Flowering Pollination and Pod Formation in Bambara Groundnut (Voandeia Subtterranea Thouars)

Abstract

The orobable centres of origin of bambarra groundnut (Voandzela subterranea), have been mentioned as northern Algeria, Cameroons, and along the Kile from Khartoum to Gondola)ro. It is grown throughout Africa, mainly in the savanna areas and has also spread to many other tropical countries outside Africa. It is one of the most important pulse crops in Africa, and in Ghana it ranks next to cowpea in production and consumption. In Africa where the diet of a majority of the people lack animal protein# bambarra groundnut is one of the legumes which supplies either in whole or in part, the sm&sin part iff “Ifae diet. Varieties may he classified into three groups; those with long trailing stems, the open or spreading types, those wife short trailing steins the compact or bunch and an intermediate or semi-hunch type which is between these two extremes. Visual assessment of habit agreed closely ‘ V 1 ■ ' i ' i, ■ Y . '.-r.siC wife petiole/intsrnode ratio and as this ratio could be measured, it seems to be a more reliable criterion for grouping varieties. Varieties are becoming more compact under cultivation, and pod thickness is also being reduced, and it appears feat the aerial parts i.e. stems, petioles and iaternodes, are evolving faster towards compactness than the rate at which pod thickness is being reduced. In all varieties, flowering starts 28 days after germination and depending on variety, it may or may not cease before the end of the life of the plant. More flowers and poda are produced during the dry season than the rainy season