Annual Research & Review in Biology

Systematic Review of Ethnobotanical Research Methods in West Africa: A Bibliometric and Methodological Overview of Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches

Adoté Hervé Gildas Akueson — 2026-10-10

Background: Ethnobotanical reports combine interviews, inventories, interpretation and botanical investigation, but these procedures support different inferences. A methods-focused synthesis should distinguish data collection from qualitative analysis, quantification and genuine integration.

Objective: To describe and appraise qualitative and quantitative ethnobotanical methods documented in eligible West African field reports and provide a bounded descriptive bibliometric overview.

Methods: An unregistered review protocol used 28 ranked live-web discovery queries on 15 July 2026, with publisher, repository and author-posted retrieval. Original journal reports published from 1 January 2000 to 15 July 2026 were assessed through a single reviewer workflow. Domain-based MMAT appraisal, source-specific extraction and narrative synthesis were undertaken; there was no meta-analysis or independent human review.

Results: Of 81 returned records, 52 remained after deduplication; 37 full reports were sought, nine were not retrieved, and 26 were included after two assessed exclusions. The reports represented 25 provisional study families, 19 journals and fieldwork in all 16 eligible countries. There were 22 English and four French reports. Operational classification identified 22 quantitative descriptive, two qualitative and two mixed-methods reports. Sampling units, index denominators and the distinction between reported practice and demonstrated outcome constrained comparison. Explicit integration was visible in studies linking everyday observation or locally generated values to quantitative interpretation.

Conclusions: The corpus supports a distinction between elicitation, analysis and justified inference rather than a hierarchy based on sample size or numerical complexity. Priorities include transparent units, sampling, integration, botanical traceability and knowledge governance. Bounded retrieval, unavailable reports, single-workflow appraisal and incomplete metadata/status clearance limit regional generalisation and preclude clinical endorsement.

Spike, Flag-leaf and Canopy Diversity of Genotypes across Twelve Different Environments in Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Amit Nagar — 2026-10-06

This study evaluated spike, flag-leaf and canopy diversity among 60 bread wheat genotypes across 12 environments generated from two locations, two growing seasons and three sowing times. Five traits-spike length (SL), flag leaf area (FLA), spikelets per spike (SNPS), grains per spike (GPS) and canopy temperature (CT)-were assessed using environment-wise genotype means. Genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variation and broad-sense heritability were compared, and a separate five-trait Mahalanobis distance and average-linkage hierarchical clustering analysis was conducted for each environment. Mean FLA across environments ranged from 18.05 to 39.49 cm², whereas mean GPS ranged from 34.53 to 57.37. Mean CT ranged from 23.70 °C in E1 to 33.93 °C in E6. Reported PCV values ranged from 17.09 to 29.62% for FLA and from 1.99 to 10.25% for SNPS. Broad-sense heritability ranged from 16.99 to 67.70% for SL and from 4.97 to 96.55% for GPS. Five-cluster solutions also differed among environments, with cluster sizes ranging from 1 to 55 genotypes. The results show that phenotypic diversity for spike, flag-leaf and canopy traits was sensitive to site, season and sowing conditions. Consequently, potentially useful breeding material should be evaluated across environments and selected on the basis of specific trait performance and consistency rather than multivariate distance or single-environment extremes alone.

Effects of the Partial Substitution of Maize with Cassava and Banana Peel Flours on the Growth Performance of Pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus)

F. A. Coulibaly — 2026-10-07

Aims : To evaluate the effects of incorporating cassava and banana peel meals into pig diets on growth performance.

Study Design : A completely randomised controlled feeding trial.

Place and Duration of Study : Animal Production Research Unit, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Nangui ABROGOUA University, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The feeding experiment lasted 135 days, from 45 to 180 days of age.

Methodology : Twenty-five 45-day-old Large White piglets, with an initial body weight of 8 ± 2.5 kg, were randomly allocated to five homogeneous groups of five piglets each and were fed one of five experimental diets for 135 days, from 45 to 180 days of age. The diets contained 0–15% banana and/or cassava peel flour: D1 (5% banana peel flour + 10% cassava peel flour), D2 (10% banana peel flour + 5% cassava peel flour), D3 (10% banana peel flour + 10% cassava peel flour), D4 (15% banana peel flour + 0% cassava peel flour ), and D5 (0% banana peel flour + 0% cassava peel flour; control diet).

