Katja Kehlenbeck

Nutrient composition of selected indigenous fruits from sub‐Saharan Africa

Indigenous fruits constitute an important part of human diets in many sub-Saharan African countries, particularly in rural areas and during droughts. In order to promote and expand the utilisation of these fruits, knowledge on their nutritional composition is essential. This review presents the results of a literature research of the nutritional composition of ten selected indigenous fruits from sub-Saharan Africa. Species were selected based on their current importance as well as their future potential for nutrition, processing and cash income generation. Compositional data were compiled and mean values of components per species were calculated. Most papers were compiled for Adansonia digitata (26) and Dacryodes edulis (16), followed by Tamarindus indica (ten), Balanites aegyptiaca (nine), Sclerocarya birrea (nine), Ziziphus mauritiana (nine), Vitex doniana (seven) and Irvingia gabonensis (five), and least for Uapaca kirkiana (three) and Syzygium guineense (three). Fruits were found to be mainly analysed for macronutrients and minerals. Vitamins, apart from vitamin C, were rarely reported. Substantial compositional differences were found among as well as within the different fruit species. The results of this study emphasise the need to generate more high-quality data on a wider spectrum of components of the selected indigenous fruits in sub-Saharan Africa.

Identification of mango (Mangifera indica L.) landraces from Eastern and Central Kenya using a morphological and molecular approach

Local mangos (Mangifera indica L.) are highly valued for home consumption in rural Kenya and are regarded by the local population to be comparatively drought tolerant and less susceptible to pests and diseases than the improved varieties. These are characteristics which make them interesting for improvement and breeding purposes. To date, research on Kenyan mangos has mainly focused on introduced and commercial varieties, whereas information on local varieties and landraces is lacking. We present the first comprehensive morphological and molecular characterisation of local mango landraces from Eastern and Central Kenya. Thirty-eight local mango trees were sampled and characterized by 75 selected qualitative (44) and quantitative (31) morphological descriptors selected from the descriptor list developed for mango by Bioversity International (former IPGRI). Hierarchical cluster analysis was performed using first all variables and finally only 10 selected key descriptors. Additionally, dried mango leaves from the same 38 trees were used for molecular classification with 19 simple sequence repeat markers. Genetic relatedness between the mango samples was visualized using a dendrogram based on Nei’s genetic distance and Neighbor Joining methods. Morphological characterisation resulted in six distinct clusters, and molecular analysis in eight clusters, which partly supported the morphological classification. Four of the eight molecular clusters were consistent and molecular results confirmed morphological classification in these cases. Identification of local mango landraces using morphological traits can be considered as satisfying under field conditions, e.g. for rootstock identification in nurseries, but environmental conditions may influence the results. Molecular marker analysis is more expensive, but independent from environmental influences and thus suitable for identification of landraces in field genebanks and for breeding purposes. Outcomes of the present study can form the basis for urgently needed future conservation efforts, including circa situ conservation on farms and the development of ‘conservation through use’ strategies for local mango landraces in Kenya.

Wild Vegetable Species in Makawanpur District, Central Nepal: Developing a Priority Setting Approach for Domestication to Improve Food Security

