Edibility of Trachyandra ciliata (L.F.) kunth - an underutilized vegetable from South African Western Cape Coast: A review

Ngxabi, Sihle; Muhali, Jimoh; Laubscher, Charles P; Kambizi, Learnmore

doi:10.18697/ajfand.104.20810

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…These factors play a critical role in determining the relative performance of plants in terms of growth, yield, and productivity, as well as the composition of other plant species. In greenhouse and commercial cultivation, the use of soil as growth medium has resulted in soil-borne diseases, increased levels of acidity and salinity, poor aeration, and other adverse effects [17]. However, these adverse effects are mitigated by replacing soil with disease-free materials such as LECA clay, vermiculite, peat, silica sand, perlite, and rockwool, which are reusable and can provide effective aeration, anchorage, and support for plants [18].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Light Intensity and Growth Media Influence Growth, Nutrition, and Phytochemical Content in Trachyandra divaricata Kunth

et al. 2023

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Trachyandra divaricata (Sandkool) is one of the most abundant wild edible inflorescence vegetables in South Africa. The dearth of literature on its edibility, nutrient composition, and conservation has contributed to its underutilisation. This study investigated mineral and proximate content, phytochemical compositions, and growth response of T. divaricata to light intensity and soilless media. Treatments comprised four media (LECA clay, silica sand, peat, and vermiculite) which were subjected to different shade levels (no shade, 20, 40, 60, and 80%) created from a factory-made 20% density net by doubling (40%), tripling (60%), and quadrupling (80%). All treatments were irrigated with a standard nutrient solution. The results showed that the treatments impacted the yield of T. divaricata significantly in terms of biomass and flower buds, especially in plants cultivated in peat under normal greenhouse lighting (no shade). Conversely, plants developed significantly more specific leaf size and total chlorophyll content under shade levels (20, 40, 60, and 80%) in different growth media, even though the values were comparable among treatments. The highest Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe, and Mn levels were consistently recorded in flowers of T. divaricata grown in LECA clay under 80% shade level, while other minerals varied in tested treatments. The peat medium under 20% shade optimised the neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) content of the flowers, whereas both fat and protein contents were greatly enhanced by peat and vermiculite, respectively, under the 80% shade. Consistently, the lowest phytochemical contents were recorded in LECA clay subjected to 80% shade, whereas the highest polyphenols and DPPH antioxidants were produced by silica sand medium treated with 20% shade. Both TEAC and FRAP antioxidants were improved significantly in LECA clay under no shade and the 60% shade level. However, both 20% and 60% shade levels enhanced the flavonol content significantly. On the basis of these findings, T. divaricata is a promising inflorescent vegetable that may be considered for domestication and further research due to its potential pharmacological and nutraceutical values.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%