Field Performance Evaluation and Multiplex SNP Marker Application of Selected Varieties of Mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) R.Wilczek]

Mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) R.Wilczek] is a drought tolerant orphan legume crop. The aim of the present study was to evaluate fifteen (15) varieties of mungbean using phenological data, yield attributes and SNP marker assisted tools. Field trial was established following standard agronomic practices. Molecular characterization was carried using a multiplex of SNP primers.  Data analysis was done using Minitab 17.0 for data description, test of dependence, correlation and clustering options. Polymorphism Information Content (PIC) was calculated using standard the formula. Results confirmed a successful establishment and adaptability of mungbean varieties in the study area. Growth, flowering and yield attributes were excellent.RMG-344 was the best variety in phonological (flowering) and pod yield. Average grain yield was779 kg/ha where COGG-912 produced the highest grain yield of 995.31kg/ha followed by, MH-421 (984.33kg/ha) and ML-818 (933.57kg/ha). Plant biomass had the highest variability among all traits. SNP markers employed were highly polymorphic (average PIC was 0.849). A multiplex of CLM0115, CLM0118 and CLM0119 markers were the most polymorphic in terms of number of polymorphic bands produced, percentage polymorphism and PIC value. ML818 variety was the most divergent variety based on morphological attributes while molecular data showed five different groups of varieties that differ in their genetic constitution for an unknown trait that may be of interest to breeders. IC-39298 variety was ungrouped in the molecular data. The crop is suitable for adoption as a resilient, early maturing and high yielding legume crop.  Selected varieties with quality agronomic traits such as flowering time, pod and seed yield should be included in breeding program. The highly polymorphic markers should be included in mungbean breeding work

Sowing Legume Seeds, Reaping Cash

This open access book shares impact stories – testimonies from various value chain actors who have been part of the Tropical Legumes (TL) projects, over the past twelve years. The Tropical Legumes projects led by ICRISAT in three parts (TLI, TLII and TLIII), constitute a major international initiative supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and jointly implemented by the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) partners from Sub-Saharan Africa and India. The project developed improved cultivars of common bean, cowpea, chickpea and groundnut (but also soya bean and pigeon pea cultivars in its initial phases) and delivers their seed to smallholders in BMGF-focus areas. It also strengthens the NARS and CGIAR's breeding programs and seed platforms to enhance their ability to deliver high and sustained outputs to smallholder farmers. The book compiles the experiences of a diversity of actors within the grain legume value chains, with a focus on groundnut and common beans in Tanzania and Uganda, groundnut and cowpea in Nigeria, and groundnut in Ghana. All stakeholders involved share their thoughts on being part of a decade-long development project family. National agricultural research institutes, knowledge brokering organizations, NGOs, public and private seed companies, agro-dealers, individual seed entrepreneurs, farm-implement makers, farmer cooperatives, farmer groups, individual men and women farmers, middlemen, processors, traders and consumers were all involved in this project, and as such this book provides valuable insights for development workers, technical staff, and project managers

Phosphorus And Nitrogen Fertilization Of Soybean In The Nigerian Savanna

Soybean (Glycine max) is a major cash crop in the savannas of Nigeria although productivity is typically constrained by poor soil fertility. The objective of this research was to determine the interactive effect of N and P on soybean productivity in the northern Guinea and Sudan savannas of northeast Nigeria. Experiments were conducted using locally adapted early and late maturing cultivars. Two rates of N and three rates of P fertilizer were also compared at both sites over two years. At both sites, pods plant−1 and seed yield were higher in 2006 than in 2007, possibly due to better rainfall distribution in 2006. Nitrogen fertilizer had no significant effect on seed yield or pods plant−1. Application of P fertilizer increased pods plant−1 by 40–66%. Averaged across site and year, seed yield with no P was 1057.2 kg ha−1 while yield with 20 and 40 kg ha−1 P were 1941.0 kg ha−1 and 2371.5 kg ha−1, respectively. No significant interaction effect between N and P fertilizer on seed yield and pods plant−1 was observed. The late maturing cultivar yielded less than the earlier maturity group cultivar in 2007 likely due to moisture stress. For optimum seed yield 40 kg of P fertilizer ha−1 is recommended for soybean production in both locations. Our results suggest that N fertilizer is not critical for soybean production in this area

Screening of SSR Molecular Markers for Polymorphism in Aphid Resistant and Susceptible Cowpea Varieties

