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Field study was conducted between January and June 2011 to determine the plant-parasitic and non-parasitic nematodes associated with three indigenous leafy vegetables (Amaranthus viridis, Celosia argenteaandCorchorus olitorius) commonly grown in inland valley by farm practical year students’ trainees at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. The 1.76-ha land was laid out in randomised complete block design with four replicates. Six soil cores were taken per replicate and bulked. Two sub-samples weighing 250 g per replicate were assayed for nematodes using WhiteHead and Hemming Tray method. Results revealed the presence of five genera of plant-parasitic nematodes, namelyTylenchus, Pratylenchus, Helicotylenchus, MeloidogyneandRotylenchulus. Populations ofTylenchusdiffered statistically (p = 0.05) from all others inC. olitorius. The non-parasitic nematodes varied significantly (p = 0.05) among the vegetable types. Galls incited byMeloidogynespp. were more (p = 0.05) inC.argenteaandC.olitoriusthanA.viridis. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: The study compares the physiological and behavioural responses to diurnal heat of South African indigenous Windsnyer (WS) pigs and imported Large White (LW) pigs in the hot-wet season in South Africa. Rectal temperature, skin surface temperature, breathing rates and heart rate were each recorded three times per day every other day (0800 h, 1200 h, 1600 h) for a period of 105 days in 12 six-week old gilts of each breed. A completely randomised design was used. There were no differences (P > 0.05) in breathing rate and rectal temperature between the pig breeds. Skin surface temperatures and heart rate were higher (P < 0.05) for the LW pigs than WS pigs at all times of the day. Time of the day affected (P < 0.05) all physiological parameters which generally increased to a peak during mid-day before decreasing at 1600 h. The frequency and duration of wallowing, sprawling in slurry and lying in prostrate posture were higher in LW than WS pigs. Indigenous WS pigs had higher (P < 0.05) values for hair length, final hair density and fat thickness than the LW pigs. These findings suggest that WS pigs could be better at thermoregulation than LW pigs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Sustainable management of limited land and water resources is urgently needed to meet the increasing demand for food and to protect the environment. Land suitability analysis is a prerequisite in assessing and proposing sustainable land use alternatives for an area. Soil data are usually available at different levels of detail and stored in various forms, usually soil maps and/or soil observations. Soil data interpretation methods control the reliability of land suitability evaluation results. This has a serious effect on the reliability of the suitability maps, the subsequent land use decisions, and environmental modeling. This study examines the reliability of land suitability mapping using different methods of soil data interpretation – the average of land characteristics for field observations within soil map units (point-in-polygon) and spatial interpolation using field observations only (proximity to points). The degree of agreement between the two methods depends on the type of land utilization – rainfed barley (86%), open range (85%), improved range (75%), drip irrigated vegetables (69%), and drip irrigated trees (59%). This results from the difference in the limiting land characteristic that determines the suitability of each land utilization type and the pattern of spatial variation of each land characteristic in the field. Suitability maps for adaptable (indigenous) crops (such as barley and range crops), which require minimum farming inputs, are generally more accurate because they tolerate a wider range of variability. The interpolation method was more efficient in detecting the spatial distribution and extreme values of limiting land characteristics, resulting in more accurate suitability maps. Therefore, when detailed soil maps are not available, field observations could be used to derive suitability maps using an exact interpolation method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leafy vegetables provide essential minerals, vitamins, and amino acids. A survey was conducted in eastern India to document plant species grown for leafy vegetables or collected from field margins or as weeds in other crops that are used as leafy vegetables. Twenty-two plant species belonging to 14 families were recorded as being used as leafy vegetables. Most had high β-carotene and ascorbic acid contents and could be used to alleviate problems of malnutrition and undernutrition. The leaf amaranth (Amaranthus blitum L.) and water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica Forsskal) had very high β-carotene and ascorbic acid contents. Further research on their nutritional potential is needed for their conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Within Australia’s tropical savanna zone, the northernmost frontier regions have experienced the swiftest transition towards multifunctional occupance, as a formerly flimsy productivist mode is readily displaced by more complex modes, with greater prominence given to consumption, protection and Indigenous values. Of these frontier regions, Cape York Peninsula has become the focus for increasingly entrenched, complex contests about regional futures, with the transition towards complex multifunctionality demonstrated in the 1970, 1990 and 2010 tenure maps. Transition dynamics are explored in tables summarising functional trajectories at these benchmark years, also with an examination of non-Indigenous and Indigenous driving forces, actors, agendas, power relations and decision processes. In this increasingly contested arena, currently the pivotal divide is between traditionalist/localist against modernist/reformist/regionalist visions of Indigenous futures, with this divide influencing the agendas and strategies of other major participants, notably conservationists and state and federal governments. The most probable functional trajectory towards 2030 can be identified, based on the partial resolution of the current flux in land tenures, property rights, power relations and economic prospects. The peninsula yields further evidence on the links between multifunctional dynamics, contestability and shifting place identities. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Integrating ethnobotanical knowledge in the development of management and conservation strategies of indigenous plant resources is critical to their effectiveness. In this paper, we used four plant use indices to assess how the plant use knowledge of a multipurpose tree (Pentadesma butyracea Sabine) varies across different sociolinguistic groups from two geographical areas of Benin, and how these variations may influence the species' conservation and utilisation strategies. Seven sociolinguistic groups namely the Anii, Nagot, Kotocoli, and Fulani in the central part, and the Waama, Ditamari and Natimba in the northwestern part of the country were considered. We determined the reported use value of the plant parts, the plant part value, the specific use and the intraspecific use value for each sociolinguistic group. The various communities showed different interests in the plant organs they used. Nagot people showed the best plant use knowledge (highest use value) for P. butyracea bark and roots, two organs critical to the plant survival. Sociolinguistic groups living in the same geographical area shared similar plant part values, likely because of knowledge exchanges through social interactions. The observed intercultural convergences of uses may be a starting point of the selection of parts of the species for phytochemical, biological and pharmacological studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic divergence was studied for yield and different yield contributing traits in 282 black soybean accessions collected from different eco geographic regions of the world. Based on non-hierarchical euclidean cluster analysis all accessions were grouped into 9 clusters. The first four principle component axes (PCA) accounted for 70.28% of total variance. Minimum mean value for days to 50% flowering (46), plant height (82.75 cm) and days to maturity (121) were obtained in cluster I. So this cluster can be very useful to develop early maturing genotypes. Cluster IX contained eight accessions showed maximum mean value for pod length (4.26 cm), 100 seed weight (14.87 g) and seed yield per plant (8.09 g). So, from yield point of view, this cluster can be used to develop high yielding as well as high grain weight genotypes. Inter cluster distance was found maximum between cluster IV and IX (6.39). Hence genotypes from these clusters can be used in hybridization to get desirable recombinants. Accessions VBS 25, VBS 48 from cluster VII and VBS161, VBS152 from cluster VIII found as exceptionally superior donor which can be used in multiple crossing programmes to get transgressive segregants for desirable traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effect of the symbiotic interaction between plants and non-indigenous isolates in remediation of crude oil contaminated soil was studied. Three organisms including Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas putida and Candida albicans obtained from Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) were used. The plants used for this study were four annual indigenous crops including two annual forage leguminous crop, vegetable cowpea (Vigna unguiculata var unguiculata) and velvet bean Mucuna pruriens; a cereal- maize (Zea mays) and a vegetable crop- fluted pumpkin (Telfaira occidentalis). Gas chromatographic (GC) analysis revealed the total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) of sample comprising of sterilized