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Citron watermelon (Citrullus lanatus var. citroides (L.H. Bailey) Mansf. ex Greb.) is an underexploited and under-researched crop species with the potential to contribute to crop diversification in Sub-Saharan Africa. The species is cultivated in the drier parts of Southern Africa, mainly by smallholder farmers who maintain a wide range of landrace varieties. Understanding the molecular and morpho-physiological basis for drought adaptation in citron watermelon under these dry environments can aid in the identification of suitable traits for drought-tolerance breeding and improve food system resilience among smallholder farmers, thus adding to crop diversification. This paper reviews the literature on drought adaptation of Citrullus lanatus spp. (C3 xerophytes), using the systematic review approach. The review discusses the potential role of citron watermelon in adding to crop diversification, alternative food uses, and potential by-products that can be processed from the crop, and it analyzes the role of Sub-Saharan African farmers play as key actors in conserving citron watermelon germplasm and biodiversity. Finally, the review provides a summary of significant findings and identifies critical knowledge gaps for further research.
Takudzwa Mandizvo; Alfred Oduor Odindo; Jacob Mashilo. Citron Watermelon Potential to Improve Crop Diversification and Reduce Negative Impacts of Climate Change. Sustainability 2021, 13, 2269 .
AMA StyleTakudzwa Mandizvo, Alfred Oduor Odindo, Jacob Mashilo. Citron Watermelon Potential to Improve Crop Diversification and Reduce Negative Impacts of Climate Change. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (4):2269.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTakudzwa Mandizvo; Alfred Oduor Odindo; Jacob Mashilo. 2021. "Citron Watermelon Potential to Improve Crop Diversification and Reduce Negative Impacts of Climate Change." Sustainability 13, no. 4: 2269.
In relation to seed vigour and hyperosmotic stress, phytic acid has implications in imparting drought tolerance and enrichment of seed mineral reserves respectively. The present study was undertaken to determine the variation in phytic acid during seed development and physiological maturity of 4 Bambara groundnut landraces. The landraces were grown in field during 2017–2018 rain season at Ukulinga, Pietermaritzburg. The phytate content was estimated indirectly from 14-65 days after flowering (DAF) by using a spectrophotometer, evaluating the total extractable phosphorus absorbance at 720 nm. An analysis is described for the rapid determination of phosphorus in developing seeds. The colour complex (phosphomolybdenum) formed under acidic conditions absorbs maximally at 720 nm in acidic (pH
Takudzwa Mandizvo; Alfred Oduor Odindo. Spectrophotometric Quantification of Phytic Acid During Embryogenesis in Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea L.) Through Phosphomolybdenum Complex Formation. Emirates Journal of Food and Agriculture 2021, 778 .
AMA StyleTakudzwa Mandizvo, Alfred Oduor Odindo. Spectrophotometric Quantification of Phytic Acid During Embryogenesis in Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea L.) Through Phosphomolybdenum Complex Formation. Emirates Journal of Food and Agriculture. 2021; ():778.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTakudzwa Mandizvo; Alfred Oduor Odindo. 2021. "Spectrophotometric Quantification of Phytic Acid During Embryogenesis in Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea L.) Through Phosphomolybdenum Complex Formation." Emirates Journal of Food and Agriculture , no. : 778.
Citron watermelon (Citrullus lanatus var. citroides) is an underexploited and under-researched crop species with potential to contribute to crop diversification in sub-Saharan Africa and beyond. The species is commonly cultivated in the drier parts of Southern Africa, mainly by smallholder farmers who maintain a wide range of landraces. Understanding the molecular and morpho-physiological basis for drought adaptation of Citron watermelon in these dry environments can aid in screening local germplasm, identification of suitable traits for crop improvement and improving food system resilience among smallholder farmers by adding to crop diversification. This paper reviews literature on drought adaptation of C. lanatus spp. (C3 xerophytes), using the systematic review approach. The review discusses; (i) the potential role of citron watermelon in adding to crop diversification, (ii) alternative food uses and potential by-products that can be processed from citron watermelon and (iii) the role of Sub-Saharan farmers as key actors in conserving citron watermelon germplasm and biodiversity. Finally, the review provides a summary of significant findings and identifies critical knowledge gaps for further research.
Takudzwa Mandizvo; Alfred Oduor Odindo; Jacob Mashilo. Citron Watermelon Potential to Improve Crop Diversification and Reduce Negative Impacts of Climate Change. 2021, 1 .
AMA StyleTakudzwa Mandizvo, Alfred Oduor Odindo, Jacob Mashilo. Citron Watermelon Potential to Improve Crop Diversification and Reduce Negative Impacts of Climate Change. . 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTakudzwa Mandizvo; Alfred Oduor Odindo; Jacob Mashilo. 2021. "Citron Watermelon Potential to Improve Crop Diversification and Reduce Negative Impacts of Climate Change." , no. : 1.
