IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v13y2021i4p2269-d502255.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Citron Watermelon Potential to Improve Crop Diversification and Reduce Negative Impacts of Climate Change

Author

Listed:
  • Takudzwa Mandizvo

    (Crop Science, School of Agricultural Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 3201, South Africa)

  • Alfred Oduor Odindo

    (Crop Science, School of Agricultural Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 3201, South Africa)

  • Jacob Mashilo

    (Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Towoomba Research Station, Private Bag X1615, Bela-Bela 0480, South Africa)

Abstract

Citron watermelon ( Citrullus lanatus var. citroides (L.H. Bailey) Mansf. ex Greb.) is an underexploited and under-researched crop species with the potential to contribute to crop diversification in Sub-Saharan Africa. The species is cultivated in the drier parts of Southern Africa, mainly by smallholder farmers who maintain a wide range of landrace varieties. Understanding the molecular and morpho-physiological basis for drought adaptation in citron watermelon under these dry environments can aid in the identification of suitable traits for drought-tolerance breeding and improve food system resilience among smallholder farmers, thus adding to crop diversification. This paper reviews the literature on drought adaptation of Citrullus lanatus spp. (C3 xerophytes), using the systematic review approach. The review discusses the potential role of citron watermelon in adding to crop diversification, alternative food uses, and potential by-products that can be processed from the crop, and it analyzes the role of Sub-Saharan African farmers play as key actors in conserving citron watermelon germplasm and biodiversity. Finally, the review provides a summary of significant findings and identifies critical knowledge gaps for further research.

