AbstractThe F2progenies of crosses between several cowpea (V. unguiculata) lines were investigated for variation of eye pattern and seed coat colour. It was found that three (W, H, O) and five (R, P, B, M, N) major genes control eye pattern and seed coat colour, respectively. The recessive gene (GO) for restricted eye pattern enables the underlying basic white or cream seed coat colour to be observed. A similar effect is obtained with the recessive gene (rr) for colour expression. The expression of mottling (V), possibly a seed coat pattern, may for be observed when it is combined with the genes for certain eye patterns. The significance of these findings in breeding for consumer preference for specific seed coat colour is discussed.
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