Lophira lanceolata is a multi-purpose woody plant species used by local populations in Benin. Its seeds are used for the manufacture of edible vegetable oil and also for medicinal care. However, reproduction by seed o...Lophira lanceolata is a multi-purpose woody plant species used by local populations in Benin. Its seeds are used for the manufacture of edible vegetable oil and also for medicinal care. However, reproduction by seed of this plant species is compromised not only by the multiple uses made of the seeds, but also by the difficulties of germination in the natural environment. Several ecological factors could explain this difficulty of germination. In this study, we investigated the species seeds ecophysiology in order to develop seedlings production techniques for its reintroduction. Beta regression was performed to test the effect of water, light and provenance on seeds germination rate. The germination speed was expressed as the median germination time. The results showed that the germination rate was better under light conditions (β = 0.77674 ± 0.14954, Z = 5.194, p < 0.0000). The germination rate decreased as the frequency of watering increased (β = -0.28222 ± 0.14809, Z = -1.906, p = 0.0567). The best provenance was the phytodistrict of Atacora chain. The cumulative germination rate reached 50% after 54 days for seeds collected from Atacora chain and after 57 days under light conditions. Regarding the level of watering, the germination rate remained below 50% regardless the treatment. The germination speed was higher for seeds collected from Atacora chain and that have germinated under light conditions and watered twice a week. For the sustainable management of L. lanceolata, domestication by establishment of plantations by rural communities is recommended based on seeds from Atacora chain.展开更多
Lophira lanceolata is an oleaginous tree species whose fruit is used for vegetable oil production in Benin. The present study highlighted the fruit production and characterization of the morphological traits of the fr...Lophira lanceolata is an oleaginous tree species whose fruit is used for vegetable oil production in Benin. The present study highlighted the fruit production and characterization of the morphological traits of the fruits and seeds of this species. A total of 196 mature trees in production were randomly sampled in Borgou-Nord, Borgou-Sud and Atacora Chain phytodistricts. Descriptors were characterized globally at the level of phytodistricts surveyed. Pearson correlation test stands out the relationships between the different descriptors. The effect of phytodistricts on fruit production was analyzed using a Generalized Linear Model (GLM) and the variation of morphological traits between phytodistricts was examined through Kruskal-Wallis test. Finally, SMA regression was used to test the influence of the phytodistrict on the relationship between L. lanceolata seed and fruit weight. This study revealed that there is a positive and significant correlation between the morphological traits of fruits and those of seeds. Trees descriptors (e.g. total height, diameter at breast height, and leaf petiole length) predict fruit production of L. lanceolata, but are not significantly correlated with fruit and seed traits. In the Atacora Chain phytodistrict, breeding trees are entering production with small diameter, low height and produce little number of fruits per tree with higher weight, unlike the Borgou-Nord and Borgou-Sud phytodistricts. These results can be useful in the selection of early breeding tree in Atacora Chain phytodistrict and high-yielding trees from individuals in the Borgou-Nord and Borgou-Sud phytodistricts.展开更多
Understanding how ecological differences and anthropogenic disturbances synergistically drive population dynamics decline is critical for optimal management strategy definition. Main anthropogenic disturbances such as...Understanding how ecological differences and anthropogenic disturbances synergistically drive population dynamics decline is critical for optimal management strategy definition. Main anthropogenic disturbances such as habitat size reduction, fire and non-timber forest harvest affect demographic processes but our understanding of their interaction effects in contrasted ecological conditions is limited. We investigated the interaction effects of fruit harvest, fire, gallery forest size and distance to streambed on density, recruitment, survival and growth of Pentadesma butyracea offspring in dry and moist ecological conditions. We randomly selected in each ecological region six P. butyracea populations. We then established in each population, 10 subplots of 100 m2 within 1 ha to assess offspring demographic performance from 2015 to 2017. Results showed that fire suppressed the positive effect of large habitat size and amplified the negative effect of increasing local aridity on offspring growth. Fire and harvest synergistically reduced growth whereas offspring growth was resilient to fire in moist ecological region. Moist ecological conditions mitigated the negative effect of harvest on growth. Harvest mitigated the surprise negative effect of large habitat size on survival. However, in large gallery size, high harvest limited clonal recruitment and growth. There was a positive interaction effect between harvest and distance to streambed on survival (High harvest, Z = 2.045, p = 0.041, Medium, Z = 2.060, p = 0.039) but a negative interaction effect on growth (High, t = -2.357, p 0.05). Clonal offspring grew faster than sexual offspring in high harvest populations. In moist region, offspring survived better in large gallery forest size. In 2017, survival and growth were lower in large gallery forest. In 2017, offspring growth was higher near the riverbed where the survival rate low. This study suggests that management strategies should consider the interaction effects of anthropogenic disturbances and climatic conditions.展开更多
