Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Phenotypic variation of baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) fruit traits in Mali

  • Published:
Agroforestry Systems Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We analyzed the phenotypic variation of baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) fruits from Mali to define the domestication potential of this species. 269 trees, selected from 10 provenances distributed along a rainfall gradient, were characterized. Five fruits were sampled from each tree. Total individual fruit weight was partitioned into shell, pulp, and seed weight. Ratios were calculated between pulp + seed and total weight, and between pulp and seed weight. For all the measured fruit traits, we detected significant differences between provenances, as well as between trees from the same provenance. Assuming that the measured traits are under genetic control, the latter facts indicate that there are considerable opportunities for tree selection on a local scale. However, candidate plus trees with specific properties, e.g., extremely high pulp or seed weight, were found only in some locations. Mean pulp yield per fruit might be considerably increased by selecting the 5% trees with the highest pulp weight (mean: 45 ± 1 g, best 5%: >100 g). The same might be true for seed production (mean: 71 ± 2 g, best 5%: >150 g). Also the ratio between pulp and seed weight can be an important fruit characteristic for selection: in fruits with a low ratio, relatively more pulp sticks to the seeds when separating the two fruit parts by grinding, and thus more pulp will be lost for further processing. We identified several trees with a high pulp weight combined with a high ratio between pulp and seed weight. It is concluded that there is considerable phenotypic variability in traits of baobab fruit in Mali, offering opportunities for cultivar selection.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abasse T, Weber JC, Katkore B, Boureima M, Larwanou M, Kalinganire A (2010) Morphological variation in Balanites aegyptiaca fruits and seeds within and among parkland agroforests in eastern Niger. Agrofor Syst. doi:10.1007/s10457-010-9323-x

  • Akinnifesi FK, Ajayi OC, Gudeta S, Kadzere I, Akinnifesi AI (2007) Domestication and commercialising indigenous fruit and nut tree crops for food security and income generation in Sub-Saharan Africa. In: Smartt J, Haq N (eds) 5th international symposium on new crops and uses: their role in a rapidly changing world. Centre for Underutilised Crops, Southampton, UK, pp 300–325

  • Assogbadjo AE, Sinsin B, Van Damme P (2005) Caractères morphologiques et production des capsules de baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) au Bénin. Fruits 60:327–340

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Assogbadjo AE, Kyndt T, Sinsin B, Gheysen G, Van Damme P (2006) Patterns of genetic and morphometric diversity in baobab (Adansonia digitata) populations across different climatic zones of Benin (West Africa). Ann Bot 97:819–830

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Atangana AR, Tchoundjeu Z, Fondoun JM, Asaah E, Ndoumbe M, Leakey RRB (2001) Domestication of Irvingia gabonensis: 1. Phenotypic variation in fruits and kernels in two populations from Cameroon. Agrofor Syst 53:55–64

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chadare FJ, Linnemann AR, Hounhouigan JD, Nout MJR, Van Boekel MAJS (2009) Baobab food products: a review on their composition and nutritional value. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 49:254–274

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Codjia JTC, Fonton BK, Assogbadjo AE, Ekue MRM (2001) Le baobab (Adansonia digitata). Une espèce à usage multiple au Bénin. CECODI, Cotonou

    Google Scholar 

  • Codjia JTC, Assogbadjo AE, Ekue MRM (2003) Diversité et valorisation au niveau local des ressources végétales forestières alimentaires du Bénin. Cahiers Agric 12:321–331

    Google Scholar 

  • De Caluwé E, De Smedt S, Assogbadjo AE, Samson R, Sinsin B, Van Damme P (2009a) Ethnic differences in use value and use patterns of baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) in northern Benin. Afr J Ecol 47:433–440

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Caluwé E, Halamova K, Van Damme P (2009b) Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.): a review of traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology. In: Rodolfo HJ, Simon JE, Ho C-T (eds) African natural plant products: discoveries and challenges in chemistry and quality, vol 1021. American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, USA, pp 51–84

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Dhillion SS, Gustad G (2004) Local management practices influence the viability of the baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) in different land use types, Cinzana, Mali. Agric Ecosyst Environ 101:85–103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diop AG, Sakho M, Dornier M, Cisse M, Reynes M (2005) Le baobab africain (Adansonia digitata L.): principales caractéristiques et utilisations. Fruits 61:55–69

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Faye MD, Weber JC, Mounkoro B, Dakouo J-M (2010) Contribution of parkland trees to village livelihoods—a case study from Mali. Dev Pract 20:428–434

