<div style="text-align:justify"><strong>Background: </strong>This study compared the proximate, mineral and anti-nutritional composition of selected accessions of African yam bean. The objective was to assess the potential of these accessions to contribute to food and nutrition security critical to the survival of many rural communities currently ravaged by hunger and malnutrition in Africa.&nbsp;<br />
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<strong>Methods:</strong> Eight (8) accessions of African yam bean were used for this study. Seeds of each accession were processed and chemically analyzed using AOAC standard methods. The samples were replicated three times and F-LSD were used to separate significant means.&nbsp;<br />
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<strong>Result:&nbsp;</strong>Results obtained showed that there were significant variations in the proximate, mineral and anti-nutritional composition of the accessions. Accession TSs 519 had the highest crude protein composition (22.53%), dry matter (91.14%), carbohydrate content (22.53%), sodium (80.46 mg/100 g) and the lowest moisture content 8.86%. The ash content was highest in accession TSs 568 (5.26%). Accession TSs 535 had the highest content of phytate (3.74%), oxalate (1.73%), HCN (1.72%) and tannins (1.44%). Magnesium and potassium were highest in accessions TSs 595 (90.26 mg/100 g) and TSs 568 (280.51 mg/100 g) respectively. The high protein and carbohydrate contents of African yam bean could supplement traditional dishes consumed by both children and adults in order to alleviate protein-energy malnutrition in the developing countries especially in Africa, where this legume is indigenous.</div>


<p>Comparative Study of Proximate, Mineral and Anti-nutrient Composition of African Yam Bean (<em>Sphenostylis stenocarpa</em> Hochst Ex. A. Rich. (Harms.) Accessions</p>


<div style="text-align: justify;">This study evaluated genetic variability and heritability in vegetative and floral characters among two minor legumes (Sphenotylis stenocarpa Ex. A. Rich. Harms and [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] of five accessions each. Six (6) floral and ten (10) vegetative characters were pooled for analysis on one hundred (100) plants of the two minor legumes. Appropriate statistical analyses were employed for comparative evaluation. Significant differences (P = 0.05) were observed in all the traits except rachis length. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed significant contributions of traits in lengths of calyx lobe, stipule, rachis and petiole; also in numbers of flowers per peduncle and of main branches to the expressed variability. The cluster analysis segregated the accessions into two major cluster groups. The broad sense heritability of traits was high (&gt;95 %). The study is important in selection of valuable traits for conservation, management of genetic resources and hybridization programs of the two species.&nbsp;</div>

Comparative Study of Proximate, Mineral and Anti-nutrient Composition of African Yam Bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa Hochst Ex. A. Rich. (Harms.) Accessions

Comparative genetic variability and traits’ heritability in vegetative and floral characters in accessions of two minor legumes