Potentials of <i>Treculia Africana</i> Decne – An endangered species of Southern Nigeria

Abstract

Treculia africana Decne is an important multipurpose indigenous tree species in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. The species is best known for the edible seeds and oil it produces. In addition, it has numerous environmental, socioeconomic , traditional and industrial uses. However, the species is declining at an alarming rate and thus, needs priority conservation. This decline is due to a number of factors of which are high rate of deforestation, increased population pressure, non-improvement and non-cultivation of the species. Urgent conservation measures are required to save the species. The conservation strategies could include; mass propagation and plantation establishment of the species, development of earlymaturing and dwarf varieties as well as introduction of 'Ukwa' trade fair.

Farmers’ Improved Breadfruit Awareness and Adoption Status in Southeast Nigeria

“…The result is consistent with the findings of many authors who reported that awareness of an innovation tends to increase adoption [20,21,22,23,24]. In particular, the result on awareness is in support of [16] who recommended that a yearly trade fair should be organized for awareness creation of the potential of breadfruit cultivation. Fig.…”

“…For example, [1] reported that farmers' lack of information on crop's innovations' and cost are some of the reasons why farmers do not exploit their market opportunities. On breadfruit, [16] inter alia attributed the reason to long gestation period of the traditional varieties. But there is evidence that improved breadfruit varieties exist which have short gestation periods of 3-4 years than that of the traditional varieties with a gestation period of about10 years [17,13].…”

“…Instead of reports on breadfruit increasing supply due to its high price and increasing demand, authors have enlisted it to be an endangered species [18,13,16]. Based on the foregoing, it becomes clear that there are still information and market research gaps on breadfruit which require investigation.…”

Fatty Acid Composition of Irvingia gabonensis and Treculia africana Seed Lipids and Phospholipids

“…T. africana Decne subsp. africana (family Moraceae) is an evergreen tree indigenous to swampy areas and riverine forests of tropical Africa [11]. It is called ukwa by the Igbos.…”

Effect of Fermentation on Nutrient and Antinutrient Contents of Fermented Whole and Ground African Breadfruit (Treculia africana) Seeds

“…African breadfruit (Treculia africana) belongs to the family Moraceae [7,8]. It is an evergreen plant and native to many parts of West and Tropical Africa which is known as afon, barafuta, ize, eyo, ediang and ukwa in Yoruba, Hausa, Bini, Igala, Hausa and Igbo tribes of Nigeria respectively [9,10]. African breadfruit serves as nutritious feed for livestock, low cost meat substitute for poor families, fodder for animals, and wood for furniture making, pulp and paper production as well as fibre-board production [7,9].…”