Contribution to the domestication of indigenous Fabaceae species of Burundi: Entada abyssinica seedling production

Abstract

In Burundi, species used in reforestation are quasi-exclusively exotic. Indigenous species and their ecosystems arecontinuously being degraded due to demographic pressure. It is crucial to domesticate indigenous species particularlythose with socio-economic role such as Fabaceae woody species. This study aims at (i) optimizing seed germination of E. abyssinica, (ii) evaluating the mechanical scarification effect on seedling growth and (iii) seedling growth parameters. We used mechanical and boiling water to scarify E. abyssinica seeds and imbibed at two duration times. Seeds weregerminated at three different temperatures. The results reveal the effectiveness of the mechanical scarification up to100% germination compared to boiling water, 75% (or non-scarified seeds, 4%) and a quick germination (meangermination time and time to 50% germination). Deep-scraping on seed hilum differs from a superficial one andproduces excised seed radicles and seedlings with abundant and fasciculate root system. Growth parameters revealfastness of E. abyssinica growth approaching one meter per year. The present study concludes that E. abyssinica is a fast-growing species that should be adopted in afforestation, reforestation and ecosystem restoration programs. Further research should investigate field growth parameters of E. abyssinica and pursue domestication trials of other indigenous plant species with high socio-economic and ecological importance.

Keywords

• Burundi
• Seedling production
• Fabaceae
• Indigenous species
• Reforestation
• Domestication