Variation of Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) taproot development and leaf number in Sudan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46325/afj.v8i1.154Keywords:
Nursery, indigenous fruit tree, population, root tubers, domestication, NTFPsAbstract
Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.), seedlings produce a strong prominent taproot, which are known to form root tubers. Baobab domestication is imperative to safeguard its sustainable utilization. Nevertheless, little is known about their growth features and its yield potential. Baobab seedlings develop a tuber-like or taproot which can be consumed as a vegetable. The study aimed to investigate the yield potential of baobab root tubers and number of leaves and the assess variation of fruit types on root development in a nursery trial at five locations in Blue Nile, West and North Kordofan state, Sudan. The collected data included shoot length, stem diameter, number of leaves, taproot length, taproot diameter and root length content. One-way ANOVA showed that that there were significant differences (P≤ 0.05) between studied sites on any of the measured plant growth parameters. Seedlings invested mainly into taproot development during the growth period, with root tubers reaching an average length of 8.13±4.96 cm at 126 days after sowing. Seedlings from El Roseires had longer shoot, tuber, root length, larger number of leaves, stem diameter and tuber diameter. Globose and oblong fruit shape, had variable growth larger than those compared to ovate, obovate, crescent shapes and ellipsoid fruit types. Though, the heterogeneity of root tuber growth by way of affected by abiotic and water availability, as well as genetic origin permit additional study.
Keywords : Nursery, indigenous fruit tree, population, root tubers, domestication, NTFPs
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