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Scirj Volume V, Issue X, October 2017 Edition ISSN: 2201-2796 PHENOTYPIC VARIATIONS IN FRUITS AND SEED TRAITS OF Chrysophyllum albidum IN THREE AGROECOLOGICAL ZONES IN NIGERIA Okwu, C., Oboho, E.G., Asaah, E.K., , Osazuwa E.S., Igberaese S.O and Tchoundjeu Z Abstract: Chrysophyllum albidum is a priority indigenous fruit tree in Nigeria with a wide distribution across West Africa. This fruit tree has immense socio-economic, nutritional and medicinal importance. However, it may be under threat due to high consumption of the fruits and seeds and this may have led to serious genetic erosion of the species. This study was designed to assess the extent of phenotypic variation in fruits (mass, length, width) and seed (weight and number) traits in 106 trees. This was further complimented by socioeconomic characterization in three agroecological zones (arid, humid and mangrove). The results from the study indicated that in all the agro-ecological zones, 68.9% of the fruits were collected from naturally regenerated trees. The households own averagely 2 trees which yield an annual average of 126 to 378 kg of the fruits, (of about 42 kg per basket) with a market value ranging from US$ 187 to US$ 562. Phenotypic traits like fruits and seed mass varied continually and significantly (P<0.05) between trees and agroecological zones. Mean fruit and seed mass recorded in the humid zone were 59.5 ± 0.2 g and 6.9 ± 0.2 g respectively, compared to 56.7 ± 0.1 g and 6.5 ± 0.2 g in the mangrove and 56.8 ± 0.2 g and 6.8 ± 0.2 g in the arid zones. The heaviest fruit was from the humid zone (Tree EW/IK/CA/018) with a value of 98 ± 1.5 g; P<0.05 while the lightest fruit was from the arid zone (tree ET/IV/CA/004) with a value of 36 ± 1.7 g; P<0.05). A significant and positive correlation between all fruit traits (P<0.05) was observed with the strongest relationship between fruit mass and fruit width (R2 = 0.76). These results obtained from this study represent the first quantitative assessment of tree-to-tree variation in fruit traits of C. albidum and will help in the development of cultivars through tree domestication techniques, and so promote poverty alleviation and sustainable agriculture in Nigeria and beyond. Reference this Paper: PHENOTYPIC VARIATIONS IN FRUITS AND SEED TRAITS OF Chrysophyllum albidum IN THREE AGROECOLOGICAL ZONES IN NIGERIA by Okwu, C., Oboho, E.G., Asaah, E.K., , Osazuwa E.S., Igberaese S.O and Tchoundjeu Z published at: "Scientific Research Journal (Scirj), Volume V, Issue X, October 2017 Edition, Page 39-50 ". Search Terms: Characterization, Domestication, Poverty alleviation, Regeneration of trees [Read Research Paper] [Full Screen] |
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