soil seeded with Bacillus subtilis, sterilized soil with Pseudomonas putida and sterilized soil with Candida albicans to be 1.721 mg/kg, 5,791mg/kg and 4.987mg/kg respectively. Treated soil seeded with B. subtilis recorded the least value followed by treated soil with C. albicans and treated soil with P. putida in that order. However, for Z. mays sample that was coated with B. subtilis recorded the least value of 2,339mg/kg. By contrast though, amongst all the plant samples V. unguiculata coated with C. albicans recorded the lowest TPH value of 1,902mg/kg whereas T. occidentalis coated with P. putida had the lowest TPH value of 2.285mg/kg. Different alkane groups degraded during these remediation processes were also highlighted. C alkanes ranging from C8 - C12 were removed though some plants were not able to degrade C8 and/or C9 whereas C40 was generally degraded by all set ups. Statistical analysis depicting the effect of individual plant samples and non- indigenous microorganisms and different plants per individual non- indigenous microorganisms in degrading different concentration of crude oil at 5% significant difference and 95% confident limit was analysed using SPSS software. It showed that the performance of B. subtilis was more acceptable. Generally, the TPH values obtained from all the samples coated with non-indigenous isolates on comparative to the control samples with TPH of 9,487 mg/kg, 8376 mg/kg, 4517 mg/kg and 3828 mg/kg for V. unguiculata, Z. mays, T. occidentalis and Mucuna pruriens respectively had low TPH values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa,C.F.Gaertn) is an indigenous fruit tree distributed in the shea parklands of Africa. The shea fruit is an important source of food for rural communities especially at time of food shortages, hunger and other disasters in addition to providing enormous health benefit and income. Because of its role in combating food insecurity and sustaining rural livelihoods, an assessment of the nutritional composition of shea fruit pulp was carried out in Uganda. Samples of shea fruits were collected from Katakwi, Lira, Pader and Arua districts in Teso, Lango, Acholi and West Nile sub regions in Uganda, respectively, between April and August 2007. For each district, a composite shea fruit sample was analysed for moisture content, total ash, crude oil, crude fibre, crude protein, vitamin C, carbohydrates and calorific values. The mineral composition was analysed for calcium, sodium, potassium, magnesium and iron. The total ash, crude oil, crude fibre, crude protein, total carbohydrate, vitamin C and caloric values ranged between 3.6-5.9%, 1.5-3.5%, 10-15%, 3.1-4.2%, 12.4-19.4%, 85.6-124.9mg/100g and 77.6-89.2 Kcal/100g, respectively (dry weight basis). Ca, K, Mg, Na and Fe values in the pulp ranged from 35.2-95.6 mg/100g, 42.0-63.6 mg/100g, 18.1-24.2mg/100g, 7.1-18.1mg/100gm and 3.4-3.8 mg/100g, respectively. There was a significant variation (P≤0.05) in the crude proteins, crude fibre, Vitamin C values and mineral compositions of the shea fruit pulp from the different shea sub-regions in Uganda. These variations could be due to differences in prevailing environmental factors. The results show clearly that shea fruit pulp has adequate nutrients equivalent to other edible fruits and should be promoted in human nutrition. Its Na/K ratio (0.14-0.35) also makes the shea fruit a valuable resource for managing high blood pressure; an emerging non-communicable disease in most developing countries. To promote wide consumption of shea fruits, the influence of environmental factors and season of harvest on its nutritional composition needs to be investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new waxy corn hybrid 'Daedukchal 1' was developed from single cross between CNU 504 and CNU 2396 at Chungnam National University in 2007. Inbred CNU 504 used as a seed parent and inbred CNU 2396 as a pollen parent were collected throughout domestic regions. Tasseling date of this hybrid was seven days later than that of check hybrid, 'Chalok 1'. 'Daedukchal 1' was 19.7 cm in ear length and 4.5 cm in ear diameter. On yield trial, ear length of this hybrid was increased 29.7% compared with a check hybrid, 'Chalok 1'. 'Daedukchal 1' had white kernels and good eating quality due to high sugar content and thinner pericarp. The ratio of kernel set length/ear length was similar to 'Chalok 1'. It is moderately resistant to southern leaf blight and northern leaf blight but susceptible to corn borer. The yields of 'Daedukchal 1' in fresh ear weight and in number of fresh ear were 16% and 8%, respectively, higher than those of a check hybrid in regional yield trials for two years. Seed production for this hybrid was better because of the consistency of tasseling dates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the tropics the contribution of bees as pollinators of important economic indigenous crops remains largely undocumented. We studied the diversity of