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The quantitative, qualitative, and economic losses of vegetables in various regions in the world Source: Kitinoja et al. (2018).
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Achieving zero hunger in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA) without minimizing postharvest losses of agricultural products is impossible. Therefore, a holistic approach is vital to end hunger, simultaneously improving food security, diversity, and livelihoods. This review focuses on the African nightshades (ANS) Solanum spp. contribution to improving food an...
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... F, supplementary table s3).Low whole grain intake demonstrated a declining burden in high-income regions such as North America and Australia (AAPC from -2.32% to -1.40%), while increasing trends persisted in Latin America, the Middle East, and sub-Saharan Africa (AAPC between 0.60% and 2.70%) (Fig. 1G-I,Specific Dietary Risk Factors and Their Associations with Cancer TypesIn 2021, poor dietary practices remained major contributors to cancer-related DALYs globally. For instance, high red meat consumption was associated with a breast cancer burden of28.37 DALYs (95% CI: -0.0092 to 60.54). ...
Cancer remains a leading global cause of death, with its burden increasingly shaped by demographic shifts and dietary factors. This study utilized the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 database to evaluate cancer burdens attributable to dietary risks from 1990 to 2021, accounting for differences by age, gender, region, and socioeconomic level, and projected trends through 2050 using a Bayesian Age-Period-Cohort model. The global disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) attributable to dietary risks declined from 302.48 to 189.62 per 100,000 population (AAPC: −1.49%) over three decades, yet disparities remain prominent across Socio-Demographic Index (SDI) regions. High-SDI countries, such as Luxembourg, achieved substantial reductions, while low-SDI nations like Lesotho and Zimbabwe experienced rising burdens, driven by inadequate dietary quality and limited health resources. Key dietary risks, including low intake of whole grains, milk, and red meat, demonstrated improvement in high-income countries but worsening trends in many low- and middle-income regions. Projections suggest a continued global decline in cancer burden attributable to dietary factors by 2050, with high-income regions benefiting most, while Latin America, the Caribbean, North Africa, and the Middle East may experience slower progress or transient increases. Additionally, the burden of poor dietary practices is expected to rise sharply among individuals aged 75 years and older, underscoring the compounding effects of aging populations. These findings highlight the urgent need for culturally tailored dietary interventions and evidence-based policies to address disparities, reduce cancer burdens, and improve outcomes for vulnerable populations globally.
... These crops are also adapted to climate change, for example, finger millet Luitel et al. (2019) have high market potential, for example, cashew nuts Monteiro et al. (2017) and contribution to soil conservation, for example, sweet potato and soya bean (Afzal et al., 2021;Karunakaran & Behera, 2015). Research investments considering geographic suitability could target cassava and peanuts in the West Africa region (Faye et al., 2018;Sanni et al., 2009), Marama bean in Southern Africa part (Cullis et al., 2023) as well as common bean (Katungi et al., 2010) and nightshade (Sangija et al., 2021) in East Africa. Considering under-researched crops research investments should target finger and pearl millet across the three institutions for the cereal cluster. ...
