Traditional Vegetables Research Articles

Lessons from Japan: promoting underutilized food crops through tourism

For the first time in the XXI century, the number of people suffering from obesity worldwide surpassed the number of undernourished people. For many developing countries, this presented a so-called "double burden" of coping for over- and under-nourishment. At a rate of more than 50% of the population in Malaysia being either overweight or obese, the country is facing the most severe dietary crisis in East Asia. Often recognized as one of the healthiest populations worldwide and having a blue zone, Japan has managed to set a yardstick for countries around Asia. Hence the purpose of this study was to uncover the capacity for contribution and successful integration of traditional vegetables into Japanese daily food practices. Semi structured interviews were conducted together with participating observation with key informants to help understand the role of women in preserving and safeguarding traditional vegetables also known as 'sansai' in terms of farming and food preparation. In order to solve the unhealthy eating patterns among Malaysians, it is timely to start appreciating the contributions of the older generation in terms of wild edible usage and preparatory methods which can help alleviate the double burden of malnutrition among the population.

A Preliminary Survey on Edibles and Medicinal Plants Used By Dusun of Kampung Pinolobu, Kadamaian, Kota Belud, Sabah, Malaysia

This paper provides a brief enumeration of 22 species of plants and four species of fungi as wild edibles, and 13 species of plants that have been used for medicinal purposes by Dusun people of Kampung Pinolobu, Kadamaian, Kota Belud, Sabah. Seven informants were selected using snowball sampling technique, and data on edibles and medicinal plants were collected using semi structured interviews. This study reveals how Dusun people of Kampung Pinolobu used 13 species of medicinal plants to treat ailments and diseases like fever, high blood pressure, flatulence, rheumatism, cold, cough, and gastric pain. The flower of Carica papaya and fruit of Passiflora foetida are used for high blood pressure treatment, leaves of Manihot esculenta serve two purposes, as traditional vegetables and also consumed to avoid flatulence. Decoction made from the root of Ficus septica was given to women during postpartum recovery as they believed that it would help to keep the body warm, treat headache, and stomach pain. Paste made from leaves of Melastoma malabathricum is used to treat wounds. Meanwhile crushed leaves of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, root decoction of Imperata cylindrica, sap from Calamus sp. are used to treat high fever, crushed leaves of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is also used to subside carbuncle. Decoction of young leaves of Psidium gujava and Leucosyke capitella are used to treat stomach pain. Meanwhile decoction of crushed tuber of Curcuma longa is used to treat gastric pain.

Lessons from Japan: promoting underutilized food crops through tourism

For the first time in the XXI century, the number of people suffering from obesity worldwide surpassed the number of undernourished people. For many developing countries, this presented a so-called of coping for over- and under-nourishment. At a rate of more than 50% of the population in Malaysia being either overweight or obese, the country is facing the most severe dietary crisis in East Asia. Often recognized as one of the healthiest populations worldwide and having a blue zone, Japan has managed to set a yardstick for countries around Asia. Hence the purpose of this study was to uncover the capacity for contribution and successful integration of traditional vegetables into Japanese daily food practices. Semi structured interviews were conducted together with participating observation with key informants to help understand the role of women in preserving and safeguarding traditional vegetables also known as 'sansai' in terms of farming and food preparation. In order to solve the unhealthy eating patterns among Malaysians, it is timely to start appreciating the contributions of the older generation in terms of wild edible usage and preparatory methods which can help alleviate the double burden of malnutrition among the population.

A Comprehensive Review of Genus Sanguisorba: Traditional Uses, Chemical Constituents and Medical Applications.

