ABSTRACT
The present study seeks to phenotypically evaluate Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea[L.] Verdc.) seeds. A total of 10 V. subterranea accessions were collected from the gene bank of the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture including TVSu-359, TVSu-2104, TVSu-47, TVSu-2105, TVSu-156, TVSu-593, TVSu-2096, TVSu-275, TVSu-146, and TVSu-318. The seeds were evaluated for phenotypic uniqueness, and diversity based on standard morphological characters as well as seed viability based on germination test. The quantitative and qualitative characters (including ratios) includes seed length, seed width, weight of seed, ratio of seed length and width, ratio of seed length and weight, ratio of seed weight and width, seed shape, seed eye, seed colour, apparent seed veining, seed texture, testa colour, seed coat patterns, seed coat darker colour, seed coat lighter colour and brilliance of seed. Analysis of variance conducted on the quantitative characters revealed significant variations (at P<0.05) in the Bambara seeds. More so, multivariate analysis using principal component analysis and non-metric dimensional scaling revealed clear cut pattern within and between the Bambara groundnut seeds. The result was further corroborated by the clustering-based dendrogram using Euclidean similarity measures. Future work should focus on field trials of these accessions to further highlight traits that could be vital for breeding and conservation efforts.
