Characterization and conservation of cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] germplasm in arid region

摘要

One hundred and thirty eight accessions of cowpea were studied during 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 for twenty two morpho-agronomical characters. A wide range of variability was observed in plant type; plant height; plant habit; leaves; number of branches;number of days to 50% flowering and 80% maturity; number of clusters; number of pods per plant; pod length; number of seeds per pod; seeds yield per plant; size, shape and colour of immature and mature pods; size, shape and colour of seeds and 100 seed weight. Accessions EC 018321 and EC 390233 had 57.57 and 57.12 per cent higher seed yield per plant than that of best check FTC-27 (13.85g). Accessions EC 018321 had maximum pods (47.3) and seed yield (32.64g) per plant, while accessions EC 101975 had highest 100 seed weight (18.60g).