Genus Sanguisorba (family: Rosaceae) comprises nearly 148 species, distributed widely across the temperate and subtropical regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Sanguisorba officinalis L. (S. officinalis) has been used as a hemostatic and scald treating medicine in China for a long time. Numerous studies have demonstrated that plant extracts or monomers from S. officinalis exhibit several pharmacological effects, such as anti-cancer, anti-virus, anti-inflammation, anti-bacteria, neuroprotective and hepatoprotective effects. The other species of genus Sanguisorba are also being studied by researchers worldwide. Sanguisorba minor Scop. (S. minor), as an edible wild plant, is a common ingredient of the Mediterranean diet, and its young shoots and leaves are often mixed with traditional vegetables and consumed as salad. Reports on genus Sanguisorba available in the current literature were collected from Google Scholar, Web of Science, Springer, and PubMed. The Plant List (http://www.theplantlist.org./tpl1.1/search?q=Sanguisorba), International Plant Name Index (https://www.ipni.org/?q=Sanguisorba) and Kew Botanical Garden (http://powo.science.kew.org/) were used for obtaining the scientific names and information on the subspecies and cultivars. In recent years, several in vivo and in vitro experiments have been conducted to reveal the active components and effective monomers of S. officinalis and S. minor. To date, more than 270 compounds have been isolated and identified so far from the species belonging to genus Sanguisorba. Numerous reports on the chemical constituents, pharmacologic effects, and toxicity of genus Sanguisorba are available in the literature. This review provides a comprehensive understanding of the current traditional applications of plants, which are supported by a large number of scientific experiments. Owing to these promising properties, this species is used in the treatment of various diseases, including influenza virus infection, inflammation, Alzheimer’s disease, type 2 diabetes and leukopenia caused by bone marrow suppression. Moreover, the rich contents and biological effects of S. officinalis and S. minor facilitate these applications in dietary supplements and cosmetics. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to summarize the recent advances in the traditional uses, chemical constituents, pharmacological effects and clinical applications of genus Sanguisorba. The present comprehensive review may provide new insights for the future research on genus Sanguisorba.

In situ conservation of traditional vegetable diversity in Wa homegardens in southwestern Yunnan, China

BackgroundHomegardens are in situ conservation sources of germplasm diversity for overcoming homogenous germplasm problems in industrial agricultural systems. The Wa people constitute a long-dwelling ethnic group mainly in southwestern Yunnan with a unique culture and rich knowledge of traditional vegetables. We hypothesized that traditional vegetable varieties are well conserved in Wa homegardens because Wa culture promotes the preservation of traditional vegetables. We surveyed vegetable varieties and the practices that are involved in the conservation of traditional vegetables in Wa homegardens, which could form the basis for in situ conservation.MethodsThe methods were used including questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Sixty homegardens were surveyed through purposive sampling in 6 Wa villages. We documented ethnobotanical information about vegetables in homegardens. Plant species were identified according to the Flora of China. And thematic analyses were conducted for in-depth interviews to identify the conservation factors for traditional vegetables.ResultsFifty-two vegetable species belonging to 16 families and 41 genera were recorded from 60 Wa homegardens. Fifty-five traditional vegetable varieties and thirty-six hybrids were recorded. Among all the villages, 23 ± 6 (average ± SD) traditional vegetable varieties per homegarden and 9 ± 3 (average ± SD) introduced varieties per homegarden were recorded. Local seeds were stored in 78% of households, with an additional 9% of households’ seed supplies coming from neighbors and relatives; the other 13% of households purchased local seeds from markets. In 83% of families, the female head was mainly responsible for the decision-making concerning traditional vegetables in homegardens; in 10% of families, the male head was responsible for decision-making, and a small percentage (2%) was determined by elderly people. Five percent of families made decisions jointly between male and female household heads.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated that rich traditional germplasm diversity is harbored in Wa homegardens because of the unique culture and traditional knowledge of Wa communities, which are practiced daily with homegrown food plants. Local vegetable seed conservation and sharing systems help maintain germplasm diversity in the Wa community homegardens. Wa homegardens constitute a practical solution for protecting traditional germplasm diversity and maintaining traditional lifestyles.

