Assessing Intraspecific Variability and Diversity in African Yam Bean Landraces Using Agronomic Traits

Landraces are repositories for potential beneficial traits which could be used to develop varieties with enhanced qualities. Optimal utilization of the available large collection landraces African yam bean (AYB) presently conserved at Genetic Resource Center, International Institute Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan (GRC-IITA), requires an assessment magnitude and nature genetic diversity within germplasm. One hundred ninety-six AYB accessions were evaluated during 2018 2019 cropping seasons in three agro-ecologies Nigeria, using a 14 × triple lattice design. The assessed fourteen agronomic traits. Accession, environment, accession environment interaction effects significant (p < 0.05) all Variances due higher than genotypic variances. Similarly, estimates phenotypic coefficient variation (PCV) (GCV) Broad-sense heritability ranged from 17.1% (days maturity) 66.4% (seed length). Seed yield per plant had positive correlation studied traits, except pod length seed length. first principal components accounted 59.7% total among comprised Five major clusters delineated based on characteristics. was present accessions, these results will useful setting breeding goals conservation approaches.