Abstract Background Traditional practices and beliefs influence support the behavior of women during pregnancy childbirth in different parts world. Not much research has been conducted to examine whether how cultural traditions continue shape maternity experiences Zulu women. The aim this study is establish extent at which certain rural communities adhere traditional food taboos pregnancy, postpartum recovery, infants feeding, comparison what recommended by health care workers. Methods A...

Abstract Indigenous fruit tree species (IFTs) can play a crucial role in poverty alleviation and as source of food South Africa. Although these contain nutrient-rich edible fruits that are also locally processed to products such jams jellies, they still underutilized harvested from the wild. This study aimed prioritize northern KwaZulu-Natal, IFTs with domestication commercialization potential. A literature survey focus groups were used list produce this Plant experts, through reference...

Cucurbita pepo landraces are important traditional leafy vegetable crops that widely eaten in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and elsewhere. The use of molecular markers is beneficial the genetic study with different agro-ecological origins. In this study, variation seven selfed unselfed C. from three districts KwaZulu-Natal Province was investigated using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Of 36 55 primers tested, 9 RAPD 10 SSR were selected for their...

Wild leafy vegetables are commonly included in the diet of people rural homesteads northern KwaZulu-Natal. This study aimed to investigate nutrient content one common and nine scarcely known wild consumed this area. Ten were analyzed for their proximate composition, amino acids mineral contents evaluate importance human nutrition. differed significantly terms content. Newly recorded Albertisia delagoensis, Ipomoea plebeia, wightii, Limeum sulcatum, Pyrenacantha kaurabassana, scandens,...

In South Africa, forbs make up the largest component of herbaceous species in grassland and savanna ecosystems, contributing significantly to nutritional food items for herbivores at certain times year. However, there are limited reports on nutraceutical value native forb species. Here, proximate composition mineral, amino acid antinutrient content Evolvulus alsinoides, a commonly browsed were evaluated first time. addition, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy gas...

Abstract Fruits of Strychnos spinosa Lam. hold considerable food value within rural communities. However, no study has reported the nutritional profile S. morphotypes. Therefore, this is aimed to determine variation among Proximate composition was analyzed using association official analytical chemists’ methods, and minerals with inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. The following were ranges proximate nutrient content determined: moisture (10.29–60.50%); fat (0.95–2.67%);...

Natural forests are an important source of livelihood for various communities. Yet economically fruit tree species endemic to sub Saharan Africa e.g. Sclerocaryea birrea (Marula) critically endangered due over-exploitation and climate change. Effective conservation, management utilization native trees require accurate quantitative information on how the interact with their environment. In this study we investigated water use patterns yield dynamics S. birrea, another widely used Strychnos...

Polyploid induction was conducted by different colchicine concentration with seedlings of Coccinia palmata and Lagenaria sphaerica. Colchicine induced polyploid were grown in pots subjected to varying levels irrigation until they reached a flowering stage. The survival rate best at 0.001 g/L treated after three days germination. Polyploidy 0.01 rates for C. L. sphaerica 90 86%, respectively. Compared normal diploid plants, the plants inducted our experiments had short stems. many active...

Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standley is a prominent food source as almost all its plant parts are edible. However, no studies have recorded the changes in shoots, peduncles and fruits during growth. Hence, this study aimed to record shoot traits relate peduncle fruit of L. landraces across different growth stages. Changes were compared within among using analysis variance, correlation, principal component analysis, cluster heritability estimates. Almost had harvestable shoots at 42 days...

Strychnos spinosa Lam. of the Loganiaceae family is associated with versatility, poverty eradication, and rural economic development. However, morphological diversity S. not well documented. This limits efforts toward its improvement commercial exploitation. study aimed to characterize variability, vegetative reproductive traits, heritability morphotypes at Bonamanzi Game Reserve. The majority had green, rough, round immature fruits dark elongated, open fully developed leaves. Fruits varied...

Abstract. Mncwango NC, Mavengahama S, Ntuli NR, van Jaarsveld CM. 2020. Diversity, consumption dynamics and ethnomedical claims of traditional leafy vegetables consumed by a rural community in the KwaMbonambi area, northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Biodiversitas 21: 1196-1202. Traditional (TLVs) are mostly wild informally-domesticated edible plant species. Their nutritious leaves, shoot tips, flowers fruits as vegetables, particularly communities However, their cultivation still...

