Wild Fruit Trees Research Articles

Changes in the proteomics and metabolomics profiles of Cormus Domestica (L.) fruits during the ripening process

BackgroundCormus domestica (L.) is a monophyletic wild fruit tree belonging to the Rosaceae family, with well-documented use in the Mediterranean region. Traditionally, these fruits are harvested and stored for at least 2 weeks before consumption. During this period, the fruit reaches its well-known and peculiar organoleptic and texture characteristics. However, the spread of more profitable fruit tree species, resulted in its progressive erosion. In this work we performed proteomic and metabolomic fruit analyses at three times after harvesting, to characterise postharvest physiological and molecular changes, it related to nutritional and organoleptic properties at consumption.ResultsProteomics and metabolomics analysis were performed on fruits harvested at different time points: freshly harvested fruit (T0), fruit two weeks after harvest (T1) and fruit four weeks after harvest (T2). Proteomic analysis (Shotgun Proteomic in LC-MS/MS) resulted in 643 proteins identified. Most of the differentially abundant proteins between the three phases observed were involved in the softening process, carbohydrate metabolism and stress responses. Enzymes, such as xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase, pectin acetylesterase, beta-galactosidase and pectinesterase, accumulated during fruit ripening and could explain the pulp breakdown observed in C. domestica. At the same time, enzymes abundant in the early stages (T0), such as sucrose synthase and malic enzyme, explain the accumulation of sugars and the lowering of acidity during the process. The metabolites extraction from C. domestica fruits enabled the identification of 606 statistically significant differentially abundant metabolites. Some compounds such as piptamine and resorcinol, well-known for their antimicrobial and antifungal properties, and several bioactive compounds such as endocannabinoids, usually described in the leaves, accumulate in C. domestica fruit during the post-harvest process.ConclusionsThe metabolomic and proteomic profiling of the C. domestica fruit during the postharvest process, evaluated in the study, provides a considerable contribution to filling the existing information gap, enabling the molecular and phytochemical characterisation of this erosion-endangered fruit. Data show biochemical changes that transform the harvested fruit into palatable consumable product.

Physiological and biochemical responses of the achachairu tree (Garcinia humilis) to prolonged flooding

Flooding and waterlogging create hypoxic or anoxic soil conditions that negatively affect the physiology of wild and cultivated tropical fruit trees. The achachairu (Garcinia humilis) is a slow-growing tropical fruit tree endemic to the Bolivian Amazon region. Like many tropical trees, G. humilis is increasingly affected by flooding events that may threaten its natural and cultivated areas, but its physiological and biochemical responses to prolonged flooding have not been reported. This study assessed the physiological, biochemical, and morphological responses of G. humilis to prolonged flooding of different durations for up to 30 d Physiological variables measured included leaf gas exchange [net CO2 assimilation (A), stomatal conductance of H2O (gs), and intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci)], leaf chlorophyll index (LCI), and the ratio of variable to maximum chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm). Antioxidant responses, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione (GSH), glutathione reductase (GTR), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDAR), ascorbic acid (AsA), and glutathione (GSH); reactive oxygen species (ROS); and lipid peroxidation indicated by malondialdehyde (MDA) were also measured. Results indicate that G. humilis is very tolerant of flooding periods of at least 30 d, which causes approximately a 50 % reduction in net A but no measurable negative impact on other physiological variables, including LCI and Fv/Fm. Flooding caused an increase in ROS and malonaldehyde (MDA), which were countered by a robust antioxidant response that possibly contributed to improved flooding tolerance. Plants continued to grow during the flooding period, and A recovered to nearly pre-flooding levels 90 d after plants were unflooded.

Domestication of wild indigenous fruit trees in Rwanda: Perspectives from rural communities

Wild indigenous fruit trees (WIFTs) play a vital role in food and nutritional security in sub-Saharan Africa. However, these resources are currently less accessible to rural populations due to the expanding arable lands and over-exploitation of the trees in the wild, which lead to a decline in their population. This study (i) explored the availability and uses of WIFTs in the Nyamagabe and Bugesera districts of Rwanda (ii) identified challenges and potential interventions for domestication of WIFTs, (iii) assessed community perceptions on WIFTs domestication primarily as integrated system components in smallholder's farm (iv) and also determined the priority species for domestication. A total of 380 respondents from Bugesera and Nyamagabe districts were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed descriptively using the SPSS software analysis tools. Results revelaled a total of 19 WIFTs, 15 from the Bugesera district, and five from the Nyamagabe district with one species occurring in both districts. The recorded WIFTs were used mainly as food, medicine and fuel wood. Despite a decline in population locally, most respondents were interested in domesticating WIFTs and expressed willingness to integrate them on their farmlands once the planting materials are availed. From the study a suggestion to promote the domestication of the priority WIFTs through a collaborative initiative between the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, research institutions and other stakeholders is important. This will ensure not only the sustainability of the WIFTs species to communities but also contribute to their socio-economic development once the products are developed through proper value chains addition.