Suggested Citation

  • Takudzwa Mandizvo & Alfred Oduor Odindo & Jacob Mashilo, 2021. "Citron Watermelon Potential to Improve Crop Diversification and Reduce Negative Impacts of Climate Change," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-17, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:4:p:2269-:d:502255
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/4/2269/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/4/2269/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mabhaudhi, T. & Chimonyo, V. G. P. & Hlahla, S. & Massawe, F. & Mayes, S. & Nhamo, Luxon & Modi, A. T., 2019. "Prospects of orphan crops in climate change," Papers published in Journals (Open Access), International Water Management Institute, pages 250(3):695-.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Anshuman Singh & Ranjay K. Singh & Neeraj Kumar & Suresh Kumar & Parvender Sheoran & Dheeraj Singh & Satyendra Kumar & P. C. Sharma, 2022. "Adapting to Social–Ecological Risks to the Conservation of a Muskmelon Landrace in India," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-20, August.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Sussy Munialo & Alexandros Gasparatos & Ndiko Ludidi & Ali Elnaeim Elbasheir Ali & Eden Keyster & Musa Oyebowale Akanbi & Mohammad Naushad Emmambux, 2024. "Systematic Review of the Agro-Ecological, Nutritional, and Medicinal Properties of the Neglected and Underutilized Plant Species Tylosema fassoglense," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-29, July.
    2. Marija Knez & Marija Ranic & Mirjana Gurinovic & Maria Glibetic & Jasna Savic & Konstadinos Mattas & Murat Yercan, 2023. "Causes and Conditions for Reduced Cultivation and Consumption of Underutilized Crops: Is There a Solution?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-15, February.
    3. Anne Edwards & Isaac Njaci & Abhimanyu Sarkar & Zhouqian Jiang & Gemy George Kaithakottil & Christopher Moore & Jitender Cheema & Clare E. M. Stevenson & Martin Rejzek & Petr Novák & Marielle Vigourou, 2023. "Genomics and biochemical analyses reveal a metabolon key to β-L-ODAP biosynthesis in Lathyrus sativus," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-16, December.
    4. Vimbayi Grace Petrova Chimonyo & Tendai Polite Chibarabada & Dennis Junior Choruma & Richard Kunz & Sue Walker & Festo Massawe & Albert Thembinkosi Modi & Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi, 2022. "Modelling Neglected and Underutilised Crops: A Systematic Review of Progress, Challenges, and Opportunities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-19, October.
    5. Chimonyo, V. G. P. & Chibarabada, T. P. & Choruma, D. J. & Kunz, R. & Walker, S. & Massawe, F. & Modi, A. T. & Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe, 2022. "Modelling neglected and underutilised crops: a systematic review of progress, challenges, and opportunities," Papers published in Journals (Open Access), International Water Management Institute, pages 1-14(21):13.
    6. Maria Gialeli & Andreas Y. Troumbis & Constantinos Giaginis & Sousana K. Papadopoulou & Ioannis Antoniadis & Georgios K. Vasios, 2023. "The Global Growth of ‘Sustainable Diet’ during Recent Decades, a Bibliometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-23, August.
    7. Nafiisa Sobratee & Rashieda Davids & Chuma B. Chinzila & Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi & Pauline Scheelbeek & Albert T. Modi & Alan D. Dangour & Rob Slotow, 2022. "Visioning a Food System for an Equitable Transition towards Sustainable Diets—A South African Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-23, March.
    8. Hemalatha Palanivel & Shipra Shah, 2021. "Unlocking the inherent potential of plant genetic resources: food security and climate adaptation strategy in Fiji and the Pacific," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(10), pages 14264-14323, October.
    9. Magidi, J. & van Koppen, Barbara & Nhamo, L. & Mpandeli, S. & Slotow, R. & Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe, 2021. "Informing equitable water and food policies through accurate spatial information on irrigated areas in smallholder farming systems," Papers published in Journals (Open Access), International Water Management Institute, pages 1-13(24):36.
    10. Venkatesh Paramesh & Parveen Kumar & Ranjan Parajuli & Rosa Francaviglia & Kallakeri Kannappa Manohara & Vadivel Arunachalam & Trivesh Mayekar & Sulekha Toraskar, 2023. "A Life Cycle Assessment of Rice–Rice and Rice–Cowpea Cropping Systems in the West Coast of India," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-14, February.
    11. Sobratee, N. & Davids, R. & Chinzila, C. B. & Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe & Scheelbeek, P. & Modi, A. T. & Dangour, A. D. & Slotow, R., 2022. "Visioning a food system for an equitable transition towards sustainable diets—a South African perspective," Papers published in Journals (Open Access), International Water Management Institute, pages 1-14(6):328.
    12. Asmamaw Mulusew & Mingyong Hong, 2024. "A dynamic linkage between greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and agricultural productivity: evidence from Ethiopia," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-17, December.
    13. Surendran Arumugam & Ramu Govindasamy & James E. Simon & Emil Wyk & Burhan Ozkan, 2022. "Market outlet choices for African Indigenous Vegetables (AIVs): a socio-economic analysis of farmers in Zambia," Agricultural and Food Economics, Springer;Italian Society of Agricultural Economics (SIDEA), vol. 10(1), pages 1-13, December.
    14. Hillary Mugiyo & Vimbayi G. P. Chimonyo & Mbulisi Sibanda & Richard Kunz & Cecilia R. Masemola & Albert T. Modi & Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi, 2021. "Evaluation of Land Suitability Methods with Reference to Neglected and Underutilised Crop Species: A Scoping Review," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-24, January.
    15. Hamid El Bilali & Susanna Rokka & Generosa Calabrese & Teresa Borelli & Francesca Grazioli & Sheirita Reine Fanta Tietiambou & Jacques Nanema & Iro Dan Guimbo & Lawali Dambo & Bassirou Nouhou & Maria , 2024. "Conservation and Promotion of Neglected and Underutilized Crop Species in West Africa: Policy and Governance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-20, July.
    16. Roger R. B. Leakey & Marie-Louise Tientcheu Avana & Nyong Princely Awazi & Achille E. Assogbadjo & Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi & Prasad S. Hendre & Ann Degrande & Sithabile Hlahla & Leonard Manda, 2022. "The Future of Food: Domestication and Commercialization of Indigenous Food Crops in Africa over the Third Decade (2012–2021)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-75, February.
    17. Abel Chemura & Dumisani Kutywayo & Danisile Hikwa & Christoph Gornott, 2022. "Climate change and cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott) production: assessing impacts and potential adaptation strategies in Zimbabwe," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 27(6), pages 1-20, August.
    18. Shahzad Ali & Muhammad Umair & Tyan Alice Makanda & Siqi Shi & Shaik Althaf Hussain & Jian Ni, 2024. "Modeling Current and Future Potential Land Distribution Dynamics of Wheat, Rice, and Maize under Climate Change Scenarios Using MaxEnt," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-26, July.
    19. Christine Wamuyu Mwangi & Josiah Ateka & Robert Mbeche & Luke Oyugi & Elijah Ateka, 2022. "Comparing farmers’ willingness to pay with costs of clean sweet potato seed multiplication in Kenya," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 14(5), pages 1279-1293, October.
    20. Charlie Mbosso & Basile Boulay & Stefano Padulosi & Gennifer Meldrum & Youssoufa Mohamadou & Aminata Berthe Niang & Harouna Coulibaly & Yara Koreissi & Amadou Sidibé, 2020. "Fonio and Bambara Groundnut Value Chains in Mali: Issues, Needs, and Opportunities for Their Sustainable Promotion," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-19, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:4:p:2269-:d:502255. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.