Heterosis and inbreeding depression in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.)Walp.)

Abstract

Heterosis and inbreeding depression study was carried out in 8x8 half diallel crosses of cowpea during summer and kharif seasons, 2005. Significant and highest desirable heterosis over mid and better parents was found to the extent of 86.11 and 81.83% for green pod yield per plant, 62.68 and 58.64% for number of pods per plant, 29.37 and 8.21% for pod length, 46.28 and 35.50% for number of seeds per pod, 15.42 and 10.88% for 100 seed weight, 12.16 and 11.72% for number of peduncles per plant, 14.90 and 5.33% for peduncle length, -13.51 and -12.50% for days to 50% flowering, 39.58 and 35.35% for number of primary branches per plant and 89.32 and 22.53% for plant height, respectively. However, except plant height, significant inbreeding depression was found for all the traits like number of primary branches per plant, days to 50% flowering, peduncle length, number of peduncles per plant, pod length, number of seeds per pod, 100 seed weight, number of pods per plant and green pod yield per plant.