Genetic variation within a collection of Nigerian accessions of African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa) revealed by RAPD primers

African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa, Hochst. ex A. Rich, Harms) an indigenous food crop legume in tropical Africa, is highly under-exploited. Very little information is available on the nature and extent of genetic diversity of Nigerian accession of African yam bean (AYB) particularly using molecular markers. In this study, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers were used to assess genetic diversity in twenty-four accessions of Nigerian collection of AYB. Eleven random decamer primers were used for PCR amplification, but only nine RAPD primers that gave distinct bands were considered for analysis. A total of Fifty-three RAPD bands were generated by the nine RAPD primers and analyzed using Numeric Taxonomy System of Statistic (NTSYS). The similarity indices ranged from 0.42 to 0.96; 8 distinct DNA cluster groups were identified at 0.80 similarity indexes. Results showed a high genetic diversity among Nigerian accession of African yam bean. Such genetic diversity is useful in facilitating the development of large number of new varieties through hybridization, transfer of useful genes, thus maximizing the use of such available germplasms as genetic resource materials for breeders.