Potential of genomics for the improvement of underutilized legumes in sub‐Saharan Africa

Abstract

Underutilized, or orphan legumes, are widely distributed across farming landscapes in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA) but often have low yields and do not fulfill their potential due to very limited research, breeding, development, marketing, and awareness of their benefits. These advantages include nutritional quality and climate resilience. In this review, we focus on Bambara groundnut, African yam bean, and Kersting's groundnut. Knowledge of the challenges and rewards of exploiting them will provide opportunities for concerted approaches to their revival and contribution to future global food systems, especially in the context of climate change. This review identifies the institutional and noninstitutional challenges, the constraints, the prospects, and the rewards that can be derived from exploiting orphan legumes in SSA. The genetic resources center (GRC) of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) conserves a diverse collection of about 2500 accessions of these crops with the majority from Africa. In this review, we focus on the ex situ conservation of the genetic resources of these indigenous African legume crops, their characterization and evaluation, prospects for the development of improved cultivars, and the role they could play, particularly with respect to nutrition and adaptation to climate change. We emphasize progress made in recent years concerning the assembly of information required for application of genomics tools to these crops and how this will underpin the development of improved varieties.

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

“…As a nutrient-rich legume, Bambara nut is often termed as a "complete balanced diet". Dried Bambara seeds possess carbohydrates (64.4%), protein (23.6%), fat (6.5%), and fiber (5.5%) as well as are rich in micronutrients such as K (11.44-19.35 mg/100 g), Fe (4.9-48 mg/100 g), Na (2.9-12.0 mg/100 g), and Ca (95.8-99 mg/100 g), as reported by Paliwal et al [20] and Lin Tan et al [21]. It is underutilized in comparison to other major lucrative crops and is frequently grown on marginal land and in survival farming, and in the majority of cases, women are the primary contributors in the production and processing of these crops [21].…”

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

“…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]. In comparison to cereals (pearl millet, sorghum and maize) and other legumes (peanuts and cowpeas), the research on this crop is limited [4].…”

A review of biotechnological approaches towards crop improvement in African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa Hochst. Ex A. Rich.)

“…Synonyms used to describe orphan crops include “underutilised”, “neglected”, “promising”, or “minor crops” ( FAO, 2019 ). Underutilised legumes have the advantage of being climate-resilient and providing nutritional security ( Paliwal et al., 2021 ). Some examples of underutilised legumes include African yam bean ( Sphenostylis stenocarpa ), Bambara groundnut ( Vigna subterranean) , Kersting's groundnut ( Macrotyloma geocarpum ), etc.…”