Major crops maintained in IITA genebank
IITA’s genebank holds over 28 000 accessions of major food crops of Africa, namely cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), cassava (Manihot esculenta), yam (Dioscorea sp.), soybean (Glycine max), bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea), maize (Zea mays), and plantain and banana (Musa sp.) (See table below for details). In addition, substantial Vigna wild relatives and miscellaneous legumes collections have been collected over the past 30 years and more recently a small collection of African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa), an under-used legume.
| Common name |
|
Latin Name |
Accessions maintained |
| Seed crops |
Total nb |
Nb In trust |
|
Cowpea
|
Niébé |
Vigna unguiculata L. |
15115 |
15003 |
|
Maize
|
Maïs |
Zea mays L. |
880 |
0 |
|
Soybean
|
Soja |
Glycine max (L.) Merr |
1742 |
1742 |
|
Bambara ground nut
|
Pois Bambara |
Vigna subterranean (L.) Verdc |
1815 |
1815 |
|
Wild Vigna
|
|
Vigna |
1507 |
1507 |
|
African yam bean
|
Haricot Igname |
Sphenostylis stenocarpa (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) Harms |
66 |
66 |
|
Miscellaneous legumes
(Winged bean, Pigeon pea, Lablab, Lima bean, Jack- and sword-bean, Green gram, Mung bean)
|
|
Psophocarpus tetragonolobus
Cajanus cajun
Lablab purpureus
Phaseolus lunatus
Canavalia species
Vigna radiata
Vigna mungo |
600+ |
0 |
| Clonal crops |
|
Cassava
|
Manioc |
Manihot esculenta Crantz |
2712 |
2078 |
|
Yam
|
Igname |
Dioscorea abysinnica, D. alata, D. bulbifera, D. cayenensis, D. dumentorum, D. esculenta, D. manganotiana, D. Preusii, D. rotundata |
3200 |
3087 |
|
Banana/Plantain
|
Banane
Plantain |
Musa acuminata, M. balbisiana, M. schizocarpa, M. basjoo, M. laterita, M. peekeli |
250 |
0 |
Germplasm data
Passport and characterization data of germplasm is available on line (click here) or via the System-wide Information Network on Genetic Resources (click here).