TITLE:
Evaluation of Nutritional Composition of Two Fonio Ecotypes Grown in Casamance (Sénégal)
AUTHORS:
Amadou Bouye Seydi, Amadou Diop
KEYWORDS:
Biochemical Composition, Ecotypes, Fonio, Casamance
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Applied Sciences,
Vol.14 No.2,
February
29,
2024
ABSTRACT: In order to better understand the cultural route,
biochemical and nutritional composition of two ecotypes of fonio, a study was
carried out in village of Tambananing located approximately 7 km from Sédhiou.
The objective of studies was to determine nutritional composition of two
ecotypes of fonio: the first called momo in short-cycle mandinka (75 - 90 days) and the other called medium-cycle dibong (90 - 110 days). For this, samples of two ecotypes were
collected in an experimental field which was split into two equal parts, one
sown with the momo ecotype and the other with the dibong ecotype.
The nutritional composition (sugars, fats, proteins, minerals, ash, etc.) and
the physicochemical properties (pH, humidity, water activity, color, etc.) of
fonio’s were determined by appropriate physicochemical methods. The two
ecotypes exhibited quite similar physicochemical properties. The levels of
biochemical compounds were relatively close with protein contents of 7.05 ±
0.06 mg/100g for the momo ecotype and of 8.02 ± 0.04 mg/100g for the dibong ecotype, in carbohydrates (76.37 ± 1.2 mg/100g for momo and 78.7 ±
1.5 mg/100g for dibong) and in fat (2.92 ± 0.05 mg/100g for momo and 3.14 ± 0.004 mg/100g for dibong). Identical mineral element contents
were found except for iron, an element for which the contents were 10.80 ±
0.008 mg/100g for the momo ecotype and 99.59 ± 0.005 mg/100g for the dibong ecotype. Thus, two ecotypes of fonio present a fairly interesting
nutritional composition and their consumption deserves to be popularized and
could contribute effectively to fight against the problems of malnutrition of
certain vulnerable groups.