Cyanogenic Plants Observed in Sokoine University Agriculture Farm, Morogoro, Eastern Tanzania

Abstract

Identification of plants with cyanogenic potential and determination of their cyanogen content qualitatively and quantitatively was carried out in Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA farm. The two studies involved field survey to identify the presence of these plants in the farm where livestock graze. The plants identified were Cassava plant, Cynodon plectostachyus, Cynodon dactylon, Sorghum spp, Zea mays, Eucalyptus spp, Acacia spp and bamboo plant. Some leaves, seeds, cassava tubers and their peels were collected for cyanide analysis in qualitative and quantitative scales using picrate paper and isonicotinate 1, 3- dimethyl barbiturate methods respectively. All of the identified plants proved to contain cyanogenic glycosides except the Acacia spp and bamboo plant. With these results it is concluded that plants with cyanogenic potential exist in SUA area.  Under  normal  conditions they are not hazardous but under certain conditions such as drought and rapid growth in early rains, they become potentially cyanogenic,  The  analysis  of  cyanide  in  the  leaves  needs  further  investigation  in order  to provide better  methods  which  will give accurate results