Impact of Climate Change on the Phenology of Chrysophyllum Albidum (G.Don) Growing in Ihiala, Anambra State, South East, Nigeria: Original Research Article

Plant Phenology refers to the study of the timing of the key life cycle events in plants (phenophases) in relation to environmental cues (climate). Data on most phenological patterns of most tropical fruit trees, especially in the South-East, Nigeria, is still very scanty. The aim of this study was to determine the sequence in the seasonal appearance of phenophases in Chrysophyllum albidum (G.Don), to obtain and document its phenological data and provide baseline information on its phenology, to evaluate the effects of the prevailing seasons in the area on the appearance of its phenophases; and to determine how stable or resilient the phenophases of the species has been in the face of changing climate. The study was conducted with perennial fruit tree species in Ihiala, South-East, Nigeria, with a tropical climate. The initiation and completion of different phenophases of the tree, such as budding, leafing, flowering, fruiting and ripening were recorded at 2-week intervals for 3 years. The combination of the principal growth stages and the secondary growth stages produces 2-digit codes, which were used to delineate the time-dependent phenophases. The results revealed that C. albidum show cyclical and seasonal appearances of the phenophases observed in the course of the year and that reproductive phenophases follow the vegetative phenophases in quick succession. There is an increasing overlap of the vegetative and reproductive phenophases. The study also showed that the two major seasons in Ihiala (rainy and dry seasons) influence the appearance of phenophases in C. albidum, hence a change in phenology in C. albidum was recorded. The phenology of C. albidum may not be stable as a result of the influence of changing seasons. The study has equally revealed the phenological data and baseline information on the phenology of C. albidum which will in the future serve as a yardstick to track climate change in the area