Vol. 11, Issue 2 (2022)

Author(s):
Amritha Varanya, Gayathri G, Arya K, Usha C Thomas, Pratheesh P Gopinath and Priyanka Hulsure

Abstract:
143 fodder cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) genotypes along with 3 check varieties were evaluated for variability and genetic parameters in augmented block design at department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Trivandrum. The genotypes were evaluated for 20 biometric characters in which all the traits except secondary branches per plant and stem girth showed significant difference among the genotypes. Genetic parameter analysis revealed a high phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variation for leaf area index (LAI), green fodder yield per plant, stem dry weight per plant, leaf dry weight per plant, seed yield per plant etc. and minimum for days to maturity. Heritability and genetic advance was high for number of leaves per plant, LAI, green fodder yield per plant, stem dry weight per plant, leaf dry weight per plant, plant height and seed yield per plant. Since these traits are governed by additive gene action, which indicate that there exists a better scope for improvement of these characters in fodder cowpea through selection.