities living near Kerinci Seblat National Park, Indonesia. This study was carried out in four villages from two districts of Bengkulu Province, Indonesia, i.e. Lebong and Rejang Lebong. Field surveys, plant collections, and interviews with local communities were used in this study. Interviews were conducted with 120 informants (30 in each village) selected at random. A total of 218 plant species belonging to 67 families associated with 12 use categories were recorded in the study area. Capsicum frutescens, Musa x paradisiaca, and Mangifera indica are frequently discovered in home gardens. The most diverse categories of plant use in home gardens encompass food, medicine, and ornament, utilizing various parts such as rhizomes, leaves, flowers, and fruits. Home gardens, with their diverse plant species, are considered to have a significant role in household livelihoods, protecting plant genetic resources, and biodiversity conservation.

Correlation between physical characteristics and plant composition of home gardens in Bandung City, West Java, Indonesia

Abstract. Laraswari S, Wulandari I, Husodo T, Abdoellah OS, Amalia CA, Fawwaz MR, Azadi SM, Farhaniah SS. 2024. Correlation between physical characteristics and plant composition of home gardens in Bandung City, West Java, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 25: 3051-3060. Green open space in urban settings provides various benefits to city residents, yet the increase in urban population indirectly results in a decrease in urban green space. Home gardens can expand urban green space to complement public areas but are often overlooked. This research examines the physical characteristics (area size, shape, and zoning) and plant composition of home gardens in Bandung City, West Java, Indonesia, as well as the correlation between both aspects. This research examined extensive data collection from a densely populated urban area, a context rarely explored but highly relevant in recent urban development. Data was collected in five housing complexes in the Rancasari Sub-district, with 514 home gardens, and correlation analysis was performed using Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA). The result showed that 92.2% of the home gardens had very narrow areas with 2-53m2. The shape of the home garden was dominated by strips, with 66% and 94% of home gardens having front zoning. Across the sampled home gardens, there were 1054 species from 141 families, with a total of 32,967 individuals. Araceae was the most commonly found family with 100 species and Sri Rejeki (Aglaonema commutatum Schott) had the largest number of individuals. Most of the home garden plants were ornamental plants due to their attractive morphology, making them relatively homogeneous within 95% of the home gardens. The presence of ornamental plants was the least influenced by physical characteristics, while medicinal and spice plants can be grouped together as they were more affected by the area size and less by the zone and shape. Edible plants were the most influenced by all physical characteristics, particularly the zone. This study provides new insights into urban ecology, offering valuable information for homeowners, developers, and policymakers to enhance the role of home gardens as private green spaces.

Local knowledge of homegarden plants in Miao ethnic communities in Laershan region, Xiangxi area, China

BackgroundHomegardens are small-scale land use systems with significant implications for local livelihoods, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development due to their diverse flora and fauna. Conducting homegarden surveys enables researchers to gain insights into the traditional ecological knowledge of indigenous communities, preserve homegarden biodiversity, and promote sustainable livelihoods. This study has two objectives: first, to collect, record, and organize data on homegarden plants and related traditional knowledge from three communities in the Laershan Plateau, and second, to analyze the species and functional diversity of homegarden plants in the region while exploring the factors that contribute to the heterogeneous distribution of these plants among the communities of three townships.MethodsThis research employed field surveys in the Laershan Miao Autonomous Region in Xiangxi, China, from September 2021 to August 2023. Data were collected through observation and semi-structured interviews. The study utilized descriptive statistics and quantitative analysis, including the Relative Importance Value (RI), Use Value Index (UV), Jaccard Index (JI), and Comprehensive Index of Land Use Degree (La), to examine the diversity of local homegarden plants and related traditional knowledge, as well as community heterogeneity.ResultsThe study area exhibited rich biodiversity, with 152 plant species recorded belonging to 62 families and 124 genera. These findings highlight the importance of homegarden plants in maintaining ecological balance and enhancing system resilience against disturbances. Homegarden plants serve multiple functions such as food, ornamental, medicinal, and fodder purposes, with edible and trade plants having the most abundant knowledge. Furthermore, this research revealed that communities with similar forest resource compositions may have similar homegarden plant compositions, demonstrating the connection between cultural exchange among different communities and patterns of plant species distribution.ConclusionsThe Laershan region boasts diverse homegarden plant species crucial for ecological balance and resilience. Their multifunctionality reflects human impact. Plant diversity varies with residents' lifestyles, needs, and cultural exchanges. The close connection between plants and local life is clear. Factors like resource distribution, cultural exchange, and lifestyle influence plant distribution. Further research is needed for conservation and sustainable development. Future research should focus on culturally valuable plant species and traditional knowledge applications.

