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Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.) is a neglected and less exploited species in Benin. However, the rational use of the different landraces available involves an appropriate knowledge of their characteristics. This study examined the characteristics of 52 local landraces of Bambara groundnut traditionally cultivated in Benin based on 12 qualitative and 11 quantitative variables, in order to expose those of good qualities. After a classification based on the morphological variables of the seeds, the experimental field was installed in a completely randomized device of blocks repeated three times. The collected data was analyzed with Statistica 7.1 and NTSYS PC 2.2. softwares using qualitative characteristics (Growth’s type, Stem’s hairiness, Flower’s colour, Leave’s shape etc.). As result, the number of morphotypes increased from 18 (out of classification) to 47. Therefore, it appears that the Benin collection of Bambara groundnut is broad in morphological variability. The analysis of the principal component of the quantitative variables revealed three specific classes within the collection. The most efficient variety which belonged to the second class, had a high field yield per hectare (> 1 t/ha). The Souhouloumankpa variety yielded the earliest (103 days after sowing) in addition to the high field yield. The study also showed a positive relationship between 100 seed’s weight, their length, the number of seeds per plant and the seed’s field yield in kg/ha. For a sustainable preservation and an improvement of the available resources, a molecular characterization of the Bambara groundnut landraces in Benin Republic needs to be done.

Variability study of agro-morphological characteristics is important for varietal improvement and plant breeding program. For this, 148 chili pepper landraces (Capsicum annuum L.) collected from Northern Benin were characterized using 39 (21 qualitative and 18 quantitative) morphological characters. The trial was conducted in a Fisher block design with 3 replicates at the experimental station of the Faculty of Science and Technology (FAST) of Dassa based in Central Benin. The results revealed considerable morphological variability between landraces. Twenty nine (16 quantitative and 13 qualitative) variables among the 39 examined were discriminatory and group the landraces into 4 classes when considering the qualitative variables. With quantitative variables, 9 groups were obtained. The correlations between the studied quantitative variables show that the yield parameters are correlated with the variables related to the vegetative part of the plant. This study will help breeders to better select their parents for crossing in order to produce desirable and high yielding varieties.

Sweet potato is an important staple food in Benin, which unfortunately remains neglected by research and underutilized. To document the diversity of the crops for its sustainable conservation and use, an ethnobotanical investigation was conducted in 34 villages selected in Central and Southern Benin using participatory research approach methods and tools. For 24.59 % of the respondents, sweet potato is ranked as the sixth most important crop produced. 19.36 % of the respondents produced sweet potato for feeding purpose only, while 46.77 % of respondents are growing it for purely economic purposes. At total 12 constraints related to the sweet potato production were registered through the study area, among which eight, which represent 66.67 % of the constraints could be solve by the scientific research efforts while the rest (four constraints, 33.33 %) were purely of political order. The difficulty of farming practices (20.39 % of responses) and the sensitivity of the crop to the attack of pests and insects (19.74 % of responses) appeared as the major constraints cited by the respondents. The numbers of sweet potato varieties per village range from 2 (two) to 11 (eleven) with an average of 5 varieties per village. The Shannon diversity index of the South (4.06) is greater than the one of the Centre (4.00) and shows that South region has a relatively highest range of varieties and so suitable for the crops diversity conservation. At 65 % of similarity, the cluster analysis using UPGMA dendrogram classified the 108 sweet potato cultivars identified in eight groups corresponding to 92 morphological units based on 13 agronomic traits and culinary characteristic. Within the varietal group, it denotes some yellow (27.45 %) and orange (3.92 %) flesh variety groups of sweet potato which constitute potential source of vitamin A. The study of the vitamin A (caroten) content of those varieties is to be considered to fully exploit their nutritional potential.

