Vol. 11, Issue 4 (2022)

Author(s):
Joshi SN, SS Desai, SV Sawardekar, PB Sanap, AV Mane and RL Kunkerkar

Abstract:
The present investigation entitled “Heterosis for yield and yield related traits in red Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp).” was carried out to assess the heterosis for phenological traits, yield and yield contributing characters and quality attributes. Experiments were conducted during 2019-20 and 2020-21 at Plant Biotechnology Centre and Education and Research Farm, Department of Agril. Botany, College of Agriculture, Dapoli. The experimental material comprised of 32 genotypes including three check varieties viz., Phule Pandhari, Konkan Sadabahar and Konkan Safed. The fifteen F₁s were obtained by crossing eight genotypically different parents in line x tester design (5 lines and 3 testers) during Rabi 2020-21 in randomized block design for a total 16 traits namely, Days to initiation of flowering (DIF), Days to 50% flowering (DFF), Days to maturity (DM), Plant height (PH), No. of primary branches per plant (PBPP), No. of clusters per plant (CPP), No. of pods per plant (PPP), Pod length (PL), No. of grains per pod (GPP), Test weight (TW), Biological yield per plant (BYPP), Grain yield per plant (GYPP), Harvest index (HI), Protein- Seed protein content and Seed Iron content. The lines 4-40-1 and GC 8910 while a tester CD 209 were found to be the superior parents. The crosses TC 210 82 x IC 25 90 69, 4-40-1 x IC 25 9104, TC 210 82 x CD 209, KBC-WS-1 x CD 209 and KBC-WS-1 x IC 25 90 69 were observed to be promising.