Plant diversity and ethnobotanical importance of home gardens in Ghana’s middle belt: a cross-sectional survey of the Sunyani municipality

BackgroundHome gardens are a species-rich socioecological system with a diverse range of cultivated and naturally occurring plants with the potential to make contributions to address sustainable food, biodiversity and climate crisis. However, there is a dearth of information on the socio-demographic profile of home gardeners and the importance of home gardens to ethnobotany, food security and biodiversity. Therefore, the study aimed to assess the socio-demographic profile of home gardeners in the Sunyani municipality as a case in point for the middle belt of Ghana and to evaluate the diversity of plants in home gardens and their ethnobotanical importance.MethodsA total of 12 suburbs were selected from three subzones in the Sunyani municipality. In each suburb, 25% of households were randomly selected and if they had a home garden, one adult in the house was interviewed. A list of all plants in the home garden and their uses was obtained from respondents. A Chi-square test was used to assess the distribution of home gardeners among various socio-demographic categories, and binomial logistic regression was employed to determine links between socio-demography and home garden attributes. The ethnobotany R package was used to evaluate the ethnobotanical importance of plants in home gardens.ResultsA total of 186 respondents were recruited for this study, 79 being females and 107 males. A total of 79 plant species were also identified belonging to 70 genera and 40 families. Trees were the most common plant life form in home gardens, followed by shrubs, herbs, vines, grasses and lianas. Ethnobotanical indices revealed the most important plants in home gardens to be staples, food supplements and medicinal plants. These were Musa paradisiaca, Caripa pabaya, Xanthosoma sagittifolium, Manihot utilisima and Mangifera indica, Moringa oleifera, Citrus sinensis, Capsicum frutescens, Taraxacum officinale, Solanum aethiopicum, Cocos nucifera, Solanum torvum, Persea americana, Dioscorea alata and Elaeis guineensis.ConclusionPlants used as staples, food supplements and medicinal purposes emerged as the most culturally relevant scoring high on all ethnobotanical indices. Home gardens present an opportunity to address food security and nutrition needs of households and communities.

Ethnobotany of medicinal plants in homegarden of Menoreh Karst Area, Purworejo District, Indonesia

Abstract. Igustita, Fatikha LA, Astikasari L, Kusuma D, Nugraheni RS, Muryanto BS, Anshory DA, Hidayat S, Yasa A, Naim DM, Setyawan AD. 2023. Ethnobotany of medicinal plants in homegarden of Menoreh Karst Area, Purworejo District, Indonesia. Asian J Ethnobiol 6: 174-184. Many medicinal plants can grow in karst areas, one of which is found in the Menoreh karst mountain area, southern of Central Java, Indonesia. Therefore, this research was conducted to determine the diversity and utilization of medicinal plants in the homegarden of the Menoreh Karst area, i.e. Donorejo Village, Purworejo District, Indonesia. The data was collected from plant inventory and interview activities. The plant inventory is carried out through direct house-to-house surveys to observe existing plants and then record and document each species of plant, while interviews were conducted primarily to determine its use as a medicinal ingredient. 46 respondents (households) were interviewed, mostly farmers (47.8%). The result showed that there were 55 species of plants from 34 families used to treat various diseases, such as wounds, digestive disorders, diarrhea, cold/flu, hypertension, etc. The most commonly treated disease is wounds (7 species). The plants commonly used were ginger, turmeric, and vanilla, while the mostly plant family used was Zingiberaceae (7 species and 1 variety). The tree (36%) and shrub (31%) were the most plant habitus used, and the leaves (49%) were the most part used. Most medicinal plants were boiled and then drunk. Almost all species used was cultivated plant (90%). Knowledge about medicinal plants passed down from generation to generation, through trial processes by ancestors, was still maintained. This research shows that homegardens are very important for public health, because of the diversity of plants and the diversity of diseases they can treat.