Chili peppers play a significant role in the world diet and can contribute to the improvement of horticultural producers’ incomes. In Benin, chili pepper production is hampered by many challenges that need to be characterized, prioritized and addressed. Moreover, the existing diversity, as well as the agronomic potential, of the varieties being cultivated in Benin is still not well understood. In order to define the scientific basis for the improvement of chili pepper production and the preservation of its diversity, one hundred villages were randomly selected and surveyed in Northern and Central Benin by using participatory research appraisal tools and techniques. Twelve production constraints were identified, of which low productivity (19 %), soil infertility (18.5 %), drought (18.3 %), pests and disease susceptibility (17.9 %), early fall of plant organs (15 %) appear as the most important. In terms of diversity, 77 chili pepper varieties (40 from the frutescens group, 24 from the annuum group and 13 from the chinense group) including 72 local and five introduced varieties (Tatache, Yeyekouka, Yeyekouokoure, Cote d’ivoire and MC) were found. The number of varieties varies from three to seven (four on average) per village and from one to five by household. The proportion of loss of diversity per village varies from 0 to 75 % with an average of 26.61 %. Susceptibility to pests and diseases (37.1 % of responses), early fall of plant organs (11.6 % of responses) and susceptibility to drought (8.5 %), were the most important reasons given in attempts to explain the loss of diversity. Farmers’ varietal preference criteria are essentially agronomic (90.4 % of responses). The participative agronomic evaluation revealed that the varieties of frutescens group are significantly higher with respect to the evaluated variables, but they are less appreciated by the consumers.

Sweet potato is one of the most important food security promoted root crops in the world, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Unfortunately, the crop is still neglected and underutilized in Benin Republic. To establish baseline data for its better utilization for upgrading its value chain, 10 selected local varieties (01 cream, 02 white, 03 yellow, and 04 orange flesh-colored) were compared for their macro-nutritional composition assessed using standard Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) procedures and spectrophotometry methods. The results indicate that sweet potato dry matter, protein, fiber, and ash content ranged from 46.11 to 25.9%, 4.09 to 1.97%, 1.81 to 3.00%, and 4.70 to 2.56%, respectively and orange flesh cultivars were found very rich. Pearson correlation analysis of variables revealed that dry mater content is positively correlated with carbohydrate and energy values, but negatively correlated with ash and fiber content, while starch content is strongly correlated with fiber content. Principal component analysis allowed us to classify the sweet potato varieties into 03 varietal groups among which Group 2 (05 varieties) exhibited rich fiber, ash, and protein contents and may be recommended for infant foods formulations. These results constitute important orientation for sweet potato processing chain organization in Benin and for the establishment of future nutrition and breeding programme. Key words: Benin, sweet potato, Ipomoea batatas, nutritional composition, orange flesh cultivar, value chain.

Gbolo ( Crassocephalum crepidioides and Crassocephalum rubens ) is a traditional leafy vegetable highly consumed in southern and central Benin, as well as in some part of northern Benin. The nutritional potential of the two species of Gbolo were evaluated through their proximate composition, mineral and vitamin C profile using recommended AOAC method of analysis. The analysis revealed that the contents in raw protein, total lipids, ash and carbohydrates expressed in % of dry matter were 27.13±0.01%,3.45± 0.00%,19.02± 0.01%and 42.22 ± 0.04% for C. crepidioides ; 26.43± 0.01%, 2.75± 0.01%, 19.76± 0.05% and 43.11±0.10 % for C. rubens respectively. The content of vitamin C for 100g of fresh leaf is of 9.17 mg for C. crepidioides and 3.60 mg for C. rubens. The moisture content (% of cool matter) and the total metabolizable energy (kcal/100 g of dried matter) were respectively 86.79± 0.04 %and 308.45 ± 0.28 for C. crepidioide s and 87.95% ± 0.07 %and 302.91 ± 0.56 for C. rubens . The result of the mineral composition indicated that the sodium (Na), potassium (K), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn) and Copper (Cu) contents were higher in C. rubensthan in C. crepidioides. With regard to the obtained values, the Gbolo vegetable showed a satisfactory composition and a significant variability between the mineral salts in its two species and can be valorised for a balanced nutrition of populations. Efforts should be made for the promotion of its wide cultivation and consumption. © 2013 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved. Keywords: Benin, Crassocephalum , Gbolo, mineral composition, proximate composition, vitamin C.