Study on correlation and path analysis in cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.]

Abstract

Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] Also known as a black-eyed pea or Southern pea is rich in proteins, vitamins and minerals especially phosphorus. The present investigation was conducted at the Vegetable farm, RPCAU, Pusa, Samastipur during zaid-2017. Twenty-seven genotypes of cowpea were sown in RBD in three replications with spacing 60 cm × 45 cm and observations were recorded for eighteen quantitative traits. The result on phenotypic and genotypic correlation coefficient revealed that pod yield plant-1 had positive and significant correlation with plant height (0.604**), number of branches plant-1 (0.689**), number of nodes on main stem (0.718**), number of pods cluster-1 (0.461**), pod length (0.439**), average pod weight (0.521**) and number of pods plant-1 (0.859**) while negative and significant with pod borer infestation percentage (-0.844**). The Path Coefficient analysis of yield and yield attributing traits showed direct and positive effect of plant height, number of node on main stem, number of pod cluster-1, pod length, pod weight and number of pod plant-1 on yield while negative and direct effect of pod borer infestation on yield. These results suggest that during the course of selection these traits may be considerable as prime trait to enhance yield of cowpea.