Morphological variation of Pseudocedrela kotschyi in Benin: zonal patterns and conservation insights
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Pseudocedrela kotschyi is a socio-economically important species for rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aims to identify the environmental drivers shaping the morphological traits of the species across different biogeographical zones for guiding effective conservation and domestication strategies. Measurements were taken from 3,086 fruits and 2,851 leaves that were collected in these zones. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and hierarchical classification identified distinct morphological groups, while Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) assessed the relationship between morphotypes and biogeographical zones. Morphological traits varied significantly between zones (p < 0.001). The Guineo-Congolian zone had the longest (10.27 ± 0.05cm) and heaviest fruits (51.59 ± 0.39g), while the Sudano-Guinean zone had the heaviest seeds (0.69 ± 0.01g). Three morphotypes were identified: morphotype 1 had small fruits with light seeds; morphotype 2 had long fruits with numerous seeds whereas morphotype 3 had heavy fruits with large seeds. The distortion features differ from one morphotype to another. Although certain traits were influenced by temperature and precipitation, relationships between morphology and climate remained weak. These findings highlight the importance of conservation strategies that are adapted to regional specificities and local environmental pressures. Tailoring conservation and domestication strategies to the distinct morphotypes and their associated ecological zones could enhance the sustainable use of, and resilience to climate change pressures experienced by Pseudocedrela kotschyi.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright of the articles published in Genetic Resources and grant the journal right of first publication with open access. All articles published in Genetic Resource are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0) that allows others to download, share and adapt the work for commercial and non-commercial purposes as long as proper attribution to the original article is given. Genetic Resources permits and encourages authors to post items submitted to the journal (including the publisher's final layout) on personal websites or institutional repositories after acceptance and/or publication, while providing bibliographic details that credit their publication in Genetic Resources.
Adjacou, D.M., Houehanou, D.T., Gouwakinnou, N.G., Prinz, K., Moussa, T., Mama, A.-R., Hellwig, F., Natta, K.A., 2024. Local knowledge and morphological variations in local landraces Mangifera indica L. in Northern Benin (West Africa). Afr. J. Agric. Res. 20, 650–666. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJAR2024.16678
Adjacou, D.M., Houehanou, T.D., Gouwakinnou, G.N., Natta, A.K., 2022. Connaissances ethnoécologiques des variétés locales de Mangifera indica L. dans l’Atacora au Bénin : usages, diversité et perceptions du changement climatique. Ann. UP, Série Sci. Nat. Agron. 12, 15–28. https://doi.org/10.56109/aup-sna.v12i1.107
Adomou, A.C., Sinsin, B., van der Maesen, L.J.G., 2006. Notulae florae beninensis 12: phytosociological and chorological approaches to phytogeography: a meso-scale study in Benin. Systematics and geography of plants 155–178.
Akoègninou, A., Van der Burg, W.J., Van der Maesen, L.J.G., 2006. Flore analytique du Bénin. Backhuys Publishers.
Alhassan, A.M., Ahmed, Q.U., Malami, I., Zakaria, Z.A., 2021. Pseudocedrela kotschyi: a review of ethnomedicinal uses, pharmacology and phytochemistry. Pharmaceutical Biology 59, 953–961. https://doi.org/10.1080/13880209.2021.1950776
Arbonnier, M., 2019. Arbres, arbustes et lianes d’Afrique de l’Ouest: Nouvelle édition 2019. Quae.
