Morphological characterization and yield evaluation of exotic nightshade lines in the forest region of Cameroon

Abstract

Nightshades, popularly known in Cameroon as huckleberry, are believed to have originated from West Africa and tropical Asia where there is a lot of diversity. This diversity and its diffusion are intimately linked to local food cultures and cultural practices in these areas. Yet, little or no systematic study has been undertaken to characterize the diversity and to develop improved varieties. This study was therefore set to document the diversity amongst twentyeight elite nightshade lines through morphological characterization and to evaluate their yield potentials for eventual recommendation to growers. Analysis of variance and cluster analysis identified three main species of nightshades and a wide diversity within species. The three species are Solanum americanum, S. villosum and S. scabrum. Field performance of most plants was satisfactory in terms of leaf yield, growth vigour and pest/disease tolerance. The S. scabrum lines seemed to be the most suitable for recommendation to growers as they showed superior performance in all characters studied.