Assessing the Potential of an Underutilized Crop – A Case Study Using Bambara Groundnut

Abstract

Using experience with bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea), this paper examines how local knowledge, genetic evaluation, research in fields, glasshouses and laboratories, and crop simulation modelling might be linked within a methodological framework to assess rapidly the potential of any underutilized crop. The approach described is retrospective in that each activity was not clearly defined and structured at the outset. However, the experience gained may help to establish a methodology by which growers, researchers and international agencies can integrate their knowledge and understanding of any particular underutilized crop and apply similar principles to accelerate the acquisition of knowledge on other underutilized species. The use of a methodological framework provides a basis for activities that maximize knowledge, minimize duplication of effort, identify priority areas for further research and dissemination, and derive general principles for application across underutilized crops in general. It also allows policy makers and planners to make comparative decisions on the nutritional, economic and research importance of different underutilized and more-favoured species. In particular, the incorporation of a generic crop simulation model within the methodological framework may assist growers, extension agencies and scientists to refine general recommendations for any particular crop to local conditions. Also, the incorporation of information gathered from the field, laboratory or market can be used to update rapidly the predictive capacity of the model for each crop.

Productivity and residual benefits of grain legumes to sorghum under semi-arid conditions in southwestern Zimbabwe

“…Bambara groundnut is an underutilized and largely unimproved crop that has received little attention from breeding programmes (Azam-Ali et al 2001;Giller 2001). We used seed of landraces from the local market in our study.…”

Genomic and transcriptomic approaches towards the genetic improvement of an underutilised crops: The case of Bambara groundnut

“…and groundnut (Murevanhema and Jideani, 2013). It is known to be deficient in sulphur-containing amino acids (Azam-Ali et al, 2001), but rich in lysine, leucine and glutamic acid, which makes a good complement to cerealderived amino acids (Mazahib et al, 2013) (Table 2); hence in many African countries, bambara groundnut seeds are often milled and added to wheat flour and used to make a number of baked products (Abdualrahman et al, 2012). Although, correlation between genotypes, seed colour, growing conditions and nutritional analysis has never been attempted.…”

“…Being classed as an underutilised crop, bambara groundnut faces several challenges towards its research and development. Bambara groundnut is still an underutilised crop mainly because (i) it currently has limited economic potential outside its areas of cultivation (Azam-Ali et al, 2001); (ii) lack of appropriate processing techniques to overcome hard-to-cook effects (Mazahib et al,2013); (iii) absence of functioning value chains (Hillocks et al, 2012); (iv) there is very little information and knowledge base on neglected plant species in terms genome information and germplasm collection (Azam-Ali et al, 2001); (vi) biological issues such as photoperiod sensitivity to reproductive development and pod-filling, which effects the geographical range/time of planting and yield stability; and (vii) a lack of mechanisation for crop mechanisation (e.g., seed sowing) as well as machinery for post-harvest (e.g., pod-shelling). Furthermore, bambara groundnut is still grown as landraces and its yield can be unstable and unpredictable at different geographical regions.…”

“…This review also highlights how some recent technologies and approaches used for major crop research, can be translated into use in research of minor crops, such as bambara groundnut. Previous reviews on genetic improvement of bambara groundnut using resources from major species has focused mainly on the overview breeding objectives and aims Other reviews published on bambara groundnut focus mainly on (i) conservation and improvement (Heller, 1997); (ii) production (Mkandawire, 2007); (iii) developing the potential of the crop (Azam-Ali et al, 2001); (iv) aspects of the commodity marketing of bambara groundnut (Hillocks et al, 2012); (v) breeding approaches towards the genetic improvement of bambara groundnut and (vi) genetic diversity analysis of bambara groundnut .…”

Ribosomal DNA variation in landraces of bambara groundnut

“…As a preferred food crop to many in Africa, it is a good *Corresponding author. Email: echo2pwizzy@yahoo.com supplement to cereal based diet and nutritionally superior to other grain legumes (Azam-Ali et al, 2001). Bambara groundnut is commonly consumed together with cereals because it contains sufficient amount of lysine which is lacking in cereals.…”