Vol. 11, Issue 12 (2022)

Author(s):
Megha S Sogalad, Dr. Sanjeev K Deshpande and Kavyashree NM

Abstract:
In the present study, 45 genotypes of cowpea were evaluated during Kharif 2021 and summer 2022 to assess the genetic variation and inter-relationships among ten yield and yield attributing traits at botany garden of Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad,. The analysis of variance indicated that the 45 cowpea genotypes showed highly significant differences for all studied characters. The high genotypic coefficient of variation and phenotypic coefficient of variation was observed for number of pods per plant, number of clusters per plant and number of pods per cluster. Considerable amount of genetic variability was present in the experimental material, which could be exploited for improvement of cowpea. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance for characters viz., number of clusters per plant, number of pods per cluster, number of pods per cluster, number of pods per plant, test weight and grain yield per plant indicated additive gene effects. Hence, simple selection could be effective for further improvement in these characters. Genetic correlation indicated that traits viz., number of clusters per plant, number of pods per cluster, number of pods per plant, pod length, peduncle length, number of seeds per pod and test weight showed a significant positive association with grain yield per plant. Path analysis revealed that days to 50% flowering, number of clusters per plant, number of pods per plant, pod length and peduncle length showed direct positive effects on grain yield per plant at genotypic level indicating that direct selection for these traits results in an increase in yield. If the selection is made for any of these components, the improvement in seed yield could be achieved.