(Brassica Carinata A. Braun) Genotypes in Tanzania O.T

Home , Leaf vegetable

Participatory identification of agronomic and leaf quality traits in Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata A. Braun) Genotypes in Tanzania O.T. Adeniji1 and A. Aloyce2 1Department of Crop Science, Adamawa State University, Nigeria 2Horticultural Research and Training Institute, Tengeru, Arusha, Tanzania *Corresponding Author: [email protected]

ABSTRACT

Thirteen breeding lines of Ethiopian mustard were evaluated for agronomic, leaf quality and market traits using participatory approach among stakeholders in production and marketing during 2008 and 2009. This study seeks to identify farmers’ preference for traits and accessions, identify horticultural traits that may constitute future research and donor parents for breeding works. Arusha, Meru and Moshi were purposively selected due to high production, consumption and marketing of Ethiopian mustard. A multistage random sampling procedure was used to select districts, then the villages and the participants. The focus group discussion sessions identified leaf number, leaf size and leaf succulence among other as traits of high preference and for improvement. Preference was high for leaf colour (green), leaves, leaf succulence, leaf thickness (thin) and taste in B. rapa compared to B. carinata. Preponderance of leaf defoliators and Aphids, and associated diseases are the major constraints in production and to a lesser extent are seed price, vegetable production techniques and leaf marketing. Genotypes that excel for multiple traits and specific traits were identified, and could be donor parents for leaf yield and quality traits improvement. High preference for B. rapa implied that hybridization among B rapa and B. carinata could create ample variation for improvement in B. carinata.

Keyword: Participatory selection, leaf quality traits, Sensory evaluation, Leaf number, Arusha and Meru regions, Brassica carinata

INTRODUCTION and calcium, as well as cancer-fighting anti-oxidants (Mnzava and Schippers, 2007). It produces more In East Africa (except Ethiopia) Brassica carinata leaves per plant than kale and a few leaves can be leaves (aptly called Loshu) is an important leafy removed at a time for home consumption, allowing vegetable in East and Southern Africa. It is the rest of the plant to continue to grow. The crop has consumed fresh or partially fried or stewed with other erect, annual or occasionally biennial or perennial vegetables (spinach and spices). It is mostly grown in herb up to 200 cm tall, usually branched, glabrous to small farm holdings or in kitchen garden in Tanzania, slightly hairy at stem and petiole bases, slightly Malawi and Zambia and to a lesser extent in glaucous; taproot strong, leaves are alternate and Zimbabwe. Fresh leaves are sold in nearby and usually simple (Gildemacher, 1997). Propagation is distant markets. Within season glut and low market by seed, when grown for the leaves, seed broadcast demand are serious challenges in production. To in the nursery beds is widely practiced. Seedbeds date no statistical data on production and marketing mixed with organic manures are usually raised above are known. The utilization of the Ethiopian mustard the soil to reduce the incidence of damping off. The leaves appears to be declining because of higher field spacing is about 35 – 40 cm within and 50 – 60 yielding leaf cabbage (Brassica oleracea) and leaf cm between rows, depending on the plant size. mustard (Brassica juncea) (Mnzava and Schippers, 2007). Similarly information on the nutritional Fresh market production of Ethiopian mustard leaves composition of Brassica carinata leaves is limited, but is usually under monoculture, the whole plants are it is probably comparable to Brassica juncea harvested by uprooting 5 - 6 weeks after sowing in (Gildemacher, 1997). Ethiopian mustard lacks seed beds. The average leaf and shoot yield of 35 bitterness, rich in vitamins C and K, beta carotene t/ha on farmers’ field and 50–55 t/ha on research Agric. Biol. J. N. Am., 2014, 5(6): 245-251

