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.

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.

Table of the 10 most abundant bee species in fields of a) conventional cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) and b) sesame (Sesamum indicum) and their abundances in savanna sites in all three study areas. Data were collected with pantraps for a period of 21 months in 2014 and 2015 (bee sampling in the crop fields only during two rainy seasons from June to October when crops were in bloom) in a total of 12 savanna sites, 11 cotton fields, 11 sesame fields of ca. 1ha each in the south of Burkina Faso, West-Africa.

Raw field data from the WASCAL core research sites Dano, Bontioli, Nazinga, and Bolgatanga on dendrometric parameters of the woody vegetation within sampling plots, and observed basic ecological parameters of the sampling sites located in different savanna formations.

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.

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

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.

Raw field data from the WASCAL core research sites Dano, Bontioli, Nazinga, and Bolgatanga on vegetation composition, dendrometric parameters of the woody vegetation within the sampling plots, and observed basic ecological parameters of the sampling sites located in different savanna formations.

Total abundance of bee species in savannas of low (Nazinga area), medium (Bontioli area) and high (Dano area) disturbance intensity in the south of Burkina Faso. Data were collected with pan traps for a period of 21 months in 2014 and 2015 covering dry and rainy seasons of both years. Bees were sampled at 12 savanna sites and 11 nearby cotton fields and 11 sesame fields of ca. 1ha each. Bee sampling in the crop fields was carried out only during the rainy seasons from June to September (cotton: 2014 and 2015; sesame: 2015) when crops were in bloom.

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.