Background: Pepper (Piper nigrumL.) is among key spice crops grown in Morogoro district of Tanzania. Most of the pepper types grown in the district are only known by their local names as Babu kubwa, Babu ndogo, Babu kati and Ismailia. This may limit information on germplasm collection or genetic resource for plant improvement and trade in markets with variety specifications. The aim of this study was to generate preliminary information of the pepper types based on their morphological characteristics for easy comparison with other known pepper varieties in the spices industry.Methods: The evaluation of pepper morphological characters was conducted following a randomized complete block design with three replications and four treatments (pepper types). Observations were recorded with respect to 28 characters (9 qualitative and 19 quantitative) which entail vegetative (8) and reproductive (20) traits. The quantitative data for vegetative, inflorescence and berry characters were subjected to analysis of variance. Mean separation test was conducted using Turkey’s Honest Significance Test at (α = 0.05). Correlation and regression analyses were performed to explore the relationship between yield and yield attributes of pepper.Results: Babu kubwa and Babu ndogo pepper types were characterized by erect and horizontal branching habit, whereas the others showed hanging habit. Babu kubwa had longer spikes (12.4 cm), leaves blade (17.9 cm), leaf petiole (2.8 cm), wider leaves (12.9 cm) and larger berries (5.8 mm) than all other pepper types. Babu kubwa and Babu kati had cordate and acute leaf bases, respectively while other types had round leaf base shapes. The highest number of flowers was recorded on Babu kubwa (93.5) and Ismailia (90.7) with spikes weighing 7.6 g and 7.5 g, respectively compared to other types. Babu ndogo and Ismailia had compact spikes, while other types had medium loose spikes. Babu kati had the highest number of spikes kg⁻¹(282.6) due its lower spike weight compared to other types. The highest weight of 100 fresh spikes (704.3 g) and 1000 fresh berries (164.2 g) was recorded on Ismailia. Spike length was significantly positively correlated to yield (r = 0.23, R² = 0.08,p < 0.001). However, yield had a significant negative correlation with the number of spikes kg⁻¹(r = −0.85, R² = 0.017,p = 0.001) and fresh weight of 1000 berries (r = −0.91, R² = 0.003,p = 0.04).Conclusions: The pepper types grown in Morogoro district differed significantly based on most of the evaluated traits. This information can be used to formulate methods and strategies for conservation and in turn genetic improvement of the crop. Despite that the pepper types literary matched with characters of some well-known commercial varieties, confirmation of genetic relatedness is yet needed. Further studies need to be conducted in consecutive years and involve assessment of internal quality attributes. Other studies should encompass wider range of pepper types from other producing areas in Tanzania in order to establish their morphological distinctness, genetic diversity and interrelationships in relation to the globally known commercial varieties.

Societal Impact Statement: Amid global challenges of food insecurity, poor nutrition, and climate change, neglected crops like amaranth are gaining renewed attention. We studied farmers' preferences for amaranth varieties across diverse geographical contexts to guide targeted breeding. Our results revealed significant variation in farmer preferences, emphasizing the need for context‐specific breeding strategies. These findings can support the development of improved amaranth varieties that meet local needs, expand economic opportunities—especially for women—promote healthier diets, and boost biodiversity. This work also offers a model for participatory research on opportunity crops, informing inclusive agricultural policies and sustainable development strategies across Africa and beyond.Summary: Opportunity crops, also known as neglected and underutilized species (NUS), offer benefits to diversify food systems with nutritious and climate‐resilient foods. A major limitation to incorporating these crops in farming systems is the lack of improved varieties, which impedes farmers from accessing quality planting materials of these crops. The study explored how citizen science methods can support demand‐driven breeding and seed production of NUS using leafy amaranth – a nutritious and hardy vegetable ‐ as a case study. The study identified farmer preferences and market segments, with particular attention to gender and social differentiation. We used the tricot approach to conduct participatory on‐farm trials of 14 varieties with 2,063 farmers from Benin, Mali, and Tanzania. We then analyzed farmer traits and varietal preferences in aggregate and among segments of farmers, using cluster analysis. Farmers' overall preferences for amaranth varieties were driven principally by plant survival, yield, leaf size, taste, and marketability. Distinct farmer segments (older women generalists, young women specialists, older men generalists, and young men specialists) preferred different varieties depending on gender and business orientation. The identified farmer segments, along with their unique variety preferences, provide valuable information for breeders and seed enterprises, and support demand‐driven amaranth breeding and seed system development. The methods used and lessons learned from our citizen science exercise can be applied to enhance breeding and seed supply of other opportunity crops that are underutilized in Africa and elsewhere.