bee species visiting indigenous tomato ( Solanum lycopersicon) and habanero pepper ( Capsicum chinense) in subtropical Yucatán, México. The contribution of two native bees, Exomalopsis (E) and Augochloropsis (AG) was compared with that of the introduced Africanized Apis mellífera (HB) for pollinating unvisited flowers in both crops. Apis mellífera and stingless bees were dominant in habanero pepper but solitary bee species were important visitors of tomato. In spite of both crops being autogamic, there was a significant contribution of native bees for pollination of both tomato and habanero pepper. The comparison of fruit weight, number of seeds, and a pollination index based on the latter showed that E and AG were more effective pollinators compared to HB in both crops (ca. Spear’s index of ca. 0.7 vs. 0.35 respectively). In tomato, a further evaluation of the contribution to pollination provided by the three bee species was made using the rate of visits to flowers. Although E and AG were the most efficient pollinators at single flower visits in tomato, none of the three species (including HB) were able to provide single visits to all flowers per unit time to the crop. Our results underline the importance of maintaining diverse assemblages and abundant populations of bee species that can synergically contribute to the productivity of tomato and hot pepper in the Neotropics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of interyear variability of extreme rainfall events on maize yields at locations in Cameroon, in central-west sub-Saharan Africa were investigated through a simulation assessment combining a weather generator with a crop growth model. This study analyzes the potential of using dry/wet year predictions to reduce risk in subsistence agricultural production associated with climate variability at the site level. Weather data sets from eight provincial study localities were classified into three precipitation scenarios – dry (lower threshold), normal and wet (upper threshold) years. According to the modelling results, there is a less than 12 per cent variance in mean maize yields across six out of the eight localities when planting occurs in March, May and August. The variance is equivalent to approximately 100–300 kg per ha, which represents a significant amount of food in the household security of the majority impoverished sectors of rural and urban society, and which could greatly impact the socioeconomic activities of the entire populace. The results lead to the conclusion that all extreme dry and wet years are not equal in terms of their regional manifestation. This calls for precise monthly and sub-seasonal local level forecasts and the effective dissemination of this information to farming communities in Cameroon, thereby facilitating the adaptive management of indigenous cropping practices and reducing their vulnerability to climate related disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) 2010 target of achieving a significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss at the global, regional and national level as a contribution to poverty alleviation and to the benefit of all life on earth is particularly pertinent for crop wild relatives (CWR). These taxa are directly associated with wealth creation and food security as they include the wild crop progenitors possessing many beneficial traits that can be bred into crops to address the changing environmental and market demands. These species are being eroded yet they have been widely neglected by national agencies because agricultural agencies generally have no responsibility for conservation and ecological conservation agencies tend to focus their efforts on habitat or rare and threatened taxa conservation. If the CBD 2010 target is to be achieved for CWR taxa there is a need for a complex interdisciplinary approach that outlines what diversity is present, what threatens that diversity and how it might be best conserved for use by future generations. When attempting to address these issues within the United Kingdom several key topics were identified: (1) creation of a national CWR inventory, (2) analysis of the national CWR inventory content, (3) national patterns of CWR distribution, (4) threat status for CWR diversity, (5) assessment of current conservation actions, (6) identification of priority sites for CWR conservation, and (7) creation of CWR conservation action plans. These issues are used to formulate an effective national conservation strategy for UK CWR diversity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The authors discuss the fertilizer characterizations and media requirements for greenhouse production of native herbaceous perennials such as Aquilegia caerulea James [Ranunculaceae]), or Colorado blue columbine. The authors offer information on the fertilizer concentrations used to produce optimum growth. The results from experiments with media treatments and fertilizers such as Osmocote® are discussed.

