Open research questions in African Botany and Ecology Studies

What the literature leaves open

• Lack of documentation on Xanthosoma sagittifolium-based agroforestry systems in Benin. Limited understanding of species diversity, domestication levels, and ethnobotanical knowledge of Xanthosoma sagittifolium-associated plants. Need for a prioritization framework to identify conservation priorities for these systems.

  Diversity of Xanthosoma sagittifolium (L.) Schott (Araceae)-based agroforestry systems in Benin, West Africa · 2026 · DOI

• Soil fertility degradation is a widespread issue in West Africa. There is a need for sustainable techniques to address this challenge. The effects of biochar and Gliricidia sepium biomass on Sorghum bicolor are not well understood.

  Effects of amendment of biochar and Gliricidia sepium biomass on growth and yield of Sorghum bicolor under different agroforestry parklands in Northern Benin · 2026 · DOI

• Feed systems in semi-arid and marginal environments are heavily dependent on seasonal pastures and crop residues with inherently low nutritive value. High saponin levels may reduce nutrient absorption and cause gastrointestinal disturbances in livestock. The need to identify clones with lower anti-nutritional compound levels and higher nutritional potential.

  Unlocking the fodder potential of Chukrasia tabularis A. Juss clones: toward nutrient-rich tree fodder species for sustainable and climate smart agroforestry systems · 2026 · DOI

• The gap between demand and supply of fodder in India is significant, with a deficit in green fodder, dry fodder, and concentrate feed. There is a need to identify superior clones with lower anti-nutritional compound levels and higher nutritional potential.

  Unlocking the fodder potential of Chukrasia tabularis A. Juss clones: toward nutrient-rich tree fodder species for sustainable and climate smart agroforestry systems · 2026 · DOI

• There is limited empirical knowledge on how tree diversity and carbon stocks relate to environmental, farm-level, and household factors. The study identifies a gap in understanding the relationship between tree species diversity and aboveground carbon stocks in smallholder agroforestry systems.

  Drivers of tree species diversity and aboveground carbon stocks in smallholder agroforestry systems in Laikipia East, Central Kenya · 2026 · DOI

• The effects of land use on Sclerocarya birrea are not well understood. There is a need to assess the influence of land use on woody species diversity and population structure.

  Effects of land use on the diversity, population structure, and regeneration of Sclerocarya birrea across two phytogeographical sectors in Burkina Faso (West Africa) · 2026 · DOI

• The study faced challenges in estimating aboveground biomass due to the lack of species-specific wood density values. The use of generalized pan-tropical allometric models introduced uncertainty due to variation in wood density and architecture among species. The study had to contend with the heterogeneity of agroforestry systems and the complexity of tree structural composition.

  Tree Structural Composition and Aboveground Carbon Stocks in Smallholder Agroforestry Systems of Western Kenya: Evidence of Structural–Carbon Decoupling · 2026 · DOI

• There is a lack of strong international collaboration, which restricts the development of broader frameworks, especially for climate resilience and agroforestry applications. The study emphasizes the need to integrate physiological and field-based research.

  Borassus flabellifer L. in climate-resilient agroforestry systems: a Scopus-based bibliometric and systematic scoping review · 2026 · DOI

• Future research should investigate long-term durability, alternative low-energy seed pre-treatment methods such as solar roasting, and institutional or cooperative pathways to promote sustained use and wider dissemination of community-scale oil-processing technologies in semi-arid regions.

  Contextual Engineering for Sustainable Kalahari Melon Oil Extraction in Rural Namibia · 2026 · DOI

• Quantitative data on how local communities mobilise and prioritise the various uses of Cola nitida remain limited. There is a need to assess the communities' endogenous knowledge of C. nitida.

  Quantitative analysis of Cola nitida (Vent.) Schott & Endl., 1832 (Malvaceae) uses in southern Benin communities · 2026 · DOI

• The lack of knowledge on the composition and viability of seeds stored in the soil in scattered tree-dominated farmlands. The need to develop sustainable land management strategies that prioritize biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration.

