Genomic data of the Bambara Groundnut (<i>Vigna subterranea</i>)

<i>Vigna subterranea</i> is an agriculturally, biologically, medicinally and economically important African orphan crop. Bambara Groundnut grows well any where groundnut (peanut) grows and so is vastly present from Kwara state and throughout the northern parts of Nigeria.<br> Wikipedia states that the Bambara groundnut represents the third most important grain legume in semi-arid Africa. It is resistant to high temperature and is suitable for marginal soils where other leguminous crops cannot be grown. Wikipedia includes in its list of uses; the seeds are used for food and beverages; the entire plant is known for soil improvement; in West Africa, the nuts are eaten as a snack, roasted and salted, processed into cake, or as a meal, boiled similar to other beans.<br> Here we present draft genome information of <em>Vigna subterranea.</em> The assembled genome of <em>Vigna subterranea</em> is 535 Mb, and we predict 31707 protein-coding genes for this crop species. We have further analyzed the expansion and contraction of selected gene families, and characterized root-nodule-symbiosis genes, transcription factors and starch biosynthesis related genes in the genome of this species.