Scope of Horse Gram and Bambara Groundnut as Source of Food and Feed Legume: A Review

Abstract

Underutilized legumes are nutritionally important group of crops with immense medicinal values and contribute significantly as a resource of profit to the poor farmers. Horse gram (Macrotyloma uniflorum) and Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranean) are two such underutilized legumes largely grown in India and other South Asian countries contribute significantly to the diet of poor people during adverse climatic condition particularly to them who cannot afford to grow pulses that require balanced nutrition. They are fit for diversification, green manuring and may be used as cover crops and also thrive well under stressful dry environment. Changing lifestyle and climate variability bring enough scope for their cultivation and profitability. Horse gram is medicinally superior to other traditionally consumed pulses and can fight against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Besides its use as fodder crop, it cures urinary stones, gastritis, excessive post-partum bleeding, rheumatism, coronary heart disease, diabetes, etc. Bambara groundnut has distinctive drought adaptations and is suitable under semi-arid climate. Extract of Bambara groundnut is used as weaning food in African countries. The present review focuses on origin, morphology, genetic diversity, traditional uses, nutritional and medicinal importance, potential as food and fodder crop and constraints to higher productivity of both horse gram and Bambara groundnut.