DOI: 10.36347/sajb.2015.v03i09.008

Pages: 774-781

Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea) is an indigenous grain legume that is adapted to a wide range of conditions and it is mainly grown by subsistence women farmers on a small scale, in pure culture without improved techniques. Bambara groundnut ranks third amongst tropical grain legumes in terms of production and consumption after groundnut (Arachis hypognea) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata Walp.). The valorization of this culture is one of the best alternatives to ensure food security for populations facing declining production of food crops such as millet, sorghum or wheat. To achieve this goal, a better knowledge of the genetic diversity of this culture is more than necessary. The objective of this study was to investigate the agro-morphological characteristics of fourteen (14) Bambara groundnut morphotypes collected from the accessions that originated from Niger. The study was conducted on an experimental plot at Tara (Gaya Region) in the Sudanese agro-climatic area of the country. The trial was set up according to a randomized complete block design with four replications. Eighteen parameters were used to identify the morphotypes. The descriptive statistical analysis showed that the coefficients of variation ranging from 0% (color of the terminal leaflet, Shape of the terminal leaflet, Number of flower per flower stalk and Number of stem per plant) to 59.6% (number of pods per plant). Significantly higher values were observed (CV> 20%) to seven (7) of eighteen (18) analyzed parameters.