GROWTH AND YIELD CHARACTERS OF SOME COWPEA (VIGNA UNGUICULATA (L.) WALP.) GENOTYPES USING F1 HYBRID IN SANDY SOIL OF NORTH KORDOFAN STATE, SUDAN

Abstract

Cowpea is a popular source of protein in Sudan, especially in the dry areas (western Sudan), where the diversity in plant germplasm has an important role in breeding strategy programs for selection of high yield genotypes. The study aimed to estimate the growth, phonological, and yield characteristics of five cowpea genotypes selected from a previous study resistant to Bruchid insect attack, these are: P1, P2, P3, P4, and P5 (Parents) and their F1 crosses. The parameters investigated by the study were growth, plant height (cm), number of reproductive branches per plant, number of days to 50% flowering and yield characters, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod and 100 seed weight (g). The results of the traits mentioned showed highly significant differences (P≤ 0.05) among the genotypes and F1 crosses. Genotypes P4, P2 were the most crosses showed the highest (P≤ 0.05) estimates of plant height and number of branches per plant. The genotype P4 recorded the highest (P≤ 0.05) number of pods per plant, while P4 and P1 genotypes recorded the highest (P≤ 0.05) number of seeds per pod. On the other hand, P5 and P3 genotypes were higher in 100 seed weight (P≤ 0.05). The best genotypes in growth and yield characteristics were p2 and p4, while the best cross was recorded by P4P2.