PHENOTYPIC AND GENOTYPIC VARIATIONS IN COWPEA (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) GENOTYPES IN NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

ABSTRACT Cowpea production is faced with a number of constraints which results into low grain and fodder yields. The study was carried out to determine variation in yield with its component traits in different cowpea accessions. Twenty genotypes of Cowpea were evaluated in two locations (Minna and Kontagora) in a randomized completely block design (RCBD) and replicated three times. Some of the parameters that were collected include plant height at first branching, number of branches at 3,6and 9 weeks, days to first flowering and poding, pod length, leaf area and biomass weight. Results revealed that, there was wide variation among the genotypes. Genotype 11D-15-40 recorded a higher grain yield (689.8kg/ha) in Kontagora while genotype 99K-57-3-2-1 recorded a higher grain yield (282.7kg/ha) in Minna. Kontagora environment recorded a higher performance than Minna environment. However, the cowpea genotypes showed wider variability in Kontagora environment as shown by Boxplot for seed yield. Genotypes 04K-267-8, 10K-816-1, 98K-1092-1and 100K-817-3 were better in Kontagora, while genotypes 12K-261, 12K-632, TVU-408, IT10K-827-7 and 99K-57-3-2 1 in Minna as indicated by genotype plus genotype by environment interaction (GGE) biplot. From the study, cowpea would be better produced in Kontagora than Minna.