Conservation of crop wild relatives (CWRs) is a complex interdisciplinary process that is being addressed by various national and international initiatives, including two Global Environment Facility projects (‘In situ Conservation of Crop Wild Relatives through Enhanced Information Management and Field Application’ and ‘Design, Testing and Evaluation of Best Practices for in situ Conservation of Economically Important Wild Species’), the European Community-funded project ‘European Crop Wild Relative Diversity Assessment and Conservation Forum (PGR Forum)’ and the European ‘In situ and On Farm Network’. The key issues that have arisen are: (1) the definition of what constitutes a CWR, (2) the need for national and regional information systems and a global system, (3) development and application of priority-determining mechanisms, (4) the incorporation of the conservation of CWRs into existing national, regional and international PGR programmes, (5) assessment of the effectiveness of conservation actions, (6) awareness of the importance of CWRs in agricultural development at local, national and international levels both for the scientific and lay communities and (7) policy development and legal framework. The above issues are illustrated by work on the conservation of a group of legumes known as grasspea chicklings, vetchlings, and horticultural ornamental peas (Lathyrus spp.) in their European and Mediterranean centre of diversity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Fire tree ( Morella faya) has invaded extensive areas of wet and mesic forest on the Island of Hawai’i, forming nearly monospecific stands. Our objective was to identify a method of controlling M. faya, which would allow native plants to establish while minimizing establishment by invasive plants. Treatments (logging all trees, trees left standing but girdled, and incremental girdling over 20 months) were selected to kill M. faya stands at different rates, thereby creating different conditions for species establishment. Leaf litter was either removed or left in place; seeds and seedlings of three native pioneer species, three native forest species, and three alien invasive species were then added to determine their ability to establish. Native pioneer species established best in the log and girdle treatments, whereas seedling emergence of native forest species was higher in the girdle and incremental girdle treatments. Seedlings of invasive species emerged faster than the natives, but each of them responded differently to the stand treatments. Leaf litter reduced seedling emergence for all species, with small-seeded species (<1 mg/seed) affected most under low light conditions. No single method eliminated all invaders, but girdling of M. faya provided suitable conditions for most native species. If combined with selective removal of the most disruptive alien species and native seed additions, girdling could be an effective general strategy for restoring native forests that have been overwhelmed by woody invaders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information on the impact of globalization on agriculture worldwide. Due to global systems of agriculture, there have been a number of disparaging social and economic inequities, as well as environmental destruction. One of the factors responsible for the cycles of economic booms and busts, as well as increased indebtedness of small farmers to their export companies in less developed nations is the increased use of contract farming in the agro-export sectors. The cultivation of indigenous varieties of crops have been abandoned by farmers, in favor of commercial crops. This practice contributes to the genetic erosion of cultivated plants.

