ISSN 2375-074X
African Journal of Plant Breeding ISSN: 2326-7286 Vol. 1 (1), pp. 001-007, June, 2013. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Diallel analysis of six agronomic characters in vigna unguiculata genotypes
Daniel Osadeyandhian IDAHOSA1, Joseph Eke ALIKA2
1Department of Crop Science, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria.
2Department of Crop Science, University of Benin, Nigeria.
*Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]
Accepted 12 June, 2013
Abstract
A diallel study was conducted involving 8 genomic cowpea cultivars from diverse geographical origin to identify superior germplasm and develop high yielding varieties. The eight populations and their twenty eight crosses were evaluated in two locations. Data obtained for grain yield plant height, days to flowering, pod length, seed/pod and seed weight were analyzed with Gardner and Eberhart model II. General and specific combining abilities effect were highly significant (P<0.05) for the characters except for grain yield and plant height (GCA). There was a preponderance of dominance gene effects for most characters. Estimates of GCA and SCA effects showed that Ekp-br, 325, ILCA-12648, ILCA-12646 were generally good combiners for most of the yield attributes and can be included in future improvement programmes.
Key words: Additive effects, cowpea, diallel cross, dominance effects, yield characters.