Evidence of Maternal Effect on the Inheritance of Flowering Time in Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.)

Research Article

**Evidence of Maternal Effect on the Inheritance of Flowering Time in Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.)**

The Nigerian vegetable cowpea accessions differ in phenology with respect to their reactions to day-length. Some are Day Neutral (DN) while others are Short Day (SD) plants. Field experiments were therefore carried out to investigate possible influence of maternal effects on the inheritance of flowering time in cowpea. The distribution of the progenies with respect to days to flowering showed combine effect of both maternal and nuclear influence on the inheritance of flowering time in cowpea. The parental lines, F₁, F₂ and backcross populations differed significantly (p<0.05) in days to flowering and other yield traits assessed. Days to first and 50% flowering for SD accessions were delayed significantly (p<0.05) compared to DN accessions. The result of the principal component analysis revealed that the most effective characters for distinguishing the parents and progenies included days to first and 50% flowering, No. of peduncles plant^-1, No. of flowers plant^-1, No. of pods plant^-1 and grain yield. The scatter plot and cluster means of the first two principal axes grouped the cowpea accessions into two main clusters. Cluster I comprised of early flowering (<45 days) DN cowpea accessions that were relatively poor in the yield traits assessed. Conversely, the cowpea accessions in cluster II were late flowering (>45 days) SD but prolific in grain and other yield attributes. The hybrids arising from these two groups of cowpea flowered irrespective of day-length, implying continuous podding and all-year-round harvest.

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How to cite this article

W. Manggoel and M.I. Uguru, 2012. Evidence of Maternal Effect on the Inheritance of Flowering Time in Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.). International Journal of Plant Breeding and Genetics, 6: 1-16.

DOI: 10.3923/ijpbg.2012.1.16

URL: https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=ijpbg.2012.1.16

Comments

Dasbak, Madang Ayuba Reply

12 September, 2011

A good article worth publishing in a reputable Journal

Paul Longmil Reply

29 October, 2011

The work is a masterpiece, published in a relevant rep[table international Journal.

International Journal of Plant Breeding and Genetics

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Authors

W. Manggoel

M.I. Uguru

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