Results : Crude protein content ranged from 13.60 to 16.08%, while dry matter, ether extract, and ash contents ranged from 85.67–94.33%, 2.87–3.52%, and 10.78–12.98%, respectively. Feed intake did not differ significantly among treatments (3.40 kg/day ; P = .06). On day 180, final body weight differed significantly among diets (P < .001), with higher values in pigs fed D2 (86.9 kg), D4 (87.5 kg), and D5 (86.9 kg) than in those fed D1 and D3 (73.0 kg). Overall average daily gain reached 590 g/day in D2, D4, and D5 (P < .001). Feed conversion ratio also differed significantly among diets (P < .001), with lower values in D4 (2.90), D2 (2.99), and D5 (3.08) than in D3 (3.26) and D1 (3.14).

Conclusion : Diets D2 and D4 supported growth performance comparable to that of the control diet while offering potential for reducing feed costs through the partial substitution of maize with locally available agricultural by-products.

Combined Effects of Sampling Dates, Insecticide Treatment and Cropping System on Bruchids (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) Oviposition and Egg Parasitism by Uscana lariophaga Steffan, 1954, (Hymenoptera:Trichogrammatidae) in Cowpea Vigna unguicula

Koï Wenceslas Kam — 2026-10-07

Background: Cowpea production is affected by bruchid infestation, while the indigenous egg parasitoid Uscana lariophaga contributes to natural mortality of bruchid eggs.

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the combined effects of cowpea Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. phenology, insecticide application and cropping system on the oviposition dynamics of Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) and Bruchidius atrolineatus Pic. and on egg parasitism by the indigenous parasitoid Uscana lariophaga Stef.

Study Design: A 3 × 2 factorial arrangement was used, comprising three cropping systems (cowpea monocrop, cowpea–millet intercrop and cowpea–sorghum intercrop) and two insecticide regimes (untreated control and insecticide-treated), with four independent plots per combination, giving 24 plots in total.

Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was conducted at Gampela, approximately 20 km from Ouagadougou, in the North Sudanian agroecological zone of Burkina Faso, over two consecutive growing seasons.

Methodology: Field experiments were conducted using cowpea, cultivar KVX 61.1. In each cropping system, insecticide-applied and control plots were monitored. Twenty-five cowpea pods were marked weekly and subsequently examined for bruchid egg laying and eggs parasitised by the indigenous parasitoid U. lariophaga Stef.

Results: Insecticide application significantly reduced oviposition by both bruchid species across cropping systems and years (P < .001). In control monocrop plots, mean oviposition by C. maculatus reached 60 eggs at 71 DAS, compared with 20.75 eggs in treated plots, while B. atrolineatus reached 122 and 24.75 eggs, respectively. Similar reductions occurred in both intercropping systems. Parasitised egg numbers were generally higher in untreated plots and varied with sampling date, cropping system and year.

Conclusion: The 64–71 DAS period was critical for bruchid oviposition. Integrating cowpea phenology and cropping-system configuration into insecticide timing while conserving U. lariophaga may improve integrated management of cowpea bruchids.

Protease-producing Bacillus siamensis D4i Isolated from Helicoverpa armigera Larval Gut: Production Optimization and Growth Modulation by Low-Frequency Ultrasonication