The dominance of a few staple crops (maize, rice, and wheat) in most agricultural systems hampers the application of interventions to improve food security and nutrition. Research and development attention has focused on improving the production and utilization of these crops, leaving other crops under‐researched and underutilized. Subsequently, there have been high malnutrition rates due to poor diet diversity, yet there are “opportunity crops” that remain under researched. The opportunity crops can unlock solutions to food insecurity, malnutrition, a lack of biodiversity, and indeed poor climate adaptation. The study explored diversification in agricultural systems to analyze whether reorientation of research investment to include under‐researched crops can increase nutrient gain and enhance dietary diversity. Research outputs benchmarked as the number of publications from three leading African universities, Nairobi, Pretoria, and Ghana, were related to crop diversity and nutrition of crops in five clusters: cereals, vegetables, legumes, roots and tubers, and nuts. The findings show that maize was the predominantly researched crop across the three institutions. Low research outputs were observed for pearl millet, finger millet, and yam across the three institutions: amaranth and nightshade (Pretoria), sweet potatoes (Pretoria and Ghana), Marama bean (Nairobi), and soya bean (Nairobi and Ghana). There was nutrient gain across all five clusters, particularly from under‐researched indigenous crops such as finger millet, amaranth, nightshade, yam, sweet potatoes, Marama bean, and soybean. Nutrient gain was contributed more by cereals and root and tuber crops from Pretoria, vegetables and nuts (Ghana), as well as legumes (Nairobi). The findings demonstrate that incorporating research on the least researched crops with successful integration of other research and development initiatives (policy and dissemination) can increase nutrition and improve dietary diversity. The nutrient gain will positively affect food security and nutrition, contributing to the achievement of Africa Agenda 2063, the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals, and reducing food imports. The findings can inform research investment and decision across different institutions within the African continent. Research investment targeting crops such as finger millet, amaranthus, sweet potatoes, soya beans, and cashew nuts is needed considering the nutritional contribution, climate change adaptability, market potential, and biodiversity contribution. Further analysis should explore production, socio‐economic (marketability and income generation), and environmental gains (adaptive ability to climate change) for specific crops. The development of frameworks to guide the analysis of the nature and scope of factors affecting the contribution of these crops to food security and nutrition, as well as research on specific crops considering geographic distribution and institutional involvement, is also needed.
... These crops are also adapted to climate change, for example, finger millet Luitel et al. (2019) have high market potential, for example, cashew nuts Monteiro et al. (2017) and contribution to soil conservation, for example, sweet potato and soya bean (Afzal et al., 2021;Karunakaran & Behera, 2015). Research investments considering geographic suitability could target cassava and peanuts in the West Africa region (Faye et al., 2018;Sanni et al., 2009), Marama bean in Southern Africa part (Cullis et al., 2023) as well as common bean (Katungi et al., 2010) and nightshade (Sangija et al., 2021) in East Africa. Considering under-researched crops research investments should target finger and pearl millet across the three institutions for the cereal cluster. ...
The dominance of a few staple crops (maize, rice, and wheat) in most agricultural systems hampers the application of interventions to improve food security and nutrition. Research and development attention has focused on improving the production and utilization of these crops, leaving other crops under-researched and underutilized. Subsequently, there have been high malnutrition rates due to poor diet diversity, yet there are "opportunity crops" that remain under researched. The opportunity crops can unlock solutions to food insecurity, malnutrition, a lack of biodiversity, and indeed poor climate adaptation. The study explored diversification in agricultural systems to analyze whether reorientation of research investment to include under-researched crops can increase nutrient gain and enhance dietary diversity. Research outputs benchmarked as the number of publications from three leading African universities, Nairobi, Pretoria, and Ghana, were related to crop diversity and nutrition of crops in five clusters: cereals, vegetables, leg-umes, roots and tubers, and nuts. The findings show that maize was the predominantly researched crop across the three institutions. Low research outputs were observed for pearl millet, finger millet, and yam across the three institutions: ama-ranth and nightshade (Pretoria), sweet potatoes (Pretoria and Ghana), Marama bean (Nairobi), and soya bean (Nairobi and Ghana). There was nutrient gain across all five clusters, particularly from under-researched indigenous crops such as finger millet, amaranth, nightshade, yam, sweet potatoes, Marama bean, and soybean. Nutrient gain was contributed more by cereals and root and tuber crops from Pretoria, vegetables and nuts (Ghana), as well as legumes (Nairobi). The findings demonstrate that incorporating research on the least researched crops with successful integration of other research and development initiatives (policy and dissemination) can increase nutrition and improve dietary diversity. The nutrient gain will positively affect food security and nutrition, contributing to the achievement of Africa Agenda 2063, the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals,
... Similarly, Tanzania's horticulture sector is growing at 11% per annum, surpassing its agricultural growth rate of 4%, and the country is one of the world's top 20 producers of vegetables [2]. Kenyan and Tanzanian households commonly cultivate cruciferous vegetables such as cabbages and kales [3][4][5]. Traditional African vegetables (TAVs) have also been part of the food systems of these countries for generations since they are exceptional sources of vitamins, dietary fiber, and minerals [3,6]. The most popular traditional African vegetables found in Kenya and Tanzania's urban and rural markets include amaranth (Amaranthus spp.), spider plant (Cleome gynandra), jute mallow (Corchorus olitorius), cowpea leaf (Vigna unguiculata), African nightshade (Solanum scabrum.), and African eggplant (Solanum macrocarpon) [7,8]. ...
