Ex-situ conservation and domestication research; a nexus of hope for sustainable utilization of neglected and underutilized plant species in Malawi

Abstract

Efforts to unearth the potentials inherent in traditionally important yet neglected underutilized plant species (NUPs) in Malawi have had varying scopes, successes, and shortfalls. Studies on NUPs have mainly focused on indigenous fruit trees with socioeconomic potential. Most published literature on NUPs in Malawi has been on domestication of wild fruits, an agenda spearheaded by ICRAF since the early 1990s. The focus on other plant groups such as indigenous vegetables, roots and tubers has been limited. Wild plants domestication is a key initiative for promotion of their utilization. However, with the existing threats to plant biodiversity, domestication needs to be mirrored with conservation. This review, which utilized literature obtained from various search engines, sought to catalogue research done to facilitate domestication for documented underutilized plants in Malawi. It has been noted that there is uneven and uncoordinated research focus. Most species documented as underutilized have not been scientifically assessed as a way of promoting their utilization. Research done so far has not led to full domestication, i.e., where a domesticated species is able to compete with existing crops, produce adequate and good quality yield, be profitable and requiring reduced inputs. There still exist research gaps that need to be bridged including cultural acceptability and development of robust germplasm to ease cultivation. Mainstreaming NUPs in R&D in Malawi and Ex situ conservation is suggested as an urgent strategy to ensure NUPs preservation as resource-demanding domestication efforts grind-on.