stations depending on production season and cultivar through 2008 and 2009 at the research field of (Mnzava and Schippers, 2007; Gildemacher, 1997). Agricultural Seed Agency (ASA)/Horticultural Leaves are perishable and wilt or become yellow Research and Training Institute (Horti–Tengeru) when left on the shelf for more than a day; therefore Arusha, Tanzania (lat 4.8°S long 3.5°E; alt. 1290 m). farmers harvest small quantities at a time and sell Field activities took place in August 2008 and them in nearby or distant markets. To retain repeated in August, 2009. A randomized complete freshness, the leaves are kept moist inside a bag that block design with three replications was used; each is left in the shade or in a cool place. When the plot consisted of beds (1 x 2m). Seed beds were product is offered as whole plants with roots, traders prepared by mixing with 3 Kg of organic manure, place the roots in water and plants can thus be kept thereafter beds were furrow-irrigated for three days for a few days. In Tanzania Ethiopian mustard leaves before sowing, then once a day thereafter. Sowing are important component of vegetable diet, sold in was done by broadcast of seeds (5 grams) on the grocery stores and retail outlets throughout the beds. Weeding was carried out manually; foliar country. Cultivation takes place throughout the year application of urea was done two weeks after sowing. wherever water is not limiting. Plant growth slows Insecticidal and fungicide sprays were not carried during the cold season compared to the warm out. season. Three regions namely; Arusha, Meru and Moshi were Participatory assessment and utilization of farmers’ purposively selected due to high production, knowledge in identification of preferred agronomic consumption and marketing of Ethiopian mustard. A and market traits in African eggplant (Adeniji and multistage random sampling procedure was adopted; Aloyce, 2012), Maize (Foti, et al 2008) and are in the first stage the districts were selected, then the important in setting up short and long term breeding villages and the participants (Ethiopian mustard objectives. This will assist breeders to develop farmers), who are registered with the district varieties with wide adoption characterized by extension service department were randomly preferred agronomic and quality traits. Networking selected. Development agents were selected as key among stakeholders and research will contribute informants (six extension personnel from the Ministry significantly filling research gaps. Acceptability and of Agriculture and Food Security, research officer and adoption of a new technology (variety) involves field technician from Horticultural Research and biophysical and economic profitability, knowledge of Training Institute Tanzania, to collect and crosscheck how farmers perceive the crop, their attitudes, beliefs information documented from the farmers and ensure and practices related to the accessions. Several that responses reflect famers’ knowledge and qualitative characters are important in choice of experience in production of Ethiopian mustard. vegetable Ethiopian mustard; these are leaf number Farmers’ were interviewed using open-ended semi- and size, leaf succulence and thickness, aroma, structured questionnaire. Between 2008 and 2009, texture, organoleptic taste, leaf colour and shape. 260 farmers randomly selected from study areas The importance of this Ethiopian mustard and were involved in focus group discussions and challenges posed by biotic and abiotic stresses participatory selection exercises. The demographic makes it ideal to conduct participatory selection with and institutional variables of the respondents were stakeholders, to identify farmer and market traits that subjected to descriptive statistics (frequency and could constitute short, medium and long term percentages). During the group discussion sessions, research goals and select productive and diverse farmers provided a list of preferred horticultural traits accessions acceptable to stakeholders. We used and responses were ranked. During the focus group farmers’ knowledge to identifying preferred discussion sessions, farmers identified agronomic, agronomic and quality traits that could constitute leaf quality and market traits for Ethiopian mustard. research objectives and identify promising Ethiopian Thereafter they listed constraints in the production mustard accessions for improvement through and marketing of this crop, and data collected were breeding. reported as frequency. Participatory selection was done in single replication of experimental beds, best Materials, location and experimental design genotypes for agronomic and leaf quality traits were Test population comprised 12 breeding lines and 2 identified, and a comparison among the genotypes released varieties (Mbeya green and Mbeya purple) for multiple traits was done. Best genotypes for of Ethiopian mustard. Field trials were conducted specific traits were selected by dropping between one