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Franzel S, Akinnifesi FK, Ham C (2008) Setting priorities among indigenous fruit tree species in Africa: examples from southern, eastern and western African regions. In: Akinnifesi FK, Leakey RRB, Ajayi OC, Sileshi G, Tchoundjeu Z, Matakala P, Kwesiga FR (eds) Indigenous fruit trees in the tropics: domestication, utilization and commercialization. CAB International, Oxfordshire, pp 1–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Gruenwald J, Galizia M (2005) Market brief in the European Union for selected natural ingredients derived from native species. Adansonia digitata L. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Gustad G, Dhillion SS, Sidibe D (2004) Local use and cultural and economic value of products from trees in the parklands of the municipality of Cinzana, Mali. Econ Bot 58:578–587

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ham C, Akinnifesi FK (2006) Priority fruit species and products for tree domestication and commercialisation in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and Tanzania (IK notes), vol 94. The World Bank, Geneva, p 5

  • Hijmans RJ, Cameron SE, Parra JL, Jones PG, Jarvis A (2005) Very high resolution interpolated climate surfaces for global land areas. Int J Climatol 25:1965–1978

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kouyaté AM (2005) Aspects ethnobotaniques et étude de la variabilité morphologique, biochimique et phénologique de Detarium microcarpum Guill. & Perr. au Mali. Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Universiteit Gent, Gent, p 207

    Google Scholar 

  • Kristensen M, Lykke AM (2003) Informant-based valuation of use and conservation preferences of savanna trees in Burkina Faso. Econ Bot 57:203–217

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leakey R, Page T (2006) The ‘ideotype concept’ and its application to the selection of ‘AFTP’ cultivars. For Trees Livelihoods 16:5–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Leakey RRB, Simons AJ (1997) The domestication and commercialization of indigenous trees in agroforestry for the alleviation of poverty. Agrofor Syst 38:165–176

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leakey R, Schreckenberg K, Tchoundjeu Z (2003) The participatory domestication of West African indigenous fruits. Int For Rev 5:338

    Google Scholar 

  • Leakey R, Shackleton S, Plessis P (2005) Domestication potential of Marula (Sclerocarya birrea subsp. caffra) in South Africa and Namibia: 1. Phenotypic variation in fruit traits. Agrofor Syst 64:25–35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leakey R, Fuller S, Treloar T, Stevenson L, Hunter D, Nevenimo T, Binifa J, Moxon J (2008) Characterization of tree-to-tree variation in morphological, nutritional and medicinal properties of Canarium indicum nuts. Agrofor Syst 73:77–87

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lockett CT, Calvert CC, Grivetti LE (2000) Energy and micronutrient composition of dietary and medicinal wild plants consumed during drought. Study of rural Fulani, Northeastern Nigeria. Int J Food Sci Nutr 51:195–208

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sidibé M, Williams JT (2002) Baobab. Adansonia digitata L. International Centre for Underutilised Crops, Southampton, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • Team RDC (2008) R: a language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria

    Google Scholar 

  • Watt JM, Breyer-Brandwijk MG (1962) The medicinal and poisonous plants of southern and eastern Africa: Being an account of their medicinal and other uses, chemical composition, pharmacological effects and toxicology in man and animal. E. & S. Livingstone, Edinburgh

    Google Scholar 

  • Wickens GE, Lowe P (2008) The baobabs: pachycauls of Africa, Madagascar and Australia. Springer, London

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Wickham H (2009) ggplot2: elegant graphics for data analysis. Springer, New York

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the technicians from the Institute of Rural Economy in Mali (IER) for their practical help, as well as farmers and local village chiefs for their assistance with identification of trees in the field and for the permission to work in their villages. Also the help of Hilde Vanderstappen with the fruit characterization and of Karen Wuyts with the artwork is highly appreciated. This article was written while the first two authors held scholarships from the Agency for Innovation by Science and Technology in Flanders (IWT). The authors would also like to thank the two anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments on an earlier version of this manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Bioscience Engineering, Faculty of Science, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerpen, Belgium

    S. De Smedt, K. Alaerts, G. Potters & R. Samson

  2. Institute of Rural Economy, Forestry Resources Program, B.P. 16, Sikasso, Mali

    A. M. Kouyaté

  3. Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Agronomy and Ethnobotany, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, University of Ghent, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    P. Van Damme

Authors
  1. S. De Smedt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. K. Alaerts
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A. M. Kouyaté
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. P. Van Damme
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. G. Potters
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. R. Samson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. De Smedt.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

De Smedt, S., Alaerts, K., Kouyaté, A.M. et al. Phenotypic variation of baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) fruit traits in Mali. Agroforest Syst 82, 87–97 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-010-9357-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-010-9357-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation