Insight into Genetic Diversity of Cultivated Lima Bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) in Benin

Lima bean is a tropical and subtropical legume from the genus Phaseolus which is cultivated for its importance in food and in medicine, but which remains a Neglected and Underutilized Crop in Benin. Understanding the genetic diversity of a species’ genetic resources is useful for the establishment of appropriate conservation strategies and breeding programs and for sustainable use. We use 6 out of ten SSR markers to analyze the diversity and population structure of 28 Lima bean landraces collected in Benin. A total of 28 alleles with an average of 4.16 alleles per SSR were amplified. The Polymorphic Information Content value ranged from 0.079 to 0.680 with an average of 0.408. The analysis of population structure revealed three subpopulations. PCoA revealed three well-separated clusters among the analyzed accessions in accordance with the population structure results and the clustering based on the Neighbor-Joining tree. AMOVA showed highly significant (p = 0.001) diversity among and within populations. Hence, 32% of the genetic variation was distributed among the population and 68% was distributed within populations. A high PhiP value (0.321) was found between the three sub-subpopulations indicating a high genetic differentiation between these sub-subpopulations. By exhibiting the highest average number of alleles, Shannon-Weaver information and Shannon-Weaver diversity indices, and the highest mean number of private alleles, subpopulation 1 is the main gene pool of the analyzed collection. The present study is an important starting point for the establishment of appropriate conservation strategies and breeding programs for Lima bean genetic resources.

Floristic diversity and carbon stocks in the periphery of Deng–Deng National Park,Eastern Cameroon

Carbon is continuously being removed from the atmosphere by photosynthesis and stored in carbon pools(live,dead,and soil carbon)of forest ecosystems.However,carbon stock in dead wood and of trees with diameters at breast height(dbh)between 5 and 10 cm is often not considered in many studies carried out in the Congo Basin Forest.The relationship between tree diversity,life-forms and carbon stocks has received little attention.This study was carried out on the outskirts of Deng Deng National Park(DDNP)to determine tree diversity(dominant families,species richness and Shannon index),assess carbon stocks in the five carbon compartments(living tree,understory,fine roots,dead wood and litter)as well as to analyze the relationship between(1)carbon stocks and tree diversity;and,(2)between carbon stock and life-forms.The Shannon index of trees≥10 cm dbh ranged from 2.6 in riparian forest to 4.3 in secondary forest;and for the tree between 5 and 10 cm,it ranged to 1.56 in riparian forest to 3.68 in the secondary forest.The study site housed 16 species,7 genera and 3 families which are only found in trees of dbh between 5 and 10 cm.The average total carbon stock of the five compartments varied from 200.1 t ha-1 in forest residues to 439.1 t ha-1 in secondary forest.Dead wood carbon stock varied from 1.2 t ha-1 in riparian forests to 12.51t ha-1 in agroforests.The above ground carbon stocks for trees with diameter between 5 and 10 cm varied from 0.7 t ha-1 in young fallow fields to 5.02 t ha-1 in old secondary forests.This study reveals a low but positive correlation between species richness and total carbon stocks,as well as a significant positive relationship between life-forms and total carbon stocks.The findings highlight the need for more data concerning carbon content of dead wood,carbon of trees≥5 cm<10 cm dbh and the relationship between carbon stocks and tree diversity from other areas of the Congo Basin for a good understanding of the contribution of tropical forests to climate change mitigation.

Natural Distribution of <i>Nauclea diderrichii</i>(Rubiceae) in Semi Deciduous Forest of Togo (West Africa) and Implementation of Integrated Silviculture

West African tropical forests spread from Senegal to Togo. They are considered as one of the world biodiversity hotspots. But these forests are disappearing very quickly because of human activities. In Togo, tropical forests degradation has been increased since 1980 because of improved coffee cultivation;about 67% of forests in the sub-humid mountains zone disappeared between 1978 and 2000. Facing this fast deterioration of the forests, populations begin to plant teak (an exotic species) that is the only choice proposed by local forest service. This survey consists in valuing the potentialities to restore the Togolese tropical forest using the local commercial species, recognized on the wood market. The first species retained is Nauclea diderrichii (De Wild. & Th. Dur.) Merrill, that spreads in the African tropical forest from the Sierra Leonne to Uganda and through the Congo basin. In Togo, this plant species colonises the plain of the Litimé. The objective of the present study is to analyze the distribution of the natural populations in the plain of Litimé forest but also natural and artificial regeneration of the species. The perspective is to repeat this experiment with other local species in other regions of Togo in order to diversify the plantations and to protect the local forest biodiversity.

