Sita Guinko

Responses of Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) Benth, Tamarindus indica L. and Zizyphus mauritiana Lam. to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in a phosphorus-deficient sandy soil

Abstract Responses of three multipurpose fruit tree species, Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) Benth, Tamarindus indica L. and Zizyphus mauritiana Lam., to inoculation with five species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, Acaulospora spinosa Walker and Trappe, Glomus mosseae (Nicol. and Gerd.) Gerd. and Trappe, Glomus intraradices Schenck and Smith, Glomus aggregatum Schenck and Smith emend. Koske and Glomus manihotis Howeler, Sieverding and Schenck, differed markedly with respect to functional compatibility. This was measured as root colonization, mycorrhizal dependence (MD) and phosphorus concentrations in shoots of plants. Root colonization of fruit trees by A. spinosa, G. aggregatum and G. manihotis was high and tree growth increased significantly as a consequence. G. intraradices also colonized well, but provided little growth benefit. G. mosseae colonized poorly and did not stimulate plant growth. The MD of P. biglobosa and T. indica was similar, reaching no more than 36%, while Z. mauritiana showed the highest MD values, reaching a maximum of 78%. The Z. mauritiana A. spinosa combination was the most responsive with respect to total biomass production; phosphorus (P) absorption probably contributed to this more than the absorption of sodium, potassium, magnesium or calcium. The density and length of root hairs were positively correlated with MD, suggesting that root hairs are not indicative of MD.

Allometric prediction of above-ground biomass of eleven woody tree species in the Sudanian savanna-woodland of West Africa

Allometric models are necessary for estimating biomass in terrestrial ecosystems. Generalized allometric relationship exists for many tropical trees, but species- and region-specific models are often lacking. We developed species-specific allometric models to predict aboveground biomass for 11 native tree species of the Sudanian savanna-woodlands. Diameters at the base and at breast height, with species means ranging respectively from 11 to 28 cm and 9 to 19 cm, and the height of the trees were used as predictor variables. Sampled trees spanned a wide range of sizes including the largest sizes these species can reach. As a response variable, the biomass of the trees was obtained through destructive sampling of 4 754 trees during wood harvesting. We used a stepwise multiple regression analysis with backward elimination procedure to develop models separately predicting, total biomass of the trees, stem biomass, and biomass of branches and twigs. All species-specific regression models relating biomass with measured tree dimensions were highly significant (p < 0.001). The biomass of branches and twigs was less predictable compared to stem biomass and total biomass, although their models required fewer predictors and predictor interactions. The best-fit equations for total above-ground biomass and stem biomass had R2 > 0.70, except for the Acacia species; for branches including twig biomass, R2-values varied from 0.749 for Anogeissus leiocarpa to 0.183 for Acacia macrostachya. The use of these equations in estimating available biomass will avoid destructive sampling, and aid in planning for sustainable use of these species.

Regeneration of five Combretaceae species along a latitudinal gradient in Sahelo-Sudanian zone of Burkina Faso

Abstract• Seedling density and the regeneration mechanisms of five tree species, Anogeissus leiocarpa, Combretum aculeatum, Combretum micranthum, Combretum nigricans, and Pteleopsis suberosa were investigated in relation to latitudinal gradient across the Sahelo-Sudanian zone of West Africa.• Data were collected on 461 quadrats (2 m × 5 m) laid out every 30 m on transect lines through Combretaceae communities at four latitudinal positions. Regeneration mechanisms were determined by excavating the below ground root system and assessing basal and aerial sprouts.• The results showed a significant species × latitudinal position effect on the total density of seedling populations, and the density of single- and multi-stemmed individuals (p < 0.001). C. aculeatum and C. micranthum were abundant in the North-Sahelian sector, C. nigricans and P. suberosa in the Sudanian sector and A. leiocarpa across a wide range from the South-Sahelian to South-Sudanian sectors. In general, 58% of the seedlings were regenerated asexually (as coppice, water sprout, layer, and root sucker) while 42% were sexual recruits (as true seedling and seedling sprouts). The proportion of vegetatively propagated seedlings increased with increasing latitude for all species except C. micranthum, for which a clear decreasing trend was observed. The relative importance of the different regeneration mechanisms varied among species: seedling sprouts were important for A. leiocarpa, C. aculeatum and C. nigricans, coppice for C. micranthum and sucker for P. suberosa• The significant interaction observed between species and latitudinal position highlights the importance of accurate species-site matching to ensure successful restoration of degraded areas in the Sahelo-Sudanian zone. Inter-species differences in regeneration mechanism could be related to their biology and ecological adaptation to the site-specific biotic and abiotic factors.Résumé• La densité de semis et les mécanismes de régénération de cinq espèces d’arbres, Anogeissus leiocarpa, Combretum aculeatum, Combretum micranthum, Combretum nigricans, et Pteleopsis suberosa ont été étudiés par rapport au gradient latitudinal dans la zone sahélo-soudanienne de l’Afrique occidentale.• Les données ont été recueillies sur 461 quadrats (2 m × 5 m) disposés tous les 30 m sur des lignes de transects à travers les communautés de Combretaceae dans quatre positions latitudinales. Les mécanismes de régénération ont été déterminés par l’excavation du sol en dessous du système racinaire et par l’évaluation des pousses basales et aériennes.• Les résultats ont montré l’importance de l’effet position latitudinale × espèces sur la densité totale des populations de semis, et la densité des individus à fût simple ou multiples (p < 0,001). C. aculeatum et C. micranthum étaient abondants dans le secteur nord-sahélien, C. nigricans et P. suberosa dans le secteur Soudanien et A. leiocarpa dans une large aire du secteur Sud-sahélien au secteur sud-soudanien. En général, 58 % des plants ont été régénérés par voie végétative (taillis, gourmands, marcottes et drageons), alors que 42 % étaient des recrues sexuées (vrais semis et baliveaux). La proportion de jeunes plants issus de la multiplication végétative s’est accrue avec l’augmentation de la latitude, pour toutes les espèces, sauf C. micranthum, pour laquelle une tendance claire à la baisse a été observée. L’importance relative des différents mécanismes de régénération a varié selon les espèces: les baliveaux sont importants pour A. leiocarpa, C. aculeatum et C. nigricans, les taillis pour C. micranthum et les drageons pour P. suberosa.• L’interaction significative observée entre les espèces et la position en latitude met en évidence l’importance de veiller à une bonne correspondance des espèces et des sites pour assurer le succès de la restauration des terres dégradées dans la zone sahélo-soudanienne. Des différences interspécifiques dans les mécanismes de régénération pourraient être liées à leur biologie et à leur adaptation écologique aux spécificités stationnelles des facteurs biotiques et abiotiques.