Non-targeted metabolomics reveals the taste variations during Baccaurea ramiflora Lour. fruit maturation.

Baccaurea ramiflora Lour. is a new kind of underutilized wild fruit tree; the metabolic reasons for its fruit flavor changes are not yet clear. In this study, the pink flesh of this excellent tasting fruit (BR) was used to reveal the metabolic causes of taste variations through five developmental stages. We identified 154 common differential metabolites of different developmental stages based on non-targeted metabolomics analysis. The accumulation of sugar and fatty acids increased significantly after 73 days, while citric acid decreased significantly. Flesh color accumulation mainly occurred 53 days ago, and vitamin accumulation occurred after 93 days. Interestingly, L-sorbose and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid were positively correlated with the sugar-acid ratio but negatively correlated with titratable acids. It indicated that L-sorbose and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid may be taste biomarkers of BR B. ramiflora. The results provided new metabolic lines of evidence for the taste variation during the ripening process of B. ramiflora.

A Five-Step Framework for Creating Forests for the Future

Changing environmental conditions, disturbances, and escalating demands for forest ecosystem services require foresters to restore present forestlands with new forest generations that will exhibit ecological integrity, diversity, high adaptive capacity, and the ability to provide essential ecosystem services. Establishing such forests requires careful consideration of the forest landscape and site dynamics. In pursuit of these requirements, we developed a novel framework that enables the restoration of forest sites and promotes the desired features of the forest complex at the same time. This framework was designed with the methods of system engineering and was organized in the same way as the forest planning process. It was tested in the habitat type of Illyrian Fagus sylvatica forests belonging to the Natura 2000 network. The environmental, vegetation, and site conditions were investigated via field inspections, available forest management plans, and simple GIS analyses. Additionally, we established a seminatural stand composed of European beech, sessile oak, sycamore maple, silver fir, and some wild fruit tree species. The survival of planted species was assessed using census and simple random sampling, the performance of provenances by the Student’s test, while microhabitat factors were explored by a one-way ANOVA. The survival rate of key species was estimated to be 55.6%, while that of fruit species was estimated to be 94.5%. Our framework demonstrated satisfactory performance and contained sufficient benchmarks to facilitate consistent decision-making. In the discussion, we elucidate the framework’s primary features and attributes of the mixed stand, where we also expose some open issues to be addressed in the future.

Potential distribution of wild edible fruit trees under climate change scenarios: promoting food security in a Neotropical region

Potential distribution of wild edible fruit trees under climate change scenarios: promoting food security in a Neotropical region

Nutritional composition of wild sour plum (Ximenia caffra subs caffra) fruit harvested in varying geographical regions and its potential role in human nutrition

By 2030, the United Nations, through their Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), hope to have eradicated hunger and malnutrition, ensuring that everyone has access to enough nutritious food throughout the year. This is especially aimed at developing countries. There is untapped potential for food and nutrition security in Africa's wide variety of native fruit trees. One example of a wild fruit tree that is underutilised is the wild sour plum (Ximenia caffra subs caffra), a fruit crop from the Oleaceae family that grows in the Southern Africa. The objective of the study was to determine the nutritional variation of the wild sour plum, harvested from varying geographical regions, to possibly assist the potential breeders’ suitable methods for selecting accessions that could be used for potential breeding of highly nutritious fruit crop. Ripe wild sour plum fruit were harvested from varying plant selections in three different regions (Bushbuckridge, Giyani, and Tzaneen) during December 2022. Dried, frozen samples were analysed for biochemical constituents, such as total phenols and vitamin E. The highest total phenols (17.2 GAE g) and vitamin E (31.8 mg 100/g DW) of wild sour plum were obtained from selection three (3) fruit in Bushbuckridge. Therefore, plant breeders and horticulturalists should be mindful of these factors when considering breeding programmes of wild sour plum for commercial purposes.

Comparison of Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Activities in Differentially Pigmented Cerasus humilis Fruits.