“Masato de Yuca” and “Chicha de Siete Semillas” Two Traditional Vegetable Fermented Beverages from Peru as Source for the Isolation of Potential Probiotic Bacteria

In this work, two Peruvian beverages “Masato de Yuca,” typical of the Amazonian communities made from cassava (Manihot esculenta), and “Chicha de Siete Semillas,” made from different cereal, pseudo-cereal, and legume flours, were explored for the isolation of lactic acid bacteria after obtaining the permission of local authorities following Nagoya protocol. From an initial number of 33 isolates, 16 strains with different RAPD- and REP-PCR genetic profiles were obtained. In Chicha, all strains were Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (formerly Lactobacillus plantarum), whereas in Masato, in addition to this species, Limosilactobacillus fermentum (formerly Lactobacillus fermentum), Pediococcus acidilactici, and Weissella confusa were also identified. Correlation analysis carried out with their carbohydrate fermentation patterns and enzymatic profiles allowed a clustering of the lactobacilli separated from the other genera. Finally, the 16 strains were submitted to a static in vitro digestion (INFOGEST model) that simulated the gastrointestinal transit. Besides, their ability to adhere to the human epithelial intestinal cell line HT29 was also determined. Following both procedures, the best probiotic candidate was Lac. plantarum Ch13, a robust strain able to better face the challenging conditions of the gastrointestinal tract and showing higher adhesion ability to the intestinal epithelium in comparison with the commercial probiotic strain 299v. In order to characterize its benefit for human health, this Ch13 strain will be deeply studied in further works.

Enhancing the Nutritional Quality of Vegetable Amaranth through Specific Food Preparation Methods

Food preparation methods applied to African traditional vegetables vary greatly depending on preferences of various consumers. Vegetable amaranth is one of the most preferred vegetable, with high nutritional quality. The bioaccessibility of some minerals such as iron is, however, low since it is non-heme, and is also bound by anti-nutrients such as oxalates. This study aimed at evaluating the nutrient retention of amaranth vegetable dishes prepared using selected Kenyan traditional recipes, and to enhance the iron bioavailability of amaranth dishes using food preparation methods. Nutrient retentions of amaranth prepared by three common food methods were analyzed. In-vitro iron bioavailability of amaranth dishes with or without bioavailability enhancers as well as an amaranth meal incorporating a common maize meal staple food was also studied. The nutrient retentions of the various dishes used in this study was fairly high with at least 85% retention of minerals and an increase of up to 45% in three carotenoids. It can be concluded that incorporating vitamin C, adding an iron rich vegetable and boiling of the vegetable significantly improves the iron bioavailability and hence improves the iron uptake by the body. Incorporating lemon juice enhanced dialysable iron of the selected recipe by up to 66%. There was no significant (P≤0.05) effect by the amaranth components on the iron bioavailability of ugali. These methods could therefore be incorporated into household recipes to increase micronutrient intake.

Tsukemono (Japanese pickles) and Their Traditional Vegetables

Research Article| August 01 2021 Tsukemono (Japanese pickles) and Their Traditional Vegetables Aya H. Kimura Aya H. Kimura Aya H. Kimura is a professor of sociology at the University of Hawai‘i-Mānoa. Her books include Radiation Brain Moms and Citizen Scientists: The Gender Politics of Food Contamination after Fukushima (Duke University Press, 2016, recipient of the Rachel Carson Book Award from the Society for Social Studies of Science). Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Gastronomica (2021) 21 (3): 13–19. https://doi.org/10.1525/gfc.2021.21.3.13 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Cite Icon Cite Search Site Citation Aya H. Kimura; Tsukemono (Japanese pickles) and Their Traditional Vegetables. Gastronomica 1 August 2021; 21 (3): 13–19. doi: https://doi.org/10.1525/gfc.2021.21.3.13 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentGastronomica Search A festival for tsukemono, Japanese pickles, is held every year in August at a shrine at Kayatsu Shrine. Priests, people from the industry, and regular participants offer prayers and then make a procession to Kōbutsuden (tsukemono pavilion), a place dedicated to tsukemono. There, participants make tsukemono, putting salt and vegetables that have been ritualistically cleansed into the ceramic pots to marinate. After several months, the resulting tsukemono is then offered to the Atsuta Jingu shrine as a sacred tribute. The tsukemono (also called kōnomono) made at this festival is perhaps the simplest kind—vegetables added to salt and naturally fermented. But many other kinds of tsukemono can be produced. There are a variety of ways to marinate (in miso, sake lee, rice bran, etc.) and a variety of foods to pickle (cucumber, eggplants, plums, leafy greens, etc.). A wide variety of tsukemono have emerged in Japan as localities have made use... You do not currently have access to this content.