Homegarden ethnobotany of three Malay Villages in Belitung District, Indonesia

Ethnic culture influences the plant diversity in homegardens, automatically impacting socio-economic and ecological services. The Malay ethnic in the Belitung district uses many species of plants from their homegardens. However, ethnobotanical studies of the homegarden must be carried out for more efficient and sustainable use. This study aimed to describe the plant diversity and structure of the Malay homegarden in the Belitung district through an ethnobotanical perspective. Ethnobotanical data were collected using the participatory observation method in three villages from different sub-districts, Kembiri, Sijuk, and Suak Gual. The key and general respondents were selected using the purposive and the snowball sampling methods, and the plant diversity was identified using the inventory method. The structure of the Malay homegarden in Belitung consists of side, front, and back yards. The homegarden plants have four habitus types: trees, shrubs, herbs, and lianas. The homegarden area in Sijuk villages was the most spacious (599.55 m2). Myrtaceae dominated the homegarden in Sijuk, while the Zingiberaceae dominated the Kembiri and Suak Gual villages. The highest Index of Cultural Significance value is Cocos nucifera in Sijuk and Kembiri villages and Citrus macrocarpa in Suak Gual Village. Malay ethnic uses most homegarden plants for food and medicine ingredients.

Conservation and economic benefits of medicinal plants: Insights from forest-fringe communities of Southwestern Ghana

Medicinal plants have significant socioeconomic and health benefits, especially in developing countries with high poverty rates and limited health care coverage. However, the continuous utilization of medicinal plants without conservation efforts leads to species scarcity, especially for endangered species. This study, therefore, assessed the economic benefits and conservation status of medicinal plants in the Asukese and Amama Forest Reserves in Ghana. Field visits, structured and semi-structured questionnaires were used to survey 172 respondents focusing on their socio-demographic characteristics, medicinal plants used to treat diseases in the communities and plant parts used, preparation and administration of remedies, availability trend of medicinal plants, drivers of loss of medicinal plants, contribution of medicinal plants to gross incomes and conservation strategies. The study identified 143 plant species used to treat 135 ailments and diseases. The mostly highly cited plant family was Fabaceae (15 spp.). On average, medicinal plants contributed 64 % of gross annual income. Income from medicinal plants varied significantly across marital status and primary occupation but was similar across gender, religion, and educational levels. Thirty-three (33) of these plants were perceived to be threatened by over-harvesting, agricultural expansion, mining, logging, and climate change. Consequently, the cultivation of medicinal plants on farms, creation of medicinal plants nurseries, integration of medicinal plants in home gardens, creation of botanic gardens, and indigenous knowledge systems and practices were suggested as strategies for their conservation and sustainability utilization. There is therefore the need for increased conservation efforts to protect medicinal plant species from anthropogenic disturbance and the imminent threat of climate change. This will be critical for biodiversity conservation and sustainable economic development in local communities.

Usos tradicionales y prácticas de manejo de <em>Piper auritum</em> en comunidades maya rurales de Yucatán

Background: Plant domestication is a continuous, multidirectional process that is directed via plant selection and management. In the current study we use Piper auritum, an aromatic plant frequently used in Mexican cuisine and for medicinal purpose, to characterize the domestication level using information about its cultural relevance, management practices and leaf traits differentiation in managed and ruderal populations.
 Questions: What is the level of domestication of the aromatic plant Piper auritum? Are there any morphological or phytochemical differences between home garden and ruderal populations?
 Studied species: Piper auritum, Kunth
 Study site and dates: Ten communities in eastern Yucatan, México, from 2019 to 2021.
 Methods: Fifty-three Semi-structured interviews were applied (72 % women and 28 % men). Morphological and phytochemical leaf traits were measured to test management effects using home garden and ruderal populations.
 Results: People interviewed knew P. auritum and its uses. Five culinary and 12 medicinal uses were registered. P. auritum is grown in homegardens and the main management activity is irrigation. The selection occurs at the leaf level according to their size and resistance. Home garden plants registered greater foliar area and hardness and decreased safrole, compared to ruderal.
 Conclusions: Piper auritum is widely known in the communities and has a variety of culinary and medicinal uses. Management is vital for its survival in home gardens, but the species germinates spontaneously and is not usually planted. We found differences in leaf traits in managed and unmanaged populations. With this evidence we propose that P. auritumis under incipient domestication.