Wild Vegetable Species in Makawanpur District, Central Nepal: Developing a Priority Setting Approach for Domestication to Improve Food Security. Makawanpur district in Central Nepal is considered a biodiversity hotspot of the country. Numerous wild plant species are traditionally used as vegetables and contribute to nutrition and food security of local communities. However, abundance and use of many of these wild vegetables have been decreasing, which calls for domestication and cultivation of priority species. This study aimed at documenting wild vegetable species and their use to develop a priority list for future domestication efforts. Wild vegetables were surveyed in three agro–climatic zones (500–2,200 masl) of the Makawanpur district in natural forest, homegardens, farmer’s fields, fallow land, and markets. Information about local names, plant parts used, seasonal availability, mode of consumption, primary consumers, and preference ranking for consumption and sale was gathered during forest/field walks and by semi–structured interviews of 144 respondents (including men, women, and children) of three ethnic groups. Priority setting was based on nine variables related to priorities for taste and sale, species’ occurrence in homegardens, wide use among ethnic groups, broad altitude range, harvest season, level of threat as perceived by respondents, children’s preference for consumption, and possibility for processing. A total of 89 vegetable species were identified. Forests and fallows were most important for collecting wild vegetables, which were mainly used for home consumption. Only 26 species were also sold in markets. Ethnic group, respondent’s age, and altitude of the location had a significant influence on the respondents’ knowledge of wild vegetables, while gender had no influence. The following six species were rated highest in the priority setting: Bauhinia variegata L., Dendrocalamus hamiltonii Nees & Arn. ex Munro, Bambusa tulda Roxb., Diplazium esculentum (Retz.) Sw., Dryopteris cochleata (Ham. ex D. Don) C. Chr., and Tectaria gemmifera (Fée) Alston. The developed priority setting approach was considered suitable, but it should also include further variables such as nutritional value and market potential of the species before it being recommended for further testing.

Variability of On-Farm Food Plant Diversity and Its Contribution to Food Security: A Case Study of Smallholder Farming Households in Western Kenya

Traditional mixed agroforestry farms are regarded as sustainable agroecological systems contributing to agrobiodiversity conservation and household food and nutrition security in sub-Saharan Africa. However, in Kenya little is known on the level of agrobiodiversity of these mixed farms and its contribution to food and nutrition security. A case study was conducted to assess food plant and livestock diversity and to identify the biophysical and socioeconomic factors influencing food plant diversity in 30 smallholder farms in Western Kenya. The survey identified six livestock species and 59 food plant species. Higher food plant species richness was found on farms managed by wealthier households and older household heads. However, households with high on-farm food plant richness and diversity were not more food secure than households managing species-poor farms. The nonsignificant relationship between food security and agrobiodiversity during the time of this case study may have resulted from the fact that the surveyed 30 families sourced significant proportions of their food from markets and did not fully depend on their farms for food, particularly for spices and condiments, fruits, and animal source foods. Therefore, we suggest a diversification of farms through livestock and fruit tree farming for improving dietary diversity and incomes of the surveyed households.

Der Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.): Wildobst aus Afrika für Deutschland und Europa?!