246

Agric. Biol. J. N. Am., 2014, 5(6): 245-251

and five seeds (1= Extremely disliked, 2= Disliked, reported that agricultural activities are shared by 3=Liked average, 4= liked and 5=Extremely liked). gender considering how laborious, custom and For sensory evaluation, fresh leaves were harvested, religious belief. In addition poor access to agricultural boiled and served. Each panelist received boiled land and inadequate support for women farmers are leaves with water to rinse their mouth at interval possible reasons. Respondents interviewed are between the tests. Responses were graded using a poorly educated; and will not be able to process five scale hedonic test ranging from extremely liked information and search for appropriate technologies to extremely dislike. to alleviate their production constraints. Household size of 6-8 was most frequent, followed by 3-5 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION individuals per household; vegetable farmers relied Demographic profile of the respondents: on the family labour for farm activities. Farmers are Respondents whose age fell within the age bracket of fairly knowledgeable about production and marketing 20 - 25 years accounted for 22% (Table 1), those of Ethiopian mustard. With increased years of within the age bracket 31 - 35 years, 36 - 40 years cultivating this crop, farmers are able to assess showed equal magnitude. The preponderance of relevant technology. Respondents are aware of young adults in Ethiopian mustard farming implied agronomic and market traits, and consumer needs. A willingness of the respondents to learn new close magnitude was recorded for membership and technologies. In the study area cultivation of nom membership of socio-cultural association in the Ethiopian mustard showed gender sensitive to the communities. When it comes to marketing, farmers male sex. Our findings deviated from views of [4] who sold fresh leaves to middlemen are in large among Solanum (eggplant) and [31] among proportion; this is frequent during main season and vegetable farmers in Mubi, Nigeria. On the contrary during glut as the middle men are expected to (24) had reported a high participation and willingness transport the leaves to short and distant market. On of women farmers as compared to the men in the other hand during prolonged dry season, fresh cultivation of Kalima variety of cowpea in Malawi. leaves attract high demand and price, the farmers Similarly Sabo and DIa (2009) and Sabo et al (2009) choose between the middle man and direct supply to had reported high involvement of men in cultivation of immediate markets. Farmers who sold fresh leaves to vegetables in Mubi, Adamawa state. This we assume nearby markets are in large proportion, followed by may be associated with the custom, norms or neighbour and nearby market compared to those who religious perspective as women are not allowed to exchange fresh leaves for other things and as gifts. own land and be exposed to farming activities. In During the glut in production farmers’ maintain their contrast marketing of Ethiopian mustard skewed to plants in situ, and continually pluck the leaves instead the female sex, this mirrored Sabo and Dia (2009) of uprooting. and Sabo et al (2009) among vegetable farmers in Mubi zone, Adamawa state. Several authors had

Table 1 Socio economic and institutional variables of Ethiopian mustard farmers

Gender Frequency Percentage (%) Male 180 69 Female 80 31 Marital status Single 30 12 Married 220 85 Divorced 10 4 Educational attainment Standard I-IV 50 6 Standard IV-VIII 180 63 Form I-1V 90 31 Household size 0-2 0 0 3-5 100 38 6-8 130 50

247

Agric. Biol. J. N. Am., 2014, 5(6): 245-251

Gender Frequency Percentage (%) 9-11 20 8 12-14 10 4 Years in growing Ethiopian mustard <1 20 8 2-3 97 37 4-5 120 46 6-7 10 4 8-9 13 5 Farm size (acre) < 0.5 190 60 0.6-1.0 68 34 1.1-1.5 1 3 1.6-2.0 1 3 Farm labour Family 160 62 Hired 3 1 Community association 10 4 Family and hired 7 3 Family, community and association 80 31 Membership of socio-cultural association Yes 120 49 No 140 51 Harvesting methods Cutting 110 42 Uprooting 150 58 Marketing Neighbour hood 20 8 Nearby markets 120 46 Neighbour hood and nearby markets 90 35 Nearby and city markets 27 11 Gift and as exchange for other things 3 1

Over years the focus group discussion sessions approach to reduce incidence and severity of insect provided opportunity for listing farmers’ preferred attack. However application of insecticides on leaf agronomic and market traits using a ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ vegetables constitute hazard to human health and response and rank. Top three traits identified by the environment. In addition preservation and storage farmers are leaf number, leaf size and leaf of fresh leaves, followed by seed availability are a succulence (Table 2). Leaf dry matter yield was least few of the constraints that limit utilization and preferred by the farmers. Therefore, research efforts economic benefits in this crop. The pair wise should be directed at quantifying the magnitude of comparison among genotypes for agronomic and variability for these traits and possible donor parents market traits and rank showed that the top five for single and multiple traits. Responses of the genotypes are ML-EM-1, Site 3, Mbeya purple, farmers in the study reflects their immediate needs in Mbeya green and TZSMN-35-5, Mbeya purple and the study area, this may not reflect the aspirations of Mbeya green (the latter two genotypes are released Ethiopian mustard farmers elsewhere in Tanzania. varieties in Tanzania (Table 3). High preference for The focus group discussion indicated severe ML-EM-1 and ML-EM-8 is associated with leaf colour problems associated with insect pests’ (defoliators) (green), leaf succulence and freshness compared to and Turnip mosaic virus transmitted by Aphids (Aphis other entries, which are characterized by bluish green craccivora), during warm and cool seasons. Farmers leaves. Interestingly ML-EM-1 and ML-EM-8 (Check) indicated that spray of insecticides was the best belongs to Brassica rapa, and have wide acceptance