Assédé, E.P., Adomou, A.C., Sinsin, B., 2012. Relationship between stand regime and population structure of Pseudocedrela kotschyi (Meliaceae) and Terminalia macroptera (Combretaceae) in the Biosphere Reserve of Pendjari (Benin, West Africa). International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation 4, 427–438. doi: https://doi.org/10.5897/IJBC12.028
Assogbadjo, A.E., Glegrave, R., Azihou, A.F., Kyndt, T., Codjia, J.T.C., 2011. Ethnic differences in use value and use patterns of the threatened multipurpose scrambling shrub (Caesalpinia bonduc L.) in Benin. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research 5, 1549–1557. http://hdl.handle.net/1854/LU-1256575
Avakoudjo, H.G.G., Idohou, R., Salako, K.V., Hounkpèvi, A., Koné, M.W., Assogbadjo, A.E., 2021. Diversity in tree and fruit traits of Strychnos spinosa Lam. along a climatic gradient in Benin: a step towards domestication. Genet Resour Crop Evol 68, 2423–2440. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-021-01140-5
Daï, E.H., Salako, K.V., Hotes, S., Assogbadjo, A.E., 2024. Morphological variability of ‘bush banana’ (Uvaria chamae) and its environmental determinants in Benin, West Africa. Genet Resour Crop Evol 71, 4049–4065. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-024-01926-3
Deguenonvo, A.G., Dossou, J., Idohou, R., 2020. Aptitude à la multiplication de Pseudocedrela kotschyi (Schweinf.) Harms par graines et par boutures de tige et de racine au Bénin. International Journal of Biological and Chemical Sciences 14, 2506–2516. https://doi.org/10.4314/ijbcs.v14i7.11
Deguenonvo, T.A.G., Adjacou, D.M., Idohou, R., Sodedja, R., Sobakin, F.E.D., Houehanou, T.D., Gouwakinnou, G.N., Natta, A.K., 2024. Synergizing climate dynamics, species distribution, and structural parameters for sustainable management of Pseudrocedrela kotschyi in Benin (West Africa). Global Ecology and Conservation 56, e03322. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03322
Deguenonvo, T.A.G., Houehanou, T.D., Adjacou, D.M., Sobakin, F.E.D., Sodedja, R., Gouwakinnou, G.N., Natta, A.K., 2023a. Effet de la zone climatique et de la perturbation humaine sur la composition floristique et la diversité des habitats de Pseudocedrela kotschyi au Benin : Effect of climatic zone and human disturbance on floristic composition and diversity of Pseudocedrela kotschyi habitats in Benin. International Journal of Biological and Chemical Sciences 17, 2299–2311. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ijbcs.v17i6.13
Deguenonvo, T.A.G., Houehanou, T.D., Idohou, R., Yehouenou, N., Gouwakinnou, G.N., Natta, A.K., 2023b. Uses, Cultural Importance, and Fire Threat to Pseudocedrela kotschyi (Meliaceae): Evidence for the Availability Hypothesis in Benin (West Africa). Economic Botany 1–19. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12231-023-09581-y
Diarra, M.L., Mariko, M., Mbaye, M.S., Noba, K., 2016. Plantes médicinales utilisées dans le traitement traditionnel du paludisme à Bamako (Mali). International Journal of Biological and Chemical Sciences 10, 1534–1541. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ijbcs.v10i4.7
Dormann, C.F., Elith, J., Bacher, S., Buchmann, C., Carl, G., Carré, G., Marquéz, J.R.G., Gruber, B., Lafourcade, B., Leitão, P.J., Münkemüller, T., McClean, C., Osborne, P.E., Reineking, B., Schröder, B., Skidmore, A.K., Zurell, D., Lautenbach, S., 2013. Collinearity: a review of methods to deal with it and a simulation study evaluating their performance. Ecography 36, 27–46. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0587.2012.07348.x
Dossa, L.O.S.N., Dassou, G.H., Adomou, A.C., Ahononga, F.C., Biaou, S., 2021. Dynamique spatio-temporelle et vulnérabilité des unités d’occupation du sol de la Forêt Classée de Pénéssoulou de 1995 à 2015 (Bénin, Afrique de l’Ouest). Sciences de la vie, de la terre et agronomie 9.
