Morphological Characterization, Seed Physiology, Antimicrobial Properties, and Habitat Suitability of Two Plant Genera (Ziziphus Mill. and Balanites Del.) Co-Occurring in Semi-Arid Ecosystems of Ethiopia
| dc.contributor.advisor | Tigist Wondimu | |
| dc.contributor.author | Mohammed Adefa | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-08-18T00:22:21Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-08-18T00:22:21Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2024-07 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Despite their multipurpose nature and wide distribution, there is a lack of understanding regarding the morphological variability, seed physiology, antimicrobial properties, and habitat suitability of Ziziphus Mill. and Balanites Del. in Ethiopia. This study aimed to investigate the inter- and intra-specific morphological variability, seed viability and germination behavior, antibacterial properties, and habitat suitability of Ziziphus and Balanites in Ethiopia. To analyze the inter- and intra-specific morphological variability, the bark color, leaf shape, fruit shape, and spine condition were examined for specimens of Balanites (n = 123) and Ziziphus (n = 130). The data was analyzed using hierarchical clustering (HC) and redundancy analysis (RDA) ordination. To evaluate the effects of pre-sowing treatments on the seed germination of Ziziphus (i.e., Z. spina-christi and Z. mucronata) and Balanites (B. aegyptiaca and B. rotundifolia), seeds were collected from many parts of Ethiopia, subjected to eight pre-sowing treatments, and planted in pots arranged in a CRD. The data was analyzed using germination percentage (GP), daily germination percentage (GD), germination time (GT), germination index (GI), and ANOVA at p≤0.05. To examine the antibacterial properties of Ziziphus and Balanites, ethanol and methanol extracts of leaves of Z. spina-christi, Z. mucronata, B. aegyptiaca, and B. rotundifolia were tested against selected pathogenic bacteria using agar-well and broth serial macro-dilution. To predict the habitat suitability of Ziziphus and Balanites current and future (i.e., SSP2-45 and SSP5-85 of HadGEM3-GC31-LL) climates, ensemble SDMs were computed in R 4.1.3 using occurrence points of Z. spina-christi (n = 159), Z. mucronata (n = 101), B. aegyptiaca (n = 224), and B. rotundifolia (n = 80), and bioclimatic, soil, and landscape variables. HC indicated five and eight population clusters (morphotypes) of Balanites and Ziziphus, respectively. RDA indicated that the effects of Annual Mean Temperature (Bio01), Isothermality (Bio03), and Precipitation of Wettest Quarter (Bio16) on morphological variability s of Balanites are highly significant (p≤0.001). Similarly, the effects of Bio03, Temperature Seasonality (Bio04), Min Temperature of Coldest Month (Bio06), Mean Temperature of Warmest Quarter (Bio10), Precipitation of Driest Month (Bio14), and Precipitation of Driest Quarter (Bio17) are highly significant (p≤0.001) on the morphological variability of Ziziphus. One-way ANOVA for Balanites (i.e., B. aegyptiaca and B. rotundifolia) and two-way ANOVA for Ziziphus (i.e., Z. spina-christi and Z. mucronata) showed the presence of significant differences in GP, GD, GT, and GI among treatment groups at p<0.05. The methanol extract of Z. spina-christi showed potency against E. faecalis, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, E. coli, S. typhimurium, and K. pneumoniae. The ethanol and methanol extracts of B. aegyptiaca showed inhibitory activities against K. pneumoniae and S. typhimurium. The ensemble SDM under the current climate predicted that about 8.6% of the areas of Ethiopia are suitable for Z. spina-christi, while 8.2% and 9.4% will be suitable under SSP2-45 and SSP5-85, respectively, in the years 2061–2080. Similarly, the ensemble SDM under the current climate predicts that about 6.4% of the areas of Ethiopia are suitable for Z. mucronata, while 5.5% and 5.7% will be suitable under SSP2-45 and SSP5-85, respectively. The ensemble SDM under the current climate predicted that about 8.6% of the areas of Ethiopia are suitable for B. aegyptiaca, while 8.8% and 9.5% will be suitable under SSP2-45 and SSP5-85, respectively. The ensemble SDM under the current climate predicted that about 3.1% of the areas of Ethiopia are suitable for B. rotundifolia, while 2.2% and 3.8% will be suitable under SSP2-45 and SSP5-85. The findings of this study would contribute to the selection and breeding, propagation, conservation, and sustainable use of Ziziphus and Balanites in Ethiopia. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/6978 | |
| dc.language.iso | en_US | |
| dc.publisher | Addis Ababa University | |
| dc.subject | Antimicrobial Properties | |
| dc.subject | Balanites Del. | |
| dc.subject | Leave Extracts | |
| dc.subject | Morphological Variability | |
| dc.subject | Species Distribution Models | |
| dc.subject | Seed Germination | |
| dc.subject | Ziziphus Mill | |
| dc.title | Morphological Characterization, Seed Physiology, Antimicrobial Properties, and Habitat Suitability of Two Plant Genera (Ziziphus Mill. and Balanites Del.) Co-Occurring in Semi-Arid Ecosystems of Ethiopia | |
| dc.type | Thesis |