atakpama, w. université de lomé - laboratoire de botanique et écologie végétale, Togo , pereki, h. université de lomé - laboratoire de botanique et écologie végétale, Togo , batawila, k. université de lomé - laboratoire de botanique et écologie végétale, Togo , akpagana, k. université de lomé - laboratoire de botanique et écologie végétale, Togo

Assessment of gum yield of Sterculia setigera Del. in relation to diameter and trees condition

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Sterculia setigera Del. is well-known in Sub-Saharan Africa as a multipurpose tree species, especially due to the economic valueof its gum. The present study carried out in the Kantindi experimental station was a contribution to the valorization of S. setigera inTogo. It sought to appraise the gum yield capacity of S. setigera according to stem girth and target trees’ condition. Trees tappingwere carried out on forty non-burnt trees and twelve burnt trees with a girth equal or greater than 90 cm. Trees were tapped from1 to 5 April 2014 and gum harvest occurred three weeks later, on 30th April 2014. The mean value of gum exudate from trees earlyburnt is higher than those obtained from non-burnt trees, respectively 103.2 ± 68.5 g and 64.4 ± 35.3 g. Gum yield increased withdiameter increase. Even thought the mean gum yield seems greater on burnt trees than non-burnt trees; the statistical tests showed nosignificant difference (p = 0.095). In contrast, there is a significant difference according to tree diameter (p = 0.047). Further studieswill evaluate both quantitatively and qualitatively methods of gum tapping, nursery plants production, and regeneration techniques.

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Sterculia setigera , gum , yield , tree diameter , ecosystem services , Togo

Revue Marocaine des Sciences Agronomiques et Vétérinaires

77