... Kenyan and Tanzanian households commonly cultivate cruciferous vegetables such as cabbages and kales [3][4][5]. Traditional African vegetables (TAVs) have also been part of the food systems of these countries for generations since they are exceptional sources of vitamins, dietary fiber, and minerals [3,6]. The most popular traditional African vegetables found in Kenya and Tanzania's urban and rural markets include amaranth (Amaranthus spp.), spider plant (Cleome gynandra), jute mallow (Corchorus olitorius), cowpea leaf (Vigna unguiculata), African nightshade (Solanum scabrum.), and African eggplant (Solanum macrocarpon) [7,8]. ...
Crucifers and traditional African vegetables (TAVs) are important to smallholders in Kenya and Tanzania, but yield remains below potential due to pests and diseases. Agroecological production methods present a nature-based solution to pest and disease management in crucifer and TAV production. We explore the status of farmers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding agroecological-based production pest management practices. Structured and pretested questionnaires were used to collect data from 1071 vegetable farming households in Kenya and Tanzania. Using descriptive statistics, parametric, and non-parametric analysis, our study revealed that less than 20% of farmers had received training on agroecological-based practices and less than 25% were aware of most of these practices. Among those who were aware of the practices and could confirm their effectiveness less than 12% had adopted them, except for crop rotation and handpicking of pests. This study attributes the low adoption to farmers’ negative attitudes towards the practices. Nonetheless, the study further revealed that training significantly and positively influences the adoption of the practices. Therefore, we recommend that governments and other stakeholders promote targeted awareness campaigns and increase access to training on vegetable production using sustainable pest and disease management practices.
... Black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) is an indigenous leafy vegetable and a source of nutrients to many households in sub-Saharan Africa (Sangija et al., 2021). The species is a common Paek, 2020). ...
Black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) is an important indigenous leafy vegetable consumed in sub‐Saharan Africa. The species is an important source of micronutrients for medicinal purposes. A controlled experiment was conducted at the University of KwaZulu‐Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, to investigate the effect of zinc and boron applications on the growth, development, and yield of black nightshade. Each micronutrient (zinc and boron) was applied at five different concentrations, namely, 100 (T1), 200 (T2), 300 (T3), 400 (T4), and 500 (T5) ppm, including a control (T0) (distilled/high pressure liquid chromatography water spray), giving a total of six treatments. Treatments were arranged in a complete randomized design (CRD) with three replications, giving a total of 18 experimental units (pots). After 14 days of transplanting, the treatments were applied through foliar spraying three times over 24 h with an 8‐h interval between each spraying event. Data collection started 14 days after transplanting, and thereafter, measurements were taken fortnightly. At harvest (70 days after transplanting), fruit number, fresh shoot weight, dry shoot weight, root fresh mass, and root dry mass were determined. The results showed significant growth and yield differences with respect to the different concentrations of zinc and boron (p < 0.05). The application of 500 ppm of boron performed significantly better than all other treatments, viz., zinc, and control across the measured variables (p < 0.05). Therefore, it is concluded that the application of boron at 500 ppm was found to be effective in enhancing plant growth and higher fruit yield (45 fruits) of black nightshade.
... Other studies indicate that African nightshade is a source of protein, minerals, and beta-carotene which is reportedly higher than commonly consumed vegetables [10,12,29]. Other vitamins identified in African nightshade include thiamine, riboflavin, and folate [12,28]. ...
... Quercetin and kaempferol [18,28] used ALVs such as S. retroflexum L. are reportedly used to treat earache in young children [15] because the ALV contains hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties ( Table 2). V. unguiculata L. is used to treat stomach problems [15] because it possesses compounds (Coumaroyl derivatives) with anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. ...
