Ethnobotany and Collection of West African Okra [Abelmoschus caillei (A. Chev.) Stevels] Germplasm in Some Communities in Edo and Delta States, Southern Nigeria

Authors

  • Matthew Chidozie Ogwu
  • Moses Edwin Osawaru
  • raymond Osas Aiwansoba
  • Rosemary Noredia Iroh

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33736/bjrst.212.2016

Keywords:

thnobotany, germplasm collection, traditional agriculture, vegetable, West African Okra (Abelmoschus caillei)

Abstract

West African Okra (WAO), [Abelmoschus caillei (A. Chev.) Stevels, Malvaceae] is a garden cultivar in
traditional agricultural system in West Africa, which is its center of diversity. In this study, WAO germplasm
collection missions were carried out in Koko, Agbor and Umunede communities in Delta state and Abudu,
Ogan, Ologbo, Agenebode communities in Edo state. Through random sampling, informants were selected and
administered open and close ended questionnaire in order to assess local knowledge of WAO. Three scheduled
visits were carried out to each community. A total of 179 accessions of WAO were collected from the different
communities with 70 (ten from each community) accessions examined. Demographic distribution suggests
78.6% and 21.4% female to male respondents respectively. Majority of these germplasm holders practice
Christianity (88.1%) with the largest age range group encountered been 51-60 (29.4%) while the least was 21-
30 (9.1%). The prominent occupation of respondents was farming (45.2%) while dominant ethnic groups were
Benin (42.9%) and Ika (16.7%). The presences of some vegetables considered as competitive substitute were
recorded from the study area including Common Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), Pumpkin (Telfairia
occidentalis), Pigweed (Amaranthus sp.), Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum), Bitter leaf (Vernonia
amygdalina), Water leaf (Talinum triangulare) and Scent leaf (Ocimum gratissimum). Food and non-food use
was recorded for WAO. Local names for the crop include Omonukpogbe, Onanukporu, Ukhia noka, Okuru
okoki and Manukpogbe. Food use dominates non-food use for WAO in the study area regardless of the
industrial potentials of the wood and phytochemicals. The study has emphasized the roles of traditional
agriculture system and local knowledge in the management of crop germplasm.

References

Akoroda, M.O. (1986). Relationships of plantable okra seed and edible fruit production. Journal of Horticultural Science, 61(2): 233-238.

https://doi.org/10.1080/14620316.1986.11515695

Allem, A.C. (2000). Ethnobotanical testimony on the ancestors of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz. subsp. esculenta.). Plant Genetic Resources Newsletter, 123: 19-22.

Alonge, G.O. & Alonge, A.O. (2006). Methods of data collection for research on indigenous knowledge. In F.C. Nworgu & S. A. Olakojo (Eds.), Ethnoscience in agriculture for sustainable food production and livelihood. Bora agro ventures, Ibadan. Pp 94-99.

Ariyo, O.J. (1993). Genetic diversity in West African Okra [Abelmoschus caillei (A. Chev.) Stevels] - Multivariate analysis of morphological and agronomic characteristics. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, 40: 25-32.

https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00053461

Balogun, O. (2003). Senior secondary atlas. Longman, Nigeria.

Berg, T., Bjornstad, A., Fowler, C. & Skroppa, T. (1991). Technology options and the gene struggle. Development and Environment No. 8 Occasional Papers Series C. As, Norway: NORAGRIC. Pp 72.

Bressan, E.A., Veasey, E.A., Peroni, N., Felipim, A.P. & Pacheo dos Santos, K.M. (2005). Collecting yam (Discorea spp.) and sweet potato (Ipomea batatas) germplasm in traditional agriculture small holding in the Vale do Riberira, Salo Paulo, Brazil. Plant Genetic Resources Newsletter, 126:1-11.

Charrier, A. (1984). Genetic Resources. Abelmoschus (Okra). International Board for Plant Genetic Resources, (IBPGR) Rome, Italy. Pp 61.

Cunningham, A.B. (1994). The role of ethnobotany and customary knowledge in the conservation and use of plant. In A. Putter (Ed.), Safeguarding the genetic basis of Africa's traditional crops. Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation, the Netherlands/IPGRI/ Rome. Pp l47-155.

