Biological Science: Research Developments and Innovations Vol. 4

Local Plant-based Preparation for Sustainable Vegetable Production in Burkina Faso: A Summary of Field Trials on Roselle, Chili Pepper, and Amaranth

2026-09-29T10:18:25+00:00

Vegetable production in Burkina Faso is severely constrained by insect pests, leading many farmers to rely heavily on synthetic pesticides, including unregistered products, with potential risks to human health and the environment. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of locally available plant-based preparations, including Apichi, Kogle-zanga, and ash broth, for managing insect pests on chilli pepper, roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.), and amaranth under field conditions in Loumbila, Burkina Faso. Field experiments were conducted using randomised complete block designs, and treatment effects were assessed based on pest damage, vegetative growth, and crop yield. In chilli pepper, Apichi provided the best protection against leaf and flower damage during the vegetative stage, while Kogle-zanga also showed promising efficacy. In roselle, the combined Apichi + ash broth treatment was the most effective, reducing leaf damage to 12.70 damaged leaves compared with 18.70 in the untreated control at 28 days after sowing and increasing leaf yield to 2.78 kg m⁻² compared with 0.50 kg m⁻² in the control. In amaranth, the highest Kogle-zanga rate (70 mL ha⁻¹) provided the greatest pest suppression and supported yields of approximately 1–2 t ha⁻¹. Overall, these findings demonstrate the potential of Apichi, Kogle-zanga, and ash broth as accessible alternatives to synthetic pesticides and highlight their potential contribution to more sustainable vegetable production in the Sudano-Sahelian region of Burkina Faso.

In vitro Propagation and Phytochemical Screening of Three Medicinal Coleus Species: Coleus forskohlii, Coleus vettiveroides K.C. Jacob and Coleus amboinicus

2026-09-29T10:23:14+00:00

The genus Coleus (Lamiaceae) includes several medicinally important species used in traditional medicine. This review synthesises current information on Coleus forskohlii (Willd.) Briq., Coleus vettiveroides K.C. Jacob, and Coleus amboinicus Lour., with emphasis on in vitro propagation and phytochemical characteristics. C. forskohlii is an important source of forskolin, a labdane diterpene associated with cardiovascular, respiratory, ophthalmic, and metabolic effects. C. vettiveroides is valued for its aromatic roots and essential oils, whereas C. amboinicus contains volatile constituents, particularly thymol and carvacrol, with reported antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities. The review compares explant selection, surface sterilisation, culture media, plant growth regulators, callus induction, shoot multiplication, rooting, acclimatisation, hairy-root culture, genetic-fidelity assessment, and bioreactor approaches. It also summarises primary and secondary metabolites, including alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, terpenoids, essential oils, and related bioactive constituents, together with the analytical methods used for their detection and quantification. Particular attention is given to differences in metabolite accumulation among intact plants, regenerated tissues, callus, root cultures, and hairy roots, together with challenges in contamination control and commercial scale-up. Available evidence indicates that propagation and phytochemical protocols are more extensively developed for C. forskohlii and C. amboinicus than for C. vettiveroides. The review therefore highlights the need for improved standardisation of culture conditions, analytical methods, and scale-up strategies to support conservation, sustainable propagation, and consistent phytochemical production.

Nanoparticle-Based Formulations for Sustainable Agriculture: A Critical Narrative Review of Agronomic Efficacy, Environmental Trade-Offs and Translational Barriers

2026-09-29T10:26:09+00:00

Nanoparticle-based formulations have been advanced for more than a decade as instruments for reconciling agricultural productivity with reduced chemical intensity, yet the relationship between mechanistic promise and demonstrated field benefit remains contested. This critical narrative review examines the evidence for nanoparticle-enabled fertilisers, crop-protection products, stress-mitigation treatments and biomolecule carriers, and evaluates whether the sustainability claims attached to them are supported by the quality of the underlying research. Literature was identified through structured searching of multidisciplinary and life-science scholarly indexes, supplemented by citation tracking and examination of authoritative institutional guidance, with all bibliographic records and digital object identifiers verified against registry sources. Evidence was appraised for design adequacy, comparator selection, dose metrics, exposure realism and external validity, and was synthesised thematically around mechanisms, contested findings and translational constraints rather than by individual study. Four conclusions emerge. Efficacy gains relative to conventional analogues are real but modest and highly variable, and are strongest for micronutrient formulations applied to deficient or stressed systems. Macronutrient nanoformulations, particularly nano-urea, show sharply conflicting field outcomes that cannot be reconciled without attention to nitrogen rate, application timing and the choice of comparator. Environmental and soil-microbial consequences are frequently inhibitory, dose-dependent and modulated by soil properties, so the assumption that reduced application mass equates to reduced ecological burden is not generally secure. Economic and life-cycle accounting remains sparse, and the manufacturing burden of nanomaterials can offset field-level savings. The dominant constraint on the field is methodological rather than conceptual: short-duration, glasshouse-scale, hydroponic or pot studies with inappropriate controls and incomplete particle characterisation cannot support claims about agronomic sustainability. Priorities include multi-season replicated field experimentation with ionic and bulk comparators, standardised reporting of particle properties and applied dose, integration of soil-health and non-target endpoints into efficacy trials, and transparent cost and life-cycle accounting before commercial scale-up.

Spatiotemporal Dynamics and Burn Severity of Bushfires in the Gadabedji Biosphere Reserve (1993–2023)

2026-09-29T10:37:33+00:00

Bushfire is a fire that spreads over a minimum area of one hectare, affecting one or more vegetation types. In Niger, bushfires pose a serious threat to food security and biodiversity. The Gadabedji Biosphere Reserve, located north of the Maradi Region in the Sahelian savanna zone of central Niger, is particularly threatened, notably by late and uncontrolled fires. Each year, fires of varying intensity and extent destroy large areas of forest. New technologies such as remote sensing and geographic information systems play an important role in monitoring, assessing, and preventing forest fires. This study aimed to improve understanding of the severity of bushfires in the RBG (Réserve de Biosphère de Gadabedji) between 1993 and 2023 using satellite imagery and geographic information systems. More specifically, it analyses the spatiotemporal distribution of fires and burned areas within the RBG and identifies the main factors explaining this distribution. To achieve this, medium-resolution satellite data were used, namely Landsat-5 & 4 Thematic Mapper images, Landsat-7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper images, and Operational Land Imager images, corresponding to the periods before and after the fires. A marked periodicity of extreme fire years was observed, notably in 2003 and 2023; however, intensity remained low in 2013. The central zone is particularly vulnerable to fires and accounts for nearly 80% of the active fires detected across its entire area. The annual burned-area rate varies, depending on the scale, from 0.05% to 7.33% for the study area and from 0.01% to 40% within the central zone. The topomorphology of the study area influences the spread of bushfires: burned areas are primarily found at medium and high altitudes, on slopes, and in sectors with a high density of herbaceous cover. To mitigate their severity and impacts, appropriate risk-management plans should be developed and implemented before, during, and after bushfires. Monitoring and spatiotemporal analysis of fires at national, regional, and local levels are also essential for effectively organising early warning systems and improving fire prevention and management.