The floral anthesis of flowers of Moringa oleifera were carried out in 2014 in Dano, Burkina Faso. The flowers are open for several days and proteandrous, e.g. the anthers release pollen before the stigma (female part) is receptive. After the antheres withered, the stylus grows out of the flower and the stigma becomes receptive. This dichogamy prevents self-pollination of the flowers.

Moringa oleifera is a multi purpose tree rich in vitamins and can serve as valuable nutrition source for the local population in West-Africa. Furthermore, leaves are being dried and processed to powder which is sold at local markets. The seeds can be eaten fresh or used for oil extraction. This study investigated the herbivores on Moringa oleifera, feeding on leaves and fruits.

Fruit set of conventional upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) was highest after out cross pollination than after spontaneous selfing (pollinator exclusion).

The number of damaged (= non intact, not fully developed or aborted seeds, that are not viable) was significantly increased after spontaneous self-pollination than after cross pollination. This is a clear sign of inbreeding depression in the lack of pollinators and economically relevant, since the seeds are used for the next year sowing season. In a nutshell: self-pollination decreases seed quality of cotton.

To investigate the breeding system of plant species, Amos Dafni provided different pollination treatments. Using these one can disentangle if a species is self-compatible or depending on outcross-pollination. Furthermore, one can get initial sights of inbreeding depression and if a plant species is pollen or resource limited. Emasculation means cutting the anthers (carrying the pollen grains). Bagging is to be done by mesh nets or perforated pollen proof pollination bags. Hand-pollination can be carried out by using paint brushes or tooth picks.

Moringa oleifera is a multi purpose tree rich in vitamins and can serve as valuable nutrition source for the local population in West-Africa. Furthermore, leaves are being dried and processed to powder which is sold at local markets. The seeds can be eaten fresh or used for oil extraction. We observed 3 different criteria of fruit damage (dried up - ligneous; mould - with fungi; with herbivory damage). Mould and fruits with herbivory damage did not differ significantly from intact fruits regarding the number of damaged seeds. However, dried up fruits, appearing as ligneous, had a significantly higher number of damaged seeds, which can not be used for further processing or consumption. The reason is not yet clear, but we assume stagnant moisture to be the reason for the dried up fruits and aborted seeds (the plants choke on the wetness). Cultivation of Moringa should be carried out on well drained soil.

This vegetation data comes from surveys conducted in November 2015 on savanna plots in Burkina Faso. Plots are distributed in three areas: the municipality of Dano, the regional reserve of Bontioli, and the national reserve of Nazinga. A total of 28 plots were surveyed.

Taxonomic list of Hymenoptera visitor species to the flowers of conventional upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum, Malvaceae) and sesame (Sesamum indicum, Pedaliaceae), their number of visits and their efficiency in terms of fruit set. Crosses indicate the initiation of fruit set, dashes no successful pollination. Flower visitors were recorded on 300 flowers per crop species, at three sites in the south of Burkina Faso, West-Africa during the flowering season in summer 2015. Scoliidae are scoliid wasps; Apidae are long-tongued bees including honeybees, small and large carpenter bees and stingless bees; Halictidae are sweat bees and Megachilidae mason bees.

Insect visitor observations were carried out for 180hours in the dry and rainy season 2014 in Dano, Burkina Faso. Flower visitors were considered as nectar thieves when neither touching anthers nor stigma of the flowers during the visit and thus only robbing nectar without pollination. Since Moringa oleifera originates from the Himalaya region, hardls anything is known about its reproductive ecology in West Africa.

Cotton phenology time series (primary/raw) from central field experiment plots in the main research sites of the WASCAL Core Research Program, 2013. Function of crop rotation and residue mangement, tillage and N fertilization The data is captured at field plot level.