Evaluation of five bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.) landraces to heat and drought stress at Tono-Navrongo, Upper East Region of Ghana

Abstract

The need to obtain crop varieties that are tolerant to heat and drought cannot be overemphasised especially with the threat of climate change to agricultural productivity in sub-Saharan Africa. Bambara groundnut has been identified as a drought tolerant crop; however, variations exist among landraces with respect to drought tolerance. An experiment was therefore conducted to evaluate the performance of five bambara groundnut landraces: Black eye, Burkina, NAV 4, NAV Red and Tom, to drought and heat stress, at the Irrigation Company of Upper East Region (ICOUR) at Tono-Navrongo in the Upper East Region of Ghana. The experiment was arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replicates. The heat trial was irrigated once weekly to field capacity until crop maturity. The drought trial was irrigated once weekly until 30 DAS, after which irrigation ceased. Burkina, a landrace from Burkina Faso produced the highest pod yield of 1.2 t/ha under the heat treatment. Tom did not produce any pod yield. Under drought, Burkina exhibited the greatest root dry weight and leaf area at 120 DAS, and had the longest leaf area duration (LAD). Burkina exhibited bunch canopy architecture, while NAV 4, NAV Red, and Black eye had an intermediate canopy type and Tom a spreading type. Burkina proved the most drought and heat tolerant among the five landraces evaluated. Though a drought tolerant crop, temperatures beyond 38°C and low relative humidity can negatively affect pod yield of bambara groundnut even when irrigation is provided. It is important to test the performance of a crop under a new environment before money is invested into its production in that environment.

Growth, phenological and yield responses of a bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea(L.) Verdc.) landrace to imposed water stress under field conditions

“…Reduced plant height, leaf number and LAI constitute this adaptation aimed at minimising water loss under drought stress (Mitchell et al 1998). Similar results showing reduction in plant height, leaf number and LAI in bambara groundnut were found in the literature (Collinson et al 1996, 1997, 1999, Sesay et al 2004, Mwale et al 2007, Vurayai et al 2011a, 2011b, Berchie et al 2012.…”

“…Water stress occurring at any stage can have a negative impact on yield. Several studies described the germination, growth and yield responses of bambara groundnut landraces to water stress (Collinson et al 1996, 1997, 1999, Sesay et al 2004, Mwale et al 2007, Vurayai et al 2011a, 2011b, Berchie et al 2012), but information describing local bambara groundnut landraces is scarce. Collinson et al (1997) reported that drought tolerance in a Zimbabwean cream bambara groundnut landrace was the result of an ability to maintain leaf turgor pressure through a combination of osmotic adjustment, reduction in leaf area and effective stomatal control.…”

Connaissances endogènes et perceptions paysannes de l’impact des changements climatiques sur la production et la diversité du niébé (<i>Vigna unguiculata</i> (L.)Walp.) et du voandzou (<i>Vigna subterranea</i> (L) Verdc.) au Bénin

“…Selon les producteurs, le voandzou n'est pas produit au sud parce que les parents n'ont pas intégré cette culture dans leur habitude et aussi les conditions climatiques ne s'y prêtent pas quand bien même beaucoup estiment que le voandzou s'adapte plus facilement aux conditions difficiles surtout à la sécheresse et au sol pauvre (Obagwu, 2003 ;Basu et al, 2007). Une tendance similaire est observée au Ghana (Berchie et al, 2012) et en Tanzanie (Ntundu et al, 2006). Le niébé est aujourd'hui la deuxième légumineuse après l'arachide selon les producteurs.…”

Genomic and transcriptomic approaches towards the genetic improvement of an underutilised crops: The case of Bambara groundnut

“…From the results of Mabhaudhi et al, (2013), bambara groundnut was observed to have drought escape mechanisms where, under drought stress, it had a shortened vegetative growth period, early flowering, reduced reproductive stage and early maturity in order to minimise the adverse effect of drought on plant development. Higher root dry weight was reported when bambara groundnut landrace, Burkina (originally from Burkina Faso), was subjected to drought (Berchie, 2012). Denser and deeper root growth will allow the plant to utilise more soil moisture under drought stress.…”