Variability between local and exotic Bambara groundnut landraces in Botswana

Abstract

Nine landraces of Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L) Verdc.), seven from the Botswana collection and one each from Zimbabwe and Tanzania, were evaluated to exploit the variability between them. The results indicate that four landraces namely GABC, TSHC, BOTR and DIPC were early, maturing within 120 days. Other medium duration landraces , 120 - 128 days were OM1, OM2 and NTSR. Two other landraces, OM6 and DOR were late season maturing in 133 and 165 days, respectively. The early maturing landraces (except BOTR) were high yielding because they emerged rapidly, flowered within 40 days, and had enough time to mature their pods before the advent of unfavourable weather due to less moisture and decreased temperature. Of the desirable agronomic parameters correlated with grain yield, 100 seed weight, shelling percentage and total dry matter had high heritability and could therefore be used in Bambara groundnut improvement programmes in Botswana and areas with similar climate.



Key Words: Heritability, variance component, 100 seed weight, Bambara groundnut, Botswana collection


(African Crop Science Journal: 2000, 8(2): 145-152)