Fick, S.E., Hijmans, R.J., 2017. WorldClim 2: new 1-km spatial resolution climate surfaces for global land areas. International journal of climatology 37, 4302–4315. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.5086
Freschet, G.T., Valverde-Barrantes, O.J., Tucker, C.M., Craine, J.M., McCormack, M.L., Violle, C., Fort, F., Blackwood, C.B., Urban-Mead, K.R., Iversen, C.M., Bonis, A., Comas, L.H., Cornelissen, J.H.C., Dong, M., Guo, D., Hobbie, S.E., Holdaway, R.J., Kembel, S.W., Makita, N., Onipchenko, V.G., Picon-Cochard, C., Reich, P.B., de la Riva, E.G., Smith, S.W., Soudzilovskaia, N.A., Tjoelker, M.G., Wardle, D.A., Roumet, C., 2017. Climate, soil and plant functional types as drivers of global fine-root trait variation. Journal of Ecology 105, 1182–1196. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.12769
Grubben, G.J.H., 2008. Plant resources of tropical Africa (PROTA). Prota.
Houehanou, T.D., Prinz, K., Hellwig, F., Assogbadjo, A.E., Gebauer, J., Kakaï, R.L.G., Sinsin, B., 2019. Morphological trait variation and relationships of Afzelia africana Sm. caused by climatic conditions and anthropogenic disturbance in Benin (West Africa). Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution 66, 1091–1105. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-019-00773-x
Houehanou, T.D., Prinz, K., Koua, D., Hellwig, F., Ebou, A., Gouwakinnou, G., Assogbadjo, A.E., Glele Kakaï, R.L., Zézé, A., 2023. Genetic diversity and population structure of a threatened tree species Afzelia africana Sm. ex Pers. among climatic zones for conservation challenges in Benin (West Africa). Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution 1–16. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-022-01523-2
Houndonougbo, J.S.H., Kassa, B., Salako, V.K., Idohou, R., Assogbadjo, A.E., Glèlè Kakaï, R., 2020. Perceived variation of fruit traits, and preferences in African locust bean [Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) Benth.] in Benin: implications for domestication. Genet Resour Crop Evol 67, 1315–1329. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-020-00915-6
Hounkpèvi, A., Azihou, A.F., Kouassi, É.K., Porembski, S., Glèlè Kakaï, R., 2016. Climate-induced morphological variation of black plum (Vitex doniana Sw.) in Benin, West Africa. Genet Resour Crop Evol 63, 1073–1084. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-016-0409-9
Hounkpèvi, A., Salako, V.K., Donhouédé, J.C.F., Daï, E.H., Tovissodé, F., Glèlè Kakaï, R., Assogbadjo, A.E., 2020. Natural intraspecific trait variation patterns of the wild soursop Annona senegalensis (Annonaceae) along a climatic gradient in Benin, West Africa. Plant Ecology and Evolution 153, 455–465. doi: https://doi.org/10.5091/plecevo.2020.1576
Ikabanga, D.U., Stévart, T., Koffi, K.G., Monthé, F.K., Doubindou, E.C.N., Dauby, G., Souza, A., M’batchi, B., Hardy, O.J., 2017. Combining morphology and population genetic analysis uncover species delimitation in the widespread African tree genus Santiria (Burseraceae). Phytotaxa 321, 166–180. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.321.2.2
Keuls, M., 1952. The use of the „studentized range” in connection with an analysis of variance. Euphytica 1, 112–122.
Konda, B., Dimobe, K., Salako, K.V., Dembélé, J.B., Boussim, I.J., 2025. Morphological variability of Pterocarpus erinaceus Poir. along a climate gradient in Burkina Faso, West Africa: implications for conservation and domestication. Genet Resour Crop Evol. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-024-02310-x
Lawin, I.F., Fandohan, A.B., Salako, K.V., Assogbadjo, A.E., Ouinsavi, C.A.I.N., 2021. Morphological variability of fruits of Cola millenii K. Schum. from seven phytogeographical districts in Benin: opportunity for domestication. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution 68, 1225–1242. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-020-01086-0
Mars, M., Marrakchi, M., 2000. Étude de la variabilité intra-arbre chez le grenadier (Punica granatum L.): application à l’échantillonnage des fruits. Fruits 55, 347–355.
