Building the Foundation for Bambara Groundnut Improvement in Madagascar
National Research Center For Applied Research In Rural Development FOFIFA
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Background
This one-year pilot project aims to establish the essential biological and genetic foundations required for a long-term Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea) improvement programme in Madagascar. Despite its nutritional value, drought resilience and importance for smallholder livelihoods, its national diversity remains undocumented, with only a few accessions currently maintained at FOFIFA. The project will address this critical gap by combining in situ germplasm exploration across 6 to 8 major agroecological zones where Bambara groundnut is actively cultivated. Collections will be conducted in 20 to 30 producing localities, yielding an estimated 20–120 accessions for which complete passport data will be recorded.
The overall aim of this pilot project is to build the foundational resources required for a longterm Bambara groundnut improvement programme in Madagascar. Specifically, the project seeks to document the national diversity of local landraces, establish genetically uniform lines suitable for rigorous evaluation, and provide an early overview of the genetic diversity within Malagasy accessions. These outputs will form the essential baseline needed for future breeding, variety registration and seed system development and will enable Madagascar to participate effectively in continental Bambara improvement initiatives.
Objectives
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To conduct national in situ exploration and collection of Bambara groundnut across key producing localities, documenting each accession using complete passport data (geographic origin, production environment, farmer-preference traits).
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To establish genetically uniform single-seed–derived lines from each collected accession, to reduce within-accession heterogeneity and generate stable planting material for subsequent phenotypic, nutritional and genomic studies.
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To extract high-quality DNA from young leaf tissue of each single-seed–derived line, and conduct DArTseq genotyping to generate an initial overview of the genetic diversity and structure within Malagasy germplasm.
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To incorporate a small panel of elite African reference lines (10–20 accessions supplied through the Kirkhouse Trust germplasm exchange) to serve as comparative standards and to anchor future phenotypic and genomic analyses.
PROJECT TEAM
Dr Ravelomanantsoa Santatra Herilalaina
PI,
National Research Center For Applied Research In Rural Development FOFIFA
Dr Samoelimananaharison Ravaka
Co-PI
National Research Center For Applied Research In Rural Development FOFIFA
Dr Randriamampionona
Tojonirina