Garcinia kola phenophases in Benin: Influence of phytodistrict and age of subjects

Abstract

Garcinia kola is a multiple-use species whose poor management contributes to its scarcity. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has declared it "vulnerable". The objective of this study is to determine the influence of phytodistrict and age on the phenophases of Garcinia kola in Benin. Stratified sampling was carried out on 42 trees which were randomly selected from those currently producing fruit in the phytogeographic districts of Pobè and the Ouémé Valley. Recordings and phenological observations were made every month. The data collected were used to calculate and analyze the relative frequencies of the different phenological processes (leafing, flowering, fruiting) by considering the ages and the districts thanks to the R software. The results showed that the periods of phenophases vary according to the phytogeographic district and the age of the species. These results imply that the restoration of the species as well as its in situ conservation in the Guinean-Congolese zone in Benin can be significantly achieved both in the phytogeographic district of Pobè and in that of the Ouémé Valley, with an advantage of early phenophases in the phytogeographic district of Pobè.

Keywords: Garcinia kola, leaves, flowering, fruiting, South-Benin