The aim of this study was to screen SSR markers for polymorphism in aphid resistant and susceptible varieties. Twenty-Two (22) Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) markers were screened on aphid resistant (TVNu-1158 and TVu-2876) and susceptible (Aloka Local and Keffi local). varieties. These molecular markers were used to identify polymorphism between the resistant and susceptible cowpea varieties using the PCR technique.  Polymorphic indices of primers were generated on the PICcalc DEMoMa application v2012. Primers showed different banding and clustering patterns. Results showed that 17/22 (77.3%) of the primers produced a total of 79 visible bands. Six (6) primers (27.3%) had PIC >0.50 and were considered polymorphic. They were: EX-78, EX-79, C42-B, RB-45, JL 31/32 and CP-253/254. The first five primers had PIC of 0.99 each as the highest value recorded.The maximum Marker Index (MI) recorded was 2.96 while the Effective Multiplex Ratio (EMR) was highest in CP-253/254. Polymorphism was higher in the aphid susceptible varieties than the resistant varieties in the following order: Keffi Local (27%), Aloka Local (26%), TVu-2879 (24%) and TVNu-1158 (23%). The highly polymorphic primers as stated in this report are effective candidates for developing varieties for aphid resistance in cowpea breeding

Understanding cowpea yield: A comprehensive analysis of physiological traits' contribution through path analysis

This study investigates the physiological processes affecting the grain yield of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), a key protein, vitamin, and mineral source in human diets. Gaining an understanding of these mechanisms can be crucial for developing high-yielding cowpea varieties in breeding programs. A field experiment was conducted with 30 treatments, including three sowing dates (Early August, Late August, Early September) and ten cowpea genotypes (UAM09-1051-1, UAM09-1046-6-1, UAM14-126-L33, IT99K-573-1-1, IT89KD-288, UAM14-126-L6, UAM14-122-17-7, UAM14-123-18-3, UAM14-127-20-1-1, and UAM14-130-20-4). These treatments were arranged in a split-plot design within a Randomized Complete Block Design, replicated three times. Key physiological traits like Leaf Area Index (LAI), Intercepted Photosynthetically Active Radiation (IPAR), Stomatal Conductance, Photosynthetic Rate, Transpiration Rate, and Chlorophyll Content were measured. Data collected were analyzed using correlation and path coefficient methods; the results showed significant positive correlations between grain yield and traits like LAI, stomatal conductance, and photosynthetic rate. In contrast, the transpiration rate negatively correlated with yield. Path analysis revealed that the net photosynthetic rate had the most direct impact on grain yield, highlighting its role in photosynthesis and grain filling. The study suggests that cowpea breeding efforts should focus on improving photosynthetic efficiency and optimizing traits like LAI and stomatal conductance to boost cowpea grain yields

Characterisation of Fourteen Accessions of Trichosanthes cucumerina from Nigeria Using Internal Transcribed Spacer

Snake gourd botanically known as Trichosantes cucumerina locally called tomato agwo. T.cucumerina is considered a neglected and underutilised crop. Detailed characterisation of this crop is not known in Nigeria and other African countries. This study was done to access fourteen accessions of T. cucumerina from Nigeria using Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS). The fourteen accessions from different ecological regions were sequenced with ITS1 and ITS4 by direct PCR products. The results obtained were at minimum (570) and maximum (580) base pairs. The query coverage ranging from 99.4 % to 100 % affirms positive amplification and sequencing of snake gourd ecotypes using ITS1 and ITS4. The phylogenetic tree of the characterization group T. cucumerina was divided into three clusters. The phylogenetic tree of the characterization grouped T.cucumerina into three clusters. The genetic distances between the samples revealed that Ukwa, NACGRAB, Ikwuano, Oshogbo, Ikom, and Rumibekwe were closely related. Benin, Nasarawa, Oye-Ekiti, Ilorin, and NHST-0583 shared no genetic relationship as revealed by their genetic distances. The genetic distance ranged from 0.217 - 2.010. T. cucumerina landraces studied in Nigeria thirteen were T. cucumerina var anguina. The NHST -0583 from the seed center was the only T.cucumerina var cucumerina in Nigeria. This was blasted on the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) website. The sequenced blast in the NCBI data website was to be similar to accession numbers GU059528.1 and GQ240883.1 respectively. These have given scientists critical knowledge regarding T. cucumerina molecular breeding in Nigeria

v1. Standard Operating Procedure 012

Soybean is an important grain legume, providing high-protein food to humans and animals (Fig. 1). Some varieties have a high oil content. Due to its ability to form nodules with rhizobia and to fix atmospheric nitrogen (N2), it does not require large amounts of N-fertilizer and can have positive effects on the soil fertility. However, in soils in which soybean has not been grown before, inoculation with compatible rhizobia may be required to effectively fix N2. Soybean is a medium-duration grain legume, of which there is a large number of varieties. Soybeans mature in 115–125 days after sowing (DAS). Thus, the harvest should be planned according to the maturity type sown