African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 3 (12), pp. 700-705, December 2004          
ISSN 1684–5315 © 2004 Academic Journals

Review

Status of conservation of the indigenous leaf vegetables and fruits of Africa

Adebooye O.C.* and J.T. Opabode

Department of Plant Science Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: oadeboo@oauife.edu.ng

Accepted 26 November, 2004

The diversity of indigenous leaf vegetables and fruits of Africa is being seriously eroded as a result of multiplicity of environmental, political and socio-economic factors. This paper discusses some new development-related and crises factors that have interacted in concert to amplify the spate of loss of the indigenous leaf vegetables and fruits genetic resources in Africa. The paper also suggests urgent steps that nations individually and Africa in general can take to arrest the wave of loss of plant genetic resources and therefore ensure the conservation of our remaining indigenous leaf vegetables and fruits heritage.

Key words: Conservation, indigenous vegetables and fruits, Africa, genetic erosion.