Merow, C., Smith, M.J., Silander Jr, J.A., 2013. A practical guide to MaxEnt for modeling species’ distributions: what it does, and why inputs and settings matter. Ecography 36, 1058–1069. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0587.2013.07872.x
Moussilimi, I.T., Koura, K., Aoudji, A.K.N., Gbetoho, J.A., Akouehou, G.S., Ganglo, J.C., 2022. Caractéristiques structurales et écologiques des populations de Pseudocedrela kotschyi de la forêt de Pénéssoulou (Bénin). Annales de l’Université de Parakou - Série Sciences Naturelles et Agronomie 12, 13–26. https://doi.org/10.56109/aup-sna.v12i2.122
Naimi, B., Araújo, M.B., 2016. sdm: a reproducible and extensible R platform for species distribution modelling. Ecography 39, 368–375. https://doi.org/10.1111/ecog.01881
Newman, D., 1939. The distribution of range in samples from a normal population, expressed in terms of an independent estimate of standard deviation. Biometrika 31, 20–30.
Ouattara, B., Sanou, L., Koala, J., Hien, M., 2022. Perceptions locales de la dégradation des ressources naturelles du corridor forestier de la Boucle du Mouhoun au Burkina Faso. Bois & Forets des Tropiques 352, 43–60. doi: https://doi.org/10.19182/bft2022.352.a36935
R. Core Team, 2020. R: A language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria. url: https://www.R-project.org/.
Shapiro, S.S., Wilk, M.B., 1965. An analysis of variance test for normality (complete samples). Biometrika 52, 591–611.
Stévart, T., Dauby, G., Lowry, P.P., Blach-Overgaard, A., Droissart, V., Harris, D.J., Mackinder, B.A., Schatz, G.E., Sonké, B., Sosef, M.S.M., Svenning, J.-C., Wieringa, J.J., Couvreur, T.L.P., 2019. A third of the tropical African flora is potentially threatened with extinction. Sci. Adv. 5, eaax9444. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aax9444
Towanou, H., Charlemagne, G.D.S.J., Christine, O., Nestor, S., 2015. Morphological Variability of Prosopis africana (Guill., Perrott. Et Rich.) Taub in Benin, West Africa. American Journal of Plant Sciences 6, 1069–1079. https://doi.org/10.4236/ajps.2015.67111
White, F., 1983. The vegetation of Africa.
Yaoitcha, A.S., Aboh, A.B., Zoffoun, A.G., Houinato, M., Mensah, G.A., Sinsin, B., Akpo, E.L., 2016. Potentiel de régénération des chantiers de production du charbon de bois au Centre-Bénin. International Journal of Biological and Chemical Sciences 10, 1702–1716. https://doi.org/10.4314/ijbcs.v10i4.21
Yusuf, S.N.A., Rahman, A.M.A., Zakaria, Z., Subbiah, V.K., Masnan, M.J., Wahab, Z., 2020. Morphological Variability Identification of Harumanis Mango (Mangifera indica L.) Harvested from Different Location and Tree Age. Trop Life Sci Res 31, 107–143. https://doi.org/10.21315/tlsr2020.31.2.6
Zhang, J., Wang, M., Guo, Z., Guan, Y., Guo, Y., Yan, X., 2018. Variations in morphological traits of bermudagrass and relationship with soil and climate along latitudinal gradients. Hereditas 155, 31. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41065-018-0068-2
Zida, D., Sanou, L., Diawara, S., Savadogo, P., Thiombiano, A., 2020. Herbaceous seeds dominates the soil seed bank after long-term prescribed fire, grazing and selective tree cutting in savanna-woodlands of West Africa. Acta Oecologica 108, 103607. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actao.2020.103607
This journal has been conceived as part of the