Registration of ‘ARTPEA‐204B’, an early‐maturing cowpea cultivar for the southern agro‐ecology of Nigeria, with high fodder, high grain yield and reduced need for insecticidal spray

Abstract

Cowpea [Vigna ungiculata (L.) Walp] production is affected by numerous constraints such as insect pests, diseases (fungal, viral, and bacterial), poor soil fertility, metal toxicity, drought, and excessive rainfall. The high cost of input, especially pesticides, also contributes to the reduction of cowpea yield potential in sub‐Saharan Africa. ‘ARTPEA‐204B’ (Reg. no. CV‐351, PI 702792; National code NGVU‐22‐38), also known as Modupe, was developed through a cross between ‘Ife Brown’ and a wild cowpea landrace and release by the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Obafemi Awolowo University, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Nigeria, in 2022. It was bred for early maturing, high grain and fodder yield, and reduced insecticidal spray for the southern agro‐ecologies of Nigeria. ARTPEA‐204B along with Ife Brown and other cowpea lines were evaluated under farmer's management conditions in an on‐farm trial conducted in 30 communities in 15 local government areas of Ondo, Ekiti, Osun, and Oyo States in 2021 under farmers’ condition. ARTPEA‐204B is early maturing (69–72 days), high‐yielding fodder (4500 kg/ha) and grain (1.29 t/ha), photoperiod insensitive, reduce spray, and adaptable to all agro‐ecologies in southern Nigeria.