Mistletoes of the agroforestry parklands of Burkina Faso

In sahelian countries, parklands are very important for human populations from an economic point of view. Unfortunately, they are currently being threatened by pests such as Loranthaceae which are stem parasites. In Burkina Faso, six species of Loranthaceae have been identified and located geographically: Agelanthus dodoneifolius (DC.) Polh. & Wiens, Englerina leucardii (Engl.) Balle, Globimetula cupulata (DC.) Van Tieghem, Tapinanthus bangwensis (Engl. & K. Krause) Danser, T. globiferus (A. Rich.) Van Tieghem and T. ophiodes (Sprague) Danser. Agelanthus dodoneifolius is by far the most widespread in the country whereas Globimetula cupulata is strictly located in the southeast. A list of their hosts has been established showing: 154 species dispatched in 96 genera and 42 families. Among them, the most frequently parasitized families are the Caesalpiniaceae, the Combretaceae and the Mimosaceae. A biological cycle scheme showing the main phenological stages common to the six Loranthaceae observed in Burkina Faso is reported. Based on a review of the damage caused by Loranthaceae, pruning, chemical treatments, genetic selection of resistant individuals and biological control are suggested as possible control methods.

Declining Wild Mushroom Recognition and Usage in Burkina Faso

Declining Wild Mushroom Recognition and Usage in Burkina Faso. Ethnomycological investigation was carried out in Burkina Faso, West Africa, using standardized interviews focused on 40 representative mushroom species assembled in a traveling herbarium (photographs plus preserved specimens). A total of 540 informants from 18 localities representing three main ethnic groups—Mòosé, Bobo, and Gouin—were interviewed, though the bulk of those interviewed were Mòosé (or Mossi) from the more populous central region of the country. Among the study species, as many as 24 were considered edible by the different ethnic groups; a few medicinal uses also were noted. The edibility of a common Chlorophyllum species is confirmed for the three ethnic groups. Mushroom nomenclature is not well developed in any of the three groups as evidenced by the fact that many mushrooms, including some common edible species, do not appear to have specific local names, but are instead simply referred to by a general term for “mushroom.” Preliminary observations about inter–ethnic variation in recognition, naming, and appreciation of mushrooms are noted. Older people recognized many more mushroom species than did younger people, and women appeared to be slightly more knowledgeable about mushrooms than men. The most important finding is that the gathering and consumption of wild edible mushrooms seems to be dying out in Burkina Faso, especially in the central part of the country, apparently because of declining mushroom populations resulting from disappearing forest habitats.

