Towards Genetic Improvement of Bambara Groundnut [Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.]

Bambara groundnut is a drought-resistant crop grown in marginal, lowinput environments. Despite the absence of dedicated research efforts, it remains one of the most im portant legume crops in Africa, and is essentially grown for hum an consumption. The seed makes a balanced food, as it contains sufficient quantities of protein, carbohydrates and lipid [1,2]. All cultivated bambara groundnut genotypes are landraces that have evolved directly from their wild relatives. They have adapted to hostile environments and are popular among farmers for their yield stability under different environmental conditions. In their study of the evolution of bambara groundnut as a crop, Doku and Karikari [3] concluded that the domesticated bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea var. subterranea) originated from its wild relative (Vigna subterranea var. spontanea). These domesticated forms of bambara groundnut were developed from their wild relatives in response to selection under cultivation through a series of gradual changes that are still taking place. One example of such adaptation is a change from a spreading/trailing to bunch growth habit. Doku and Karikari [3] also reported reductions in leaflet area, shell thickness and days to flowering as a result of domestication.