Dania-Ogbe, F.M., Adebooye, O.C. & Bamidele, J.F. (2001). Ethnobotany of indigenous food crops and useful plants; leafy vegetables of Southwest Nigeria; their identification, nutritional studies and cultivation of farmer assisted selected endangered species. Paper presented at the biennial meeting of the UNU/INRA College of Research Associates. 19-20 April, 2001, Accra, Ghana.

Dong, C.W. & Liang, S.H. (2007). Function characteristic and comprehensive developing and utilization of Okra. Food Research and Development, 5: 58-67.

Esquivel, M.T., Shagarodsky, A. & Hammer, K. (1990). Collecting plant genetic resources in Cuba; Report on the fourth mission. Kulturpflanza, 38: 345- 362.

https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01988241

Falola, T., Mahadi, A., Uhomoibhi, M. & Anyanwu, U. (1999). History of Nigeria. Nigeria: Longman.

Green, E.C., Goodman, K.J. & Hare, M. (1999). Ethnobotany, IPR and benefit sharing: the forest people's fund in Suriname. Indigenous Knowledge and Development Monitor, 14: 32-47.

Guarino, L. (1995). Secondary sources on culture and indigenous knowledge systems. In L. Guraino, V. Ramanatha-Rao & R. Reid (Eds.), Collecting plant genetic diversity: technical guidelines. CAB, International, Wallingford. Pp 271- 298.

Guraino, L. & Friis-Hassen, E. (1995). Collecting plant genetic resources and documenting associated indigenous knowledge in the field: a participatory approach. In L. Guraino, V. Ramanatha-Rao & R. Reid (Eds.), Collecting plant genetic diversity: technical guidelines. CAB, International, Wallingford. Pp 196-222.

Hammer, K. & Mbewe, D.N. (1994). The role of traditional knowledge in germplasm collecting. In A. Putter (Ed.), Safeguarding the genetic basis of Africa's traditional crops. CTA, the Netherlands/IPGRI/Rome. Pp 147-155.

Hamon, S.A., Charrier, A. & Koechin, J. (1991). Potential contributions to okra breeding through the study of their genetic resources. International Crop Network Series 5; Report on an International Workshop on Okra Genetic Resources. IBPGR, Rome. Pp 77-88.

Idu, M.E. (2006). The context of gender in indigenous knowledge and agricultural development. In F.C. Nworgu & S.A. Olakojo (Eds.), Ethnoscience in Agriculture for Sustainable Food Production and Livelihood. Bora Agroventures Ibadan. Pp 100-111.

Igbokwe, E.M. (1999). From process to innovation: land use intensity practices among small holders rice farmers in Eastern Nigeria. Indigenous Knowledge and Development Monitor, 14: 7-11.

International Institute for Rural Reconstruction: IIRR (1998). Sustainable Agriculture Extension Manual. Nairobi. Pp 305.

Jain, S.K. (2005). Dynamism in ethnobotany. Ethnobotany, 17(122): 20-23.

Kolawole, O.D. (2002). Local knowledge utilization and sustainable rural development in the 21st century. Indigenous Knowledge and Development Monitor, 19(3): 13-15.

Mohammed, T.I. (1991). Okra genetic resources in Sudan. IBPGR International Crop Network Series 5. USA. Indigenous Knowledge and Development Monitor, 9(1): 16-17.

Obire, L.O. (2002). Ethnobotanical survey of West African okra [A. caillei (A. Chev) Stevels] in Southern Edo State. B.Sc. Thesis. University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria. Pp 37.

Ogbeibu, A.E. (2005). Biostatistics. Benin City: Mindex Publishing Company Limited.

Ogwu, M.C. & Osawaru, M.E. (2014). Comparative study of microflora population on the phylloplane of common Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus Lin. (Moench.)]. Nigerian Journal of Biotechnology, 28: 17-25.

Olaniyan, A. (2002). Traditional methods of processing locust beans (Parkia clappertonisnner). Indigenous Knowledge and Development Monitor, 5: 3-4.

Omonhinmin, C.A. & Osawaru, M.E. (2005). Morphological characterization of two species of Abelmoschus esculentus and A. caillei. Plant Genetic Resources Newsletter, 144: 51-55.