  Plant diversity and soil seed bank composition in scattered tree-dominated farmlands, Southern Ethiopia · 2026 · DOI

• The cross-sectional approach cannot capture seasonal or interannual changes in tree production, management practices, or household diets. Longitudinal studies are required to examine temporal dynamics and the direction of the relationships between tree diversity and household food security.

  Tree diversity in indigenous agroforestry systems and its association with household food security in the subtropical lowlands of Pakistan · 2026 · DOI

• The paper identifies a gap in conservation efforts, which often focus on ecosystems and species, but neglect genetic and phenotypic diversity within species. It also highlights the need for incorporating monitoring intraspecific variation into biodiversity management strategies.

  Variability of shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa C.F. Gaertn.) traits across environmental gradients and land management in Africa: a systematic review and quantitative synthesis · 2026 · DOI

• The study identifies the challenge of documenting traditional knowledge in a region with limited prior research. The study also notes the challenge of identifying the primary causes of animal diseases in the region. The study highlights the challenge of promoting the use of traditional veterinary medicine in a region with limited access to modern veterinary services.

  Diversity of plants used in traditional veterinary medicine in Central-Eastern Burkina Faso · 2025 · DOI

• The prioritization framework employed remains data-intensive and may not fully capture local perceptions - Scientific rankings can diverge from farmer priorities, potentially reducing community engagement if not complemented by participatory processes - Limited institutional data on X.

  Diversity of Xanthosoma sagittifolium (L.) Schott (Araceae)-based agroforestry systems in Benin, West Africa · 2026 · DOI

• Low infrastructure and technology in remote areas, limited trust among stakeholders on their ability to deliver quality products. High transportation costs, low awareness, and the informal nature of supply chain.

  Financial viability of canarium nut production scenarios for smallholders in Vanuatu: a literature review and sensitivity analysis · 2026 · DOI

• Expand geographically to include Central and Eastern Africa, allowing for comparative studies across ecological gradients. Prioritize multi-site common-garden and reciprocal transplant experiments spanning the West-East African distribution of shea to distinguish phenotypic plasticity from genetically based adaptation.

  Variability of shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa C.F. Gaertn.) traits across environmental gradients and land management in Africa: a systematic review and quantitative synthesis · 2026 · DOI

• The study area is situated in the Algerian Sahara, where plants are subject to considerable stress due to elevated temperatures, air pollution, and limited precipitation. The research had to adapt to the diversity of geographical origins of the observed plants. The study had to consider the potential toxicity of some plants, such as Nerium oleander.

  Therapeutic properties of trees and shrubs cultivated in the green spaces of the Algerian Sahara · 2025 · DOI

• There are no comprehensive reviews of the numerous studies on S. aethiopicum. The field of drug development utilizing natural products is still actively progressing.

  Nutritional Composition, Phytochemical Profiles, and Pharmacological Effects of Ethiopian Eggplant (Solanum aethiopicum L.) · 2024 · DOI

• Long-term studies are needed to capture sequestration dynamics, - Research on species-specific biomass equations for locally occurring taxa is needed, - Studies on the impact of management practices on tree structural composition and carbon storage…

  Tree Structural Composition and Aboveground Carbon Stocks in Smallholder Agroforestry Systems of Western Kenya: Evidence of Structural–Carbon Decoupling · 2026 · DOI

• Most studies remain confined to laboratory-scale analysis, - The lack of strong international collaboration restricts the development of broader frameworks, especially for climate resilience and agroforestry applications, - Knowledge production is concentrated in regions where the species is native, but global research integration remains…

  Borassus flabellifer L. in climate-resilient agroforestry systems: a Scopus-based bibliometric and systematic scoping review · 2026 · DOI

• Investigation of the potential for value adding in canarium nut production, - Analysis of the environmental and social impacts of canarium nut production, - Development of new products and markets for canarium…

  Financial viability of canarium nut production scenarios for smallholders in Vanuatu: a literature review and sensitivity analysis · 2026 · DOI

