In order to select cowpea genotypes with high food value, 10 varieties were genetically screened in Ngaoundéré (Cameroon) for seed crude protein and its soluble fractions contents. Five divergent lines were studied through a 5 x 5 half diallel cross mating. The genotypes presented a significant genetic variability for these parameters (p < 0.05). The globulins constituted the major seed protein fraction, followed by albumins. Diallel analysis demonstrated that, both additive and non-additive gene effects were responsible for the genetic variation of these traits. However, dominance variance was more important than additive variance for all traits. The model of over-dominance was most widespread, suggesting delayed selection to fairly good improvement. All these parameters were found highly inheritable (h 2 = 0.68 to 0.83). The parents differed significantly for their general combining ability (GCA) and the F 1 progenies showed specific combining ability (SCA). Dominant genes have positive effects for high levels of albumins, globulins and prolamins, while high percentage of seed protein and high glutenins content appeared to be associated with recessive genes. In the Guinea savannah zone, these results would help breeders to improve these biochemical traits in terms of initial parent selection and subsequent crossbred selection and breeding procedures.
Aims: Cowpea's use as leafy vegetable has been widely neglected in research. The present study was aimed at finding out the nature and magnitude of genetic variability in dual-purpose cowpea for leaf yield and quality attributes. Place and Duration of Study: Ngaoundéré University (Cameroon), from 2008 to 2009. Study design and Methodology: Fourteen pure lines and ten F 1 hybrids derived from a 5 x 5 half-diallel cross were grown in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications to assess the genetic mechanism of leaf yield index (LYI), leaf area (LA), leaves per plant (NLP), leaf protein (LN) and phosphorus (LP) content.Results: Analysis of variance indicated significant differences (p<0.01) among genotypes for all traits. Moderate to high heritability in broad-sense (0.49-0.90) was recorded for the characters indicating major role of genetic variance in the expression of these polygenic traits. Diallel analysis showed significance (p<0.05) of the effects of general combining ability (GCA), specific combining ability (SCA), the involvement of additive and dominance genes. These genes were asymmetrically distributed among the parental genotypes. Dominant genes had an overall positive effect for leaves per plant, leaf yield index and phosphorus content while high protein content and surface area appeared to be associated
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