Chinese dwarf cherry (Cerasus humilis) is a wild fruit tree and medicinal plant endemic to China. Its fruits are rich in various bioactive compounds, such as flavonoids and carotenoids, which contribute greatly to their high antioxidant capacity. In this study, the contents of bioactive substances (chlorophyll, carotenoids, ascorbic acid, anthocyanin, total flavonoids, and total phenols), antioxidant capacities, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonicacid) (ABTS+) scavenging ability, and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP)) in differentially pigmented C. humilis fruits of four varieties were determined and compared. The results revealed that anthocyanin, total flavonoids and total phenols were the three main components responsible for the antioxidant activity of C. humilis fruits. 'Jinou No.1' fruits with dark red peel and red flesh had the highest contents of anthocyanin, total flavonoids, and total phenols, as well as the highest antioxidant capacities; 'Nongda No.5' fruits with yellow-green peel and yellow flesh had the highest contents of carotenoids and chlorophyll, while 'Nongda No.6' fruit had the highest ascorbic acid content. To further reveal the molecular mechanism underlying differences in the accumulation of carotenoids and flavonoids among differentially pigmented C. humilis fruits, the expression patterns of structural genes involved in the biosynthesis of the two compounds were investigated. Correlation analysis results revealed that the content of carotenoids in C. humilis fruits was very significantly positively correlated with the expression of the ChCHYB, ChZEP, ChVDE, ChNSY, ChCCD1, ChCCD4, ChNCED1, and ChNCED5 genes (p < 0.01) and significantly negatively correlated with the expression of ChZDS (p < 0.05). The anthocyanin content was very significantly positively correlated with ChCHS, ChFLS, and ChUFGT expression (p < 0.01). The total flavonoid content was very significantly positively correlated with the expression of ChCHS, ChUFGT, and ChC4H (p < 0.01) and significantly positively correlated with ChFLS expression (p < 0.05). This study can provide a basis for understanding the differences in the accumulation of bioactive substances, and is helpful for clarifying the mechanisms underlying the accumulation of various carotenoids and flavonoids among differentially pigmented C. humilis fruits.

Biochemical and antioxidant activity of wild edible fruits of the eastern Himalaya, India.

The eastern Himalayas, one of the important hotspots of global biodiversity, have a rich diversity of wild edible fruit trees. The fruits of these tree species have been consumed by the tribal people since time immemorial. However, there is limited information available on the biochemical and antioxidant properties of the fruits. Therefore, the present investigation was undertaken to study the physico-chemical and antioxidant properties of the nine most important wild fruit trees. Among the species, Pyrus pashia had the maximum fruit weight (37.83 g), while the highest juice (43.72%) and pulp content (84.67%) were noted in Haematocarpus validus and Myrica esculenta, respectively. Maximum total soluble solids (18.27%), total sugar (11.27%), moisture content (88.39%), ascorbic acid content (63.82 mg/100 g), total carotenoids (18.47 mg/100 g), and total monomeric anthocyanin (354.04 mg/100 g) were recorded in H. validus. Docynia indica had the highest total phenolic content (19.37 mg GAE/g), while H. validus recorded the highest total flavonoids and flavanol content. The antioxidant activities of the different fruits ranged from 0.17 to 0.67 IC50 for DPPH activity and 3.59-13.82 mg AAE/g for FRAP. These fruits had attractive pigmentation of both pulp and juice and were a good potential source for the extraction of natural edible color in the food industry. The fruits also possess high market prices; Prunus nepalensis fetched $ 34.10-$ 141.5 per tree. Therefore, these fruits are rich sources of antioxidants, pigments and have a high market value for livelihood and nutritional security.

Relationship between photosystem activity and ultraweak luminescence excitation in Cerasus humilis leaves under salt stress

Cerasus humilis (Bge.) Sok (C. humilis) is a wild fruit tree endemic to China. It mainly grows on saline land and often suffers from osmotic stress. Biophotons are ultraweak luminescence (UWL) radiations that are closely related to various biological processes and activities. UWL emission essentially originates from the oxidative stress process of organisms. However, it is unclear whether UWL production is related to the redox state of chloroplasts. Therefore, to understand the UWL emission mechanism in plants, we studied the effect of salt stress on the photosystem (PS) activity and UWL of C. humilis leaves and analyzed the correlation between PS activity and UWL. The results showed that salt stress severely inhibited the PS activity of C. humilis leaves and oxygen-evolving complex, damaged the integrity of the thylakoid membrane, decreased the photochemical efficiency of PSII, and hindered the QA-QB electron transfer. At the same time, the intensity of UWL also decreased. Further, correlation analyses of PS activity indices and UWL showed that UWL was significantly correlated with main parameters of photosystem activity such as PSII the maximum photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) and photosynthetic performance index based on absorbed light energy (PIABS), as well as the absorption, capture, and transfer of energy in the unit reaction center and unit leaf section. These results indicated that the PS activity of C. humilis was related to the production of UWL, and the intensity of UWL decreased with the decrease in PS activity.

