Ability to Suckering of Burkea africana (Hook) in the Guinean Savannah Highlands of Adamawa, Cameroon

Abstract

Burkea africana is a Fabaceae of great socio-economic importance in the Guinean highlands of Cameroon. However, it is subjected to intense animal and human pressure, threatening its survival. It is therefore urgent to contribute to the propagation of this species through root suckering. The main objective of this study is to assess the potential for root suckering of Burkea africana in order to promote its in situ conservation and domestication. An inventory is carried out in thirty-one (31) hectares plots, distributed equally between riverbanks, fallow land, and the natural savannah of Ndoctoutou and Berem in the Adamawa region. Root suckering induction trials are then conducted on 270 creeping roots in March 2023. For this, two methods are used: simple wounding and complete severing of the creeping roots. These roots are then subjected to three treatments: exposure to open air, covering with soil, and wrapping with aluminium foil. A total of one hundred and forty-eight (148) individuals of Burkea africana are recorded with one hundred and four (104) of which had suckers. Ten months after the induction of suckering, the results show that complete sectioning induced higher suckering rates (72.33 ± 16.72%) than the light wound method (12.22 ± 11.60%). Exposure reveal that the percentage of suckering varies from 26.83 ± 6.02% in roots covered with soil to 58.83 ± 35.38% in those covered with aluminium foil. The induced suckers appear predominantly at the distal pole. Burkea africana thus demonstrates a good capacity for artificial suckering. However, at the end of the ten-month observation period, no sucker had developed an independent root system. Nevertheless, characterization permit to identify a natural sucker that have developed its own root system. Although inexpensive, this technique will only truly contribute to the domestication of the species if long-term monitoring is carried out to observe the independence of the suckers through autonomous rooting, successful weaning and sustained growth.