Magnoliophyta of the partial faunal reserve of Pama, Burkina Faso

The partial faunal reserve of Pama is situated in the province of Kompienga, in the South-East of Burkina Faso, with typical Sudanian savanna vegetation. Adjacent to the Arli National Park and the Pendjari National Park, it is part of the so-called WAP complex, one of the largest wildlife areas in West Africa. Up to now, only little has been known about its flora. The present study aimed at reducing this gap in knowledge, and represents an important tool for conservation and research. The list of species was compiled from the surveys carried out from 2001 to 2004, additional releve data, and herbarium specimens. We found 450 species, which belong to 244 genera and 73 families. The most species-rich family is Poaceae (83 species), followed by Fabaceae (64), Cyperaceae (24), Rubiaceae (22), Euphor- biaceae (20), Combretaceae (15), Asteraceae (14), Caesalpiniaceae (14), Mimosaceae (12), and Convolvulaceae (11).

Impact of disturbance from roadworks on Pteleopsis suberosa regeneration in roadside environments in Burkina Faso, West Africa

The seedling population structure of Pteleopsis suberosa and their regeneration mechanisms were investigated in four roadside environments (graded, adjacent, intermediate and ungraded areas) along paved and unpaved roads in West Africa. A total of 203 quadrats of 2 m × 5 m in size were surveyed and placed along transects parallel to the roads. Within each quadrat, the total number of seedlings and the number of living shoots per seedling base were recorded. Regeneration mechanisms were determined by assessing basal and aerial sprouts and excavating the root systems below ground level. The results show that the total seedling density and the densities of single- and multi-stemmed individuals varied significantly (p < 0.05) among the four roadside environments. However, all seedlings were produced asexually; root suckers were predominant (98%) compared to water sprout (1%) and coppices (less than 1%). This study demonstrates that an intermediate level of soil disturbance from grading along paved and unpaved roads may stimulate P. suberosa regeneration by root suckering. Road type (paved and unpaved) did not affect seedling density, but was a highly significant variable in relation to the coppicing ability of P. suberosa populations in roadside sites. In conclusion, P. suberosa is a disturbance-tolerant species which can proliferate mainly by root suckering after roadwork disturbance.

Informants based ethnobotany and utility evaluation of five Combretaceae species: differentiation by ethnicity and geographical location.

ABSTRACT In Africa, local communities depend on forests and plants for their daily needs including goods and services. This paper describes ethnobotanical knowledge of five Combretaceae species in western Burkina Faso. Information was obtained from semi-structured interviews, direct observation and personal conversation with local experts and specialists in plant uses. Data were collected in four villages among four ethnic groups. A total of 150 specialist male and female respondents were involved and 400 users were interviewed. The data were analyzed with generalized linear models with binomial errors. The results show that there is a higher share of ethnobotanical knowledge within an ethnic/village group than between ethnic/village groups. The ethnobotanical information was classified in six main categories: food, fodder, construction materials, fuelwood, handicraft and pharmacopoeia, with the six categories except food representing important uses for all the study species. No significant difference was found for gender and age regarding the knowledge of plant species uses, which may be due to the daily life importance, and to the ecological abundance of the selected Combretaceae species.

Magnoliophyta, Arly National Park, Tapoa, Burkina Faso [with erratum]

The Arly National Park of southeastern Burkina Faso is in the center of the WAP complex, the largest continuous system of protected areas in West Africa. Although well known for its large mammal populations, its flora has largely been unexplored until recently. The plant species composition is typical for sudanian savanna areas with a high share of grasses and legumes and similar to other protected areas of the complex, the neighbouring Pama reserve and W National Park. It has more species in common with the classified forest of Kou in SW Burkina Faso than with the geographically closer Sahel reserve. The 490 species belong to 280 genera and 83 families. The most important life forms are phanerophytes and therophytes.

Ecological assessment and productivity of natural pasture in Arly National Park (Burkina Faso, West Africa)

RMSE5 0.23]. The proportion of large particles (retained by screen sieves of 1.18 mm of aperture) in the swallowed bolus (PLPS, %) is a function of the forage NDF content: PLPS5210.911 0.777 NDF [n5 7, R5 0.88, RMSE5 1.3]. This relation was ignored in the previous model. The in vivo potential digestibility of NDF (NDFd, %) is estimated by the potential degradability of forage DM estimated with long time incubations in sacco (ISPD, %): NDFd5 0.92 ISPD [n5 11, R5 0.70, RMSE5 4.3]. The in vivo organic matter digestibility (OMd%) from the content in non digestible NDF (ndNDF, %DM) measured either in vivo (OMd5 85.6 20.78 ndNDFvivo, n5 126, R 5 0.79, RMSE5 3.1) or in sacco (ndNDF5 80.420.70 NDFsacco, n5 62, R 50.48, RMSE5 4.0). The in sacco degradation rate of digestible NDF (kdNDF5 0.056 0.02 h) is predicted from forage NDF from a data base of C4 grass: kdNDF5 0.3132 0.0035 NDF [n5 74, R5 0.53, RMSE5 0.012]. The transit is assessed through AdLignin, as such measurement was performed. For that, a specific new sub-model of kinetic of lignin in the rumen was developed. Moreover, to evaluate digestive flows of raw materials, a second specific new submodel of kinetic was also developed for water phase.