Short Communication

**Biometrical Evaluation and Yield Performance Assessment of Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] Landraces Grown under Lowland Tropical Conditions**

O. Udensi, E.A. Edu, E.V. Ikpeme, J.K. Ebiwgai and D.E. Ekpe

The precarious and worsening climatic and weather conditions being experienced in the globe today poses a threat to food security. Thus, there is a need for an urgent search for crops with intrinsic capacity to withstand the stressors and still perform well productivity-wise. The present study focused on the estimation of genetic variability and heritability of morphological traits in four cowpea landraces-akidi, olaudi, ileje ajaka and ileje with the aim of improvement. Seeds of the landraces were obtained from dealers in Enugu and Kogi States, Nigeria, respectively and sown on a plot of land measuring 10x10 meters at the University of Calabar Experimental Farm, Calabar during 2010-2011 growing season. A randomized complete block design was adopted during the planting. Variance estimates, genetic advance and heritability of yield and yield-related traits were estimated. The mean morphological and yield performance showed that there were significant differences (p<0.05) in all the parameters studied except days to 50% seedling emergence with “olaudi” variety maturing fast and having the highest seed yield. The results present high and wide genetic variability in the vein length per plant, number of leaves per plant, leaf area, number of flowers per plant, days to 50% maturity and seed yield. Genetic advance were considerably low but with high heritability estimates in all the traits investigated. The results explicitly revealed that there are sufficient genetic variations to encourage the improvement of these orphan crops.

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O. Udensi, E.A. Edu, E.V. Ikpeme, J.K. Ebiwgai and D.E. Ekpe, 2012. Biometrical Evaluation and Yield Performance Assessment of Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] Landraces Grown under Lowland Tropical Conditions. International Journal of Plant Breeding and Genetics, 6: 47-53.

DOI: 10.3923/ijpbg.2012.47.53

URL: https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=ijpbg.2012.47.53

International Journal of Plant Breeding and Genetics

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Authors

O. Udensi

E.A. Edu

E.V. Ikpeme

J.K. Ebiwgai

D.E. Ekpe

Keywords

Short Communication

**Biometrical Evaluation and Yield Performance Assessment of Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] Landraces Grown under Lowland Tropical Conditions**

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