Variability for fodder yield and its components in cowpea

摘要

Genotypicand phenotypic variability was analysed for six quantitative characters in thirty seven cultivars of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp). The range of phenotypic variability and estimates of phenotypic and genotypic variances and coefficient of variability were high for green fodder yield per plant, length of mam branch, plant height and days to 50 percent flowering, whereas these estimates were moderate for leafiness (percent) and low for number of branches per plant. The differences between varietal means of all the characters were significant. The heritability estimates of the characters studied ranged from 31.0 to 92.7 percent. Reasonably high estimates of expected genetic gain (23.2 to 28.8) for percent of mean accompanied with highor moderately high heritability (50 to 97.7) were observed for days to 50 percent flowering, green fodder yield per plant and length of the main branch. The study suggests further scope for the improvement of fodder yield in cowpea.