248

Agric. Biol. J. N. Am., 2014, 5(6): 245-251

and very popular in Tanzania compared to Brassica for succulent leaves and leaf thickness (very soft). carinata. Considering leaf number, Mbeya purple, Among the Brassica carinata genotypes, Mbeya Mbeya green, Site 3 and Site 5 are extremely liked by green, Mbeya purple, Site 3 and Site 5 were liked for the respondents. Site 25, Site 21 and Site 23 were leaf thickness and succulence by the respondents. All averagely liked. For leaf size all the entries were the entries were extremely liked for leaf size except extremely liked except for ML-EM-1 and ML-EM-2. ML–EM-1 and ML-EM-8. Considering taste and leaf The result of organoleptic taste showed that all the succulence ML-EM -1, Mbeya green, Mbeya purple, entries showed varying degrees of likeness Site 3, Site 5 among other are promising. There is a (averagely liked, liked and extremely liked). possibility that taste could be linked to soft tissues or Specifically ML-EM-1, ML-EM-8 and Mbeya green high fiber in the leaves. For leaf succulence ML – EM are extremely liked, this performance was followed by - 1 and ML - EM - 8 are best and promising, while Site 3, Site 5, TZSMN -35-5 and Site 25. For multiple Site 21, 23, 25 were liked for leaf dry weight and leaf traits (fresh weight and dry matter) Mbeya green, thickness. The investigation identified leaf agronomic, Mbeya purple and Site 18 recorded high preference. leaf quality and market traits for setting up research Leaf size and number are ranked among the top tailored along farmers needs. In addition that three agronomic and market traits (Table 2), Mbeya promising genotypes of Ethiopian mustard with traits green, Mbeya purple, Site 3 and Site 5 are genotypes preferred by farmers can be utilized in multi location preferred for these traits by the respondents, and evaluation and could serve as donor parents in could be a donor parents for these traits and for breeding works. direct commercialization. Among the genotypes trailed ML- EM -1 and ML-EM-8 are extremely liked

Table 2 Respondents preference for leaf agronomic and quality traits in Ethiopian mustard during 2008 and 2009 (n=260)

Traits Frequency Rank Leaf agronomic and quality traits Leaf number 70 1 Leaf shape 5 Leaf size 42 2 Leaf colour 20 Taste 34 5 Fresh weight 10 Leaf succulence 40 3 Leaf dry weight 4 Leaf thickness 35 4 Production constraints Seed availability 20 Seed price 5 Vegetable production techniques 5 Insect pests 100 1 Diseases 95 2 Marketing 5 Preservation and storage 30 3 Table 4. Matrix score and rank of farmers preferred traits among genotypes of Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata)

Genotypes A B C D E F G H I Total Rank Mbeya Purple 5 4 5 4 4 5 4 4 4 39 2 Mbeya green 5 4 5 4 5 5 4 3 4 39 2

249

Agric. Biol. J. N. Am., 2014, 5(6): 245-251

Genotypes A B C D E F G H I Total Rank Site 18 3 3 5 3 3 4 4 3 4 32 Site 3 5 4 5 4 4 5 4 4 4 39 2 Site 5 5 4 5 4 4 5 4 3 4 38 Site 57 4 3 5 4 3 4 4 3 3 32 ML-EM-1 4 4 4 5 5 4 5 3 5 39 2 ML-EM-8 4 4 5 5 4 5 5 5 5 42 1 TZSMN-35-5 4 4 5 4 4 g4 4 5 5 39 2 Site 25 3 3 5 4 4 4 3 3 3 32 Site 21 3 3 5 4 3 4 3 3 3 31 Site 23 3 3 5 4 3 4 3 3 3 31 A=leaf number, B= leaf shape, C= Leaf size, D= Leaf colour, E= Taste, F= Fresh weight, G= Leaf succulence, H= Leaf dry weight, I= Leaf thickness, crispy 1= extremely disliked, 2= liked, 3= average, 4= Liked, 5= Extremely liked