Osawaru M.E. & Ogwu, M.C. (2014). Ethnobotany and germplasm collection of two genera of Cocoyam (Colocasia [Schott] and Xanthosoma [Schott], Araceae) in Edo State Nigeria. Science Technology and Arts Research Journal, 3(3): 23-28.

https://doi.org/10.4314/star.v3i3.4

Osawaru, M.E. & Dania-Ogbe, F.M. (2010). Ethnobotanical studies of West African okra, [Abelmoschus caillei (A. Chev) Stevels] from some tribes of south western Nigeria. Science World Journal, 5(1): 36-42.

https://doi.org/10.4314/swj.v5i1.61484

Osawaru, M.E. & Ogwu, M.C. (2013). Collecting West African Okra [Abelmoschus caillei (A. Chev.) Stevel] germplasm from traditional agriculture in parts of southwestern Nigeria. The Bioscientist, 1(2): 171-181.

Osawaru, M.E. Ogwu, M.C. & Emokpare, A.A. (2014). Preliminary assessment of the microanatomy of okra [Abelmoshcus (L.)] wood. Egyptian Academic Journal of Biological Science (Botany), 5(1): 39-54.

https://doi.org/10.21608/eajbsh.2014.16827

Osawaru, M.E. (2009). Ethnobotanical and taxonomic studies of West African Okra [Abelmoschus caillei (A. Chev.) Stevels] from some states in southwestern Nigeria. PhD. Thesis, University of Benin, Nigeria.

Painting, K. (1996). Introduction to collecting. In: L. Guraino, V. Ramanatha- Rao & R. Reid (Eds.), Collecting plant genetic diversity: technical guidelines. CAB, International, Wallingford. Pp 25.

Penny, R.A. (2001). Gender and indigenous knowledge experiences in Nigeria and the USA. Indigenous Knowledge and Development Monitor, 9(1):16-17.

Ren, J., McFerson, J., Kresovich, R.L.S. & Lamboy, W.F. (1995). Identities and relationships among Chinese vegetable Brassicas as determined by random amplified polymorphic DNA markers. Journal of American Society and Horticultural Science, 120(3): 548-555.

https://doi.org/10.21273/JASHS.120.3.548

Sawadogo. M.J., Duedraogo, M., Belem-Balma, B., Dossou, I. & Jarvis, D. (2005). Influence of ecosystem component on cultural practices affecting the in situ conservation of agricultural biodiversity. Plant Genetic Resources Newsletter, 141: 19-25.

Schippers, R.R. (2000). African indigenous vegetables: an overview of the cultivated species. Natural Resources Institute/ACPEU Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation, Chatham, United Kingdom. Pp 214.

Siemonsma, J.S. & Hamon, S. (2002). [Abelmoschus caillei (A. Chev) Stevels] In L.P.A Oyen & R.H.M. Lemmens (Eds.), Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Precusor PROTA Programs Wageningen, The Netherlands. Pp 27-30.

Siemonsma, J.S. (1982). West African okra: morphological and cytogenetical indications for the existence of natural amphidiploid of Abelmoschus esculentus (L) Moench and A. manihot (L) Medikus. Euphytica, 31: 241-252.

https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00028327

Stevels, J.C.M. (1988). A new combination of Abelmoschus (Malvaceae) in West and Central Africa. Adasonia, 2: 137-144.

Stevels, J.C.M. (1990). An agro-botany study of traditional vegetables of Cameroon. Wageningen Agricultural University, The Netherland.

Udengwu, O.S. (1998). Photoperiodic response of early and late okra types Abelmoschus esculentus and application to accelerated gene transfer. Nigeria Journal of Botany, 11: 151-160.

Usunalele, J.O. (2000). Vegetative growth and fruiting pattern of okra (Abelmoschus) B.Sc. Thesis, University of Benin, Benin City. Nigeria. Pp 61.

Vipul, A. (2012). Okra (ladyfinger-bhindi) and health its benefits. Suratiundhiyu Publication, India. Pp 6.

Warren, D.M. (1992). Indigenous knowledge, biodiversity conservation and development. Keynote address on international conference on conservation of biodiversity in Africa: Local initiatives and institutional roles. 30th August to 3rd September. Nairobi, Kenya. Pp 21.

Downloads

Published

2016-06-29

How to Cite

Ogwu, M. C., Osawaru, M. E., Aiwansoba, raymond O., & Iroh, R. N. (2016). Ethnobotany and Collection of West African Okra [Abelmoschus caillei (A. Chev.) Stevels] Germplasm in Some Communities in Edo and Delta States, Southern Nigeria. Borneo Journal of Resource Science and Technology, 6(1), 25–36. https://doi.org/10.33736/bjrst.212.2016

Issue

Section

General