Genetic variability, heritability and association among yield components and proximate composition of neglected and underutilized Bambara groundnut [Vigna subterranea (L) Verdc] accessions for varietal development in Ghana.

Bambara groundnut is an underutilized crop in Ghana with a lot of potential that can be harnessed to contribute to food and nutritional security in Ghana and Sub-Saharan African countries. The recent experiment was conducted to assess the genetic variability, heritability, and association among the yield components and the proximate composition of the Bambara groundnuts. Twenty-five (25) accessions of Bambara groundnut were sourced from different agro-ecological zones. The results from the analysis of variance showed a highly significant difference (p < 0.001) among almost all the traits studied. The estimate of the broad-sense heritability ranged from 12.50% to 84.458% for seed width and economic yield respectively. High heritability values accompanied by high GA were recorded for hundred seed weight (g), economic yield (g), biological yield (g), harvest index, and yield (kg). The separation of correlation coefficients into direct and indirect effects of component traits for yield traits revealed that traits such as economic yield and pod weight which were positively correlated with yield and exerted a high positive direct effect on yield could be selected for varietal development of Bambara groundnut in Ghana. The results from the proximate composition suggest that the Bambara groundnut accessions used in this study have high nutritional potentials that could serve in the alleviation of food security and nutritional problems when these accessions are selected for varietal development.

Assessment of Korean rice lines for their reaction to rice yellow mottle virus in Ghana.

Rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV) is the most damaging viral disease of rice in Africa and can cause yield losses of up to 100%. The objective of this study was to characterize newly introduced rice lines from Korea into Ghana for their reaction to RYMV infection. One hundred and seventy-two rice lines from Korea were screened for their level of resistance RYMV in a screen house at Fumesua, Ghana. Four checks consisting of two highly resistant lines (Tog7291 and Gigante with rymv1-2 (resistant gene1-allele2) and rymv2 (resistant gene2) respectively), a moderately resistant line (CRI-Amankwatia) and a susceptible cultivar Jasmine 85 were used. The experiment was carried out in a 4 x 44 lattice design with four replicates. Screening for RYMV resistance was conducted by visual symptom scoring and virus-assessment through serology using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test. Disease incidence and severity were assessed from 2 to 42 dpi. Data for disease severity and incidence were transformed (Log x+1) for ANOVA. Five lines (8261112, 8261119, 8261133, 8261588, and 8261634) were identified to be highly resistant to the disease just like Tog7291 and Gigante. The study also revealed 24 lines that were resistant but not grouping with Tog7291 and Gigante, whereas 100 moderately resistant lines clustered with the moderately resistance check CRI-Amankwatia in a distinct group. Forty-three (43) susceptible lines were identified with the susceptible check Jasmine 85 falling in this group. No highly susceptible line was identified. The newly idenfied resistant genotypes can be used by breeders to develop RYMV resistant varieties.