The sustainability of seed extraction from natural populations has been questioned recently. Increased recruitment failure under intense seed harvesting suggests that seed extraction intensifies source limitation. Nevertheless, areas where more seeds are collected tend to also have more intense hunting of seed-dispersing animals. We studied whether such hunting, by limiting disperser activity, could cause quantitative dispersal limitation, especially for large crops and for crops in years of high seed abundance. In each of four Carapa procera (Meliaceae) populations in French Guiana and Surinam, two with hunting and two without, we compared seed fate for individual trees varying in crop size in years of high and low population-level seed abundance. Carapa seeds are a nontimber forest product and depend on dispersal by scatter-hoarding rodents for survival and seedling establishment. Hunting negatively affected the proportion of seeds dispersed and caused greater numbers of seeds to germinate or be infested by moths below parent trees, where they would likely die. Hunting of seed-dispersing animals disproportionally affected large seed crops, but we found no additional effect of population-level seed abundance on dispersal rates. Consistently lower rates of seed dispersal, especially for large seed crops, may translate to lower levels of seedling recruitment under hunting. Our results therefore suggest that the subsistence hunting that usually accompanies seed collection is at the cost of seed dispersal and may contribute to recruitment failure of these nontimber forest products. Seed extraction from natural populations may affect seedling recruitment less if accompanied by measures adequately incorporating and protecting seed dispersers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The indigenous people of Australia have a long and well-documented history of using native plants as an essential component of their customary economy. However few have engaged successfully in commerce based on native plant use. Recently there has been an increasing interest in exploring options for use of native plants for food, food additives, botanical medicines, and related purposes. In this paper, we determine the issues important to Aboriginal people in enterprise development utilizing plant products, and we define some of the factors affecting progress in realizing opportunities. The Aboriginal people with whom we have worked appear to prefer small-scale enterprises where they have community ownership of ideas and control of the rate and direction of development. Government could play a larger and more active role through supporting additional research and marketing information, providing training, and better matching policy and legislation to support indigenous development and reduce dependence of welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on action research that evaluated local perceptions and knowledge of indigenous tree planting and management in the Romwe catchment, Chivi District, southern Zimbabwe. The species tested were the overexploited Afzelia quanzensis, important for timber and carvings of sculptures and utensils; Sclerocarya birrea, the marula tree used for wood, bark, and fruit; and Brachystegia glaucescens, the dominant miombo tree species, used for firewood, fiber, and fodder. Participants volunteered to plant and manage the test seeds, while a research team monitored their activities and results for 26 months. For Afzelia quanzensis, the germination rate was 81%, and 69% of the seedlings were still alive after one year. In the case of Sclerocarya birrea, the germination rate was 69%, and the one-year survival rate was 50%. For Brachystegia glaucescens, the germination rate was only 30%, and the survival rate was 31%. The main reasons for planting were to provide shade, to serve as a windbreak, and to conserve and gain individual control over dwindling natural resources, particularly Afzelia quanzensis. Women were generally more active and innovative than men. For instance, they searched for their own seeds or seedlings in the bush when there weren't sufficient plants. Some participants tried out various indigenous methods of pest and disease control, water conservation, and moisture retention. Group feedback sessions and informal interactions provided the opportunity to share experiences. The participants learned that indigenous trees can be purposefully planted and were not simply a gift from God. Despite the droughts and political instability of recent years, a growing number of people became involved in tree planting during 2002–2003. As a result, there is now greater awareness among the local population of dwindling resources and their future potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accumulation of recent data from archaeobotany, archaeozoology and Neolithic excavations from across South Asia warrants a new overview of early agriculture in the subcontinent. This paper attempts a synthesis of these data while recommending further systematic work and methodological developments. The evidence for origins and dispersals of important crops and livestock from Southwest Asia into South Asia is reviewed. In addition evidence for indigenous plant and animal domestication in India is presented. Evidence for probable indigenous agricultural developments in Gujarat, the Middle Ganges, Eastern India, and Southern India are reviewed. An attempt is made to highlight regions of important frontiers of interaction between early farmers and hunter-gatherers. The current evidence suggests that the Neolithic trajectories in different parts of South Asia differ from each other. Indigenous centers of plant domestication in India also differ from the often discussed trajectory of Southwest Asia, while suggesting some similarities with agricultural origins in Africa and Eastern North America as well as secondary agricultural developments on the peripheries of Eurasia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Broken pieces of three indigenous rice cultivars were utilized for the formulation of tube type pasta (Ziti-cut ) using four levels each of vital gluten and guar gum. The rice flours were modified by pregelatinization and the pregelatinized flour was found suitable for pasta preparation based on instrumental and sensory texture analysis. The cooking time for pasta was reduced from 10 to 6 min by using pregelatinized rice flour. The textural quality of pasta was analyzed using texture analyzer (TAXT-2i) and descriptive sensory analysis techniques. A protein level of 16% was found suitable for production of rice pasta, which was comparable to commercial semolina sample whereas a gum level of 1.5% supplemented to pregelatinized rice flour containing 14% protein was judged the best on the basis of instrumental as well as sensory textural characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents frequently asked questions about genetic principles and the use of native seeds. Basics of plant genetics; Significance of polyploidy; Differences between cross-pollination and self-pollination; Genetic base of cultivars; Plant breeding approach to native plant material.

