AGRO-MORPHOLOGICAL VARIATION AND GENETIC POTENTIAL IN Vigna unguiculata subssp. unguiculata var. spontanea
Keywords:
cowpea, crop wild-relative (CWR), diversity, insect tolerance, multivariate analysisAbstract
Exploring the genetic potentials of wild relatives of crop varieties plays a critical role in broaden the narrow genetic base and introducing novel genetic diversity into the domesticated crop plants. Genetic diversity in 90 accessions of Vigna unguiculata subspp unguiculata var. spontanea and 3 cultivars of V. unguiculata subspp unguiculata var. unguiculata were investigated. Field trials were carried out at Abeokuta (2014 and 2015) and Ibadan (2014), Nigeria in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Data collected on qualitative and quantitative traits varied among the accessions which indicated unique phenotypic features in the accessions. Early flowering accessions (NGB1140, NGB1083, NGB1136 and NGB1170) and accessions with low leaf defoliation (NGB1089, NGB1108, NGB1142, NGB1150, NGB1171, NGB1085 and NGB1177) among the cultivars were identified. Genetic diversity analysis revealed nineteen (19) homogenous groups among the accessions. Divergence among the groups was attributed more to seed yield (R2 = 0.90), number of pods/plant (R2 = 0.86) and days to flowering (R2 = 0.86). Promising genetic potential in the V. unguiculata subspp unguiculata var spontanea for desirable traits, and their effective use for further improvement of cultivated cowpea through hybridization programme were revealed.
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