Morphological Characterization of the Blood Plum (Haematostaphis Barteri Hook

Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology B 10 (2020) 106-117 doi: 10.17265/2161-6264/2020.02.006 D DAVID PUBLISHING Morphological Characterization of the Blood Plum (Haematostaphis barteri Hook. F. (Anacardiaceae)) in the Republic of Benin Bienvenue Nawan Kuiga Sourou, Towanou Houetchegnon and Christine Ouinsavi Laboratory of Forestry Studies and Research, Faculty of Agronomy, University of Parakou, Parakou, Parakou BP: 123, Benin Abstract: Understanding species morphological variation across geographical ranges can serve as a first step for germplasm collection and the conservation of genetic resources. The morphological variability of Haematostaphis barteri Hook. F. (Anacardiaceae) in Benin (West Africa) was studied, using 11 traits related to panicles, fruits, leaves and leaflets. A total of 1,485 panicles, 1,485 fruits, 990 leaves and 4,950 leaflets were sampled. It was found that the sample provenance and site topography have a significant influence on the morphological traits. The discriminating morphological traits were the length of the panicles, the number of fruits per panicle, the length and width of fruits, the mass of the fresh fruit pulp mass, the length of leaves and petioles, the number of leaflets per leaf, length and width of leaflets. On the basis of these traits, four different morphotypes of H. barteri were identified, with however a small intra and inter group variability. The morphotype from sites established on the tops and the high slopes of hill produced larger and heavier fruits with higher pulp mass. This morphotype could be of interest for future varietal selection programs for the species in Benin. Key words: Benin, Haematostaphis barteri, morphological variability, provenance, topography. 1. Introduction which is a dioecious, spontaneous fruit tree from tropical Africa. The species’ range extends from The improvement of plant genetic resources is an Côte d'Ivoire to Sudan [2]. It grows exclusively in immediate solution to the problems linked to the the Sudanese and Guinean savannas on rocky hills. living conditions of farmers in rural areas, especially In Benin, fragmented populations and isolated when it comes to local wild fruit trees. Wild fruit individuals of H. barteri are found in the trees have morphological traits which are the result phytodistrict of the Atacora chain, in the of their adaptation to environmental conditions, and north-western part of the country [3-5]. H. barteri is play a dual role: supporting the subsistence of local a minor food species that has many uses and populations and conserving biodiversity [1]. An therefore plays an important socio-economic role for improved understanding of ecology of local fruit the local people of North Benin [6]. For example, the trees would strengthen their production in cultivable bark, roots and leaves of the species are used in lands and, consequently, improve the living traditional medicine to cure several diseases or conditions of farmers, while ensuring environmental symptoms [6, 7]. Fruit pulp is directly consumed and stability. is an excellent source of vital nutrients [8]. The fruits In Benin there are several edible wild fruit trees are systematically collected and marketed in certain including Haematostaphis barteri Hook. F. local markets, which thus contributes to improving (Anacardiaceae), commonly known as blood plum, household income [6]. The socio-economic interest that H. barteri provides to rural people leads to its Corresponding author: Bienvenue Nawan Kuiga Sourou, Ph.D., research assistant, research field: forest sciences. overexploitation which could compromise the Morphological Characterization of the Blood Plum (Haematostaphis barteri Hook. F. 107 (Anacardiaceae)) in the Republic of Benin long-term availability of the resource, and the surrounding a male tree (Fig. 2). The clusters were at persistence of the species. This strong harvesting least 100 m apart within a given provenance. Sampled pressure on the species, combined with climatic trees were numbered, identified by small metal plates, variability, limited natural recruitment and aging and their global positioning system (GPS) coordinates stands of H. barteri, makes this tree species one of recorded. the most vulnerable in the Atacora Chain of Eleven (11) morphological traits related to the Mountains [3, 9]. panicles, fruits and leaves were selected. Sustainable management and tree conservation Morphological description of panicles was carried strategy cannot be implemented without better out directly on the field and focused on the length of knowledge of the species on ecological, the panicle and the number of fruits per panicle. The morphological, biochemical and genetic length of the panicle was measured from the point of characteristics in order to differentiate best attachment of the stem to the end of the last fruit individuals to select for genetic enrichment [10]. using a graduated ruler with an accuracy