• Title/Summary/Keyword: african plants

Search Result 24, Processing Time 0.019 seconds

Assessment of anatomical characteristics of the medicinal plant African cherry (Prunus africana) for its accurate taxonomic identification

  • Komakech, Richard;Yang, Sungyu;Song, Jun Ho;Choi, Goya;Kim, Yong-Goo;Okello, Denis;Omujal, Francis;Kyeyune, Grace Nambatya;Matsabisa, Motlalepula Gilbert;Kang, Youngmin
    • Journal of Plant Biotechnology
    • /
    • v.49 no.2
    • /
    • pp.139-144
    • /
    • 2022
  • The genus Prunus (family: Rosaceae) consists of over 400 plant species and exhibits vast biodiversity worldwide. Given the wide distribution of this genus, its taxonomic classification is important. Anatomical characteristics are conserved and stable and can therefore be used as an important tool for the taxonomic characterization of plants. Therefore, this study aimed to assess and document the anatomical characteristics of the leaf, stem, and seed of P. africana using micrographs and photographs for possible use in the identification, quality control, and phylogenetic analysis of the species. The anatomical sections of a young stem revealed a cortex consisting of isodiametric parenchyma cells, druse crystals, primary vascular bundles, and pith. The mature stem bark majorly consisted of the rhytidome, with the periderm densely arranged in multiple layers; a cluster of stone cells; and sclerenchyma. The leaf sections were hypostomatic, with stomata sizes ranging from 18.90-(22.34)-26.90 × 15.41-(18.40)-21.22 ㎛. The leaf sections showed the presence of characteristic druse crystals, vascular bundles, and mesophyll layers. The pericarp contained the epicarp, mesocarp, and endocarp, with their thickness being approximately 350-400, 300-350, and 30-50 ㎛, respectively. In addition, it contained a seed testa with a thickness of approximately 50-60 ㎛. The morphological and anatomical characteristics observed in P. africana leaves, stems, and seeds in this study could serve as useful data for the taxonomic identification of this species.

Somatic Embryogenesis and Plant Regeneration in Shoot Apical Meristem Cultures of an African Local Variety Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) (아프리카 재래종 카사바의 경단분열조직 배양에 의한 체세포배발생과 식물체 재분화)

  • MIN, Sung R.;YANG, Seung G.;LIU, Jang R.
    • Korean Journal of Plant Tissue Culture
    • /
    • v.21 no.5
    • /
    • pp.303-308
    • /
    • 1994
  • Shoot apical meristem dome explants from cassava plants (Ghanaian local variety) produced somatic embryos at a frequency of 32% when cultured on MS medium supplemented with 2 mg/L 2,4-D. Somatic embryo segments formed secondary embryos at frequencies of up to 93% when cultured on medium containing 1 mg/L 2,4-D for 2 to 3 weeks. Since the somatic embryos were not capable of converting into plantlets, adventitious shoot were induced from the sliced embryo segments by culturing them on medium containing 0.1 to 5 mg/L BA. After 8 weeks of culture, numerous shoots formed on the segments at frequencies up to 100%. The shoots were rooted and successfully transplanted to potting soil.

  • PDF

Diversity and origin of bottle gourd, Lagenaria

  • Yuasa, Hiroshi
    • Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
    • /
    • 2002.11a
    • /
    • pp.96-97
    • /
    • 2002
  • Bottle gourd, Lagenaria siceraria, is one of the oldest cultivated plants. To bigin with, its fruit was used as a complete liquid bottle or container. It was a very widespread cultivated plant in prehistoric times, for example (there) is a report from Peru as early as between 13,000 B.C and 11,000 B.C. The dug-out finds in Japan proved to be about 95,000 years old according to the /sup 14/C analysis. The bottle grourd was the most important plant before the invention of pottery in many areas of Asia, New Guinea, Polynesia, America, and Africa. I would like to suggest that there should be "The Bottle Gourd Age" prior to the Pottery Age. Bottle gourds are also used for various purposes such as food, masks, pipes, musical instruments, medicine, symbols, artistic products and also as penis-sheaths of men's attire. Their purposes number more than 220 including 70 varienties of containers or bottles. I consider that its utilization should be called a culture, as it were, "The gourd culture." The shape and the size of the fruit of bottle gourd have a larger variety than those of any other plant. As for the size, it is reported that they range from those that are shorter than 3cm to those that are ovoid and longer than 60cm in diameter. With regard to the shape of its fruit, the bottle gourd can be classified into 7 groups and even more than 30 races, considering the difference of the size. The seeds are so variable without two horn-like projections, with smooth surface or longitudinalines, white or brown, with smooth corky margin. Generally, it seems that there is no correlation between seem shape and fruit shape. My study shows that the seeds of gourd. My study shows that the seeds of gourd in Asia are so simple in shape and in color except for the size. But the seeds of those in Africa are various and seem to be beyond the confines. Explaining the great diversity of the seeds of those in Africa therefore, they appear to have no correlation among the types of fruit of the bottle gourd with African origin. It might be supposed that another 4 wild Lagenaria spp. distribute only in Africa. The intraspecies hybrid is confirmed between the bottle gourd, Lagenaria siceraria, and wild L. spehaerica. And Fl hybrid is sterile: it has no fertility. However, even though the shapes of the fruit and the seeds are different, they can cross with each other. Moreover, their hybrids grow up to be extremely vigorous and have normal fertility. Fruit shapes of Fl plants are similar to those of their parents, if they have the same character. Whereas, the fruit shape often became different from each other when the cross occurs between those with different fruit shapes. It is shown that dumbbell shapes, HYOTAN in Japanese, is recessive while its bitterness is dominant. Thus the character of F2 hybrids Is segregative. I'll give further particulars of the heredity of the groud in my lecture.

  • PDF

Construction and Operation of Small Solar Plant Using Smart-Off-Grid: Case of Tanzania-Korea Innovative Technology and Energy Center (스마트-독립전력망을 사용한 소규모 태양광 발전소의 건설과 운영: 한국-탄자니아 적정기술 거점센터의 사례)

  • Kim, Jisoo;Jung, Woo-Kyun;Ha, Bo-Ra;Moon, Ji-Hyun;Rhee, Herb;Ahn, Sung-Hoon
    • Journal of Appropriate Technology
    • /
    • v.5 no.2
    • /
    • pp.62-69
    • /
    • 2019
  • Supplying stable electric power is one of the important objectives of the Official Development Assistance (ODA) because it is strongly related with improving living standards and income levels in the region. However, rural areas in many developing countries are not properly connected to national power grids, and even areas connected to national power grids are frequently blacked out due to limitations in power capacity. These lack of electric power is a major obstacle to improving income levels and improving living standards in those areas. The Korea-Tanzania Innovative and Energy Center (iTEC), which was established by Seoul National University in cooperation with the Nelson-Mandela Africa Institute of Science and Technology and Technology (NM-AIST) try to build a small solar power plant using a smart-off grid in rural area of Tanzania, where there is no electricity. 10 kW and 7 kW solar power plants are built in Mkalama Village in Kilimanajaro Region and Ngurdoto Village in Arusha Region to provide power to about 50 households each. In addition, smart monitoring systems were installed to collect data about status of power system and power consumption of each house. iTEC seeks for sustainable improvement the income level and quality of life of rural residents in developing countries through the construction of small solar power plants using smart-off grid, and the implementation of various connected projects.