Author(s): Hemal K Parmar, Manish Sharma, PR Patel, MP Patel, Vishakha Patel and Tejaswini Banakar

Abstract: Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.], is a legume and one of the most ancient crops known to man and grown in tropical and subtropical regions having a high nutritional value. Despite of its importance, the utilization of genetic diversity and germplasm characterization in cowpea breeding program is lacking. Adequate information on the relationship between yield components and seed yield is, however, crucial for the development of better-quality varieties to improve farmer's field yield. Therefore, eleven morphological characters were analysed for genetic variability and correlation studies in thirty-three cowpea genotypes. Data collected on plant vigour indices, yield components and seed yield were analysed for variance components, Pearson correlation coefficient and structural equation modelling for path analysis. The genotype exhibited significant variation for all yield components including seed yield. In addition, the variance estimates indicated that substantial variations recorded were mostly genetic with high heritability values. Importantly, all seed yield components were significantly correlated with each other and to total seed yield. Harvest index, however, recorded highest coefficient values (r=0.91; p<0.001; 3.58**) followed by number of pod per plant (r=0.61; p<0.001; 1.36**) and pod length (r=0.28; p<0.001; 5.30**) for both Pearson correlation and path analysis, respectively, suggesting its importance as a yield component with highest direct effect on seed yield and should be a core selection index in cowpea breeding.

DOI: 10.33545/26174693.2024.v8.i3Sh.827