ZusammenfassungExotische Früchte aus fernen Ländern erlangen in Deutschland und Europa immer mehr an Bedeutung. Gerade in den Tropen und Subtropen ist die Vielfalt an Fruchtarten enorm groß. Das getrocknete Fruchtfleisch des Baobabs (Adansonia digitata L.) ist seit 2008 als neuartige Lebensmittelzutat für die Europäische Union zugelassen und mehr und mehr Produkte kommen auf den Markt.In seiner Heimat Afrika ist der Baobab ein imposanter Baum der Savannen. Aufgrund seines ausgedehnten Wurzelsystems und der hohen Wasserspeicherkapazität im Stamm übersteht er Trockenzeiten und Dürreperioden. In Afrika ist der Baum Nahrungsgrundlage und Bestandteil für Kleidung und Medizin, er bietet den Menschen Schutz und ist Kultstätte, liefert Viehfutter und Material für Gebrauchsgegenstände aller Art.Im Rahmen einer Studie konnten für Europa insgesamt schon mehr als 300 Produkte des Baobabs bzw. mit Baobab-Zutaten identifiziert werden. In Deutschland sind als Lebensmittel sowohl naturbelassenes Baobab-Fruchtpulver als auch Verarbeitungsprodukte wie Getränke, Brotaufstriche, Müsliriegel, Konfekte und Schokoladen mit Baobab-Fruchtfleisch erhältlich. Darüber hinaus ist eine Vielzahl von pharmazeutischen und kosmetischen Produkten mit Extrakten des Baobabs in unseren Geschäften verfügbar. Das Produktspektrum reicht von After Shave und Parfum über Shampoo und Duschgel bis hin zu Beinlotion und Fußspray.Baobab-Setzlinge und -Samen werden in Deutschland für die Anzucht und Kultivierung als Zimmerpflanze verkauft. Der Senegal produziert kommerziell Baobab-Bonsais für den europäischen Markt.In Afrika werden die Früchte fast ausschließlich von wildwachsenden Bäumen geerntet. Jedoch könnte der erwerbsmäßige Anbau des Baobabs eine wichtige Einkommensquelle für die ländliche Bevölkerung darstellen. Dafür sind die weitere Erforschung und Domestizierung dieser Wildobstart sowie der ausdrückliche Schutz der natürlichen Bestände als wichtige genetische Ressource zwingend notwendig.AbstractIn Germany and Europe exotic fruits from distant places are becoming more and more important. In the tropics and subtropics an enormous variety of edible fruits exists. In 2008 the dry fruit pulp of the baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) was approved as novel food for the EU and thus entered the formal food market. Hence, an increasing number of products became available in Europe.The baobab is an impressive tree in the savannas of Africa. Due to its dense and wide spreading root system and its enormous water storing capacity in the stem, the tree can grow under very dry environmental conditions. In many regions of Africa it is a multipurpose indigenous fruit tree species which offers shelter and provides food, fodder and medicine as well as raw material for many purposes.However, even in Europe a wide range of products is now available as shown in the present study, which identified more than 300 baobab products or products with baobab as an ingredient. In Germany, not only the natural baobab pulp but also ready-made foodstuffs such as soft drinks, sandwich spreads, cereal bars, sweets and chocolates are available. Furthermore, a diverse range of pharmaceutical and cosmetic products with extracts from the baobab is available in the market. The products range from after shave and perfume to shampoo and shower gel to leg lotion and foot spray.In Germany baobab saplings and seeds are offered for planting and cultivation as an indoor pot plant. Commercially marketed baobab bonsai seedlings for the European market are produced in Senegal.In Africa the baobab fruits are mainly harvested from wild stands. However, the commercial production of baobab fruits in orchards could be an important future opportunity for income generation to many local households. More research on baobab, including the domestication of this wild fruit tree species, and the conservation of its natural stands as important genetic resource are prerequisites for sustainably increased fruit production.

Africa’s wooden elephant: the baobab tree (Adansonia digitata L.) in Sudan and Kenya: a review

Wild edible fruits hold great potential for improving human diets, especially in agricultural societies of the developing world. In Africa, a well-known supplier of such fruits is the baobab (Adansonia digitata L., Malvaceae), one of the most remarkable trees of the world. Several studies in different African countries have highlighted this indigenous fruit tree as a priority species for domestication and expanded use. However, internationally available information on baobab in East Africa, particularly in Sudan and Kenya, remains scarce. This review aims to shed light on the ecology, diversity and current level of utilization of baobab in East Africa in order to facilitate domestication and conservation of the species. A list of priority research areas is provided at the end of the review to encourage further studies and investment in this unique plant taxon.

Diversity of threatened local mango landraces on smallholder farms in Eastern Kenya

Abstract Mango fruits are highly nutritious and economically important to Kenyan farmers, who cultivate three categories of cultivars/landraces; local small-fruited, local big-fruited and improved, introduced cultivars. The small-fruited landraces are said to be well adapted to the local environment but are being replaced by introduced cultivars before their diversity has been documented. This study aimed at assessing morphological and genetic diversity of 36 local mango landraces from 35 randomly selected farms in Eastern Kenya. Fruits were collected from three locations for morphological characterization using the ‘Descriptors for Mango’ of the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute. Leaves of the same accessions were sampled for genetic diversity assessment using microsatellites. Morphological characterization showed that mean fruit length was 5.6–12.5 cm, while mean fruit weight was 93–578 g. Fruit shape was mostly ‘roundish’, while fruit ground colour ‘green’. Hierarchical cluster analysis with seven discriminant morphological variables resulted in four clusters. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated that variation was high (97%) among, but low (3%) within groups. Phylogenetic analysis using Neighbor Joining method resulted in three clusters that lacked consistency with the morphological clusters. Findings from this study may assist to select superior local mango accessions for future breeding programmes and to develop ‘conservation through use’ strategies for Kenyan local mangoes to retain their valuable genetic resources.