Diversity in seed protein content, selected minerals, oil content and fatty acid composition of the Southern African Bambara groundnut germplasm collection

Abstract

Bambara groundnut is a nutritious, underutilized legume crop and has the potential to mitigate problems associated with malnutrition and food security. The objectives of this study was to characterize a Southern African Bambara groundnut germplasm collection for protein content, seleccted minerals, oil content and fatty acid composition, to identify superior accessions and determine the interrelationship between all measured characteristics. There was significant variability among the accessions for all measured traits. The average values of measured characteristics were, protein (18.89 %), Fe (27.26 mg kg−1), Zn (24.96 mg kg−1), moisture (6.65 %), fat free dry matter (86.86 %) and oil (6.49 %). Bambara accessions contained palmitic (22.01 %), stearic (3.56 %) and lignoceric acid (2.31 %) as the major saturated fatty acids. Bambara accessions contained linoleic (43.61 %), oleic (19.19 %), α-linolenic (4.32 %), and eicosatrienoic (n-6) acid (3.40 %) as the major unsaturated fatty acids. Significant positive correlation of protein content and Fe with few unsaturated fatty acids were observed. Bambara accessions 86 (AS 17), 127 (MAD 3), 148 (SWAZI V5) and 174 (SB 4−4 G) were associated with high protein content, Fe and few unsaturated fatty acids. These accession could be used as potential parents for future breeding and crossing, thereby enhancing the nutritional value of Bambara groundnut in South Africa.