Epauletted fruit bats prefer native plants and contribute to seed dispersal in a South African agricultural landscape

AbstractFruit bats provide vital ecosystem services through seed dispersal aiding secondary forest regeneration. However, fruit bat species are often persecuted by fruit‐growing farmers due to perceived and actual crop damage. In this study, we investigated the dietary components of Epomophorous wahlbergi, Epomophorous crypturus and Rousettus aegyptiacus, which are the three fruit bat species commonly found in litchi orchards and surrounding natural habitats in the Limpopo Province, South Africa. We further explored the contribution of fruit bats to seed dispersal and germination success. Fruit bat diet was dominated by wild fruit species (95%), while commercial fruit contributed little (2%) to their diet, even during the litchi harvest season. Fig seeds (Ficus spp.) collected from captured bats as spit outs had significantly lower germination rates than regular seeds, but a significantly lower germination latency. A similar pattern was observed for quinine trees (Rauvolfia caffra). Our results suggest that fruit bats inhabiting orchards and surrounding natural vegetation feed primarily on wild fruit trees, probably modulated by the high percentage of natural vegetation still found in our study area, supporting the importance of natural habitats in mitigating crop damage. We encourage further work on potential disservices by fruit bats and their habitat use.

First report of Lasiodiplodia theobromae causing leaf spot on Flacourtia montana, a wild edible fruit tree of Western Ghats, India

Flacourtia montana J. Graham wild edible fruit tree, endemic to the Western Ghats, India was found infected with leaf spot disease. Based on morphological characteristics, molecular analyses (ITS and LSU) and pathogenicity, the pathogen was identified as Lasiodiplodia theobromae (Pat.) Griffon &amp; Maubl. (Botryosphaeriaceae).This is the first report of L. theobromae causing leaf spots on F. montana from Western Ghats, India.

Prediction of the Potential Distribution of Vaccinium uliginosum in China Based on the Maxent Niche Model

Vaccinium uliginosum L. is a wild fruit tree, mainly distributed in the extremely cold climate region of China, such as the Greater Khingan Mountains, Lesser Khingan Mountains, and Changbai Mountains. Most fruit trees are largely unsustainable in these regions, but wild V. uliginosum thrives in the region. Therefore, it is necessary to protect the precious wild V. uliginosum resources. With the effect of global warming, the suitable habitat of V. uliginosum has also changed. A total of 287 pieces of data with 22 environmental variables were collected on the geographical distribution of wild V. uliginosum. The Maxent model was applied to predict the potential distribution of V. uliginosum in China under different climate scenarios (Socioeconomic Pathways 1-2.6 (SSP1-2.6), SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0 and SSP5-8.5) in the current and future two periods (the 2050s and 2070s). The predicted results show that the distribution and area of the suitable area-change range is small. The results show that the cumulative contribution rates of BIO07 (annual temperature range), BIO12 (annual precipitation), and BIO10 (mean temperature of warmest quarter) reach 74.1%, indicating that temperature and precipitation are the key factors affecting the distribution of V. uliginosum. This study can provide a reference for relevant departments to take conservation measures with respect to climate change and the adaptation of V. uliginosum to habitat changes.

A question of rite—pearl millet consumption at Nok culture sites, Nigeria (second/first millennium BC)

The Nok culture in central Nigeria, dated 1500–1 cal bc, is known for its famous terracotta sculptures. We here present a study on > 11,000 botanical macro-remains from 50 sites, including 343 samples from Nok contexts and 22 samples dating between cal ad 100 and 400, after the end of the Nok culture. With 9,220 remains, pearl millet (Cenchrus americanus (L.) Morrone, syn. Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.) is dominant in the Nok samples, followed by cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.), Canarium schweinfurthii Engl., Nauclea latifolia Sm. (syn. Sarcocephalus latifolius (Sm.) E.A.Bruce), wild fruit trees and wild Poaceae. The pearl millet remains consist exclusively of charred caryopses; chaff remains are completely absent. Because we studied all size fractions, including the small 0.5 mm fractions usually containing the involucres, bristles and husks, the absence of pearl millet chaff is real, excluding a methodological explanation, and distinguishes Nok from contemporary other West African sites. We propose that most excavated Nok sites were consumer sites where clean grain was brought in from outside and consumed in a ritual context connected with feasting. This is in line with the archaeological evidence from the larger excavated sites with stone-pot arrangements that are interpreted as ritual places related to mortuary practices. In addition to the known southward branches of pearl millet diffusion from the Sahara we propose a new, hitherto unknown branch directly from the central Sahara to the central Nigerian savannas.

