Abstract The assessment of the degree and partitioning of genetic variation in crop populations and species is crucial to understand their adaptive evolution and provides vital knowledge to assist in the development of crops to combat food insecurity. Underutilised crops are understudied but are often drought/heat-tolerant or nutritionally diverse, hence as food security becomes more pressing, their investigations are increasing. Here we focus on horsegram (Macrotyloma uniflorum (Lam.) Verdc.) and perennial horsegram (M. axillare (Meyer) Verdcourt), two closely related drought and heat tolerant underutilised legumes. Forty-two accessions were studied through phylogenetic and population genetic analysis and by measuring their seed and plant morphologies to assess genetic and morphological variation within and between the species. The species were distinct at the genetic level, with genetic diversity about 2.5 times greater in M. axillare than in M. uniflorum. Previously unsampled horsegram accessions from Africa were distinct from South Asia and therefore could contain novel genetic variation. Genetic variation suggested four clusters within perennial horsegram, which were largely structured by geography. Seed length is significantly greater in horsegram, and the two species differ in their dominant seed and stem colours which could assist in-field identification. This work provides new insight into these species specifically and underutilised legumes more generally. Future investigations focused on identifying adaptive genetic variation are warranted to further reveal the potential of these crops in being optimised for promotion and commercialisation, especially in countries which need more sustainable and reliable agricultural varieties to mitigate climate change.
Taylor et al. (2026) studied this question.