Introduction. Bananas and plantains (Musa spp.) are staple foods in Cameroon and surrounding countries. Strategies based on the utilization of cultural and locally consumed foods are essential for the identification of solutions for the reduction of micronutrient malnutrition. Materials and methods. To assess the nutritional content of some varieties in order to assist the selection of new Musa hybrids, the carotenoid contents of 19 Musa cultivars and hybrids from the CARBAP (Douala, Cameroon) germplasm were determined at three ripening stages. Frozen pulps were analyzed for their β-carotene, α-carotene and lutein contents using the HPLC method. The retinol activity equivalents (RAE)·100 g–1 fresh weight were calculated for four representative Musa types. Results and discussion. Significant differences were observed between Musa cultivars according to their genotype. Plantain type (Mbouroukou n°1) and Musa hybrid (CRBP 755) exhibited the highest levels of RAE [(148 and 70) RAE·100 g–1] compared with dessert bananas (16 RAE·100 g–1). During ripening, the concentrations of these carotenoids increased or decreased significantly (α = 0.05%) according to the Musa type analyzed. The high β- and α-carotene as well as lutein contents of these Musa sp. could contribute to the nutritional status of people consuming these banana varieties in West and Central Africa and enhance their use in Musa breeding programs.

Introduction. In the southern Sudanian zone of Benin, fruit flies are major pests and responsible for considerable yield losses in mango production. The two main species of economic importance affecting mango trees in Benin are Ceratitis cosyra and Bactrocera invadens. During the 2006 crop year and across seven main cultivars, losses stood at 17% in early April and exceeded 70% in mid-June. By the middle of the crop year, over 50% of losses occurred in mango orchards. Materials and methods. The Stone and Pedigo method was used to compute the economic injury level, using variables such as pest control costs, level of losses and mango prices. Results and discussion. The Economic Injury Level (EIL) was highly variable. For the cultivar Kent, for example, it varies from (30 to 75) fruit flies captured per ha and per week, whereas for Keitt the level ranges from (24 to 57) fruit flies·ha–1·week–1. EIL variability depends among other things on market price fluctuation. This method is based on the early introduction of detection traps in mango orchards. A weekly monitoring of trapped fruit flies is used to compute the EIL and make a decision about pest control. Pest control (GF-120 in this case) is recommended if the gross returns exceed production costs. If the number of trapped fruit flies is below the EIL, a treatment is not recommended because pest control will not be profitable. Conclusion. The EIL is an accurate tool to set the optimal (economic) timing of pest control treatment in mango orchards. These preliminary results should lead to the introduction of integrated pest management (IPM) activities to deal with the fruit fly species that are threatening the profitability of mango production in central and northern Benin.

Introduction. Mature green vanilla pods accumulate 4-O-(3-methoxy-benzaldehyde)-β-D-glucoside (glucovanillin), which, upon hydrolysis by an endogenous β-glucosidase, liberates vanillin, the major aroma component of vanilla. Sites of storage of glucovanillin in the pod have been controversially reported for decades; we aim, using precise and widely accepted technical terminology, to clarify this controversy by providing an anatomical, histochemical and biochemical evidence-based picture of glucovanillin accumulation sites. The pod also synthesizes an oleoresin and a mucilage of unknown constitutions; we report here their localization and structures. Materials and methods. The pod anatomy was examined by light and epifluorescence microscopy. A protocol was established allowing fine hand-dissection of diverse anatomical parts of the pod (mesocarp, placentae, trichomes, intralocular interstitial cell-free region and seeds). Glucovanillin and γ-pyranones were extracted and analyzed by HPLC, while the structures of the mucilaginous polysaccharides were determined after permethylation. Results and discussion. Glucovanillin is essentially stored in the placentae (92%) and marginally in trichomes (7%); traces were measured in the mesocarp and intralocular interstitial cell-free medium. Trichomes store massive amounts of a fluorescing oleoresin (44%) rich in alkenylmethyldihydro-γ-pyranones and synthesize a mucilage made of a glucomannan and a pectic polysaccharide carrying monomeric arabinose and galactose side-chains. Conclusion. To date, the physiological roles of glucovanillin, long-chain pyranones, and mucilage remain unknown.