Traditional Medicinal Vegetables in Northern Uganda: An Ethnobotanical Survey.

Background A wide range of indigenous vegetables grow in Uganda especially during rainy seasons but scarcely during droughts, except those that are commercially grown. Although a number of these vegetables have medicinal values, they have not been satisfactorily studied besides conservation. Therefore, we conducted a cross-sectional ethnobotanical survey in Northern Uganda in order to document traditional medicinal vegetables and their uses. Methods Qualitative and quantitative approaches of data collection and analysis were employed using semistructured, interviewer-administered questionnaires as well as key informant interviews following international ethical codes. Fidelity levels and informant consensus factors were also calculated. Results 13 traditional vegetables belonging to 10 families were reported to serve as folk medicines. The most dominant families were Fabaceae (23.08%) and Solanaceae (15.38%). The most often used vegetables were Corchorus spp., Hibiscus spp., and Asystasiagangeticafor musculoskeletal (51%), gastrointestinal (34.3%), and malaria (31.8%). The vegetables were cultivated in the backyard and the leaves stewed for the different ailments. The informant consensus factor was the highest for Corchorus spp., in the treatment of joint pain/stiffness (0.92-1) while the highest fidelity level was (60.42%) for Amaranthus spp., in the management of anemia. Conclusions Northern Uganda has numerous traditional vegetables with medicinal benefits. Diseases treated range from gastrointestinal to reproductive through musculoskeletal abnormalities. The community obtains vegetable leaves from the backyard and stews them regularly for the medicinal purposes with no specific dosage. Therefore, we recommend studies to verify in laboratory models the efficacy of these vegetables and standardize the dosages.

Influence of Different Types of Drying Methods on Color Properties, Phenolic Metabolites and Bioactivities of Pumpkin Leaves of var. Butternut squash (Cucurbita moschata Duchesne ex Poir).

Leaves of pumpkin species var. Butternut squash (Cucurbita moschata Duchesne ex Poir) is a popularly consumed leafy vegetable in the Southern African region. Traditional vegetables are commonly sun-dried as a method of postharvest preservation during the off-season. However, different drying methods affect the superior quality, functional properties, and bioactivities of the final product. Therefore, in this study, var. Butternut squash (C. moschata) underwent different drying methods, such as freeze-, oven, sun-, solar, and microwave drying to evaluate the color properties, pigments, phenolic metabolites, in vitro antioxidants, and antidiabetic activities. Results indicate that freeze-drying retained the total chlorophyll content with green color by reducing the color difference (ΔE), improved the concentration of different phenolic metabolites and the content of ascorbic acid, and enhanced the FRAP, ABTS activities and the inhibitory effects of α-glucosidase, and α-amylase. Freeze-dried leaves contained the highest concentrations of quercetin 3-glucoside 7-rhamnoside (rutin), quercetin 3-galactoside, isorhamnetin-3-galactoside-6″-rhamnoside, isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside compared with the leaves that underwent four other drying treatments and raw leaves. The OPLS-DA and the UPLC–QTOF/MS and chemometric approach showed that the peak at m/z 609, 1441 (quercetin 3-galactoside 7-rhamnoside) separated the freeze-dried leaves of var. Butternut squash (C. moschata) from the other four drying treatments. Therefore, freeze-drying is highly recommended to obtain good quality leaf powders that are rich in functional compounds and bioactive properties for use as functional ingredients.