Globally, communities experience food insecurity, highlighting a need for access to food sources that are readily available with nutritional benefits. African leafy vegetables represent a plant-based food source that is rich in nutritional content and health benefits. These vegetables can grow unattended in the wild with minimal agricultural inputs which may negatively affect the environment, highlighting the advantages of their use. However, there is still a need to investigate the nutritional and functional value of these vegetables, focusing on their advantages and limitations before they can be recommended as an alternative food source. The chapter will focus on evaluating peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and other publications to conduct a qualitative review.
... Solanum nigrum L. (black nightshade) is a short-lived perennial shrub [16] that has been used for many centuries and is probably the second most popular and distributed ALVs after Amaranthus spp. in rural and peri-urban households in Africa [17]. Nightshade has evolved and become an important part of most people's diets over the years in most communities because of their potential contribution to poverty alleviation and nutritional security [18,19]. Exploiting the potential of nightshade to address the above-mentioned challenges is important due to the anti-oxidative properties nightshade possesses that have the potential to act as a natural source for reducing cellular oxidative damage and suppression of various cancers, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases [20]. ...
... The anti-oxidative properties found in nightshade vegetables are due to the presence of a diversity of secondary metabolites such as polyphenols and ascorbic acid [21], which contributes to positive health benefits [22]. In addition to containing high contents of plant secondary metabolites, nightshade leaves are rich in micronutrients such as β-carotene, folic acid, protein, vitamins C and E, minerals (iron, calcium, and zinc), and dietary fibre [19]. Although the fruits are not edible due to the alkaloid content, they are reported to have high levels of anthocyanins and are used as a natural source of dye or ink by children [23]. ...
... In African countries, the relish of the vegetable is accompanied by the main meal which is the carbohydrates staple such as pap/porridge in South Africa commonly referred to as "vhuswa" by VhaVenda tribe, "vuswa" by VaTsonga tribe of Limpopo Province, ugali in Kenya [27] and yam/coco yam porridge in Nigeria. Due to their highly perishable nature and seasonality, most of the leaves are dried under the sun or in the shade or fermented as preservation practices to increase their shelf life [19] and to use in winter period when in scarcity. ...
In southern African countries, production of indigenous leafy vegetables is commonly practiced at home garden and/or commercial level due to their significant contribution toward eradication of hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition. Black nightshade (Solanum nigrum L.) is among African leafy vegetable (ALV) highly recognised for its pharmacological and nutritive benefits. Several research have shown that ALVs can be cultivated in the open field or greenhouses, however, little information is available on the changes of the agronomical parameters and mineral composition. The aim of the study was to compare the physiological parameters and mineral composition of nightshade grown in the open field vs. greenhouse cropping systems. The results of the study revealed high-leaf area and relative chlorophyll content in the open field conditions while plant height and the number of leaves were reportedly higher under the greenhouse system. Minerals elements such as magnesium, copper, manganese, iron, zinc, and aluminium were significantly higher in the open field cropping system, while greenhouse cultivation recorded higher sulphur and boron. Notably, no significant amount was observed in calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and sodium between open field and greenhouse system. Furthermore, a significant amount of total nitrogen was reported in the open field, however, no significant difference was observed in moisture and ash content for both cropping systems. In conclusion, black nightshade cultivated in open field provided higher leaf chlorophyll, leaf area, and trace elements compared to greenhouse cultivation while macro minerals concentration had no significant difference in both cropping systems.
... The S. nigrum complex is composed of many species with different ploidy levels, including S. nigrum (6×), Solanum scabrum (6×), Solanum villosum (4×) and S. americanum (2×). Some are regarded as weeds, but others are consumed as food and medicine in various countries 41 . Importantly, these species carry valuable genetic variation for resistance to diseases, including, but not limited to, potato late blight and bacterial wilt 25,29,31 . ...
