Genetic variabilty and association studies in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. walp.)

Abstract

Profound knowledge on variability of genetic material would be of immense importance to any plant breeding programs. In the present study two segregating populations viz., C-152 x V- 16 and C-152 x HC-03-02 were taken to assess the PCV, GCV and GAM, etc. The segregating populations of C-152 x V-16 cross showed high PCV estimates for plant height, number of branches per plant, number of seeds per pod, seed yield per plant and number of pods per plant. But GCV estimate was high for the traits like number of pods per plant and seed yield per plant. Heritability in broad sense was high for test weight, number of branches per plant and seed yield. The GAM estimates were high for all the traits studied except number of branches per plant. Similarly, in another cross C-152 x HC-03- 02, high PCV values were estimated for plant height, number of branches per plant, seeds per pod, seed yield and number of pods per plant. Whereas, GCV and heritability were high for plant height and test weight and GAM was high for all the traits studied. Number of pods per plant and number of seeds per pod had significant positive correlation among themselves in both the crosses studied. It may be inferred that these traits have strong influence on seed yield per plant. Since, the characters are inter-correlated among themselves; selection for any one of the traits will result in the improvement of other trait thereby, resulting in increased seed yield.