Introduction. Agricultural cooperatives play an important socio-economic role in European (EU) countries, especially in the fresh fruit and vegetable sector. For this reason, in an economic perspective, the measurement of their efficiency has become an area of investigation which attracts great interest. Given that Spain and Italy are the biggest producers of fresh fruits and vegetables, the aim of this paper was to recognize the evolution of their technical efficiency. Materials and methods. Performance analysis in the economic field is rather controversial. Following Parkan (2002), it is possible to classify three main approaches to measure performance: index numbers; frontier methods and the non-parametric approaches. In this paper, efficiency was evaluated by applying the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) technique considering two separate frontiers. Through the AIDA database for Italian agricultural cooperatives and the SABI database for Spanish cooperatives, two different sets of 81 and 106 firms, respectively belonging to the fruit and vegetable sector, were selected over a five-year period (2001–2005). Results. The analysis of the DEA results underlines the higher ability of Italian cooperatives to calibrate and optimize the inputs, and to maximize the results (technical efficiency), as well as the ability of Spanish cooperatives to exploit scale economies. Conclusions. Over the period taken into consideration, the average value of global technical efficiency decreased for Spanish as well as Italian cooperatives. In the case of Spanish cooperatives, this situation is due to the loss of ability to calibrate and optimize the inputs, even if the considered firms reveal ability to develop scale economies. In the case of Italian cooperatives, the results reveal the substantial firm technical efficiency, even if scale inefficiency undermines the global efficiency.

Introduction. Les oasis marocaines sont réputées pour le savoir-faire ingénieux de leurs habitants en matière de gestion et de préservation des ressources naturelles. La datte, principal produit des oasis, bénéficie amplement de cette ingéniosité qui connaît, de nos jours, une régression et un manque de valorisation. Notre étude a eu pour objectif d’archiver et d’analyser le savoir-faire de la transformation des dattes en jus, localement appelé Tassabount, et d’en proposer un mode de valorisation. Matériel et méthodes. La méthodologie employée pour le travail d’archivage et d’analyse des connaissances locales de transformation des dattes en jus a été basé sur une approche participative impliquant une centaine de femmes oasiennes de la vallée du Drâa (Maroc). Résultats et discussion. Notre étude a mis en évidence une pratique ingénieuse dans la transformation locale des dattes en jus. Ce savoir-faire, développé par les femmes oasiennes, est étroitement lié à la diversité génétique du palmier dattier (variétés et hybrides). En outre, le Tassabount est identifié comme produit prometteur à valoriser, en misant sur ses qualités organoleptiques et ses vertus thérapeutiques. Par ailleurs, la description et l'analyse du procédé familial de préparation du Tassabount ont permis d’identifier des voies possibles d’amélioration pour son élaboration et sa stabilisation en vue de son transfert à des entreprises artisanales et/ou industrielles.

Introduction. This protocol describes a method for obtaining protoplasts from banana leaves, calli and cell suspensions, and their sustainable development via somatic embryogenesis from embryogenic cell suspensions. The principle, key advantages, starting plant material, time required and expected results are presented. Materials and methods. This part describes the required laboratory materials, and media preparation for protoplast production and culture. Results. The first protoplasts may be seen after 30 min of incubation in enzyme maceration. With protoplasts from embryogenic cell suspension, complete development into a whole plant, through somatic embryogenesis, is observed in 12 weeks. The first cell divisions occur on feeder layers 3–8 days after protoplast plating. Proembryo formation is observed 14–21 days after initiation of protoplast culture. The transfer of derived embryo plantlets, at 8–10 weeks after protoplast plating, onto growth regulator-free medium, leads to plant rooting and elongation.