Inheritance of seed size and number per pod in cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.)

Generation Mean Analysis for Yield and Yield Components in Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.]

“…According to Jinks and Jonse three parameter model additive [d] gene effects play important role for controlling this trait in particular these two crosses. The significant opposite signs of dominance and dominance x dominance effects indicated the presence of duplicate epistasis in the inheritance of this trait in crosses III and V. The present findings are in conformity to the results of Drabo et al, (1985), Singh et al, (2006), Lal et al, (2013) and Thakare et al, (2016) who reported that additive, dominance and epistatic effect were most important for inheritance of seeds per pod in cowpea. The involvement of both additive and non-additive gene effects in the genetic control of this trait suggested that homozygous elite recombinants could be developed following inter-crossing of desirable segregants.…”

Phenotypic Analysis of Seed Yield and Yield Components in Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L., Walp)

“…Taking together, it therefore possible to breed cowpeas that combine large seed size with high yield, although seed size recorded negative correlations with seeds per pods but not with seeds per plants (Ogunbodede 1989; Table 3 this data). Rachie and Roberts (1974) and Drabo et al (1985) reported similar negative correlations between seed size and seeds per pod. While large seeds could be constrained by seed per pods (negative correlation), improvement for combining high yield and large seed could be achieved through breeding for increased number of pods per plant.…”

“…High heritability estimates as obtained here is a measure of stability in the phenotypic expression of these plant characters through space and time and possible genetic advancement for cowpea yield. Past genetic studies in cowpea had shown broad sense heritability ranging between 48% and 82% for seed size (Leleji 1976), 48% and 90% for seed size, 21 and 82% for seeds per pod (Drabo et al 1985). Nwofia and Okwu (2012) reported broad sense heritability of between 79.6% and 99.9% in pawpaw.…”

“…For example, large (size) seeds with rough testa are preferred by consumers and cultivars with large seed number per pod/plant with short gestation are important to farmers/ growers for higher yield and multiple planting cycles per year. Therefore development of improved varieties should include these traits along seed-grain yield Drabo et al 1985;Singh 2007;Machado et al 2008;Ribeiro et al 2014). In this study, five (5) varieties (IT07K-299-6, IT08K-150-24, IT10K-815-5, IT10K-817-7 and IT10k-837-1 showed high potential for the combination of early-medium pod maturity (60-70 days), high yield (＞5,000 kg ha -1 ) with large seeds (＞0.18 g/seed), thus suitable for multiple traits package as improved cowpea varieties.…”

“…Understanding interrelationship among these component constituents (yield component traits) (Oladejo et al 2011) and the environment (Nwofia 2012) is vital to achieving high and stable yield. Genetic studies in cowpea have largely focused on inheritance and additive-dominant models through generation mean analysis of crossed parents (Sene 1968;Aryeetey and Laing 1973;Warner and Honma 1980;Drabo et al 1984;Drabo et al 1985). However, recent advances in genomics have implicated epigenetics in plant gene-trait(s) breakdown and/or loss through time (Pikaard and Scheid 2014).…”