Molecular, environmental and nutritional evaluation of bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea(L) Verdc.) for food production in Namibia
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2010
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Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.), an indigenous African legume valued for its drought tolerance, is popular in most parts of Africa. The study aimed to study environment effects on six landraces of Bambara groundnut (Nam 1759/3, Uniswa Red, S-19/3, KFBN 9709, KFBN0105 and KFBN 0116) and to evaluate their molecular and nutritional compositions. The effects of different sowing dates and watering regimes on the growth and development of the landraces were studied. There were two sowing dates; one in the hot season and dry one late in the season during winter season. There were also two watering regimes; one where watering was done twice a week until harvesting and a drought treatment with no irrigation until final harvest. Parameters recorded included germination percentage, water use efficiency and crop yield. Genetic diversity in the 6 landraces of Bambara groundnut was evaluated using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and microsatellite markers. Nutritional evaluation was done on the six landraces by doing proximate analysis using the association of official analytical chemists' methods. The study on acceptability, processing and utilization of Bambara groundnut in Namibia was done through a survey using a questionnaire to collect data. The questionnaire was presented to farmers and consumers of Bambara groundnut in the northern part of Namibia, where the crop is mainly consumed. No significant difference was observed among the different landraces between the two watering regimes as far as growth and development analysis was concerned. Field sown earlier in the year gave a larger harvest (204.396 - 336.535kg/ha) and the field sowed during the winter season doing extremely poor (11.778 - 65.125kg/ha). All landraces showed significant difference among the different sowing dates (÷2= 9.269, ÷2= 9.846, ÷2= 8.000, ÷2=9.269, ÷2= 9.269, ÷2= 9.302). Looking at their yield at harvest, the landraces were classified based on BAMnut Model - Crop Biomass and Pods Model and they ranged from unsuitable (Uniswa Red) to moderately suitable (KBFN 0105). Calculated water use efficiency showed that in winter the plant produced more per kg water than the ones in hot seasons. Strangely enough, some landraces produced more yield per kg water in non-irrigated plots than irrigated. RAPDs revealed high levels of polymorphism among the landraces. Polymorphism ranged from 57 to 100 with an average of 85 for the 7 RAPD primers evaluated, while microsatellites gave low levels of polymorphism ranging from 0 to 100, with average polymorphism of 29. All landraces were shown to be closely similar with the lowest similarity at about 88 similarity, and highest similarity of 98 between Nam 1759/3 and KFBN 9709. The low Shannon indices (0.426 - RAPDs and 0.093 -microsatellites) indicated a low genetic diversity among the six landraces. The results obtained for nutritional evaluation of the six landraces, were consistent with previous studies on Bambara groundnut seeds. Moisture content ranged between 7.3 and 7.8, ash content from 3.4 and 4.1, fat content 2.1 and 3.9, protein content 18.2 and 22.2, and carbohydrates between 63.0 and 66.6. There was no significant difference for carbohydrates, fats and protein contents among the different landraces as far as nutrient content was concerned among the different landraces (÷2= 2.720, ÷2= 8.440, ÷2=3.090, ÷2= 8.520, ÷2= 6.440, ÷2= 6.293) and between the irrigated and non-irrigated plots (Z = -1.993, Z =-1964, Z =-1.964, Z =-1964, Z =-1.964, Z =-1.964). Survey showed that, Bambara groundnut is mostly grown for home consumption and for sale on a small scale. Farmers find that the biggest constraint on the production of Bambara groundnut is the variation in rainfall within the growing season of the crop (heavy rainfall forthe past two sowing seasons). Ninety nine percent of the activities involved during the Bambara groundnut processing are equally divided within the genders and they are done in traditional ways (from field preparation, through storage of seeds or pods to cooking). Bambara groundnut seeds in Namibia are eaten boiled only (either fresh or dry) and farmers as well as consumers in that region are not aware of the different products that can be processed from the seeds. It was concluded that growth and development of Bambara groundnut is highly affected by cold weather as well as high rain fall. The crop is highly adapted and has a water conserving mechanism, which should be investigated further. Genetically, the landraces are closely related and do not show high diversity. The crop is nutritionally good and can be viewed as a balanced diet crop and can contribute to food security under good agronomic methods. An extensive study comparing wild forms of Bambara groundnut and the known landraces should be done to evaluate their suitability to be domesticated. Landraces 4, 5 and 6 (KFBN 9079, KFBN 0105 and KFBN 0116 respectively) did well in both hot season and cold season, they can be considered as the ones best suited for the Namibian climate. Base on the outputs from BAM nut Model - Crop Biomass and pods Models in Azam-Ali et.al, 2001, these three landraces can be classified from suitable to moderately suitable based on their yields
Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.), an indigenous African legume valued for its drought tolerance, is popular in most parts of Africa. The study aimed to study environment effects on six landraces of Bambara groundnut (Nam 1759/3, Uniswa Red, S-19/3, KFBN 9709, KFBN0105 and KFBN 0116) and to evaluate their molecular and nutritional compositions. The effects of different sowing dates and watering regimes on the growth and development of the landraces were studied. There were two sowing dates; one in the hot season and dry one late in the season during winter season. There were also two watering regimes; one where watering was done twice a week until harvesting and a drought treatment with no irrigation until final harvest. Parameters recorded included germination percentage, water use efficiency and crop yield. Genetic diversity in the 6 landraces of Bambara groundnut was evaluated using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and microsatellite markers. Nutritional evaluation was done on the six landraces by doing proximate analysis using the association of official analytical chemists' methods. The study on acceptability, processing and utilization of Bambara groundnut in Namibia was done through a survey using a questionnaire to collect data. The questionnaire was presented to farmers and consumers of Bambara groundnut in the northern part of Namibia, where the crop is mainly consumed. No significant difference was observed among the different landraces between the two watering regimes as far as growth and development analysis was concerned. Field sown earlier in the year gave a larger harvest (204.396 - 336.535kg/ha) and the field sowed during the winter season doing extremely poor (11.778 - 65.125kg/ha). All landraces showed significant difference among the different sowing dates (÷2= 9.269, ÷2= 9.846, ÷2= 8.000, ÷2=9.269, ÷2= 9.269, ÷2= 9.302). Looking at their yield at harvest, the landraces were classified based on BAMnut Model - Crop Biomass and Pods Model and they ranged from unsuitable (Uniswa Red) to moderately suitable (KBFN 0105). Calculated water use efficiency showed that in winter the plant produced more per kg water than the ones in hot seasons. Strangely enough, some landraces produced more yield per kg water in non-irrigated plots than irrigated. RAPDs revealed high levels of polymorphism among the landraces. Polymorphism ranged from 57 to 100 with an average of 85 for the 7 RAPD primers evaluated, while microsatellites gave low levels of polymorphism ranging from 0 to 100, with average polymorphism of 29. All landraces were shown to be closely similar with the lowest similarity at about 88 similarity, and highest similarity of 98 between Nam 1759/3 and KFBN 9709. The low Shannon indices (0.426 - RAPDs and 0.093 -microsatellites) indicated a low genetic diversity among the six landraces. The results obtained for nutritional evaluation of the six landraces, were consistent with previous studies on Bambara groundnut seeds. Moisture content ranged between 7.3 and 7.8, ash content from 3.4 and 4.1, fat content 2.1 and 3.9, protein content 18.2 and 22.2, and carbohydrates between 63.0 and 66.6. There was no significant difference for carbohydrates, fats and protein contents among the different landraces as far as nutrient content was concerned among the different landraces (÷2= 2.720, ÷2= 8.440, ÷2=3.090, ÷2= 8.520, ÷2= 6.440, ÷2= 6.293) and between the irrigated and non-irrigated plots (Z = -1.993, Z =-1964, Z =-1.964, Z =-1964, Z =-1.964, Z =-1.964). Survey showed that, Bambara groundnut is mostly grown for home consumption and for sale on a small scale. Farmers find that the biggest constraint on the production of Bambara groundnut is the variation in rainfall within the growing season of the crop (heavy rainfall forthe past two sowing seasons). Ninety nine percent of the activities involved during the Bambara groundnut processing are equally divided within the genders and they are done in traditional ways (from field preparation, through storage of seeds or pods to cooking). Bambara groundnut seeds in Namibia are eaten boiled only (either fresh or dry) and farmers as well as consumers in that region are not aware of the different products that can be processed from the seeds. It was concluded that growth and development of Bambara groundnut is highly affected by cold weather as well as high rain fall. The crop is highly adapted and has a water conserving mechanism, which should be investigated further. Genetically, the landraces are closely related and do not show high diversity. The crop is nutritionally good and can be viewed as a balanced diet crop and can contribute to food security under good agronomic methods. An extensive study comparing wild forms of Bambara groundnut and the known landraces should be done to evaluate their suitability to be domesticated. Landraces 4, 5 and 6 (KFBN 9079, KFBN 0105 and KFBN 0116 respectively) did well in both hot season and cold season, they can be considered as the ones best suited for the Namibian climate. Base on the outputs from BAM nut Model - Crop Biomass and pods Models in Azam-Ali et.al, 2001, these three landraces can be classified from suitable to moderately suitable based on their yields
Description
A thesis submitted in partial fulfiollment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science
Keywords
Glycine plants, Peanuts Namibia