Simultaneous selection for cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) genotypes with adaptability and yield stability using mixed...

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Plant Breeding
• Genetics

Background:

• Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) is a vital legume crop, but selecting genotypes with high yield, adaptability, and stability remains a challenge.
• Optimizing cowpea production in regions like Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, requires robust selection strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify erect cowpea genotypes with simultaneous high adaptability, stability, and grain yield.
• To evaluate selection strategies using mixed models in Brazilian agricultural conditions.

Main Methods:

• Conducted six multi-environment trials with 20 cowpea genotypes over two years (2005-2006).
• Employed a randomized complete block design with four replications.
• Estimated genetic parameters using restricted maximum likelihood/best linear unbiased prediction (REML/BLUP).
• Utilized the harmonic mean of relative performance of genetic values (HM-RPGV) for selection.

Main Results:

• Identified MNC99542F-5 and MNC99-537F-4 as promising genotypes for broad cultivation due to high grain yield, adaptability, and stability.
• Achieved moderate to high heritability estimates for the selected genotypes.
• Selective accuracy was 82%, indicating high reliability in the selection process.

Conclusions:

• The study successfully identified superior cowpea genotypes for diverse environments.
• The applied mixed model approach and selection strategies are effective for cowpea breeding programs.
• MNC99542F-5 and MNC99-537F-4 offer significant potential for enhancing cowpea production in Brazil.