Stability analysis for grain yield and component characters in cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.]

Abstract

The present investigations were carried out with a view to know the genotype by environment interaction and stability in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.). Thirty hybrids were developed by adopting full diallel mating design. A set of thirty-eight cowpea entries including six parents (NCK-15-9, NCK-15-10, NC-15-41, NC-15-42, NC-15-44, NC-15-45) thirty crosses and two check varieties, GC-3 and GDVC-2 evaluated at three locations viz. Navsari, Mangrol and Achhalia using randomized block design with three replications during Kharif-2017. The observations were recorded on parents and F1’s quantitative traits and quality traits viz. days to 50 per cent flowering, plant height (cm), primary branches per plant, pods per plant, pod length (cm), seeds per pod, green seed weight (g), green pod yield per plant (g), grain yield per plant (g), straw yield per plant (g), shelling percentage (per cent), havest index (per cent) and protein content (per cent). The pooled analysis of variance for different characters revealed significant differences among the genotypes, environments and genotype × environment interaction for all the characters, indicating the existence of considerable variability in the materials studied and between the environments. Parent, NCK-15-10 was found average stable for green pod yield per plant while parents NC-15-41, NC-15-44 and NC-15-45 were average stable for grain yield per plant, it is remarkable that parent NC-15-45 was found average stable for most of the characters under study. Out of best five best crosses for stability for green pod yield as well as grain yield per plant NC-15-45 x NC-15-41 was found average stable for both and best suited for all the environments for dual purpose cowpea, while cross NC-15-45 x NCK-15-10 and NCK-15-10 x NC-15-45 were average stable for grain yield per plant.