Exploring Infant Feeding Beliefs and Practices among Mothers in Major Urban Informal Settlements in Kenya

Appropriate infant feeding is a proxy indicator for the good health and nutritional status of infants. The objective of this qualitative study was to explore mother’s beliefs and practices of infant feeding practices up to two years of age or beyond in major urban informal settlements in Kenya. A total of nine focus groups were conducted in three randomly selected sites, namely: Kaptembwo in Nakuru, Manyatta ‘A’ in Kisumu, and Kibera in Nairobi. Sixty-four mothers of children aged 6-24 months were chosen purposively, and the results were thematically analyzed. Results showed that most mothers still breast-fed their children, but they intended to stop breastfeeding when the child is 18 months old. Generally, the mothers reported the benefits of breastfeeding for two years of age or beyond, such as protection against diseases, improving health, and making the child strong. They perceived barriers to breastfeeding up to two years or beyond such as child illness, child’s decision, return to work, baby addiction to breast milk, and inconvenience brought about by breastfeeding. The foods perceived by mothers as good for the baby included yogurt, groundnuts, pumpkins, bananas, pawpaw, watermelon, oranges, spinach, and traditional vegetables. While the foods perceived as not good for the baby were processed milk, eggs, and sweet foods such as sodas, biscuits, cakes. Participants had a positive attitude towards water treatment and handwashing practices. The most commonly reported method of treating water was boiling. The perceived barriers to water treatment and handwashing practices included lack of fuel and water, forgetfulness, inadequate money, not able to control children. The findings indicate that increasing awareness on the duration of breastfeeding may motivate more mothers to breastfeed for two years and beyond.

Towards Evidence Based Policy Making in GIAHS: Convention Theory and Effects of GIAHS Registration on the Wholesale and Retail Trade of Traditional and Local Vegetables

This study examines how the registration of certain agricultural regions affects the sales of vegetables classified as traditional. We focused on the sales trends of traditional vegetables from the Noto region, one of the first designated sites of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS). We compared the sales of recognized traditional vegetables to those of similar traditional vegetables from nearby areas and vegetables labeled with the same place names as the traditional vegetables but without elements of traditionality in branding. The study analyzed the sale and relevant trends of four categories of vegetable: Kaga vegetables, vegetables labeled “Kaga”, Noto vegetables, and vegetables labeled “Noto”. We further analyzed the trends by applying Convention Theory to understand the underpinning “orders of worth” in the purchase and sale of the items. Both Noto vegetables and place-labeled vegetables increased in overall sales since GIAHS registration in 2011. The recent increases in sales volume and number of items, however, were largely due to the production of lettuce, a crop from a vegetable factory. By applying Convention Theory, we identified that in the agriculture of the region, industrial farming impacted even the GIAHS registered site. Thus, careful collection and analysis of evidence is necessary to evaluate the effects of GIAHS registration and draft an action plan for further evidence-based policy making.

Plant parts and preparation of edible plants by indigenous Sama-Bajau and Dusun people in Kota Belud, Sabah

This work presents plant parts and preparation of edible plants by indigenous Sama-Bajau and Dusun people in Kota Belud district, Sabah. A total of ten plant parts were used for the food plants by indigenous Sama-Bajau in Usukan, Kota Belud, Sabah. The most used part of plants is leaves (29.6%), followed by fruit (20.4%) and young leaves (14.8%). Meanwhile, a total of seven plant parts were used for traditional vegetables by indigenous Dusun people from the same district. The most used part of plants by Dusun people in Kadamaian, Kota Belud are leaves (48.1%), tuber (14.8%), stem (14.8%) and fruit (11.1%). There are five types of preparation for plants that were consumed as traditional vegetable; eaten fresh, blanched, boiled, grilled, and stir fry. The findings could provide the baseline data of Dusun and Sama-Bajau sustainable usage of plant resources that are readily available from their surroundings. A study on traditional knowledge on uses of wild edibles and food plants is a necessity to preserve the knowledge and extend the application of its beneficial properties for future ethnopharmacological related research.

