Study on Morphological and Genetic Variations among Vegetable Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] Genotypes in North-Eastern Ghat Region of India

Author: Dipankar Barik, Subhrajyoti Chatterjee and Pritismita Nayak

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Abstract

In the present study, 10 morphological and 11 quantitative characters were recorded from 21 varieties of vegetable cowpea. The overall mean value of Shannon-Weaver diversity index was 1.276 which confirmed the existence of diversity among the genotypes. The genotypes ‘CP-738’, ‘Kashi Kanchan’, ‘CP-1116’, ‘CP-863’, ‘EC-202526’, ‘Arka Garima’ and ‘IC-39856’ were found most promising in respect to green pod yield per plant. Among various parameters of variability, high coefficients of variation (phenotypic and genotypic) were found for the characters pod length, number of green pods per plant, 10 green pod weight and green pod yield per plant. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as per cent of mean was observed for days to first flowering, days to 50% flowering, pod length, pod diameter, number of green pods per plant, 10 green pod weight, protein content and green pod yield per plant indicated that these traits are predominantly governed by additive gene, so early generation selection would be rewarding for improving these traits. Number of green pods per plant, pod diameter and 10 green pod weight should be considered as the most important selection indices for enhancing green pod yield in cowpea.

Keywords

Cowpea, Shannon-Weaver diversity index, Genetic variability, Selection indices

Conclusion

The present study illustrated significant variation among genotypes for both qualitative and quantitative traits. The overall mean of Shannon-Weaver diversity index (H) value of 1.276 amply suggest the existence of diversity among the genotypes under study. Days to first flowering, days to 50% flowering, pod length, pod diameter, number of green pods per plant, 10 green pod weight, protein content and green pod yield per plant exhibited high heritability in conjunction with high genetic advance which suggests that the characters concerned are conditioned by additive gene action and therefore, these characters would be more reliable for effective selection. The maximum positive direct effects were exerted by number of green pods per plant, pod diameter and 10 pod weight on green pod yield per plant. The genotypes ‘CP-738’, ‘Kashi Kanchan’, ‘CP-1116’, ‘CP-863’, ‘EC-202526’, ‘Arka Garima’ and ‘IC-39856’ were found most promising in respect to green pod yield per plant.

References

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How to cite this article

Dipankar Barik, Subhrajyoti Chatterjee and Pritismita Nayak (2023). Study on Morphological and Genetic Variations among Vegetable Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] Genotypes in North-Eastern Ghat Region of India. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(5): 1247-1255.