Ecological Structure and Fruit Production of African Fan Palm (Borassus aethiopum) Populations

Christine Ouinsavi, Charlemagne Gbémavo, Nestor Sokpon

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DOI: 10.4236/ajps.2011.26088                

Abstract

Ecological structure and fruit production of African fan palm stands in Benin were studied on the basis of surveys laid out in ten (10) populations located in three ecological zones. Dendrometric and fruit production parameters such as: diameter at breast height (dbh), total height (TH), number of fruit bunch per tree, number of fruits per tree, number of seeds per fruit, fruit length and width were measured on all African fan palm trees within thirteen (13) plots of 1,000 m². Diameter and height classes distribution of the palms in each ecological zone adjusted to Weibull distribution showed a bell shaped curve with left dissymmetry, characteristic of young stands (form coefficient between 1 and 3.6). African fan palm stem number was 156 trees/ha. Variation of dbh, TH, number of fruit bunch per tree were highly significant between populations and ecological zones (P < 0.05%). Trees from Sudanian zone were highly grown (mean dbh = 52.2 cm) while those of Sudano - Guinean transition zone were less (mean dbh = 32.73 cm) and dominated by female trees. African fan palm stands of Pahou is suitable for seed collection for in situ conservation of the species while those of Ouorghi and Akomiah could provide fruits for edible hypocotyls production.

Keywords

Ecological Structure, African Fan Palm, Fruit Production, Population

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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