Morphological Characterization and Genetic Variability among Bambara Groundnut (Vigna subterranean L.Verdc.) Accessions of Ghana

Abstract

Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranean L. Verdc.) is an indigenous African crop cultivated for the subterranean pod that is rich in protein. Yield of Bambara groundnut in Ghana is variable and unpredictable. The current study was undertaken to morphologically characterize and estimate the extent of genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance among 25 Bambara groundnut accessions collected from major growing areas in Ghana. The experiment was laid in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The accessions differed significantly (p<0.01) in number of days to emergence, 100 seeds weight, biological yield, harvest index, number of pods with two seeds per plant, number of pods per plant, economic yield and yield per plot. The genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) values were near to phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) values for economic yield, harvest index, shelling percentage, number of pods with two seeds per plant, number of pods per plant, economic yield, percentage germination, number of days to emerge, and yield per plot, that indicates high contribution of genotypic effect for phenotypic expression of these characters. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as percentage of the mean was obtained for economic yield, harvest index, number of pods with two seeds per plant, number of pods per plant, percentage germination, number of days to emergence, and yield per plot; reflecting the presence of additive gene action for the expression of these traits. The presence of genetic variability among accessions, heritability of the traits and the additive gene action for their expression shows the possibility to improve Bambara groundnut through selection.