Détails de la publication

Traditional knowledge and morphometric characteristics of the fruits, seeds, and kernels of Vitex doniana, Cleome gynandra and Ricinodendron heudelotii, three wild oil species in Bénin

Détails de la publication

• Type:Article
• Domaine: Economie et Sociologie rurale
• Année de publication: 2022
• Auteurs: N. F. Adomè, F. G. Honfo, F. J. Chadare, D. J. Hounhouigan
• Cultures: wild oil species
• Couverture géographique: Bénin
• Mots clés: Wild plant, Black plum, Groundnut tree, Spiderplant, utilization.

Résumé de la publication

Vitex doniana, Cleome gynandra and Ricinodendron heudelotii are three abundant and widespread wild oil plant (WOP) in Bénin. The leaves, bark, trunk, wood, and roots of these WOPs are secularly known to play an important role in food consumption, medical system, and cultural heritage of local people. However, an insufficient and/or a lack of the real uses of the fruits, seeds, kernels, and oils of these species, are noted among the top priority WOP in Bénin. In the study, 857 local people located in Bénin were interviewed with in order to update the existing data on the use and knowledge of the fruits, seeds, kernels, and oils of V. doniana, C. gynandra, and R. heudelotii. The study also investigated the morphometric characteristics of seeds and kernels of the targeted WOPs. Using descriptive statistics, findings showed that only the fruits of V. doniana were used (fresh and dried) for consumption while its seeds are thrown away. Similarly, respondents had no knowledge on the fruits, seeds, kernels of C. gynandra, and R. heudelotii, as well as the oil of the three WOPs. The survey revealed that among the three species, only the fruits of V. doniana were commercialized. As for the morphometric characteristics, the seeds of V. doniana had a spherical aspect while its kernel had an elongated shape taking the sphericity of 0.84 and 0.45 respectively. The seeds and kernels of R. heudelotii were both of spherical aspect with the sphericity of 0.90 and 0.85 respectively. The absence of strong uses of fruits, seeds, kernels, and oils of V. doniana, R. heudelotii, and C. gynandra is noted although these resources are naturally available. Therefore, this suggests untapped opportunities to be seized by local people and the private sector. As to guide and facilitate the valorization of these resources, there is a need to investigate the extraction process, the quality, and toxicity of oils, as well as to design pathways for their applications.