TITLE:
Morphological Variability of Neglected and Underutilized Legumes (NULs) Collection from Côte d’Ivoire
AUTHORS:
Léonie Clémence Kouonon, Kouamé Guillaume Koffi, Koffi Adjoumani, Koudougnon Alice Estère Goba
KEYWORDS:
Neglected Legumes, Characterization, Quantitative Traits, Qualitative Traits
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.11 No.2,
February
21,
2020
ABSTRACT: In order to characterize neglected and underutilized
legumes seeds (NULs), prospection, collection and characterization were carried out in five administrative regions from Cote d’Ivoire. Two thousand
and fifty-four accessions were collected. NULs cultivation is done mainly by women (88.1%
compared to 11.9% of men). Productors distinguish 22 morphotypes of NULs based on seeds shapes, colors and patterns. Morphological traits of the
collected morphotypes revealed a significant phenotypic polymorphism.
Quantitative analyses showed a clear structure of accessions; three main groups
were revealed. The first group contains accessions with large and thick seeds,
but a low index shape opposite to group II with high index shape. Seeds of
group III are characterized by small width and thickness, but a high shape
index. Analyses of qualitative traits revealed five groups characterized by heterogeneous or homogeneous coloured integument, inked or elevated edge of
hilum, presence or absence of eye.