ABSTRACT

Flowering and fruiting periodicities, seed germination, proximate composition and phytochemical contents of edible fruits/seeds of seven woody plant species of the Nigerian rainforest were studied al the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria from 1' January, 2007 to 30" September, 2007. The seven species were: Canarium schweinfurthii, Dacryodes edulis, Dennetia tripetala, Hevea brasiliensis, Parkia biglobosa, Ricimus communis and Uvaria chamae. Hevea brasiliensis had bimodal flowering periodicity (January - March) while the other six plant species had unimodal flowering periods. Canarium schweinfurthii (February - March and June - July) and H. braziliensis (April - June and September - October) had bimodal fruiting periods. The other five plant species hnd unimodal fruiting periods. The statistically equal seed germination percentages ( I 00%) of D. edulis. H brasiliensis, R. communis and U. chamae were significantly higher than those of G. schweinfurthii, P. biglobosa and D. tripetala. Hevea brasiliensis had hypogeal germination while the other six species had epigeal germination. Parkia biglobosa had significantly the highest moisture contents (MC) while D. tripetala and U. chamae with statistically similar MC gave the least results. Uvaria chamae and P. edulis had the highest and least (P < 0.05) dry matter (OM) contents. Uvaria chamae and D. edulis gave significantly the highest and least ash contents. Canarium schweinfurthii and D. edulis had the highest and least (P <0.50) crude protein (CPi contents respectively Dacryodes edulis and D. tripeta/a gave significantly the highest and least ether extracts (EE) respectively. Canarium schweinfurthii and R. communis had respectively. the highest and least crude fibre (CF) contents. Uvaria chamae and D, edulis gave significantly the highest and least carbohydrate (CHO) contents respectively. flevea hrasiliensis and P. higlohosa had significantly the highest and flavonoid contents respectively. Ricinus communis and D. edulis respectively gave the highest and least (P ~ 0.05) phytate contents. Hevea brasiliensis had significantly the highest alkaloid content while D. edulis and P. biglobosa, with statistically similar values. gave the least (P < 0.05) alkaloid contents. Uvaria chamae and D. edulis had significantly the highest and least P contents respectively. Ricinus communis and D. edulis gave respectively the highest and least (P < 0.05) K contents. Dennetia tripetala had significantly the highest Na content while P. biglobosa and H. hrasiliensis with statistically similar Na contents, gave the least (P < 0.05) results. Dennetia tripetala had significantly the highest Ca and Mg contents while C. schweinfurthii and H. brasiliensis gave respectively the least Ca and Mg contents.