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Abstract.
Leucaena belongs to
family Leguminasae (Mimosolidae). It is suited to sea coast, but can
be grown in dry or wet districts. Sometimes it becomes weed in
cultivated areas. It has a number of common names; leucaena;
ipilipil, lamtora; guaje; yaje; vaxin; lead tree; koahaole; hawaii and
lamtore. Leucaena has number of varieties, more than 55 but only know
species are: leucaena Collinsii; Leucaena Diversilfolia; Leucaena
Esculenta; Leucana Lanccolate; Leucaena Leucaena leucocephala;
Leucaena Macrophylla; Leucaena Pulverulenta; Leucaena retusa and
Leucaena shannoni.
Leucaena leaflets
contain 25-30% protein, and rich source of carotene, vitamin,
pro-vitamin A. Caloric value is 4,200-4,600 Kc1/Kg. It has a large
number of uses which include; dye extracted, used in children feed to
produce more yellowing glactomannan derived from leucaena seeds
contain 25% yields of gum (mucilage). Tree helps in Honey been
colonies formation. Its use in cattle produces extra ordinary weight
gain. Wood is used for timber, firewood, charcoal, and its roots help
in nitrogen fixation in the soil. It improves soil rebuilding tilth
and surface texture, reduces run-off.
Leucaena contain
Mimosine an un-known amino acid, so if the ruminant consume leucaena
in excess they show the sign of loosing hair, and extreme condition
shows goiter. Leucaena is highly resistant to pest and diseases, but
is attacked by large number of insects like twing borers, chewing
insects, mealy bug, nipacococcus vastator, and rat, rabbit, deer,
monkey and snail. The most serious disease is fungal gummosins, the
casual agents Fusarium Semtectum and Bark canker caused by
phytophatora dreschleri are reported. It is based on genetically
evolved new cultivars having promising and desirable characteristic.
The future species may have more chromosomes. Leucaena Diversifolia
and Leucaena Shannoni and their hybrid crosses with leucaena resulted
in to disease resistant cultivars :
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Silviculture and
leucaena wood, help in controlling reforestation, bexcause of its
faxst growing abilities.
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he
appropriate rumen bacterial could be intorduced
in to the ruminants so they will not suffer nutrietional
disabilities after feeding on high level of leucana.
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