Diversity of Home Garden Plants in Traditional Tourism Villages

Socio-cultural shifts and environmental changes can cause changes in the composition of plants in the home garden. These changes may lead to the loss of uniquely valuable plants in the home garden. Therefore, this study aims to identify species and functions; diversity and similarity as well as the composition of home garden plants in three traditional Balinese tourism villages. The method used was a survey with observation data collection techniques, questionnaires, and interviews. There were a total of 90 samples of home gardens from three traditional tourism villages in Bali with different landscape characteristics, namely Tenganan Pegringsingan, Pengotan, and Julah villages. They were selected as survey locations to record plant diversity. The results of this study show that the plants in the home gardens of the three villages have the main function as ornaments plants. Plants in both Tenganan Pegringsingan and Julah Villages have a high diversity of species, while those in Penggotan Village are considered as the medium category. The differences in plant species in each location indicate that the owners’ culture also has an influence in addition to environmental factors

Patterns of knowledge and use of tropical plants in homegardens of Southern Morelos, Mexico

The aim of this research is to identify the patterns of use and knowledge of plant species growing in selected tropical homegardens in southern Morelos, Mexico. The method consisted of obtaining informed consent, interviews with homegarden managers, recording socioeconomic data, visits to the interior of each selected homegarden, and personal observations. Data were analyzed through multivariate analyses. The results included a floristic composition (132 species) and eight types of use. Grouping of homegardens by type of use differentiated two main groups: homegardens where principal use is for food plants, and others mainly for ornamental plants. Were found significant differences between homegardens by the number of species and type of use. The grouping of species by number of uses revealed two groups; the patterns of use of plants in homegardens differed according to the user’s preferences; multiuse species were appreciated in group two, which dominated the ornamentals. It was found a significant correlation between age and number of plants known for the owners of the homegardens; while occupation, schooling, and income had no correlation. In conclusion, we rejected the hypothesis of nullity due to differences between richness and the preference of species, the management of homegardens, and by the null influence of the socioeconomic factors studied, with the exception of the age owners and their knowledge of the species.

Breeding and Growth Performance of 'Ningzhi 4', a New Blackberry Cultivar with High Yield Potential and Good Quality in China.

The thornless blackberry cultivar 'Ningzhi 4' was developed by the Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Nanjing Botanical Garden Mem. Sun Yat-Sen). The new blackberry cultivar was selected from the 'Kiowa' (female parent) and 'Hull Thornless' (male parent) F1 hybrid. 'Ningzhi 4' had excellent plant characteristics, including thornlessness, semi-erect to erect canes, vigorous growth and good disease resistance. 'Ningzhi 4' had large fruit and high yield. In addition, the parents of the superior hybrid plant were further identified by SSR markers, which provided the basis for the fingerprint of the new blackberry cultivar 'Ningzhi 4'. This is a commercial cultivar to be grown for fruit production for either shipping or local sales. It also has value as a home-garden plant. This unique type of blackberry fruit was a traditional summer fruit. This new cultivar has thornless semi-erect to erect canes and produces high-quality berries with large size, good firmness, excellent flavor, and potential for shipping and postharvest storage. The new blackberry cultivar 'Ningzhi 4' is adapted to all areas of southern China and is expected to replace or complement 'Kiowa', 'Hull Thornless', 'Chester Thornless' and 'Triple Crown'. A local cultivar patent has been approved by the Jiangsu Variety Approval Committee as 'Rubus spp. Ningzhi 4' in 2020 (S-SV-RS-014-2020). In the future, 'Ningzhi 4' could be promoted as an advantageous thornless blackberry cultivar in the main production regions of China.

Design of IoT-Based Tomato Plant Growth Monitoring System in The Yard

The development of tomato plants to produce good fruit cannot be separated from environmental factors that affect their growth and development of tomato plants. These factors include soil moisture, soil pH, temperature, or the amount of light received by tomato plants. The need for water in tomato plants is also very important for their continued growth. Monitoring the development of tomato plants in home gardens based on IoT (Internet of Things) is a monitoring system that utilizes IoT technology to collect, transmit, and analyze data about tomato plants in real-time. In this system, sensors connected to the internet network will be installed on tomato plants to measure several parameters such as soil moisture, air temperature, light intensity, and soil nutrient / pH levels in plants. The collected data will be sent to an IoT platform that will be able to analyze the data. The results of the analysis will be used to make decisions regarding plant care, such as providing water or nutrients that the plants need to grow properly. With cameras to monitor the physical development of the plants, plant height, and fruit development. With this system, communities and farmers can grow tomato plants and can monitor and control plant conditions in real-time through smartphone applications. By utilizing IoT technology, monitoring the development of tomato plants becomes more efficient and accurate. Communities and farmers can take preventive measures to avoid plant disorders and diseases before it's too late, to increase the production and quality of crops.

