Nutritional Variation on Sequentially Harvested Shoots and Fruits of Landraces.

(Molina) Standley, a member of the Cucurbitaceae family, is valued for its medicinal and nutritive properties. The nutrient status of sequentially harvested shoots and fruits at various growth stages in has not been documented to date. This study aimed to compare the nutritional status of landrace shoots and fruits harvested at different maturity stages.

Phytochemical composition of fruits from KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo, South Africa.

(Molina) Standley is a food and medicinal source with anti-proliferative, anti-fertility, anti-HIV and anti-cancerous properties. The current study investigated the phytochemical constituents of L. fruits using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

Assessing Genetic Variation among Lam. Morphotypes Using Simple Sequence Repeat Markers.

Lam., commonly known as green monkey orange, is a highly valued indigenous fruit tree in South Africa with potential for domestication and commercialization. However, no study has reported on the molecular diversity of morphotypes.

Variation in Shoot, Peduncle and Fruit Growth of Landraces.

(Molina) Standley is a prominent food source as almost all its plant parts are edible. However, no studies have recorded the changes in shoots, peduncles and fruits during its growth. Hence, this study aimed to record changes in shoot traits and relate the peduncle to the fruit traits of landraces across different growth stages.

Morpho-Agronomic Evaluation of Landraces and Their F Populations.

Lagenaria siceraria is one of the most important cucurbitaceous vegetables due to its prolific bearing habit, its edibility as a cooked vegetable, and its low cost of cultivation. The objective of this study was to evaluate variation in the morpho-agronomic traits among selected landraces and their F1 populations. The landraces were crossed based on the North Carolina II genetic design to develop F1 populations.

The use of African traditional medicines amongst Zulu women during childbearing in northern KwaZulu-Natal.

In Africa, some women are still heavily depending on traditional medicine during childbearing to maintain healthy pregnancy, postpartum recovery and for infant care. This study was designed to assess the prevalence of traditional medicine use and associated factors of its use during childbearing. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and individual interviews were conducted with 140 women.

Traditional food taboos and practices during pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and infant care of Zulu women in northern KwaZulu-Natal.

Background: Traditional practices and beliefs influence and support the behavior of women during pregnancy and childbirth in different parts of the world. Not much research has been conducted to examine whether and how cultural traditions continue to shape maternity experiences of Zulu women. The aim of this study is to establish the extent at which women in certain rural communities adhere to traditional food taboos and practices during pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and infants feeding, in comparison to what is recommended by health care workers.

Response of Leafy Vegetable to Cadmium in the Soil.

, a leafy vegetable with high nutrient content, is normally collected from the wild, in areas that are prone to cadmium (Cd) toxicity. However, studies on how Cd accumulation affects vegetative and reproductive traits of leafy vegetables in South Africa are limited. Therefore, this study tested the effect of Cd accumulation on morphological traits.