Farmers' perceptions on the causes of cassava root bitterness: A case of konzo-affected Mtwara region, Tanzania.
In areas where konzo (a cassava cyanide related paralytic disorder) persists, the agronomic factors causing increased cyanogenic glucoside levels in cassava, during periods without water stress, are hardly known. However, through their assessment of cassava root toxicity, using its bitter taste, far...
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doaj-c788008cceda4415baddbc8cfadc35612021-03-03T20:43:58ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032019-01-01144e021552710.1371/journal.pone.0215527Farmers' perceptions on the causes of cassava root bitterness: A case of konzo-affected Mtwara region, Tanzania.Matema L E ImakumbiliErnest SemuJohnson M R SemokaAdebayo AbassGeoffrey MkamiloIn areas where konzo (a cassava cyanide related paralytic disorder) persists, the agronomic factors causing increased cyanogenic glucoside levels in cassava, during periods without water stress, are hardly known. However, through their assessment of cassava root toxicity, using its bitter taste, farmers may have noticed factors unrelated to water stress that additionally influence the cyanogenic glucoside content of cassava cultivated in these areas. Increased cassava root bitterness is often associated with an increase in cyanogenic glucoside levels, making it a good indicator of changes in root cyanogenic glucoside content. Bitter cassava varieties that are preferentially planted by people living in most konzo-affected areas, are an additional known contributor to high cyanogenic glucosides. It is water stress that further increases the inherent toxicity of the planted bitter cassava varieties. Using konzo-affected Mtwara region in Tanzania as a case study, a household survey was carried out to identify the overlooked agronomic factors that additionally influence cyanogenic glucoside levels in cassava cultivated in konzo-affected areas. A total of 120 farmers were interviewed and they mentioned a number of factors unrelated to water stress, as agronomic factors that influenced cassava root bitterness and hence cyanogenic glucoside production in cassava. The mentioned factors included; certain soil characteristics (14.2%), plant age at harvest (7.5%), poor weeding (0.8%), piecemeal harvesting (0.8%), and branch pruning (0.8%). The revealed factors constitute permanent environmental characteristics and crop management practices commonly used by farmers living in konzo-affected Mtwara region in Tanzania. The revealed factors could be contributing to increased cyanogenic glucoside levels in cassava, during periods without water stress in areas where konzo persists.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0215527 |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Matema L E Imakumbili Ernest Semu Johnson M R Semoka Adebayo Abass Geoffrey Mkamilo |
spellingShingle |
Matema L E Imakumbili Ernest Semu Johnson M R Semoka Adebayo Abass Geoffrey Mkamilo Farmers' perceptions on the causes of cassava root bitterness: A case of konzo-affected Mtwara region, Tanzania. PLoS ONE |
author_facet |
Matema L E Imakumbili Ernest Semu Johnson M R Semoka Adebayo Abass Geoffrey Mkamilo |
author_sort |
Matema L E Imakumbili |
title |
Farmers' perceptions on the causes of cassava root bitterness: A case of konzo-affected Mtwara region, Tanzania. |
title_short |
Farmers' perceptions on the causes of cassava root bitterness: A case of konzo-affected Mtwara region, Tanzania. |
title_full |
Farmers' perceptions on the causes of cassava root bitterness: A case of konzo-affected Mtwara region, Tanzania. |
title_fullStr |
Farmers' perceptions on the causes of cassava root bitterness: A case of konzo-affected Mtwara region, Tanzania. |
title_full_unstemmed |
Farmers' perceptions on the causes of cassava root bitterness: A case of konzo-affected Mtwara region, Tanzania. |
title_sort |
farmers' perceptions on the causes of cassava root bitterness: a case of konzo-affected mtwara region, tanzania. |
publisher |
Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
series |
PLoS ONE |
issn |
1932-6203 |
publishDate |
2019-01-01 |
description |
In areas where konzo (a cassava cyanide related paralytic disorder) persists, the agronomic factors causing increased cyanogenic glucoside levels in cassava, during periods without water stress, are hardly known. However, through their assessment of cassava root toxicity, using its bitter taste, farmers may have noticed factors unrelated to water stress that additionally influence the cyanogenic glucoside content of cassava cultivated in these areas. Increased cassava root bitterness is often associated with an increase in cyanogenic glucoside levels, making it a good indicator of changes in root cyanogenic glucoside content. Bitter cassava varieties that are preferentially planted by people living in most konzo-affected areas, are an additional known contributor to high cyanogenic glucosides. It is water stress that further increases the inherent toxicity of the planted bitter cassava varieties. Using konzo-affected Mtwara region in Tanzania as a case study, a household survey was carried out to identify the overlooked agronomic factors that additionally influence cyanogenic glucoside levels in cassava cultivated in konzo-affected areas. A total of 120 farmers were interviewed and they mentioned a number of factors unrelated to water stress, as agronomic factors that influenced cassava root bitterness and hence cyanogenic glucoside production in cassava. The mentioned factors included; certain soil characteristics (14.2%), plant age at harvest (7.5%), poor weeding (0.8%), piecemeal harvesting (0.8%), and branch pruning (0.8%). The revealed factors constitute permanent environmental characteristics and crop management practices commonly used by farmers living in konzo-affected Mtwara region in Tanzania. The revealed factors could be contributing to increased cyanogenic glucoside levels in cassava, during periods without water stress in areas where konzo persists. |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0215527 |
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