Determinism of shade off in tropical species of the Sudano - Sahelian zone of Cameroon

Abstract

Phenological studies were undertaken on ten indigenous species of socio -economic importance of the Sudano-Sahelian zone of Cameroon. The selected species were Adansonia digitata L., Balanites aegptiaca (L.) Del., Detarium microcarpum Guill. & Perr., Diospyros mespiliformis Hochst. ex A. Rich., Haematostaphis barteri Hook. f., Hexalobus monopetalus (A. Rich.) Engl. & Diels, Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) R. Br. ex G. Don, Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich.) Hochst., Tamarindus indica L. and Vitex doniana Sweet. The studies which involve monitoring of the selected species were carried out from 2015 to 2017 along isoyets in the Sudano-Sahelian zone of Cameroon. The main objective of the study was to assess the phenological behaviour of the selected species in their natural habitat, with a view to determining their response to climate change in terms of shading off. If we understand sufficiently about it, and have at least a basic understanding of phenological characteritics, morphological and physiological adaptative behaviour when exposed to environmental change, we will be able to propose appropriate management techniques to optimize the product we required. The results reveal significant differences between species (0.0000 < 0.001), years (0.01 < 0.05) and isoyets (0.01 < 0.05) concerning mean period of defoliation. For the range of defoliation, significant differences exit equally between species (0.0000<0.001), years (0.0002<0.001) and isoyets (0.0002<0.001). Two categories of species are distinguished : deciduous and evergreen. The range of defoliation among species is equally significanly different (0.0000 < 0.001). Clamatic data in relation with phenological manifestations show that even if it is possible to find mean patterns, individual factors remain very important for more refined predictions, before more quantitative explorations, which must be foreseen, are done. These informations are important in the elaboration of efficient domestication strategies Ke ywo rds Cameroon Climate Defoliation Domestication Socio-economic species Sudano-Sahelian How to cite this article: