Genetic variability, heritability, correlation and path analysis in cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.]

Abstract

The study titled "Genetic Variability, Heritability, Correlation, and Path Analysis in Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.]" was conducted during the summer season of 2018-19 at the Horticulture Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (A Central University), Vidya-Vihar, Rae Bareli Road, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. This research involved 16 different cowpea genotypes obtained from BBAU, Lucknow, and was carried out using a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications. In this study, it was observed that the phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was consistently higher than the genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all the traits being investigated. The traits with the widest range of variation were pod yield per plot, number of seeds per plant, Vitamin A content, pod weight per plant, days to the first pod picking, and the duration of the reproductive phase. On the other hand, the number of branches per plant exhibited the lowest range of variation among the traits studied. The Highest Genotypic Coefficient of Variation (GCV) was observed for number of primary branches per plant (22.97%) followed by number of pods per peduncle (9.82%), and it was moderate for pod diameter (8.52%) number of seeds per plant (7.53%) and low was recorded for 100 seeds weight (5.89%) and number of branches per plant (5.68%), and lowest was recorded for vitamin A (0.38%).Phenotypic coefficient of variance was higher for number of primary branches per plant (24.78%) followed by number of pods per peduncle (19.44%), peduncle length (17.61%), where as it was moderate for pod diameter (14.16%), pod length (12.89%), number of seeds per pod (12.55%) and low was recorded for 100 seeds weight (8.86%), number of pods per plant (7.45%), days to first pod picking and it was lowest recorded for vitamin A (3.97%).