Diversity and use of Cucurbitaceae in Mongu District, Zambia

Bc. Kryštof Knejp

Master's thesis

Abstract:

Cucurbitaceae crops and wild species represent an important part of diets in the Western Province of Zambia and despite this fact, information about which species and varieties of cucurbits are cultivated and eaten in the province remains unavailable in literature. Additionally, some of the local cucurbits are also utilized for their veterinary medicinal uses and for production of products such as vessels for the storage and transportation of liquids, sponges and musical instruments. To investigate the locally cultivated and harvested-from-wild Cucurbitaceae in the Mongu District and surrounding districts, ethnobotanical methods were employed. Specifically, market surveys, focus group discussions with residents of local communities and interviews with key informants were conducted, as well as collection of seed samples. The results outline the diversity of cultivated and wild Cucurbitaceae in the region and provide a compilation of yielded information about the investigated cucurbits, including their vernacular names, synonymy, morphological descriptions, agronomy, uses and prevalence. This list of assayed cucurbits can serve as a “catalogue” of cucurbitaceous plants known to the Lozi people native to the region. Based on local knowledge, sub-divisons of the assayed crops were identified and they represent potential standalone crop species, varieties, cultivars or landraces. Additional related information was obtained, such as the fact that in specific parts of the Western Province, farmers lack access to seeds of certain crops, which limits their cultivation.

Keywords

Agrobiodiversity, Barotse Floodplain, Cucurbits, Ethnobotany, Four Cell Analysis, Underutilized Crops

Jazyk práce: English

Datum vytvoření / odevzdání či podání práce: 24. 4. 2023

Obhajoba závěrečné práce

• Obhajoba proběhla 29. 5. 2023
• Vedúci: doc. Ing. Zbyněk Polesný, Ph.D.
• Oponent: Martin Čermák, Mgr., externi

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences

Master programme:
Tropical Crop Management and Ecology