Potato ( Solanum tuberosum ) and tomato ( Solanum lycopersicon ) crops suffer severe losses to late blight caused by the oomycete pathogen Phytophthora infestans . Solanum americanum , a relative of potato and tomato, is globally distributed and most accessions are highly blight resistant. We generated high-quality reference genomes of four S. americanum accessions, resequenced 52 accessions, and defined a pan-NLRome of S. americanum immune receptor genes. We further screened for variation in recognition of 315 P. infestans RXLR effectors in 52 S. americanum accessions. Using these genomic and phenotypic data, we cloned three NLR-encoding genes, Rpi-amr4 , R02860 and R04373 , that recognize cognate P. infestans RXLR effectors PITG_22825 ( AVRamr4 ), PITG_02860 and PITG_04373 . These genomic resources and methodologies will support efforts to engineer potatoes with durable late blight resistance and can be applied to diseases of other crops.
... For instance, the VhaVenda tribe cooks Amaranthus with pumpkin leaves (Cucurbita pepo L.), jew mallow/Bush okra (Corchorus olitorius), nightshade (Solanum nigrum L.) and blackjack (Quercus marilandica). Cooked leaves may also be dried in the shade or refrigerated and stored for consumption during off seasons [14] in winter and/or in drought periods. ...
Previously, researchers have not paid attention to indigenous African leafy vegetables such as nightshade and kale, however, amaranth species have recently gained popularity due to their adaptability to various climatic conditions and their cultivation in both open fields and hydroponics. Amaranth species are ranked among the underutilized leafy vegetables with medicinal properties, economic values, nutritional and health benefits. This study aimed to compare the growth parameters and nutritional composition of two consumed red (Amaranthus Cruentus L.) and green (Amaranthus Graecizans L.) amaranth species in South Africa, cultivated in an open field versus a greenhouse. The findings showed a high chlorophyll content and large leaf area under open field conditions on red and green species. The number of leaves and stem height were higher in the greenhouse cultivation system. In open field cultivation, minerals such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, aluminium, copper and manganese for both species were significantly higher whilst potassium, sodium, boron, sulphur were significantly higher in the greenhouse production. The sufficient total nitrogen and ash were recorded in the open field production, and no significant difference was observed between the open field and greenhouse on moisture and ash content of A. Cruentus. In conclusion, A. Cruentus and A. Graecizansn grown in an open field had higher proximate and mineral composition over the greenhouse cultivation system.
... Solanum nigrum has a worldwide distribution spanning most continents i.e. the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa (Edmonds and Chweya, 1997). It is an important nutritionally dense underutilised leafy vegetable consumed in some poor malnourished communities in South Africa (Van Rensburg et al., 2007;Dappah et al., 2021;Sangija et al., 2021). Although the poisonous compound solanine is present in the berries, it is destroyed during cooking or heating. ...
Solanum nigrum is an underutilised vegetable that accumulates high leaf nutrient levels. Although numerous micropropagation protocols are reported for its mass production, there have been no follow-on studies detailing the pollen and seed viabilities of clones or clonal genotypes. It is important to determine these viabilities in cases where the inheritance of desired traits in the F1 progenies of micropropagated clones are required. In the present study, two high Fe-accumulating S. nigrum genotypes (G6 and G15) identified in a previous investigation were clonally propagated and acclimatised until sexual maturity using an established protocol. Following flower and fruit production, viability tests were performed on clonal pollen (Lugol's staining) and seeds (tetrazolium chloride test) in addition to determinations of berry and seed numbers, seed set, seed length, weight, germination and ultrastructure. A wild type (WT) population was used as the control. Compared to the WT population (82%, 75%, 200, 11,400, 57 and 51%), the G6 and G15 clones, respectively, resulted in significantly lower pollen (51 and 39%) and seed viabilities (4 and 17%), berry (23 and 16) and seed (162 and 116) numbers, seed sets (7 and 7) and germination (7 and 8%). Microscopic analyses revealed normal, abnormal, viable and nonviable pollen and seeds for G6, G15 and the WT in addition to abnormal or damaged embryonic and endosperm tissues for both clonal genotypes. Micropropagation of S. nigrum genotypes decreases their clonal pollen and seed viabilities, berry and seed production, and germination success of their F1 progenies.
