Stem cuttings assessment for domesticating the medicinal melliferous plant, Combretum micranthum G. Don. in the Republic of Benin

Abstract

Combretum micranthum is a medicinal and melliferous plant from the dry tropical regions where it is threatened with extinction and it urges to develop suitable methods for its sustainable domestication. The challenges of producing seedlings from the seeds of the species make stem cutting, a potential approach for its domestication and this research evaluated the possibility to use such cuttings for seedlings production at a nursery located in the northern part of the Republic of Benin by determining the most effective season to harvest the stem cuttings, the parts of the branch which could yield the best rate of vigorous seedlings and the optimal transplantation time. An experimental dispositive of 4 plots of 35 cuttings of 25 cm long of the categories named A, B, C and D from the base to the apex of the branch was repeated in two seasons. The first trial consisted of cuttings harvested during the end of the dry season and the second trial was carried out with cuttings that were harvested at the heart of the rainy season. The results showed that the dry season cuttings yielded the best vigorous seedlings rate (46% against only 6% for those harvested in the rainy season). Basal cuttings of the dry season had the best survival rate at 49% while apical cuttings from the same season had the best vigorous seedlings rate at 43% versus 23% for the basal cuttings. Intermediate cuttings yielded low vigorous plantlet rates. The optimum nursery time was 90 days regardless of the harvest season. Dry season stem cuttings, based on basal and apical cuttings were the best approach for domesticating C. micranthum. The technology did not require any root activator and the vigorous seedlings were available during the relevant reforestation rain season. Keywords: Forestry, medicinal plant, melliferous plant, non-timber product, nursery, seedling, stem cutting.

A Melissopalynologic dynamics appraisal revealed the strategic foraging adaptation of the honeybees (Apis mellifera Linnaeus 1758) to the anthropogenic impacts in the Republic of Benin

“…Using forest surveys, Amakpe et al [ 23 ] and Yedomonhan et al [ 24 ] found that Combretaceae, and Fabaceae, were the most distributed silvo-melliferous plants families in the northern parts of Benin, and Kenali et al [ 20 ] found Fabaceae pollen dominance in the central parts of the country. Our investigations confirmed the dominance of these key families in the pollen content as the most frequent pollen species were Combretum micranthum, Aubrevillea herstingii, Cassia siamea and Detarium senegalensis .…”

“…Such contrasting situation supported that the most frequent plants were not the ones that dominated the honey pollen content in an ecological area. In fact, from the total of 42 trees species distributed in 18 families, that were identified as melliferous plants in 2012 [ 23 , 25 ] in the same area, pollens of only 26 trees and shrubs (61 %) were identified in honey samples in 2012, and 27 trees and shrubs (61 %) species were recorded in pollen 10 years later. The melliferous flora ecological distribution was dominated by Vitellaria paradoxa , Detarium microcarpum, Crossopteryx febrifuga and Terminalia sp which had the highest relative tree density and frequency [ 23 , 24 ].…”

“…In fact, from the total of 42 trees species distributed in 18 families, that were identified as melliferous plants in 2012 [ 23 , 25 ] in the same area, pollens of only 26 trees and shrubs (61 %) were identified in honey samples in 2012, and 27 trees and shrubs (61 %) species were recorded in pollen 10 years later. The melliferous flora ecological distribution was dominated by Vitellaria paradoxa , Detarium microcarpum, Crossopteryx febrifuga and Terminalia sp which had the highest relative tree density and frequency [ 23 , 24 ]. But Melissopalynologic analyses indicated that K aya senegalensis, Cassia siamea and Cassia sieberina which had the highest relative pollen density were rare trees in the ecological area.…”

“…As far as the melliferous plants are concerned, the herbaceous species are poorly documented. Based on the melliferous trees, Amakpe et al [ 23 ] classified the region in the “extreme north silvo melliferous region” dominated by Fabaceae and Combretaceae families.…”

“…In any agro-ecological area, submitted to agriculture, bush fire, grazing and timber extraction [ 21 ], it is expected that, i) the eco-destructive factors such as land clearing, pastoralism, crops or associated weeds introduction, and ii) the restauration actions, represented by reforestation and key ecosystem protection actions, lead to a specific dynamic vegetation equilibrium that determines the available melliferous flora [ 22 ]. Such dynamic may be evaluated through melliferous flora surveys to assess the plants that potentially issue nectar and pollen to the bees [ 23 , 24 ]. But these methods which are based on the plant distribution in the landscape are time consuming, often exclude herbaceous melliferous flora, and the accuracy in the plants that are effectively foraged by the honeybees is challenging.…”