Seed yield of selected Nigerian Bambara Groundnut landraces under two varying water conditions was evaluated. Twenty eight (28) Bambara groundnut accessions were planted in a randomized complete block design with two treatments (Nonwater stressed and Water stressed) and replicated five times. The experiment was conducted at the Experimental Garden of the Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State. The accessions were planted in planting bags during the cropping season of 2016 between July and October. The two treatments were rain fed until maturity except during the period of exposure to water stress where the water stressed plants were transferred to a screen house made with polyvinyl ceiling to prevent water during the flowering stage for two weeks. It was observed that water stress reduced the yield of the Bambara groundnut landraces by 47%. Accessions NGB-01646-B, NGR-NI-20-H and NGB-01491 which had relatively high yield in the stressed and non-water stressed condition were considered the most drought tolerant accessions and accession NGR-KG-02-C with low yield both in stressed and non-stressed conditions was identified as the most susceptible accession. Accessions which had high yield only in water stressed conditions could serve as elite line for Bambara groundnut for areas which have problem of drought. These drought tolerant accessions identified in the research can serve as potential parent lines in breeding programmes aimed at the development of drought tolerant varieties of Bambara groundnut.
Members of family Cucurbitaceae are collectively called melon; they are mainly found in the warmer parts of all continents. A germplasm collection was undertaken in Nigeria between April and August, 2015 which corresponded to the periods of harvesting of the crop across major growing regions of the country. Eighteen states including Federal Capital Territory, which are the major growing areas of the crop, were visited. The collections were done in collaboration with Agricultural Development Projects (ADP) extension officers. Fifty five farmers were interviewed and a total of 60 accessions were collected. The accessions collected were identified to species level. All the 60 accessions fall into 5 genera and 7 species; Colocynthis citrullus (45), Cucurbita moschata (3), Cucurbita maxima (3), Lagenaria siceraria (2), Lagenaria sphaerica (2), Cucumeropsis mannii (4) and Cucumis melo (1). All the farmers interviewed preferred cultivation of Colocynthis citrullus due its high oil content, demand and more acceptance by consumers all over the regions. Niger state had highest number (8) of Egusi melon (Colocynthis citrullus) while Nasarawa and Kogi had same number (5) each. The high number of egusi melon encountered might be due to fact that it is the most cultivated member of Cucurbitaceae in the country. This collection had boasted the baseline information of diversity of family Cucurbitaceae. Also it has generated source of genetic variability for members like Colocynthis citrullus which can be aid in improvement of the crop.
Yams (Dioscorea spp) are staple food crops of the people in tropical and subtropical region of the world. The crop consists of approximately 600 species. These species are threatened by genetic erosion due to several factors such as pest and diseases attack, inadequate improved varieties and dearth of germplasm collection and conservation. On this premise, this research was carried out to collect and manage the available germplasm in North-Central Nigeria. Fifty accessions of yam (Dioscorea spp) were collected from adaptable farmers' varieties. These were evaluated according to standard descriptors of yam into four (4) species (D. alata, D. bulbifera, D. dumetorum and D. rotundata). The highest germplasm (21) was recorded in Niger state, which was dominated by white yam (D. rotundata). This was followed by Benue state with twenty (20) accessions. Others are three (3) accesssions each from FCT and Kogi State, then two (2) accessions each from Nasarawa and Kwara States. Of the 50 accessions of yam collected, 40% (20) are rare landraces and are at the brim of becoming extinct locally. Phenotypic observation revealed that tuber skin colour varies from light-brown, through dark and milk spotted to dark and dark-brown. The most dominate of these were dark-brown with 60% of the accessions, this was followed by light-brown and the least were 6% which was recorded for dark-milk spotted accessions. Similarly, tuber shape showed that cylindrical dominated with 80% of the accessions and the least was snake shape with only 4% of the accessions. These findings have given some insights on the available germplasm of yam in North-central Nigeria with promising traits. However, there is for a promising approach of characterisation of the crop species in the area for the improvement, conservation and breeding programme of yam in the future.
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