Khol rabi is a member of family Brassicaceae, is a popular vegetable of the German speaking countries of Europe. It is also popular in Asian countries. The edible portion of this vegetable is called “Knob” resembles an above ground turnip. It is a rich source of minerals. Hybrid varieties of this crop are also becoming popular among the farmers because of early maturity, uniform knobs and delayed fiber development. Producing high quality seed requires careful management of the parental lines, skilled labour and proper processing of the resulting seed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

An ethnobotanical study of the palms used by the Huaorani in the Yasuní National Park and Huaorani Ethnic Reserve in Amazonian Ecuador was carried out. In this inventory, 37 palm species were found; all were used by the Huaoranis. One hundred and ninety-one different uses were recorded in eight ethnobotanical categories. Most species (64.9%) were used for house construction and human food. More than half of the species were used for domestic utensils (59.4%) and hunting and fishing implements (54%). A comparison is made between these data and past studies for the other six indigenous communities from Amazonian Ecuador. This paper shows the highest diversity of useful palm species and the highest number of different uses ever recorded for an indigenous group in Amazonian Ecuador. The data combine quantitative and qualitative approaches. © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2004, 144, 149–159. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lack of published information on indigenous agricultural knowledge in South Africa frustrates the efforts of scientists who seek to enhance the creativity of subsistence farmers, and thus help their delivery from the cycle of poverty to commercialised farming. The term 'indigenous crop' is not clearly defined in the literature, and confusion about what is a traditional or an indigenous crop often arises even in conversations with local people. Perhaps the confusion stems from the generally accepted norm that a crop is associated with conventional production practices and commercialisation. Indigenous crop production and use of indigenous plants for food are generally not associated with conventional agriculture. Many subsistence farmers in South Africa have known only organic farming until recently, when they were introduced to 'new seeds' and agricultural chemicals. On-farm opinion surveys and physical farm appraisals were undertaken at the Msinga and Embo tribal areas in KwaZulu-Natal, in an attempt to assess the knowledge of subsistence and small-scale farmers about indigenous crops and organic farming. Results showed that the traditional definition of the term 'indigenous crop' may be broader than 'African only', at least in the context of indigenous South Africans. The findings also showed that subsistence farmers take organic farming to be a peasant's approach to food production, but its health and economic merits are recognised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on native plant restoration in Hawaii. Propagation and reestablishment of rare and endangered plant species through joint projects and nurseries; Rehabilitation of island habitats; Importance of preserving genetic diversity and recovery.

Thirty types of indigenous vegetables commonly utilized in rural areas of Tanzania were collected, identified and their nutrient compositions analyzed. High values up to 249.6, 266 and 7.7 mg/100 g of vitamin C, calcium and iron, respectively, were recorded. Protein content ranged from 0.6 to 5.0 and fat content 0.1 to 1.0 percent. Generally most of the vegetables were preferred by 50 to 90 percent of the persons surveyed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents the study conducted by Stanley G. Kitchen and E. Durant McArthur at the USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Shrub Sciences Laboratory in Provo, Utah which examines the subjective labels for plants and their application in wildland plantings. Rationale; Effects of species migration; Implications of the spatial perspective for classifying plant labels; Principles for plant selection.

Presents the results of the survey conducted by Steven E. Smith and Susan R. Winslow on the various criteria employed by different individuals and groups in defining "native" plants. Rationale of the study; Materials and methods; Results; Discussion and conclusions.

