Bambara Groundnut (Vigna subterranea L. Verdc): A Crop for the New Millennium, Its Genetic Diversity, and Improvements to Mitigate Future Food and Nutritional Challenges

Abstract

The world’s food and agricultural schemes have gradually fallen into an alarming state due to challenges such as high population birth rates, diverse agro-climatic zones, a lack of measures to counter global warming, severe practices of sole-culture cultivation, and asset reduction. A very high dependency on limited staple food crops is associated with repetitious diets, deprivation of food, and shortages of trace minerals, which often causes dietary sicknesses. To ensure nutritious diets worldwide, a real-world and justifiable scheme is provided to garner extra attention towards variation in both agriculture/farming approaches and food habits. The EAT-Lancet statement emphasized an increase in agri-based diets as a way of attaining global generational health. Enlarging neglected crops with plenty of genomic stocks and potentially profitable attributes is a solution that could address food and nutritional security concerns. Bambara groundnut is one such imperative and neglected legume crop that contributes positively to improving global food and nutrient safety. As a “complete food”, this crop has recently been treated as a new millennium crop, and furthermore, it is more adjusted to poor soil and climatic conditions than other dominant crops. Bambara groundnut is a repository of vital nutrients that provides carbohydrates, crucial amino acids, proteins, and energy as well as minerals and vitamins to developed and low-income countries where animal proteins are not readily available. This review explores the potential of Bambara groundnut in ensuring food and nutrient security; its variables, production, processing, nutrient values, role in reducing the nutritional gap, and diverse uses; and attempts in improving its traits. To strengthen food production, an agricultural revolution is required for underutilized crop species to feed the ever-expanding population in the world. Henceforth, advanced plant-breeding procedures, such as next-generation breeding techniques, various molecular tools, TILLING, Eco-TILLING, proteomics, genomics, and transcriptomics (which has been used for major crops), also need to be practiced to intensify production. To boost productivity and to feed the most starved and malnourished populations of the world, it is assumed that the application of modern techniques will play a vital role in the advancement of the underutilized Bambara groundnut.

Unveiling Genetic Diversity, Characterization, and Selection of Bambara Groundnut (Vigna subterranea L. Verdc) Genotypes Reflecting Yield and Yield Components in Tropical Malaysia

“…Despite more diverse nutritional sources, breeding techniques for Bambara groundnut are not as advanced as those for peanut, chickpea, and soybean [ 6 ]. One of the reasons for Bambara groundnut's low yield is the usage of local landraces [ 7 ]. Khaliqi et al [ 8 ] reported that the yield of Bambara groundnut varied from 0.97 ton/ha to 3.12 ton/ha, though it has the ability to produce a higher yield up to 4 to 5 ton/ha under optimum conditions and standard cultivation procedures [ 9 , 10 ].…”

Genetic Analysis and Selection Criteria in Bambara Groundnut Accessions Based Yield Performance

“…Therefore, sufficient variability within the crop of interest is the main resource required to achieve a successful breeding program target for crop improvement [1]. Furthermore, sufficient knowledge of genetic variability among germplasm has important implications for the utilization, management and conservation of germplasm resources [2]. The Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.)…”

“…is an underutilized crop with the potential to help meet global food requirements as an alternative food with a high nutritional content [1]. However, due to unimproved cultivars and poor cultural practices, the crop yield remained very low [2]. This crop is native to Sub-Saharan Africa, and it plays a socioeconomic role in semi-arid regions of the continent [3].…”

Improving Bambara Groundnut Production: Insight Into the Role of Omics and Beneficial Bacteria

“…Different preparations from BGN have been shown to have medicinal properties ( Murevanhema and Jideani, 2013 ). Preparations from the leaves have been applied to infected wounds and abscess; extracts from the leaves have been applied to the eyes to cure epilepsy ( Khan et al, 2021 ) while leaf extracts pounded with that of Lanfana trifolia L. have been used as an insecticide to wash livestock ( Mkandawire, 2007 ). Venereal disease is treated by the Igbo tribe in Nigeria using the plant ( Oluwole et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Water from boiled maize and BGN when drunk is used by the Luo tribe of Kenya to treat diarrhea while in Botswana, the black seeded landraces have been used to treat impotency ( Udeh et al, 2020 ). In South Africa, nausea was controlled in pregnant women who chewed and swallowed the seed ( Jideani and Jideani, 2021a ; Khan et al, 2021 ). In Ghana, pounded Bambara seeds have been used to treat skin rashes and the powder mixed with the meat of guinea fowl have been used as a treatment against diarrhea in children ( Akpalu et al, 2013 ).…”