Genetic variability Studies in F2 and F3 Segregating Generations for Biometrical Traits in Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp)

Author: Sunil R., Jiji Joseph, Santhosh Kumar A.V. and Biju S.

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Abstract

Pulses play a vital and diverse role in agricultural systems and the food habit of people around the world. They are ideal crops for reducing poverty, enhancing human health and nutrition, and improving the ecosystems’ resilience. Among legumes, Cowpea is the traditional and most important one and the potential source of protein for the majority of Kerala's population. They also provide most of the essential amino acids. Combination breeding aims to breed crop with desired objectives. Developing cowpea genotypes with high yield combined with high protein content is challenging. The present study aimed to identify potential segregates with high yield and high protein from inter-varietal crosses of cowpea. The evaluation was carried out in Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Kerala Agricultural University during 2016-2017. In this research, two crosses of F1 generation were advanced to F2 and F3 segregating generations for genetic variability studies isolate good segregates with high seed yield coupled with protein content. Between the two crosses studied, Anaswara × PKB 4 registered superior per se performance in both F2 and F3 generations for seed yield and its related attributes such as plant height, pod weight and number of seeds per pod. Anaswara × PKB 6 exhibited better performance for seed protein content in the segregating generations. The F2 and F3 generations of Anaswara × PKB 6 and Anaswara × PKB 4 showed moderate PCV, GCV coupled with high heritability and high genetic advance as percentage of mean for seed yield and seed protein content indicating possibility of genetic improvement in succeeding generations of the crop. Segregants with high yield and high protein content were identified and forwarded to next generations. This helps in developing a novel cowpea genotypes with high yield and high protein quality.

Keywords

Cowpea, Segregating generations, PCV, GCV, Heritability, Genetic advance

Conclusion

Breeding of pulses for high yield and nutritionally stable is an alarming need to meet out the outbreak of Indian population. The results of present study revealed that high range of variability for quantitative traits exist in the early segregating generations, providing a better scope for improving the traits of breeder's interest. The PCV and GCV values were high to medium for most of the traits indicate that selection will be effective in early segregating generations to better extent. High heritability values for quantitative traits indicate inheritance of the genes in early segregating generations. Traits with high heritability coupled with high genetic advance over mean reveals additive gene action and effective for phenotypic selection. Thus, the investigation provides understanding of the genetic basis of inheritance of quantitative trait in early segregating generations of cowpea, which may be useful in future breeding programmes.

References

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How to cite this article

Sunil R., Jiji Joseph, Santhosh Kumar A.V. and Biju S. (2023). Genetic variability Studies in F2 and F3 Segregating Generations for Biometrical Traits in Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. walp). Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(10): 234-238.