Vipul A. Bharuka — 2026-10-13

Protease-producing bacteria from insect gut microbiota may provide useful enzyme-producing strains for biotechnological applications. This study isolated and characterised a proteolytic bacterium, Bacillus siamensis D4i (GenBank accession PQ481981.1), from the larval gut of Helicoverpa armigera and evaluated culture optimisation and low-frequency ultrasonication. The isolate was selected after screening on skim-milk agar and was confirmed taxonomically through phenotypic and molecular characterisation. Physical and nutritional fermentation variables were screened sequentially using a one-factor-at-a-time approach. Maximum protease production under the tested physical conditions occurred at 37 °C, pH 8.0, 120 rpm, and a 4.5% (v/v) inoculum. Nutritional optimisation identified soybean meal at 1.5% (w/v) and glucose or starch at 1.0% (w/v), together with defined mineral supplementation, as favourable conditions. Under optimised conditions, protease activity reached approximately 400–425 U mL⁻¹, while the time-course experiment recorded 415.92 ± 2.80 U mL⁻¹ at 72 h. Mid-exponential-phase cultures were subsequently exposed to low-frequency ultrasonication at 33 ± 2 kHz and 3.26 W cm⁻² for 0–28 min. Exposure for 2–8 min significantly enhanced biomass and protease production, with the strongest response at 8 min, whereas prolonged exposure for 24–28 min reduced both responses. These findings identify B. siamensis D4i as an insect-gut-derived protease producer and demonstrate a defined, dose-dependent window in which low-frequency ultrasonication can stimulate growth and enzyme production under the tested conditions.

Study of the Morpho-physiological Behaviour of 16 Productive Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis) Genotypes with Varying Sensitivity to Water Deficit during the First Year of Cultivation in a Traditional Growing Zone

Gogoue Dessan Obed — 2026-10-16

Identifying genotypes tolerant to water deficit involves subjecting them to stress in a greenhouse environment. It is essential to evaluate the performance of these greenhouse-identified genotypes under natural field conditions—specifically in areas prone to water deficit versus those favourable (traditional) for cultivation. The objective of this study was to assess the morpho-physiological performance of 16 oil palm genotypes—exhibiting varying sensitivities to water deficit—during their first year of cultivation in a region suitable for the crop. A field trial was established at the CNRA La Mé station using a randomised complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. The experimental layout consisted of three uniform blocks, with each block serving as a replicate containing plants from all 16 genotypes. Mortality was assessed for all 26 plants per genotype in each replicate (78 plants per genotype across the three replicates), whereas 12 plants per genotype per replicate (36 plants per genotype across the three replicates) were selected for the remaining morpho-physiological measurements, including number of leaves produced, plant height, collar circumference, and chlorophyll and nitrogen content. Statistical analyses were performed using R software (version 4.5.0). Results indicated that mortality was below 10% for the majority of the genotypes studied, with the exception of G5T (10.25%); genotype GTT recorded 0% mortality. Genotypes G16S, G22S, and G9S exhibited the greatest heights, whereas G18S showed the lowest. Genotypes G11S, G22S, G21S, and G5T recorded the largest collar circumferences, while GTS recorded the smallest. The rate of leaf emergence was consistent across all genotypes studied. Three genotypes, G14S, G7T, and GTT, exhibited the highest chlorophyll levels, whereas G10S showed the lowest. Two genotypes, G7T and G14S, displayed the highest nitrogen content values. Genotypes G7T, G14S, and GTT emerged as the top performers in terms of morpho-physiological growth. They adapted more rapidly to this favourable growing area, resulting in more reliable vegetative development and a more assured onset of production.

Nutrition and Feeding Management of Indian Major Carp Larvae: A Critical Narrative Review of Digestive Development, Live Feeds and Nursery Practices

Syed Hamza Syed Saidoddin — 2026-10-08

Seed production of the Indian major carps, catla (Catla catla), rohu (Labeo rohita) and mrigal (Cirrhinus mrigala), underpins freshwater aquaculture across South Asia, yet survival from hatchling to fry frequently remains low, and larval feeding continues to rely heavily on pond-derived zooplankton and inexpensive oil-cake and bran mixtures. This review critically evaluates how digestive development, live feeds, formulated larval diets and nursery management interact to determine early survival and growth in these species. A critical narrative approach was adopted. Multidisciplinary, biomedical and regional scholarly sources were searched for literature on embryonic and larval development, digestive ontogeny, nutrient requirements, live feeds, weaning and nursery practices, supplemented by backward and forward citation tracking and by targeted checks for corrections and retractions. The evidence shows that Indian major carp larvae begin exogenous feeding with a simple, stomachless digestive tract in which alkaline serine proteases, amylase and lipase are measurable from first feeding and rise over the first month. The larvae ingest progressively larger zooplankton as gape increases, and mixed rotifer and cladoceran diets consistently support better growth than single prey types. Pond zooplankton is protein-rich but variable, and deficient in ascorbic acid, whereas controlled enrichment and phospholipid supplementation improve larval performance. Recent trials with nanoparticulate diets suggest that co-feeding outperforms either live or formulated feed alone, but this evidence is concentrated in very few laboratories and includes one retracted companion study. Nursery trials show that fertilisation, feed ration, water depth and stocking density influence fry yield, although field outcomes remain highly variable. The main unresolved questions concern quantitative nutrient requirements across all three species, the functional maturation of the intestine and pancreas as opposed to enzyme presence, and the transfer of laboratory feeding protocols to commercial nurseries. Progress will depend on standardised developmental time scales, multi-site replicated trials, reporting of survival and economic outcomes, and independent replication of recent formulated-diet findings. Current evidence supports practical improvements in nursery feeding but does not yet justify replacing live food in commercial Indian major carp hatcheries.

