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Uses and management of black plum (Vitexdoniana Sweet) in Southern Benin

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Colombe Dadjo ,
Achille Ephrem Assogbadjo ,
Belarmain Fandohan ,
Romain Glèlè Kakaï ,
Sebastian Chakeredza ,
Thierry Dèhouégnon Houehanou ,
Patrick Van Damme  and
Brice Sinsin
Colombe Dadjo
Affiliation:
Lab. Appl. Ecol., Fac. Agron. Sci., Univ. Abomey-Calavi, 01 PO Box 526, Cotonou, Rep. Benin
Achille Ephrem Assogbadjo
Affiliation:
Lab. Appl. Ecol., Fac. Agron. Sci., Univ. Abomey-Calavi, 01 PO Box 526, Cotonou, Rep. Benin
Belarmain Fandohan*
Affiliation:
Lab. Appl. Ecol., Fac. Agron. Sci., Univ. Abomey-Calavi, 01 PO Box 526, Cotonou, Rep. Benin
Romain Glèlè Kakaï
Affiliation:
Lab. Appl. Ecol., Fac. Agron. Sci., Univ. Abomey-Calavi, 01 PO Box 526, Cotonou, Rep. Benin
Sebastian Chakeredza
Affiliation:
ANAFE, PO Box 30677-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
Thierry Dèhouégnon Houehanou
Affiliation:
Lab. Appl. Ecol., Fac. Agron. Sci., Univ. Abomey-Calavi, 01 PO Box 526, Cotonou, Rep. Benin
Patrick Van Damme
Affiliation:
Lab. Trop. Sub-Trop. Agric. Ethnobot., Fac. Biosci. Eng., Univ. Ghent, Coupure Links 653, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium
Brice Sinsin
Affiliation:
Lab. Appl. Ecol., Fac. Agron. Sci., Univ. Abomey-Calavi, 01 PO Box 526, Cotonou, Rep. Benin
*
* Correspondence and reprints
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Abstract

Introduction. Black plum (Vitexdoniana) is an indigenous fruit tree species importantfor the livelihoods of rural populations. Currently, there is renewednational and international interest in black plum, and it has emergedas a priority species for domestication in Africa. The present workaddressed farmers’ indigenous knowledge of the use and managementof the species among different socio-cultural groups in Benin, takinginto account gender differences. The specific objective of thiswork was to study the knowledge, uses, local gathering practices andmanagement systems of V. doniana that are partof the traditions of the communities in Southern Benin. Materialsand methods. A total of 150 participants randomly selected fromthree socio-cultural groups provided survey responses. Information collectedmainly referred to the motivation of respondents to conserve blackplum trees on their land, the local uses and the management practicesto improve the regeneration and production of the black plum. Resultsand discussion. The study showed that knowledge of black plumis well distributed in the community. However, people have differentinterests in using black plum and there is variable knowledge ofuse and management practices. The food and medicinal categorieswere the most important uses. There were no significant differencesin knowledge of the management and utility of black plum betweenmen and women, or across socio-cultural groups. Conclusion. Givenits value to the communities in southern Benin, black plum should beprioritized for domestication.

Keywords

BeninVitex donianaindigenous knowledgedomesticationtraditional usesethnobotanyBéninVitex donianaconnaissance indigènedomesticationutilisation traditionnelleéthnobotaniqueBenínVitex donianaconocimiento indígenadomesticaciónusos tradicionalesetnobotánica

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Type
Original article
Information
Fruits , Volume 67 , Issue 4 , July 2012 , pp. 239 - 248
Copyright
© 2012 Cirad/EDP Sciences

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