Implications of seed ergastic substance–based diversity in some polygonaceae taxa

Omonhinmin, Conrad A. and Idu, M. (2013) Implications of seed ergastic substance–based diversity in some polygonaceae taxa. Academia Journal of Agricultural Research, 1 (10). pp. 180-186. ISSN 2315-7739

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Abstract

The importance plant ergastic products have predispose seeds as major food, medicinal and industrial resources and ultimately have made plant seeds target of researches on different platforms. Seeds of 27 Polygonaceae species of five genera were analyzed for ergastic substances deposits as well as to ascertain the degree of diversity within the family using rescaled Euclidean distance cluster analysis. High degree of similarity (77%) and less than 30% diversity was observed amongst the study population, which points out the inter-specific difference within the family and thus the abundance of related and novel traits for improvement of important species. Starch, fats and oils, inulin and proteins were recorded in all the species, 10 species (37%) excluding members of the Fallopia, Polygonum and some Rumex recorded tannins. Starch characteristics were cereal-like; round, polygonal with a small percentage of irregular shaped granules. Granule size were similar to regular cereal granule size (< 38 μm) with a few species; Rumex undelatum, Rumex confertus, Rumex crispus and Rumex woodsii had large granules (64.4 – 67 μm) and segregated into 66% A-type size starch granules (>9.9μm) and 34% B-type size starch granules (<9.9μm). The interest in Polygonaceae starch is connected with the species as important pseudocereals coupled with the fats, oils, proteins, inulin and tannins contents; the plants species constitute a considerable potentials as major non-wood forest products (NWFPs) that will improve rural livelihoods, household food security and nutrition, as well as represent authentic compliment

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	Q Science > QK Botany
Divisions:	Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences > School of Biological Sciences
Depositing User:	Dr. Conrad Asotie Omonhinmin
Date Deposited:	11 Apr 2016 15:38
Last Modified:	13 Apr 2017 08:02
URI:	http://eprints.covenantuniversity.edu.ng/id/eprint/6535

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