Abstract
This study was carried out to determine the proximate and mineral composition of fresh tubers of 17 African Yam Bean (AYB) accessions. Standard analytical procedures were adopted in the determination of bioactive compounds in the tubers of the different accessions. Data were subjected to descriptive statistics, principal component and clustering analysis. Ash content ranged between 4.59-9.99%, Carbohydrate (46.59-66.52%), Crude fibre (6.93-12.13), Fat (1.06-4.04%), Moisture content ranged between 11.36-21.91% and Protein (4.91-14.50%). The range of mineral content evaluated were: Calcium (1.53-5.82), Copper (10.59-44.93), Iron (63.52-240.48), Magnesium (0.59-2.26), Manganese (42.25-160.01), Nitrogen (0.75-2.23%), Potassium (1.34-5.08), Sodium (0.05-0.22) and Zinc (28.24-106.93. The proximate variables in the tubers significantly (P<0.05) distinguished the 17 AYB accessions. Three distinct clusters were visible. The seven accessions in cluster I had the highest protein, carbohydrate and moisture content. Cluster II had the least mineral content. Accessions with the highest fat and mineral content were grouped in cluster III. Food, nutritional and medicinal values inherent in AYB tubers is high and promising, its utilization in human and livestock feeds is greatly encourage.
 Keywords: Accessions, African yam bean, diversity, proximate analysis, tubers
Highlights
Root and tuber crops are ranked the second largest group of cultivated species behind cereals in tropical countries; they contribute immensely to food security (Lebot, 2009)
Saxon (1981) identified about fifty tuberous legumes which are of international significance; seventeen of them are of African origin, African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa) seem to be the most important
Seeds of 17 accessions of AYB used in this study were obtained from the Genetic Resource Centre (GRC), International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria
Summary
Seeds of 17 accessions of AYB used in this study were obtained from the Genetic Resource Centre (GRC), International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria. Land was prepared and seed were sown in March, 2019 at the Centre for Ecological studies, Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. Port Harcourt is in a humid forest zone of Nigeria within latitude 40N and 50N and longitude 60E and 70E. Two seeds were sown at a depth of 2cm on the mounds. The experiment was terminated in November 2019 and the tubers were harvested for proximate and mineral analysis. The freshly harvested tubers were washed, peeled, cut into tiny pieces and dried in the oven at 650c for 48hours. The dried samples were pulverized using an electric blender
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