Bioethanol from Pine Needles: A Critical Review of Feedstock Variability, Conversion Performance and Scale-Up Constraints

Tanvi Bharti — 2026-10-12

Pine needles are a potential non-food lignocellulosic feedstock, but their conversion to bioethanol requires more than the demonstration of fermentable sugar release. This critical narrative review evaluates the evidence linking needle identity and collection, pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, fermentation, product recovery and environmental performance. Literature published through 30 July 2026 was assessed using accessible scholarly records and primary studies, with broader lignocellulosic research used only where its transferability could be specified. The strongest direct evidence establishes laboratory-scale ethanol production following chemical pretreatment and enzyme-assisted conversion. It does not establish a generally optimal pretreatment, dependable commercial performance or an environmentally sustainable rate of forest-floor harvesting. Comparisons are weakened by differences between living crown foliage and fallen litter, species-dependent extractives, inconsistent analytical bases, and the conflation of sugar yield, ethanol yield, broth concentration and recovered product purity. Alkali, dilute acid, microwave-assisted processing and solvent-based fractionation offer different combinations of accessibility improvement, carbohydrate loss, inhibition and recovery requirements. Recent advances in solvent recycling and inhibitor-tolerant, pentose-fermenting yeasts are relevant, but most have not been validated with pine-needle hydrolysates. A central finding is that favourable conversion of washed, dilute laboratory substrates cannot substitute for demonstration with concentrated slurries, recycled process liquids and realistic feedstock variability. Sustainable deployment also requires distinguishing standing foliage stocks from annual collectable litter and accounting for nutrient removal, soil protection, collection logistics and alternative biomass uses. The review proposes evidence-based priorities centred on paired mass balances, independent feedstock validation, selective inhibitor management, integrated recovery trials and uncertainty-aware economic and environmental assessment. Pine-needle ethanol is therefore best regarded as a technically demonstrated laboratory pathway whose practical merit remains conditional on whole-process performance and locally justified biomass removal.

Hornbill-on-Hornbill Predation: A Great Hornbill (Buceros bicornis) Preying on a Juvenile Malabar Grey Hornbill (Ocyceros griseus) in the Southern Western Ghats

Arjun Suresh — 2026-10-12

The Great Hornbill (Buceros bicornis) is predominantly frugivorous but may take animal prey, particularly during the breeding period. Direct observations of avian prey handling, especially involving another hornbill species, remain scarce. This short communication documents an unusual interaction observed on 28 April 2026 in the Nelliyampathy reserve forest, Palakkad District, Kerala, in the southern Western Ghats. At approximately 12:30 h, a male Great Hornbill was observed holding the carcass of a juvenile Malabar Grey Hornbill (Ocyceros griseus) while perched on a Ficus sp. tree. The Great Hornbill repeatedly tossed and struck the carcass, dislodging feathers, and continued manipulating it for approximately 15 min. No clear ingestion of tissue or transport of the carcass was observed. A female Great Hornbill remained on another branch of the same tree during the interaction. A monitored Great Hornbill nest containing a nestling was located approximately 500 m from the observation site, although the observed birds could not be individually linked to that nest. The behaviour is consistent with carcass handling or prey processing, but the circumstances leading to the juvenile’s death were not observed; therefore, active predation cannot be confirmed. This observation broadens the documented range of unusual interspecific interactions involving Great Hornbills and highlights the value of continued field monitoring for clarifying the occurrence and context of avian prey use.