Isolation and evaluation of mycorrhizal and rhizobial strains for stress-resilient Bambara groundnut cultivation

Bambara groundnut is a highly nutritious and drought-tolerant legume, making it a promising crop for sustainable agriculture in regions with adverse environmental conditions. So far, little is known about the contribution of beneficial microorganisms such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and rhizobia to Bambara groundnut resilience and productivity under such conditions. This project aims to characterize, isolate and evaluate AMF and rhizobial strains to improve stress resilience and productivity of Bambara groundnut. Specific objectives include: (1) identifying and sampling of diverse cultivation sites, (2) establishing protocols for microorganism isolation and cultivation, (3) characterizing microbial communities, (4) isolating and identifying beneficial strains, (5) testing strain compatibility under adverse conditions and (6) selecting and recommending strains for upscaling.