Prospects for improvement of Plectranthus edulis (Vatke) Agnew: A high potential food security crop

Abstract

Plectranthus edulis (Vatke) Agnew is a tuber crop originated and cultivated in Ethiopia for food and medicinal uses. It has higher quality nutrient composition than other tuber crops. The cultivation of P. edulis is under threat because of introduction of exotic species, land use change, habitat destruction, population pressure, selection of only few local varieties by farmers and climate change. Although P. edulis is a high potential food security crop, there is no any improved variety as there has been very little research on the crop. This lack of research attention including absence of improved varieties and lack of conservation strategy may lead to significant genetic erosion of this crop. Previous studies of P. edulis include documentation of indigenous knowledge, analysis of nutritional composition and the use of its starch in drug formulation, traditional cultivation practices, micropropagation, in vitro regeneration, and morphological and molecular genetic diversity. However, more extensive research in all aspects is required for its improvement, use and conservation. Therefore, it is imperative to review the research results of this crop for the research community. This article reviewed research findings of this crop and presents it in a comprehensive way so that the readers will get ample information and can refer original research findings for the details.