International Journal of Plant Breeding and Genetics1819-35952152-3347Academic Journals Inc.10.3923/ijpbg.2018.1.12Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.]]]>OlasupoFestus Olakunle IloriChristopher Olumuyiwa ForsterBrian Peter BadoSouleymane 12018121Background and Objective: Induced mutation is a valuable tool used by plant breeders for creating new variation where crop genetic diversity is insufficient. The study was conducted to select mutants that possess novel morpho-agronomic traits from M2 generation. Materials and Methods: Seeds obtained from M1 plants derived from gamma irradiated seeds of eight cowpea accessions were advanced to M2 generation. The M2 plants were screened and scored for mutant phenotypes on the field. Selected mutants were advanced to M3 and M4 generations to confirm their mutant phenotypes and genetic stability. Results: Observed mutation spectra and frequencies varied across all the accessions and radiation treatments. New cowpea mutants with novel phenotypic and agronomic traits were selected from five out of the eight accessions studied. The frequencies of yellow and white seedling (albino) mutants were higher than other mutants in all cowpea accessions and across radiation treatments. Mutation rates were higher (0.0057<1.745) in the four elite cultivars, whereas, lower range of mutation frequencies (0<0.4013) were recorded in Ife brown (IB) and its derivatives. The tall-erect non-branching trait of the mutant IB-ER could be introgressed to develop tall and erect varieties that may be useful for mechanized cowpea production. Conclusion: Mutants selected in this study could be of benefit for cowpea improvement, genetic analysis, biochemical and physiological studies.]]>Keightley, P.D.,200424227247Mba, C., P. Guimaraes and K. Ghosh,20122012Hadjichristodoulou, A.,19911991pp: 283287Udensi, O.U., A. Okon, E.V. Ikpeme, O.O. Onyokpo and F.U. Ogban,2015Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) accessions obtained from IITA, Nigeria using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD).]]>101222Muthusamy, A., K. Vasanth and N. Jayabalan,2005Gossypium hirsuthum L.).]]>168Bado, S., B.P. Forster, S. Nielen, A.M. Ali, P.J. Lagoda, B.J. Till and M. Laimer,2015392388Hall, A.E., B.B. Singh and J.D. Ehlers,199715217274Gardener, E.J., M.J. Simmons and D.P. Snustad,19918th Edn.pp: 288-319pp: 288-319Fawole, I.,1997Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.]]>313540Olasupo, F.O., C.O. Ilori, B.P. Forster and S. Bado,2016Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp.).]]>7339351Gnanamurthy, S., S. Mariyammal, D. Dhanavel and T. Bharathi,20123 generation in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp).]]>23942Horn, L.N., H.M. Ghebrehiwot and H.A. Shimelis,20162016Singh, V.V., K. Ramkrishna and R.K. Arya,2006Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.].]]>66312315Fawole, I.,1988Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.]]>79484487Walbot, V.,1988212259264Kirchhoff, W.R., A.E. Hall and M.L. Roose,198929105108Porbeni, J.O.,2009Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.]]>2009Oluwatosin, O.B.,1997Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.]]>1997Olasupo, F.O.,2004Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. Cv. Ife brown.]]>2004Sangsiri, C., W. Sorajjapinun and P. Srinivesc,200531251255van Harten, A.M.,1998Pages: 353Pages: 353Mba, C., R. Afza, S. Bado and S.M. Jain,20102010pp: 111-130pp: 111-130