Abstract
Bambara groundnuts (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.) is an important leguminous crop native in Africa and is mainly cultivated for its highly nutritious grains. However, bambara groundnuts production is constrained by many insect pests including aphids (Aphids sp.), leaf hopers (Hilda patruelis), foliage beetles (Ootheca mutabilis), pod sucking bugs (Clavigralla tomentosicollis), red spider mites (Tetrunychus sp.), groundnut jassids in the field and bruchids (Callosobruchus maculatus, and Callosobruchus subinnotatus) in the storage. Smallholder farmers usually apply synthetic pesticides to control those insect pests. However, synthetic pesticides are potentially harmful to the environment, non-targeted animals and human’s health. Pesticidal plants such as B. pilosa, L. camara, T. vogelii, V. amygdalina, L. javanica, T. diversifolia, and C. dichogamus which are available in most parts of Africa where the crop is cultivated, possess bioactive chemicals which have insecticidal properties and have been revealed to be potential in the control of field and storage insect pests. Therefore, they can be used as an alternative to synthetic pesticides. Bambara groundnuts being one of the neglected crops, the insects affecting the crop have not been well explored in terms of their abundance and damage they cause to the crop in the field and on storage. Thus, in this review, the common arthropod pests of the bambara groundnuts and the potential of the bioactive compounds from the common plants with pesticidal properties have been described. It is recommended that the potential of these pesticidal plants to be investigated on bambara groundnut pests control on the field and on storage to optimize their use by smallholder farmers in insect control to reduce dependence on synthetic pesticides.
Highlights
Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.) is an important leguminous crop indigenous in Africa [1] [2]
Mkindi et al (2017) reported that pesticidal plants such as Bidens pilosa, Lantana camara, Tephrosia vogelii, Vernonia amygdalina, Lippia javanica, and Tithonia diversifolia were effective against aphids (Aphis fabae) on common beans
Future research is needed to quantify the abundance of aphids on bambara groundnuts and the damage caused by them in different cropping systems and to test the effectiveness of the available pesticidal plants to be used as an alternative of synthetic pesticides in Tanzania
Summary
Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.) is an important leguminous crop indigenous in Africa [1] [2]. Bambara groundnut is highly tolerant to drought and temperature and it can grow and yield in poor soils [5] [8] [9] [10] [11]. Bambara groundnut is mainly produced for consumption and it serves as a food security crop, eaten as freshly cooked pods or as dry grains incorporated into main dishes such as cooked plantains and cereals [12]. Bambara groundnuts serve as a source of income among smallholder farmers especially when the yields of other crops are low due to the prevailing drought and extreme temperatures and crop residues are used to feed livestock [11] [13] [14]. The crop has attracted research attention and cultivation by farmers mainly due to its climate resilience, unlike other legumes that are at risk due to climate change effects [14] [15]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