The quality and safety of pepper ( Piper nigrum L.) are a function of crop management practices, harvest maturity, harvesting methods and subsequent handling after harvest, including storage conditions and processing methods. The review shows that volatile oil decreases with shade intensity (15–30%). Essential oil, oleoresin, piperine and monoterpenes (thujene, α-pinene, sabinene, limonene, α-phellandrene and linalool) increase with altitude, while β-caryophyllene and total phenol decrease with increase in altitude. Fermentation of ripe pepper fruits forms odorants (butanoic acid, 3-methylindole, and 4-methylphenol) attributing intense faecal/shed-like off-flavour white pepper powder. Low-drying temperature (≤56°C) and duration (≤3 hrs) lead to low bulk density (0.17 g/ml) and low moisture loss (31%). Excessive soaking of black peppercorns prior to mechanical decortication reduces volatile oil and increases moisture content and broken berries. Availability of heavy metals in grinding machines increases the level of heavy metals; Fe (69.8–1147 mg/kg), Pb (21.3–947 μg/kg) and V (64.1–1072 μg/kg) in pepper powder. Storing peppercorns along with other materials enhances cross-contamination of heavy metals; Pb, Cd and Cr. High moisture content (>13%) and farmers’ unawareness resulted in high (2200 to >30000 cfu/g) mycotoxins contamination. Environmental and industrial pollutants such as plasticizers, bisphenol A, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and pesticides are also pepper contaminants of high merit. Radiofrequency pasteurization, vacuum-assisted steaming, ethylene oxide fumigation, atmospheric pressure plasma, dry heat sterilization, gamma-irradiation and ultraviolet-C light treatments are among strategies to enhance the quality and safety of pepper. More precautions also have to be taken to regulate the shade, drying temperature and duration, soaking duration, hygienic processing and storage in order to retain quality, minimize the risk of microbial or chemical contaminations and comply with standards.

Effective management of seed collections in genebanks requires knowledge of seed storage behaviour and species-specific longevity under conventional air-dry storage. This knowledge is lacking for traditional African vegetable (TAV) crops compared to cereals and conventional vegetables. This review aimed to assess the published literature until December 2023. The findings will guide post-harvest seed processing (cleaning and drying), storage (containers, storage parameters), viability monitoring and regeneration intervals, and to identify further research gaps that will inform data needs from the genebanks conserving TAV seeds. Our findings show that, compared to cereals and legumes, there is limited information available on vegetable crops and more acutely on TAVs. While conventional vegetable seeds benefited from research on their storage behaviour and longevity, there was significant neglect of TAV crops, which represented only 17% of the studies reviewed. Overall, genebanks involved in TAV germplasm conservation should invest more time and resources to investigate seed physiology and generate data that will inform on the storage behaviour and longevity of these crops under medium and long-term storage conditions. Such data are important to establish crop-specific knowledge on optimal conditions for high post-harvest seed quality, and for genebanks to plan seed regeneration.

This study examined the prevalence of seed-borne fungi in polyethylene plastic-packaged soybean seeds stored in a genebank and identified factors influencing their incidence. Twenty-four seed lots were sampled from the collection stored at 10 °C in the World Vegetable Center genebank in Arusha, Tanzania. The seeds used were those regenerated and harvested in 2015, 2016, and 2017. A seed health test was conducted for sterilized seeds on potato dextrose agar, sterilized seeds on top of the paper, and unsterilized seeds on top of the paper. Seven-year-old sterilized seeds plated on top of the paper exhibited the highest germination percentage (74 ± 7.09%) and lowest fungal incidence (7.00 ± 4.41%). Conversely, seven-year-old unsterilized seeds plated on top of the paper had the lowest germination (22.00 ± 6.97%) and highest fungal incidence (79.00 ± 8.31%). Older seed lots showed significantly higher equilibrium seed moisture content (Eqmc), though seed age had no significant influence on germination percentage or fungal incidence. Seed germination percentage showed a significant negative relationship with Eqmc, though Eqmc had no significant effect on fungal incidence. Meanwhile, germination percentage showed a significant negative relationship with fungal incidence. Six fungi isolates were identified using their morphological features from soybean seed samples: Absidia glauca, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium spp., Mucor hiemalis, Pestalotiopsis versicolor, and Sordaria macrospora. It is concluded that high fungal incidence negatively affects seed germination but is not significantly correlated with seed moisture content. The dry and cold storage conditions in the genebank, while effective in extending seed longevity, can unintentionally allow seed-borne mycoflora to persist. Although fungi may not actively proliferate under these conditions, they may do so when favorable conditions are restored, such as during germination tests, and consequently may compromise seed viability. Therefore, this study emphasizes the importance of increased systematic seed health checks before storage in genebanks to ensure optimal seed quality, and the replacement of all polyethylene plastic bags to aluminium foil packaging.