Seed germination and morphological characterization of traditional leafy vegetables

Traditional leafy vegetables provide affordable sources of micronutrients to many people in Zimbabwe. They are produced by smallholder farmers with limited knowledge on the agronomic value of high-quality seed and the seed is rarely tested to determine its quality. This study was therefore conducted to evaluate the germination of seeds of three traditional leafy vegetables sourced from five different farmers and the morphological characteristics of the seedlings. The seeds were collected in the growing season of 2015 to 2016, stored at room temperature and tested for germination in the laboratory at regular monthly intervals during storage. Field germination tests were conducted only once. The seeds tested were classified as normal seedlings, abnormal seedlings, fresh non-germinated seeds or dead seeds. Morphological analysis was conducted at seedling stage, including seven qualitative characters and one quantitative character. Mean separation based on the least significance difference at 5% indicated that percentage germination, purity and 1000-seeds weight for all three species significantly differed among sources. The results showed that Cleome gynandra had lowest germination percentages, Amaranthus hybridus was intermediate and Bidens pilosa had highest values throughout the tests. C. gynandra seed exhibited dormancy, showing high levels of fresh non-germinated seed percentage after each test, which is potentially disastrous for the farmers. The combination of pre-chilling, light, potassium nitrate and alternating temperatures as a way of improving germination for C. gynandra needs further validation. Key words: Seed quality, purity, germination, morphological characteristics of seedlings.

Compatibility of entomopathogenic fungi and botanicals against sucking pests of okra: an ecofriendly approach

BackgroundOkra, Abelmoschus esculentus (Linn.) Moench, is one of the most important traditional vegetables in India. The crop is attacked severely by sucking pests, viz., jassid, Amrasca biguttula biguttula Ishida, and whitefly, Bemisia tabaci Genn., throughout its growth period. To control these sucking pests, different entomopathogenic fungi (EPF), viz., Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, and Lecanicillium lecanii were tested alone and their 1:1 combinations with neem oil against these sucking pests and compared to Imidacloprid 17.8% SL as chemical control under field conditions during 2018 and 2019.ResultsAmong the EPF tested, the lowest jassid (1.16, 1.27 leaf-1) and whitefly (1.33, 0.84 leaf-1) population was recorded in plots treated with L. lecanii during the two consecutive years. Combination of L. lecanii and neem oil at half of their recommended concentrations had the lowest jassid and whitefly population among all the treatments and maximum reduction over control and at par with chemical control, i.e., Imidacloprid 17.8 SL at 0.33 ml l−1. Moreover, all these biopesticides were found relatively safe to the polyphagous predators (Micraspis discolor, Menochilus sexmaculatus, and spiders) and at par with untreated control. In contrast, Imidacloprid 17.8 SL was the most toxic among all the treatments with the lowest numbers of spiders and ladybird beetles.ConclusionCombination of the EPF like B. bassiana, M. anisopliae, and L. lecanii with neem oil at half of their recommended concentrations could be a viable ecofriendly option in the management of the sucking pests of okra, along with the conservation of natural enemies.

Microscopic Characteristics, Chromatographic Profiles and Inhibition of Peroxidase Activity of the Leaves of <i>Manihot esculenta</i> and <i>Manihot glaziovii</i>, Consumed as Traditional Vegetables

Methanolic extracts from the leaves of Manihot esculenta (Two cultivars) and Manihot glaziovii, consumed as traditional vegetables in DR. Congo was chemically characterized by Thin layer Chromatography and High Performance Liquid Chromatography. In vitro biochemical activities of extracts against Radical Oxidative Species (ROS) production were assessed in cellular models, on enzymes, Myeloperoxidase (MPO) and Horseradish Peroxidase (HRP) involved in inflammation. The microscopic analysis of the powder of leaves showed that each species displays specific and discriminating botanical microscopic features. Varieties of M. esculenta had a chemical fingerprint different from M. glaziovii. The majority of compounds were polyphenols, represented mainly by rutin, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, amentoflavone, phenolic acids such as gallic acid. All extracts exhibited high cellular antioxidant activity in the range of 0.1 to 10 μg·mL-1 using lucigenin with neutrophils, but a moderate cellular antioxidant activity ranging between 10 and 100 μg·mL-1 with DCFDA on HL60 monocytes. Extracts from Manihot leaves showed a pronounced inhibitory effect on the production of extracellular ROS, on HRP and myeloperoxidase activity. Cellular antioxidant activities, the inhibitory effect on HRP of extracts from M. glaziovii, M. esculenta cultivar Mwambu were significantly higher, but their inhibitory effect on the activity of MPO was lower than those of M. esculenta cultivar TEM 419. The biological activities of Manihot esculenta and Manihot glaziovii were well correlated to their phytochemicals that could justify their traditional use as vegetables, potential functional foods or nutraceutical resources and medicines.