Table 3. Pair wise ranking of farmers’ preference for Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata) varieties (2008-2009) Genotypes 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Total Rank 1 Mbeya Purple 0 1 1 3 1 1 7 1 9 1 1 1 8 3 2 Mbeya green 0 2 4 2 2 7 2 2 2 2 2 8 3 3 Site 18 0 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 3 3 2 4 Site 3 0 4 4 7 4 4 4 4 4 9 2 5 Site 5 0 6 7 8 9 5 5 5 4 6 Site 57 0 7 8 9 6 6 6 5

7 ML-EM-1 0 7 7 7 7 7 11 1

8 ML-EM-8 0 8 9 8 8 6

9 TZSMN-35-5 0 9 9 9 7 5

10 Site 25 0 10 10 2 11 Site 21 0 11 1 12 Site 23 0 0

Frequency 70 60 50 40 30 Frequency 20 10 0 20-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41-45 46-50 56-60 61-65 66-70

Fig. 1. Age distribution of Ethiopian mustard (B. carinata) farmers

250

Agric. Biol. J. N. Am., 2014, 5(6): 245-251

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Masangano, C. M. and Miles, C. A. (2004). Factors influencing farmers’ adoption of kalima Bean AVRDC (The World Vegetable Center), HORTI – (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) variety in Malawi. Journal of Tengeru (Horticultural Research and Training sustainable Agriculture, 24:(2) 117-129.

Institute), Extension staff of Ministry of Agriculture Mnzava, N.A. and Olsson, K. (1990). Studies in tropical and Food Security (Meru and Arusha regions) vegetables: Part 1. Seed amino, fatty acid and glucosinolates profile of Ethiopian mustards (Brassica REFERENCES carinata Braun). IBPGR 1990. Food Chemistry 35: 229–235. Adeniji, O.T and. Aloyce, A. (2012). Farmers’ knowledge of horticultural traits and participatory selection of Mnzava, N.A. and Msikita, W.W. (1988). Leaf yield African eggplant varieties (Solanum aethiopicum L.) in response of Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata A. Tanzania TROPICULTURA (In-press) Br.) selections to defoliation regimes. Acta Horticulturae 218: 77–81. Cowley, W.R. (1970). Quality of Brassica carinata as a green leaf vegetable. Journal of the American Society Mnzava, N.A. and Schippers, R.R., 2007. Brassica carinata for Horticultural Science 95(1): 3–5. A.Braun In: van der Vossen, H.A.M. & Mkamilo, G.S. (Editors). PROTA 14: Vegetable oils/Oléagineux. [CD- FAO, (1988). Traditional food plants: a resource book for Rom]. PROTA, Wageningen, Netherlands. promoting the exploitation and consumption of food plants in arid, semi-arid and sub-humid lands of Sabo, E and Dia, Y. Z. (2009). Awareness and Eastern Africa. FAO food and nutrition paper 42. FAO, effectiveness of vegetable technology information Rome, Italy. 593 pp. packages by vegetable farmers in Adamawa State, Nigeria. AfricanJournal of Agricultural Research, 4(2): Gildemacher, P. (1997). Ethiopian mustard (Brassica 065-070. carinata A. Br.) as a leafy vegetable in Tanzania: farmers practices and possible improvements. Student Sabo, E. Dia,Y. Z and Pur, J. T. (2009). An evaluation of report Wageningen University/AVRDC-Tengeru. involvement of youths in agriculture and adoption of Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands. agricultural technology information. Agriculture Journal, 2 (5) 627-626. Foti, R., Mapiye, C., Mutenje, M., Marizvikuru, M. and Nyararai Mlambo (2008) Farmer participatory Schippers, R.R. (2002). African indigenous vegetables, an screening of maize seed varieties for suitability in risk overview of the cultivated species 2002. Revised prone,resource-constrained smallholder farming edition on CD-ROM. National Resources International systems of Zimbabwe.African Journal of Agricultural Limited, Aylesford, United Kingdom. Research Vol. 3 (3), pp. 180-185.

251