Spatial Distribution Pattern of Root Sprouts under the Canopy of Malus sieversii in a Typical River Valley on the Northern Slopes of the Tianshan Mountain

Malus sieversii is a precious wild fruit tree resource, and its sustainable reproduction is of great significance to the conservation of wild fruit tree germplasm resources and the stability of wild fruit forest ecosystems. In recent years, the natural population number and area of distribution of the Malus sieversii have been declining due to pests, water limitations, and human activities. Root sprouts are a primary means of rejuvenation of the Malus sieversii. A reasonable spatial distribution pattern is conducive to the growth of Malus sieversii plants and the ecological restoration of wild fruit forest populations. However, the spatial distribution pattern of root sprouts still needs to be discovered, which constrains our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the damage and management of Malus sieversii. Therefore, this paper examines the study area of the Gilgalang River Malus sieversii forest in Gongliu County, Ili Valley, Xinjiang. The topographic data and high-resolution images were first obtained using ultra-low-altitude photogrammetry and total station measurement techniques, then spatial pattern analysis and standard deviation ellipse analysis were used to investigate the spatial distribution pattern of root sprouts, and, finally, the factors affecting the spatial distribution pattern of root sprouts were investigated by principal component analysis and grey correlation analysis. The results show that: (1) Under-canopy Malus sieversii root sprouts are clustered and randomly distributed along the root system, with the degree of clustering decreasing with increasing distance; (2) Spatial orientation and distance from the maternal plant are the main factor affecting the sprouting of Malus sieversii roots, explaining 73.69% of the total variance; (3) Under sediment accumulation and water erosion, the root sprouts under the canopy are mainly distributed in the downslope direction. The shape is similar to the “clover type”. The results of this study can provide a theoretical basis for conserving Malus sieversii germplasm resources and a solid scientific basis for the ecological restoration of plants under anthropogenic disturbance.

English

Climate change, environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity, changes in the ecosystem and disasters play an important role in the development and economic advancement. In Zororo Village, Zimbabwe, environmental degradation, changes in the ecosystem and biodiversity have occurred rapidly during the last few decades. A literature review, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions were the methodologies used for this research. All the participants agreed that environmental changes had occurred during the last few decades, however, they could not connect these to activities such as brick moulding. Brick moulding is a lucrative and economic backbone of many communities in rural Zimbabwe and other Southern African countries. It is a way of value adding to the clay deposits for economic development but the practice is associated with various environmental challenges linked to the various stages in the brick production process. The process impacts on the environment, ecosystem, biodiversity and human health. Vegetation, indigenous trees, edible insects, small animals and wild fruit trees have disappeared from the environment. Children and domestic animals drown in uncovered holes which also become breeding sites for mosquitoes and other vectors. This article discusses community contributions to the negative impacts of environmental degradation, changes in the ecosystems, biodiversity and human health, through the destruction of anthills in the process of brick moulding in rural Zimbabwe. &nbsp; Key words: Brick moulding, kiln, climate change, communities, disasters, anthills (mounds), health impact, sustainable livelihoods, vertical shaft brick kiln.

English

In order to assess the diversity, regeneration and structure of wild edible fruit trees, a study was carried out in the Laf-Madjam forest reserve and its surroundings. A semi-structured interview with local residents and a floristic inventory of woody plants (8 transects of 1000 m &times; 20 m each) were carried out. 24 species were cited as being used by the local residents. A total of 2134 individuals subdivided into 69 species, 43 genera and 27 families were counted, including 448 edible fruit individuals divided into 25 species, 19 genera and 14 families. The latter with important IVIs are: Balanites aegyptiaca , Sclerocarya birrea , Ziziphus mauritiana and Hexalobus monopetalus. Diversity is medium in edible fruit trees (HSI=3.10 bits, E= 0.67). Fruit trees with individuals of diameter &ge; 21 cm are in the majority. Inverted &quot;L&quot; and bell-shaped gaits are observed. The regeneration rate of fruit trees is higher in Annona senegalensis , H. monopetalus , and B. aegyptiaca . The involvement of local people in the management of the reserve&#39;s fruit trees is important for sustainable management. &nbsp; Key words : Edible fruits, Moutourwa, sustainable management, structure, phytodiversity.