Survival, Growth and <i>Orygmophora mediofoveata</i>Shoot Borer Attack of <i>Nauclea diderrichii</i>Progenies Established in Three Ecological Zones in Ghana

Nauclea diderrichii is a tropical African hardwood species and a suitable candidate for plantation development. However, attack by the Orygmophora mediofoveata, Hamps shoot borer threatens establishment of the species in plantations. A genotype * environment assessment of 15 N. diderrichii progenies from Ghana and Togo was conducted in the Wet Evergreen, Moist Semi-deciduous and Dry Semi-deciduous forest zones. Progeny performance (Attack intensity, survival and growth) varied significantly between sites, and marginally within sites after 2.7 years. Overall, incidence of shoot borer attack was lower at the wet zone than at the moist or dry zones. Percent survival was higher at the wet (79.5%) than at the moist (50.8%) or dry (55.0%) forest zones. Mean height across the 15 progenies was 5.40 m, 4.30 m, and 2.73 m at the wet, dry and moist forests, respectively. Similarly, mean diameter was 5.31 cm, 4.58 cm, and 2.83 cm at the wet, dry and moist zones, respectively. The relatively low growth rate recorded at the moist zone was attributed to the paucity of soil conditions at the experimental site. Three wet forest zone progenies (BS9, BS3 and BS2) and two moist forest zone progenies (BE2 and GA1) performed better than average and have been recommended for planting.

Diversity and Importance of Benin’s Forests and Agroforestry Systems Woody Species in Mortars and Pestles Manufacture

The disappearance of resources with high genetic potential and great utility for people and the challenge of the conservation and sustainable management of these resources are two opposing facts of which the world is now concerned. In Benin, forests and agroforestry systems complement each other in wood supply for mortar and pestle manufacture. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the diversity of woody species used for mortar and pestle manufacture and to analyze the preferences of manufacturers through an ethnobotanical approach. Based on the snowball sampling method, and interviews with 112 manufacturers from different ethnic groups, we identified 31 tree species. These species belong to 30 genera and 13 plant families. The Fabaceae are more represented with 14 species (i.e. 45% of the total). Ten are frequently used. But there are four species, such as Vitellaria paradoxa C. F. Gaertn., Prosopis africana (Guill. & Perr.) Taub., Terminalia glaucescens Planch. ex Benth. and Pericopsis laxiflora (Benth.) Meeuwen, which are highly preferred by manufacturers respectively. The calculation of the Indexes of Possession of Global Knowledge (IPSG) revealed that the ethnic group Nagot (0.204) possessed more knowledge and is followed by Mahi (0.201) and Fon (0.18) respectively. Forests and agroforestry systems are both supply sites for manufacturers. The non-parametric Wilcoxon test proved that there are no significant differences between the species’ preference for mortars or pestles manufacture (v = 181, p-value = 0.38). Since the trees cutting in agroforestry systems can be destructive to them, provisions such as the promotion of agroforestry in rural areas and the integration of the used species in the reforestations programs must be taken to curb the pressure and contribute to the conservation of the biodiversity.

Morphological characterization and habitat suitability modeling of the goat population of Benin under climate change scenarios

Background:Insufficient knowledge of the genetic and phenotypic diversity in the local Beninese goat population combined with the lack of understanding of its adaptive capacity to ongoing environmental and societal changes hampers the development of strategies for better management and genetic improvement.The objective of this study was to establish the current geographical distribution of goats in Benin based on their morphology and model the potential habitat suitability of the three known main goat phenotypes(i.e.,Djallonkégoat or TypeⅠ,Sahelian goat or TypeⅡ,and their Crossbreeds or TypeⅢ)under climate change scenarios.Ten qualitative and 26 linear body measurements were taken on 2114 adult female goats sampled across the three vegetation zones of the country.Fifteen ratios were generated from the quantitative variables.The data were analyzed using generalized linear model procedures followed by multiple comparisons of least-squares means and multivariate analytical methods,including canonical discrimination analysis and hierarchical ascendant classification.Each goat was then assigned to one of the three aforementioned main goat phenotypes following its morphological characteristics and according to the a priori cluster membership defined in the previous step.The Maximum Entropy algorithm was used to model the current and future distribution of the three goat phenotypes under climate change scenario using the Representative Conservation Pathways 4.5 and 8.5.Results:All linear body measurements varied among vegetation zones.In the discriminant function analysis,71%of the measured individuals were correctly classified in their vegetation zone of origin by seven measured variables and three ratios.The cluster procedure analysis revealed two groups of goats subdivided into the three main phenotypes.The modeling results showed that the currently highly favorable habitats were distributed in the South for TypeⅠ,in the North for TypeⅡ,and both South and North for TypeⅢ.However,under climate change scenarios,the favorable habitats for TypeⅠdecreased while those of TypesⅡandⅢincreased.Conclusions:The results of this study confirm the spatial variation of the goat population in Benin.The habitat suitability model can be used to support decision-making toward better management of goat genetic diversity in Benin.