Discusses the restoration gene pool (RGP) concept as a framework for choosing plant materials based on the priorities of the species, plant communities, systems, and landscapes threatened. Efforts done to conserve native plants; Details of the RGP; Challenges to the native plant industry; Summary and conclusions.

Abstract This study examines the regeneration of indigenous tree species in the formerly encroached area in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (MGNP), south-western Uganda. Before gazetting in 1992, MGNP had basically been agricultural land for well over 50 years. The distribution of exotic vegetation was established using a Geographical Positioning System receiver and indigenous vegetation was sampled by establishment of quadrats along transect lines. Observations indicated that approximately 2% of the old cropland was covered by exotic woodlots. Black wattle (Acacia mearnsii) and Eucalyptus trees were found to be the most widely distributed and Pinus patula the least distributed species in the park. Species numbers of indigenous trees (n = 26) were high in the old cropland, compared with twelve species observed in exotic woodlots. The natural forest supported the highest (75%) stem density and the lowest (4%) stem density was recorded in exotic woodlots. Seedling class (< 2 cm, d.b.h.) accounted for the majority of juveniles, with the lowest stem density (1350 seedlings ha-1) recorded in exotic woodlots compared with 6609 seedlings ha-1 in the old cropland and 24,625 seedlings ha-1 in the natural forest. The levels of tree diversity and stocking characteristics recorded under the exotic species suggest that a low diverse community of native species may exploit this environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estimates the costs of damages caused by nonindigenous species in the United States. Examples of nonindigenous plants and animals; How some species can be beneficial, but crowd indigenous species when allowed to flourish unsupervised; Details of the introduction of the estimated 50,000 nonindigenous species in the US; Examples of threats posed by nonindigenous species.

Smallholder farmers encounter countless challenges that not only restrict them from maximizing market opportunities but also limit their access to the markets. This paper aims to achieve a thorough understanding of the factors that influence the market participation of indigenous crops by smallholder farmers while also analyzing the extent of market participation in South Africa. An analyzable sample size of 1,520 was used for the study. Household commercialization index (HCI), T -test, description analysis, and a double hurdle model with quasi-maximum likelihood fractional response model were employed to analyze the commercialization and extent of commercialization among indigenous crops by smallholder farmers in South Africa. The study demonstrated that a farmer's decision to participate in the market is highly dependent on gender, off-farm income, access to market information, and a family member being infected by HIV. Factors such as household size and access to the market had statistical significance in the extent of market participation by smallholder farmers. While we recommend the need to intensify appropriate training for farmers and extension workers involved in the area of indigenous crops, it is also important that indigenous crops are given the necessary considerations by the government and research institutions so that their demand in the market could increase. There is a need to develop a clear support plan for the few farmers that have decided to be involved in the farming of indigenous crops even though they are not highly marketable. On the other hand, there is also a need for consumer awareness campaigns in South Africa, on the income and nutritional benefits of indigenous crops., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Farmers in Andean communities depend on complex farming systems that combine native and introduced crops, production for subsistence, and production for the market. Home to the well-known potato, the Andean region is also the native place of hundreds of lesser known varieties of tubers such as oca, ulluco, and mashua. Using data from interviews and field observation in the Peruvian community of Picol, we describe the economic and social relevance of these tuber crops in the context of the local farming system. A cross-case comparison of households is used to examine the relationship between socioeconomic status and the allocation of family resources. We also explore how different agricultural practices relate to the biodiversity of indigenous tuber crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on ongoing research conducted in Nakuru County, Kenya, the paper analyses food markets in the region. It interrogates the local foodscape investigating the nexus between food supply's commodity consistency and local ethnic diversity. Analyzing the role of Indigenous Crops in the market, it points out ethnic diversity is not straightforwardly a factor for market expansion and diversification. Rather, it shows that merchandise standardization and reduction answer to commercial and infrastructural needs of the sellers as well as a conservative attitude in consumers' taste and consumption attitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]