Agronomic performance and genetic variability of ten (10) accessions of horse gram [Macrotyloma uniflorum (Lam.) Verdc.] in Kamboinsé, Burkina Faso

Horse gram [Macrotyloma uniflorum (Lam.) Verdc.] is a legume in the Fabaceae family. It has good nutritional quality, numerous therapeutic properties and is adapted to drought and heavy metals. It is an exotic species being introduced into Burkina Faso. This study aims to contribute to a better understanding of horse gram by assessing the agronomic performance of ten (10) accessions. This study was carried out in the field at the experimental station of the “Centre de Recherches Environnementales, Agricoles et de Formation (CREAF) de Kamboinsé” during the 2022 cropping season. Accessions were evaluated in a Fisher block design with three (03) replications. Analysis of variance revealed a high degree of agronomic variability within the accessions studied. Positive and significant correlations were obtained between different variables. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of the variables identified pod weight, number of seeds per pod, seed weight and seed yield as the parameters that best discriminated between accessions. Accession H46 was the most productive in terms of number of pods (61 pods). Accession H76 achieved a significant seed weight (0.126 kg). However, accession H49, in addition to having an average seed weight (0.114 kg), also presented a good fodder yield (4629.630 kg/ha). Accession H76 (697.972 kg/ha) stood out from the rest with the highest grain yield. This study shows that horse gram can be introduced into future breeding programs to meet the demand for legumes in Burkina Faso, given its agronomic performance.