Assessment of Wild Edible Plant Species in East Hararghe Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

Wild edible plant species are very important to improve food security and diversify household income sources. However, its identification and document of wild edible plant species limited. The study was conducted in four districts of East Hararghe Zone, to identify and document of wild edible plant species in the study area. Wild edible plant species surveys, and data such as wilderness, edibility or parts used, growth form, threatening factors, conservation measures were assessed. People perceptions were captured from a total of 170 informants using an informal interview, focus group discussions, and questionnaires and observation in the study area. Most species taxonomically known and for those unknown, were collected and identified with elder peoples. Descriptive methods of data analysis were employed to analyze data on wild edible plant species. The result showed that a total of 26 wild edible plant species were recorded in the study area. Four life forms: 65% species were as trees, 15% as shrubs, 8% as herbs, and 8% as climbers. Parts used fruits 83%, bark 5%, seed 4%, leaf 4%, stem 2.94 and root 2% were recorded. Most of wild edible plant species were consumed as raw fruit (80%) as supplementary food supply. Women and children are responsible in wild edible plants collection. Potential of existed wild edible plants in the study area were low and the current abundance of wild edible plant species was decreasing. The most threatening factors to hinder the development of wild edible plant species were agricultural expansion and deforestation. This study identified the most importance of wild edible plant species to local communities, particularly in the selected districts. Wild edible plant plays an important role in rural livelihoods by ensuring food, medicine, and sustained income. Therefore, there is an urgent need for research on domestication of wild edible plants in home gardens, mixing with crops in the study area to enhance the wild edible plan species production for food security and dietary diversity in East Hararghe Zone. Further research also need to collect and conserve, propagation and management activities of the wild edible plants identified in the study area. Further study also carried out on nutritional contents of the wild edible plants. Finally, further study must be on strengthening botanical information, germplasm collection and genetic improvement, increasing the supply of high-quality planting materials, and promoting on-farm cultivation in the form of agroforestry systems to recognize the identifying and selecting preferred species.

Changes in homegardens in relocation villages, a case study in the Baiku Yao area in Southern China

BackgroundBaiku Yao is an ancient branch of the Yao people in China who have the custom of maintaining homegardens. The local government has relocated some villagers to improve their livelihood. To study the characteristics of Baiku Yao homegardens and the impact of relocation, we conducted an ethnobotanical study on homegardens in the relocated villages of Huaili and Yaozhai and in the ancient villages of Yaoshan and Duonu from January 2019 to May 2022.MethodData on homegarden plants were collected through semi-structured interviews with homegarden households. A total of 4 villages (i.e., two relocated and two ancient villages) were selected for detailed investigation. In each village, 60 homegardens were chosen randomly. In addition, the RFC index and Jaccard value were used to analyze and evaluate the homegarden plants we recorded.ResultThe study recorded a total of 213 species of homegarden plants with approximately 11 functions. Baiku Yao homegardens are small in size but rich in species and functions, and their utilization efficiency is extremely high. The Jaccard value shows that the homegarden plants in Huaili and Yaozhai have the highest similarity. Neighborhood sharing and market purchasing are the two most important sources of local homegarden plants. Additionally, medicine and food are the two most important uses of homegarden plants. Ornamental plants also play a significant part, especially in relocated villages. The comparisons indicate that the diversity of homegarden plants in the investigated ancient villages is better preserved than in relocated villages. Due to frequent exchanges between the villages and the outside world, Yaoshan Village, as an older relocated village, maintains a good traditional culture in its homegardens. As a newly relocated village, Duonu Community has developed a complicated homegarden system with only much less plant diversity. The development of local tourism has also impacted the composition of homegarden plants. The study found that plants such as Zea mays, Morus alba, and Capsicum annuum are closely related to local life and livelihood.ConclusionThe traditional knowledge of homegarden plants in investigated ancient villiages maintained good diversity and has been affected much less by the modernization and tourism industry development compared to the relocated villages. The composition of homegarden plants is closely connected to the local livelihood. In the future development of Baiku Yao communities, protecting homegarden plant diversity and functional diversity is crucial.

