Caractérisation, germination et conservation des graines de Carapa procera DC. (Meliaceae), une espèce utile en santé humaine et animale

Carapa procera DC. (Meliaceae) is a widespread species occurring in the woodlands of Africa and Latin America. It is a medicinal plant overexploited by the rural populations of southern Mali. Leaves, fruits and seeds, the bark of the trunk and the roots are used in the preparation of medicine for human and animal health. Such uses result in enormous pressures on natural stands of the species, which have great difficulty in regenerating naturally. Cultivation of C. procera was investigated through studies of its seed physiology and seedling production techniques for reintroduction into its natural habitat. Results showed that fresh seeds of C. procera had a moisture content of over 50% (based on fresh weight) and >= 90% germination. When seeds were dried in a ventilated room condition, their moisture content dropped below 20% after 2 weeks, resulting in a total loss of their germination capacity. Carapa procera seeds can therefore be described as recalcitrant seeds. Stored in kegs containing wood chips, 50% of (small size) seeds germinated after one month and 33% after three months, maintaining a 23.5% moisture content. This study recommends that seed moisture content should be kept at above 35% in order to maintain seed viability in storage. We found that using a substrate of silty clay in the nursery allowed a good growth of seedlings (>= 40 cm), which could be planted out in the field within three months. In order to sustainably use and conserve C. procera in the savannah areas of West Africa, it is recommended that the species be cultivated through the establishment of plantations in its habitat by rural communities