of 0.1 cm. Previous studies have been carried out on the A total of 15 panicles were chosen at random on each morphological variability of several woody species tree, for a total of 1,485 panicles measured. Fifteen which are of interest to humans [11-13]. The study of (15) fruits per tree were sampled for a total of 1,485 morphological variability of forest resources is fruits. necessary for genetic improvement and varietal Data were collected on fruits’ length and width, the selection, because it facilitates the identification of whole fruit fresh weight, the weight of the pericarp and traits that are sensitive to environmental factors [14]. that of the kernel (endocarp + almond). Fruit length was Domestication process begins with the exploitation measured from the point of attachment of the peduncle of existing natural variability to select individuals to the end and its width was measured in the median with the most interesting phenotypes [15]. The part of the length in two perpendicular directions and objective of this study was to analyze the the average value was retained. The length and width of morphological variability of H. barteri according to the fruit were measured using an electronic caliper with topographic parameters and provenances, and to an accuracy of 0.01 cm. The fresh weight of the fruit characterize the identified morphotypes. was determined by weighing. The pericarp of the fruit 2. Materials and Methods was carefully removed and weighed. The rest of the fruit (pulp + kernel) was securely wrapped in a thick 2.1 Sampling and Data Collection cloth to remove the pulp [16]. The core obtained at the H. barteri trees were sampled from eight end of this operation was dried in ambient air for 4 h provenances distributed in three districts of Benin and then weighed using an electronic scale with an (Natitingou, Boukombé and Toucountouna) within the accuracy of 0.01 g. The weight of the pulp was same agro-ecological zone (Fig. 1). Sampling schemes determined according to Eq. (1): took into account the topography of the sites, as M (pulp) = M (fruit) – [M (peel) + M (kernel)] (1) followed: top and high slope, mid-slope, down-slopes where M (pulp) is the weight of the fruit pulp, M and plateau (Table 1). (fruit) is the weight of fresh whole fruit, M (peel) is Across the eight provenances, 99 H. barteri trees the weight of the pericarp of the fruit and M (kernel) is were sampled according to their accessibility and the weight of the fruit kernel. presence of fruits. These trees were organized into Ten leaves were sampled per tree for a total of 990 clusters which correspond to all the female trees leaves, packaged in plastic bags until their dimensions 108 Morphological Characterization of the Blood Plum (Haematostaphis barteri Hook. F. (Anacardiaceae)) in the Republic of Benin were measured approximately 4 h later in the laboratory. leaflet. The length of the leaflet was measured from Five leaflets, both the largest and the smallest, were the point of attachment of the petiolule to the main rib collected on each leaf, i.e., 50 leaflets per tree for a to the tip of the leaflet. The width of the leaflet was total of 4,950 leaflets. Data on leaf and petiole length, measured in the middle of the length of the leaflet. All the number of leaflets per leaf, the length and width of these measurements were made using a graduated leaflets were collected. The length of the leaf was ruler with an accuracy of 0.1 cm. measured from the point of attachment of the petiole 2.2 Statistical Analysis to the branch to the end of the terminal leaflet; the length of the petiole was measured from the point of The variability between the morphological traits attachment of the petiole to the branch to the first was assessed using the coefficient of variation (CV). Fig. 1 The study area. Morphological Characterization of the Blood Plum (Haematostaphis barteri Hook. F. 109 (Anacardiaceae)) in the Republic of Benin Fig. 2 Scheme of sampled Haematostaphis barteri clusters formation. Table 1 Agro-ecological characteristics of the eight localities of Benin in which the fruits and leaves of Haematostaphis barteri were collected. Sampling Topography of the Longitude Latitude Altitude Provenances Type of soil number site (E) (N) (m) Brown yellowish red, ferruginous Bérécingou 9 High slope and top tropical little deep, impoverish and 01°40′05.6″ 10°23′40.5″ 420 concretions sat on the quartzite. Reddish yellowish brown, shallow Borna 9 High slope and top tropical ferruginous, depleted and 01°42′52.9″ 10°21′14.7″ 449 concretions sitting on quartzite. Olive reddish brown, tropical Koussou 19 High slope and top ferruginous, deep concretions and 01°20′26.1″ 10°19′06.9″ 570 hydromorphs. Red, shallow, ferruginous, impoverished Maco 13 Mid-slope 01°28′35.0″ 10°40′51.5″ 525 and seated concretions, on quartzite. Reddish yellowish brown, shallow Tipéti 22 Mid-slope tropical ferruginous, depleted and 01°30′32.2″ 10°38′49.0″ 540 concretions sitting on quartzite.

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