Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) agronomic traits needed in tropical zone

2015

E12500

Cowpea agronomic traits needed by producers and consumers should be considered in the breeding programmes. They vary with the target zone. Among those indicated in tropical zone appear:\n earliness, erect growth habit, resistance to the enemies (insect pests, pathogens, weeds), drought\n tolerance, high and stable seed yield, high harvest index, and appropriate seed quality. The importance, the inheritance, the heritability, and the possibility of improvement of those traits are reviewed. The research results reported indicate that some of the traits are monogenic or oligogenic\n whereas others are polygenic. Dissimilarities in the results, probably due to the materials and the methods used, have been noted for some traits. Heritability estimates reported are low, moderate or\n high depending on trait, population, environment, and computation method. Breeding for the traits considered can be successful if adequate methods are used.

3(4):158-165, INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PURE & APPLIED BIOSCIENCE

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