Sesamum alatum Thonn. is one of the less-popular but nutritious leafy vegetables that still collected from wild or as weeds among crops in South Africa. The plant also used medicines and cosmetics Africa elsewhere. Despite its importance, cultivation S. under different agronomic systems for improved harvestable yield nutrient content lacking. study aimed to determine response application poultry goat manures. Plants were grown pots rain-fed shade cloth conditions, with manures applied at 0,...

Evolvulus alsinoides (L.) L. (Convolvulaceae) is a forb species that highly valued in traditional medicine for its memory-enhancing effects, and range of other ethnomedicinal properties. However, there are no studies on the phytochemical composition antioxidant activities E. collected South Africa. The present study was designed to investigate contents properties aqueous ethanolic plant extracts from Limpopo Province were determined using spectrophotometric colorimetric methods, while three...

Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standley, a member of the Cucurbitaceae family, is valued for its medicinal and nutritive properties. The nutrient status sequentially harvested shoots fruits at various growth stages in L. has not been documented to date. This study aimed compare nutritional landrace different maturity stages. Micronutrients, macronutrients, proximate composition were determined using inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Data subjected multivariate...

Abstract: Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standley belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family. Its nutritious tender shoots, fruits, and seeds are widely consumed in rural communities as leafy vegetables. However, studies on variation heritability of its agronomic traits lacking. This study aimed characterise variability among L. genotypes with various fruit seed morphology from different origins. Seedling, vegetative reproductive were compared landraces. Landraces varied significantly their seedling,...

Corchorus olitorius, a leafy vegetable with high nutrient content, is normally collected from the wild, in areas that are prone to cadmium (Cd) toxicity. However, studies on how Cd accumulation affects vegetative and reproductive traits of vegetables South Africa limited. Therefore, this study tested effect C. olitorius morphological traits. Plants were grown under various concentrations studied for variation as well roots shoots. exposed 5 mg/kg had longer higher moisture heavier fresh...

In Africa, some women are still heavily depending on traditional medicine during childbearing to maintain healthy pregnancy, postpartum recovery and for infant care. This study was designed assess the prevalence of use associated factors its childbearing. Data were collected using structured questionnaires individual interviews conducted with 140 women. The results indicated that majority (79%) different purposes even availability free health care services. most commonly used pregnancy...

Abstract Background: Indigenous practices and beliefs influence support the behavior of women during pregnancy childbirth in different parts world. Not much research has been conducted to examine whether how cultural traditions continue shape maternity experiences Zulu women. The aim this study is establish extent at which certain rural communities still adhere traditional food taboos pregnancy, postpartum recovery infants feeding, rather than modern medical practices. Methods : A survey was...

Lagenaria siceraria is one of the most important cucurbitaceous vegetables due to its prolific bearing habit, edibility as a cooked vegetable, and low cost cultivation. The objective this study was evaluate variation in morpho-agronomic traits among selected landraces their F1 populations. were crossed based on North Carolina II genetic design develop twelve populations along with seven parental grown randomized complete block three replications. Significant differences (p < 0.05)...

The exploring of biostimulant sources is important for sustainable agriculture. Although all parts the moringa plant (Moringa oleifera Lam.) are rich in phytohormones and phytochemicals which may be utilised as a potential growth enhancer, most attention has been placed on its leaves possible enhancing productivity plants. Little reported seed extract (MSE) enhancer medicinal Thus, this study investigated efficacy MSE doses (water spray control, at 2, 4, 6 8%) attributes, mineral content...

Sesamum alatum Thonn., of the Pedaliaceae family is rich in nutrients and also used for medicinal purposes, but it still collected from wild. It thrives well sandy soils which are known low fertility moisture content. Rural communities KwaZulu-Natal usually keep cows, goats, poultry sheep as their livestock, where they source organic manure subsistence farming. Animal improves both plant soil properties. Application animal results an increase growth, yield nutrient content leafy vegetables...

The majority of rural communities in South Africa are characterised by insufficient nutrition and food insecurity at the household level. Due to a lack information about indigenous fruit trees their use, food-insecure households missing out on that these fruits provide. Strychnos spinosa Lam. (monkey orange; umHlala) has been identified as one southern Africa’s top priority species for domestication. However, S. usage morphological diversity is still lacking. Indigenous knowledge...

Ethnobotanical knowledge on local Cucurbita landraces was documented in three district municipalities of northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.Seven distinct C. argyrosperma, maxima and pepo were identified by (isiZulu) names as iNhlwathi emhlophe, emnyama, iPhuzi, isiPhama, iThanga, uMpampini oluhlaza ophuzi