Evidence of an additional centre of apple domestication in Iran, with contributions from the Caucasian crab apple Malus orientalis Uglitzk. to the cultivated apple gene pool.

Divergence processes in crop-wild fruit tree complexes in pivotal regions for plant domestication such as the Caucasus and Iran remain little studied. We investigated anthropogenic and natural divergence processes in apples in these regions using 26 microsatellite markers amplified in 550 wild and cultivated samples. We found two genetically distinct cultivated populations in Iran that are differentiated from Malus domestica, the standard cultivated apple worldwide. Coalescent-based inferences showed that these two cultivated populations originated from specific domestication events of Malus orientalis in Iran. We found evidence of substantial wild-crop and crop-crop gene flow in the Caucasus and Iran, as has been described in apple in Europe. In addition, we identified seven genetically differentiated populations of wild apple (M. orientalis), not introgressed by the cultivated apple. Niche modelling combined with genetic diversity estimates indicated that these wild populations likely resulted from range changes during past glaciations. This study identifies Iran as a key region in the domestication of apple and M. orientalis as an additional contributor to the cultivated apple gene pool. Domestication of the apple tree therefore involved multiple origins of domestication in different geographic locations and substantial crop-wild hybridization, as found in other fruit trees. This study also highlights the impact of climate change on the natural divergence of a wild fruit tree and provides a starting point for apple conservation and breeding programmes in the Caucasus and Iran.

Identification of the Main Dishes Made from the Pulp of Tomi (Tamarindus indica L) Consumed in the Savannah Region of Côte d'Ivoire

Tamarind (Tamarindus indica L) is a plant belonging to the Fabaceae family and the subfamily Caesalpinioidae that is often found in arid regions. The various parts of this tree are of great interest to rural African populations. The pulp of its fruit is used for the preparation of cold drinks or in the composition of several other foods. However, no study in Côte d'Ivoire has yet focused on these foods, only the juices or nectars of this wild fruit tree have been studied. Thus, a survey was conducted in the localities of Korhogo, Séguéla and Bouna with 135 people per locality in order to identify these foods, and then to determine their modes, forms, frequency of consumption and their processes. The survey revealed that most of consumers are without level of education (78.51%), Ivorian (84.94%) and married (80.99%). The places of supply of tomi are often the field (65.18%-71.64%) than the market (32.84-41.67%) and in its pod form (65.93-73.13%). People use pods and pulp to make 10 tomi-based foods with a meal/drink ratio of 7:3. This fruit is consumed by rural populations for health needs, for its taste and for the color it gives to dishes. The frequency of consumption varies from 0 to 3 times per month and the Sougé-baca appears as the most known and consumed food with a percentage of knowledge of 74.07 and a frequency of consumption of 3 times per month. Sougé-baca is a meal more consumed at breakfast and at the Muslim jêun break. The production diagram of Bacacrou (Sougé-baca, Badégé-baca, Manou-baca and Sougé ni manou-baca) vary according the practices of the three localities.

Comparison of genetic diversity between ancient and common populations of Docynia delavayi (Franch.) Schneid

Docynia delavayi (Franch.) Schneid. (D. delavayi), is a wild fruit tree which combines edible, medicinal, ecological and ornamental uses. In this study, ancient and common populations of D. delavayi were examined for genetic diversity and structure using SSR markers. As a result, a total of 136 alleles were detected at 18 SSR loci, with the mean of 7.56 alleles. The value of Na, Ne, I, He and Nm of the ancient populations were lower than those of the common populations except for Ho and Fst. It indicates that the genetic diversity of the common populations is higher than that in ancient populations. The genetic differences between ancient populations were slightly greater than those between common populations, which demonstrated less gene flow between ancient populations. According to the analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA), the genetic variation within the common population was greater than that in the ancient population, indicating that there was a higher genetic diversity within the common population. Also, the clustering heatmap results are partially consistent with the principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) results. Moreover, the mantel test showed an extremely significant correlation between genetic and geography distance (r = 0.214, p < 0.0001). Based on this work, we proposed strategies for protecting, which offers a theoretical basis for their effective utilization and conservation of D. delavayi ancient tree resources.