Seed longevity of two nutrient-dense vegetables (Amaranthus spp.)

For many traditional vegetables, seed longevity is unknown, limiting proper seed bank management. In this study, the comparative seed longevity of two nutrient-dense leafy vegetables, blood amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus) and edible amaranth (A. tricolor), was compared together with two reference crops, crookneck squash (Cucurbita moschata) and soya bean (Glycine max). Seed lots of four genebank accessions of the corresponding vegetable species were treated under accelerated ageing (AA) conditions with an average of 41.1°C and an average of 89.9% relative humidity for 33 days to generate single seed survival curves and calculate the time taken for seed viability to fall to 50% (p50). The seed survival curves of all four species had values of goodness to fit (R2) values between 0.43 and 0.85. Seeds of the A. cruentus and A. tricolor accessions had high p50 values of 19.5 and 32.8 days, respectively, compared with the C. moschata and G. max accessions, which returned p50 values of 8.2 and 4.9, respectively. This means that these leafy amaranths have a long seed longevity compared with other vegetable crops. This suggests that properly dried seeds of amaranth crops can be stored for long periods of time at 5°C in aluminium foils.

Consumption Pattern of Dried Traditional African Vegetables among Rural Households in Tanzania

Vegetables are known to be nutritious and form part of almost every meal in an African set up. However, they are known to be perishable and seasonal thus scarce during dry period. Drying helps extend their shelf life. The main objective of the study was to determine consumption pattern of dried traditional vegetables (TAVs) in semi-arid rural households. Dried TAVs by open sun drying and solar drying were considered. Cross-section data collected in 2016 among 244 respondents in Dodoma and Singida region through random sampling using semi-structured questionnaire was utilized. Ordered bivariate probit was estimated using STATA software. The results showed that access to information on drying, gender, presence of adults above 64 years, adults between 15 - 64 years, children between 5 - 14 and 0 - 4 years was significant. The information is useful in planning trainings and in determining the consumer segment to target. Strategies that would enhance information access are highly recommended.

The Meaning of Growing Traditional Vegetables in Rural Elderly People

The Meaning of Growing Traditional Vegetables in Rural Elderly People

Agroecology and Uses of Galinsoga parviflora as Indigenous Vegetable in Highland of Kuningan, Banjarnegara and Wonosobo, Indonesia

Gallant soldier (Galinsoga parviflora Cav.) is a cosmopolitan weed and is traditionally used as a vegetable in Java highland. The study aimed to evaluate agroecology and uses of G. parviflora as an indigenous vegetable in Java. Researches were conducted in Kuningan, Banjarnegara, and Wonosobo districts from June 2015 to July 2017. The distribution map was drawn from field tracks, interviews, and literature studies. Results revealed two Galinsoga species based on leaf and stem shape, i.e., G. parviflora and G. quadriradiata. Only G. parviflora was selected as a vegetable in Banjarnegara and Wonosobo, but not in Kuningan district. It ranked seventh among 13 traditional vegetables; young shoot with inflorescences was consumed after cooking or boiling, and sometimes used as a diuretic. Although it contributed low to household diet, however, its position on the social relationship among neighbors was important. The wide distribution range of Galinsoga in Java is potential as a new vegetable. It is important to study the nutrient content of this vegetable to improve utilization.
 Keywords: Asteraceae, Dieng, gallant soldier, jukut saminggu, weed