In recent times efforts are being made to improve the productivity of
bambara groundnut. Studies were initiated (i) to characterise and
evaluate landraces and to select superior ones for irradiation, (ii) to
induce genetic variation through gamma irradiation and (iii) to use
biotechnological approaches to shorten the generation cycle. The
results of the study indicated that gamma irradiation induced higher
genetic variation of up to four times within the varieties used in the
study compared to the unirradiated control. Bambara groundnut yield
could be increased through selection for number of pods per plant.
Using the in vitro plus in vivo system and embryo axis explants, over
four generations per year were obtained compared to 1 or 2 in the
field. All the plants were morphologically normal and fertile. The
shorter duration, high efficiency and genotype independency makes this
system well suited for wider biotechnological applications in bambara
groundnut. This novel approach is being applied to the variants/mutants
obtained from gamma irradiation