Diversity of home garden plants and their contribution to promoting sustainable livelihoods for local communities living near Serbajadi protected forest in Aceh Timur region, Indonesia

ABSTRACT Home gardens are traditional agroforestry systems that promote plant diversity and ecosystem services while also having direct and positive impacts on human livelihoods. Even though home gardens are considered biodiversity hotspots and have recently been recognised as essential for their role in tropical biodiversity conservation, the benefits of ecosystem services provided by home gardens are understudied. This study investigated plant diversity and ecosystem services in tropical home gardens in the Aceh Timur region of Indonesia. Data was collected from 180 home gardens in 12 villages and recorded 173 plant species associated with 16 ecosystem services. The majority of the cultivated plants were fruit and vegetable plants, which played an important role in supporting food security and household income. Home gardens, with their plant species diversity and ecosystem services, played an important role in biodiversity conservation. Home gardens were important not only for improving household livelihoods, but also for the conservation of plant genetic resources and nearby protected forests.

Local knowledge and the utilization of non-medicinal plants in home garden by the people of Donorejo Village in the Menoreh Karst Area, Purworejo, Central Java, Indonesia

Abstract. Sholekha AM, Yulia IT, Hanun Z, Perwitasari IG, Cahyaningsih AP, Sunarto, Sutarno, Sugiyarto, Buot Jr IE, Setyawan AD. 2023. Local knowledge and the utilization of non-medicinal plants in home garden by the people of Donorejo Village in the Menoreh Karst Area, Purworejo, Central Java, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 24: 645-657. Donorejo Village, in Purworejo District, Central Java, Indonesia, is one of the villages in the Menoreh Karst Mountains that uses non-medicinal plants. Donorejo villagers typically own vast plots of land that might be used for a wide range of productive purposes if planted with suitable vegetation. This study aims to investigate the knowledge of local people in the Menoreh Karst Mountain Area, Donorejo Village regarding the use of non-medicinal plants for daily life and document the use of plants by locals that can be useful to prevent delays in the transmission of local knowledge to future generations. Interviews and surveys conducted in the field using a purposive sampling strategy provided the bulk of the study's information. The age range of the 48 informants was from 25 to 91 years old, and the vast majority of them had only completed elementary school. A total of 119 species of non-medicinal plants were identified, representing 62 families and 12 different purposes, based on the results of the inventory of plants indicated by respondents and field observations. These plants were utilized as ornamental plants (48 species), food plants (44 species), cooking spices (16 species), animal feed (13 species), firewood (6 species), building materials (6 species), household items (2 species), and funeral ritual, prayer beeds, food wrapper, fence, fire starter (1 species). Based on these findings, it is clear that the residents of Donorejo Village continue to employ various non-medicinal plants in their gardens for various purposes.

Homegardens plant species richness and their use types have positive associations across agricultural landscapes of Northwest Ethiopia

Homegardens are important refugia for plant biodiversity mainly in degrading landscapes. However, the factors mediating these roles were little understood, particularly in an agrarian country such as Ethiopia. With the present study, we examined the effects of elevation gradient, and distance from houses on the compositions of the plant species and use types. Moreover, we explored how distance from the houses and the plant use types were related to species richness. For this, multistage and stratified random sampling systems were used to select the study district and 12 kebeles (the smallest administrative units in the Ethiopian administrative system) based on traditional agroclimatic zones. The floristic data were collected from 357 homegardens through plant inventory. Moreover, a semi-structured questionnaire was used to gather the use of the plants. The effect of elevational gradient on floristic species and use composition were tested by employing adonis2 function within the vegan package. The effects of plant use types and distance from the houses on species richness were tested using the Generalized Linear Mixed Effects Model where the 12 kebeles were entered in the model as random factors. One-way ANOVA was used to test the effects of elevation, distance from the house, and species richness on the corresponding plant use types. The results showed that a total of 238 plant species that belong to 81 families were recorded from 357 homegardens. The plant species and use type composition in homegardens were significantly affected by elevation and there is significant dissimilarity among the study sites (P = 0.001). The plant species richness decreased with increasing distance from the house but increased with increasing use types (P < 0.001). Similarly, the plant use types significantly decreased with increasing distance from the house and elevational gradient (P < 0.004) but increased on the continuum of the species richness (P < 0.001). The overall results highlight that conservation schemes need to take into account the determinants of floristic composition and the multidimensional relationship between species richness, farmers’ plant use types, and management practices to make better use of the homegardens as refugia during this continuing biodiversity degradation.