Morphological and nutritional assessment of Vigna vexillata (L.) A. Rich.: a potential tuberous legume of India

• Published in: Genetic resources and crop evolution Vol. 68; no. 1; pp. 397 - 408
• Main Authors: Tripathi, Kuldeep, Gore, P. G., Pandey, A., Nayar, E. R., Gayacharan, C., Pamarthi, R. K., Bhardwaj, R., Kumar, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agriculture; Agronomy; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Genetic resources; Legumes; Life Sciences; Morphology; Notes on Neglected and Underutilized Crops; Nutrient content; Nutrition assessment; Parameter identification; Plant Genetics and Genomics; Plant Physiology; Plant Sciences; Plant Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography; Roots; Sweet potatoes; Tapioca; Tubers; Vigna vexillata; India; Potential; Root tuber; Tuber cowpea; Protein; India
• ISSN: 0925-9864; 1573-5109
• DOI: 10.1007/s10722-020-01023-1

Vigna vexillata (L.) A. Rich. is a tropical tuberous legume which is fascinating for multiple uses in India. It is a climate-resilient legume and reported as a source of bruchid resistance, abiotic stresses tolerance and proteinaceous tubers. Meagre information is available for storage roots (tubers) of V. vexillata in general in the Indian scenario. In the present study, the evaluation of morphological and nutritional traits of storage roots are presented along with the genetic resources study. Herbarium study verified its wide distribution and occurrence in India since ancient time. Significant variability was observed for tuber morphological traits and nutritional parameters. Among accessions studied, IC259504 was identified promising agronomically and nutritionally both. Protein content in tubers of V. vexillata was recorded up to eightfold higher than that in sweet potato and tapioca. Results indicated that this species has the potential to meet the future needs of food and nutritional security and further utilization in Vigna improvement programme.