• Time and budget constraints limited the sample size to 90 households, - The study only considered the Gambella Region in South Western Ethiopia, - The study used a systematic random sampling method which may not be representative of the entire…

  Assessing population structure, socio-economic and ecological role of Vitellaria nilotica (shea tree) in Gambella region, South Western Ethiopia · 2026 · DOI

• Further studies should investigate the effects of climate change on the population of Vittellaria nilotica, - Research on the impact of agroforestry practices on the regeneration of Vittellaria nilotica is needed, - Studies on the socioeconomic benefits of Vittellaria nilotica should be…

  Assessing population structure, socio-economic and ecological role of Vitellaria nilotica (shea tree) in Gambella region, South Western Ethiopia · 2026 · DOI

• Biotechnological applications that leverage Morocco's diverse medicinal flora to develop innovative wound-healing therapies, - Systematic compilation of traditional use of plants for wound management in Morocco, - Investigation of the therapeutic efficacy of the identified plant…

  An ethnopharmacological survey of medicinal plants used for wound care in the Fez-Meknes region (Morocco) · 2025 · DOI

Most-cited papers in African Botany and Ecology Studies

• A Review of Indigenous Food Crops in Africa and the Implications for more Sustainable and Healthy Food Systems · Sustainability · 2020 · 306 citations
• Unlocking plant resources to support food security and promote sustainable agriculture · Plants People Planet · 2020 · 281 citations
• Ethnobotanical profile of medicinal plants used by people of North-eastern Morocco:Cross-cultural and Historical approach (Part I) · Ethnobotany Research and Applications · 2021 · 207 citations
• Botanical Knowledge and its Differentiation by Age, Gender and Ethnicity in Southwestern Niger · Human Ecology · 2008 · 133 citations
• Monitoring degradation in arid and semi-arid forests and woodlands: The case of the argan woodlands (Morocco) · Applied Geography · 2011 · 124 citations
• Two kinds of natural · Discourse Studies · 2002 · 121 citations
• Underutilized African indigenous fruit trees and food–nutrition security: Opportunities, challenges, and prospects · Food and Energy Security · 2020 · 108 citations
• Evaluation of the proximate composition, antioxidant potential, and antimicrobial activity of mango seed kernel extracts · Food Science & Nutrition · 2016 · 90 citations
• Land suitability modeling of shea (Vitellaria paradoxa) distribution across sub-Saharan Africa · Applied Geography · 2015 · 88 citations
• Nutritional variation in baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) fruit pulp and seeds based on Africa geographical regions · Food Science & Nutrition · 2017 · 79 citations

Most recent work

• Woody Plants in Dialan and other Ritual Practices within the Biocultural Landscape of Niokolo Koba National Park, Senegal · Human Ecology · 2026
• Effect of Blending Ratio and Fermentation Time on the Quality and Acceptability of Injera Produced from a Composite of Teff, Maize, and Potato Flours · Food Science & Nutrition · 2026
• A scoping review of temperate food forestry research: key themes, methodological considerations and research priorities · Agroforestry Systems · 2026
• Woody vegetation diversity remains low after extensive forest landscape restoration efforts in a western Rwandan landscape · Biological Conservation · 2026
• Vegetation Structure and Diversity Under Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration: A Comparison of Silvo‐Arable and Silvo‐Pastoral Systems in Kenya · Land Degradation and Development · 2026
• Diversity of Traditional Processing of Tchakpalo, an Indigenous Beer from Benin · American Journal of Food Science and Technology · 2026
• Evaluating the Efficiency of Areke Distillation Process Using the Traditional Method of Distillation and Double Pipe Distillation: A Traditional Ethiopian Beverage · F1000Research · 2026
• Carbohydrate and fibre fractions of the fruit of Hyphaene coriacea Gaertn.: compositional characterisation and potential nutritional interest · F1000Research · 2026
• Effect of drying methods, pretreatment and storage conditions on nutritional quality and consumer acceptability of cocoyam leaves (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems · 2026
• Re-developing African traditional foods for industrial production, improved quality and safety · npj Science of Food · 2026

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