文摘Lophira lanceolata is a multi-purpose woody plant species used by local populations in Benin. Its seeds are used for the manufacture of edible vegetable oil and also for medicinal care. However, reproduction by seed of this plant species is compromised not only by the multiple uses made of the seeds, but also by the difficulties of germination in the natural environment. Several ecological factors could explain this difficulty of germination. In this study, we investigated the species seeds ecophysiology in order to develop seedlings production techniques for its reintroduction. Beta regression was performed to test the effect of water, light and provenance on seeds germination rate. The germination speed was expressed as the median germination time. The results showed that the germination rate was better under light conditions (β = 0.77674 ± 0.14954, Z = 5.194, p < 0.0000). The germination rate decreased as the frequency of watering increased (β = -0.28222 ± 0.14809, Z = -1.906, p = 0.0567). The best provenance was the phytodistrict of Atacora chain. The cumulative germination rate reached 50% after 54 days for seeds collected from Atacora chain and after 57 days under light conditions. Regarding the level of watering, the germination rate remained below 50% regardless the treatment. The germination speed was higher for seeds collected from Atacora chain and that have germinated under light conditions and watered twice a week. For the sustainable management of L. lanceolata, domestication by establishment of plantations by rural communities is recommended based on seeds from Atacora chain.
文摘Lophira lanceolata is an oleaginous tree species whose fruit is used for vegetable oil production in Benin. The present study highlighted the fruit production and characterization of the morphological traits of the fruits and seeds of this species. A total of 196 mature trees in production were randomly sampled in Borgou-Nord, Borgou-Sud and Atacora Chain phytodistricts. Descriptors were characterized globally at the level of phytodistricts surveyed. Pearson correlation test stands out the relationships between the different descriptors. The effect of phytodistricts on fruit production was analyzed using a Generalized Linear Model (GLM) and the variation of morphological traits between phytodistricts was examined through Kruskal-Wallis test. Finally, SMA regression was used to test the influence of the phytodistrict on the relationship between L. lanceolata seed and fruit weight. This study revealed that there is a positive and significant correlation between the morphological traits of fruits and those of seeds. Trees descriptors (e.g. total height, diameter at breast height, and leaf petiole length) predict fruit production of L. lanceolata, but are not significantly correlated with fruit and seed traits. In the Atacora Chain phytodistrict, breeding trees are entering production with small diameter, low height and produce little number of fruits per tree with higher weight, unlike the Borgou-Nord and Borgou-Sud phytodistricts. These results can be useful in the selection of early breeding tree in Atacora Chain phytodistrict and high-yielding trees from individuals in the Borgou-Nord and Borgou-Sud phytodistricts.
文摘Understanding how ecological differences and anthropogenic disturbances synergistically drive population dynamics decline is critical for optimal management strategy definition. Main anthropogenic disturbances such as habitat size reduction, fire and non-timber forest harvest affect demographic processes but our understanding of their interaction effects in contrasted ecological conditions is limited. We investigated the interaction effects of fruit harvest, fire, gallery forest size and distance to streambed on density, recruitment, survival and growth of Pentadesma butyracea offspring in dry and moist ecological conditions. We randomly selected in each ecological region six P. butyracea populations. We then established in each population, 10 subplots of 100 m2 within 1 ha to assess offspring demographic performance from 2015 to 2017. Results showed that fire suppressed the positive effect of large habitat size and amplified the negative effect of increasing local aridity on offspring growth. Fire and harvest synergistically reduced growth whereas offspring growth was resilient to fire in moist ecological region. Moist ecological conditions mitigated the negative effect of harvest on growth. Harvest mitigated the surprise negative effect of large habitat size on survival. However, in large gallery size, high harvest limited clonal recruitment and growth. There was a positive interaction effect between harvest and distance to streambed on survival (High harvest, Z = 2.045, p = 0.041, Medium, Z = 2.060, p = 0.039) but a negative interaction effect on growth (High, t = -2.357, p 0.05). Clonal offspring grew faster than sexual offspring in high harvest populations. In moist region, offspring survived better in large gallery forest size. In 2017, survival and growth were lower in large gallery forest. In 2017, offspring growth was higher near the riverbed where the survival rate low. This study suggests that management strategies should consider the interaction effects of anthropogenic disturbances and climatic conditions.