A newly emerged seedling, given light and water, but no external source of minerals, uses its internal mineral nutrient reserves effectively for an early establishment. This research sought to investigate the influence of seed coat colour on the abundance of mineral elements in Bambara groundnut. Four landraces (G340A, Kazai, Kazuma, and Mana) varying in seed coat colour were analysed for differences in seed mineral composition using energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) analysis and atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Seeds were germinated at 10 °C and 25 °C, and various indices including, (1) mean emergence time, (2) mean germination rate, (3) coefficient of velocity of germination, and (4) final germination percentage (FGP) were calculated. The importance of seed mineral elements in the establishment of Bambara groundnut was examined by measuring root length (RL), shoot length (SL), shoot dry mass (SDM), and root dry mass (RDM). Plant tissue elemental analysis was done using flame atomic emission spectrometry (FAES) for K and flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) for Mg, Cu, Mn, and Zn. There were significant differences (P < 0.001) in mineral element content of dry seeds. G340A and Kazai had the highest and the lowest K, P, Mg, Mn, and Zn (11.65 gkg-1, 7.2 gkg-1, 2.33 gkg-1, 59.56 mgkg-1, and 44.42 mgkg-1), and (8.82 gkg-1, 4.75 gkg-1, 1.38 gkg-1, 48.9 mgkg-1, and 42.6 mgkg-1), respectively. Cold test germination indices were significantly different, the highest FGP was 73.3% in G340A and the lowest was 57.8% in Kazai. There were strong positive correlations between seed mineral concentration and plant growth parameters (p < 0.001). We concluded that (1) seed mineral concentration has a significant impact on the early establishment of Bambara groundnut and (2) the dark-coloured landraces (hue 8º) used in this study have the highest concentration of macro and micro elements compared to light coloured seeds (hue 38º).
T. Mandizvo; A.O. Odindo. Seed mineral reserves and vigour of Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea L.) landraces differing in seed coat colour. Heliyon 2019, 5, e01635 .
AMA StyleT. Mandizvo, A.O. Odindo. Seed mineral reserves and vigour of Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea L.) landraces differing in seed coat colour. Heliyon. 2019; 5 (5):e01635.
Chicago/Turabian StyleT. Mandizvo; A.O. Odindo. 2019. "Seed mineral reserves and vigour of Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea L.) landraces differing in seed coat colour." Heliyon 5, no. 5: e01635.
Bambara groundnut is cultivated using landraces of different seed coat colours. However, very few studies have associated the seed coat colour (morphological feature) with other physiological and biochemical processes as underlying the observed differences in seed quality among landraces. This research sought to investigate seed quality characteristics (viability and vigour) of landraces on the basis of seed coat colour with the hypothesis that; seed coat colour could be linked to other properties (physical, physiological, biochemical and ultra-structure) that may account for seed quality with respect to germination, vigour and storage potential. Four landraces were analysed for differences in seed coat colour and seed coat thickness using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Seed imbibition, electrolyte conductivity, tetrazolium test, and standard germination tests were combined to evaluate the viability of seeds after deterioration through accelerated ageing (AA) at 42 °C and 100% relative humidity (RH) over 5 durations, namely 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 hours. There were significant differences (P < 0.001) among landraces with respect to seed coat colour, seed coat thickness, electrical conductivity (EC), hydration rate, germination rate and length of the measured seedling axis. The light coloured landrace, Kazai, had the highest germination (66.9%) whereas the dark coloured landrace, G340A, had the lowest final germination (53.6%) after 120 hours of seed ageing. Likewise, G340A and Kazai had the highest (110.33 μS cm-1 g−1) and lowest EC (92 μS cm-1 g−1), respectively. Electron microscope revealed that dark and light seeds had the thickest (127 μm) and the thinnest (104.6 μm) seed coats, repsectively. This study highlighted that (1) seed coat thickness and colour alone do not account for hydration pattern of Bambara groundnut landraces and (2) Bambara groundnut seeds viability may not necessarily imply good seed vigour.
T. Mandizvo; Alfred Oduor Odindo. Seed coat structural and imbibitional characteristics of dark and light coloured Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea L.) landraces. Heliyon 2019, 5, e01249 .
AMA StyleT. Mandizvo, Alfred Oduor Odindo. Seed coat structural and imbibitional characteristics of dark and light coloured Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea L.) landraces. Heliyon. 2019; 5 (2):e01249.
Chicago/Turabian StyleT. Mandizvo; Alfred Oduor Odindo. 2019. "Seed coat structural and imbibitional characteristics of dark and light coloured Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea L.) landraces." Heliyon 5, no. 2: e01249.