The importance of domesticating and integrating high value fruit trees in agricultural landscapes by farmers is increasingly being recognized in the humid tropics. However in an agroforestry context, the growth attributes of intercropped trees above and belowground determine whether the association will be complementary or competitive. The focus of the present research was on two African indigenous fruit tree species (Dacryodes edulis G. Don) H. J. Lam (Burseraceae) and Allanblackia floribunda Oliv. (Clusiaceae), which are currently under domestication, and have high food, income and environmental security values. On D. edulis, the thrust was to assess and compare the structural and fine rooting systems together with the aboveground growth attributes of fruiting trees propagated sexually and vegetatively, while on A. floribunda, the focus was on how to reduce the long juvenile phase of about 10-12 years before first fruiting to less than 5 years through grafting techniques.

Authors: Asaah, E.K.

Subjects: vegetation, fruit trees

Publication type: Publication, Thesis

Year: 2012