African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (13), pp. 1480-1484, Special Review 2005          
ISSN 1684–5315 © 2005 Academic Journals

Review

Seed constraint to cultivation and productivity of African indigenous leaf vegetables

O.C. Adebooye¹*, S.A. Ajayi1* J.J. Baidu-Forson² and J.T. Opabode¹

¹Department of Plant Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, NIGERIA.

²United Nations University, Institute for Natural Resources in Africa, Accra, GHANA.

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

Accepted 25 October, 2005

Non-availability of improved seeds constitutes a major constraint to the cultivation and productivity of the indigenous leaf vegetables (ILVs) of Africa. Research on African ILVs has focused mainly on the ethnobotany, collection, preservation, and the assessment of food value and chemical composition of the ILVs. No serious breeding and seed production research has been done on the ILVs. This paper examines some factors underlying the lack of interest in the production of ILVs seeds, the problem associated with local seed processing and the way to organize a seed production programme for the ILVs.

Key Words: Seed, indigenous leaf vegetables, cultivation, production.