WIDE CROSSES IN COWPEA: AN APPRAISAL OF SOME RESISTANCE AND SUSCEPTIBLE LINES

Abstract

Wide crosses of twelve different genotypes of cultivated cowpea Vigna unguiculata
were made with a view to transferring useful genes to obtain hybrids with new traits
that can be of immense contribution to the yield of cowpea in the world. The expected
hybrids are intended to be used for mapping population for further cowpea breeding
programs. A total of 1 02 attempts were made but only eight out of all the crosses
were successful. Out of the eight successful crosses only three were viable and
germinated when planted. All the twelve genotypes studied were examined for their
morphological characters which were later used to construct a dendrogram. The

dendrogram showed that the genotype with accession number IT845-2246-4 is                     Ii

genetically more diverse compare 10 others. At 0.40 similarity coefficient three

clusters were formed. These clusters contain sub-clusters which vary from each other.
However; at a very high similarity coefficient of about 0.72 there exist relationships
between genotypes 2 and 8. A combination of the morphological and breeding works
can be used to identify various kinds of genotype and as a reference point for further
studies.