Conservation status of Telfairia spp. in sub-Saharan Africa.

Abstract

Narrow and rapid loss of natural diversity, non-distinguishable plant sex before flowering and desiccation-sensitive seeds are some of the factors limiting the exploitation of the nutritional and industrial potentials of the fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis), a multi-purpose leafy vegetable indigenous to Southeast Nigeria. In order to accelerate conservation of germplasm and encourage continuous utilization of this crop, the objectives of this Bioversity-funded investigation are to: identify the sex, by determining seed and seedling makers for sexual differentiation; extend the shortto medium-term storage potential of seeds by suitable pretreatments; develop tissue culture protocols for plantlet regeneration and rooting of vine cuttings; and, develop protocols for cryopreservation of the germplasm. Preliminary results obtained from the on-going experiments indicate that the pattern of arrangement of the first two leaves may be a useful indicator of sex during early seedling development. In vitro growth of excised embryonic axes was better on fullthan half-strength MS medium on the one hand and with parts of cotyledon than without, on the other hand. Root growth was normal and proportional to shoot growth when embryonic axes were cultured with little or no cotyledonous tissues, but when axes were cultured with a substantial cotyledon segment, root growth was retarded compared to shoot growth.