Character associations between seed yield and its components traits in cowpea [<italic>Vigna unguiculata</italic> (L.) Walp.

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during <italic>kharif</italic> season 2013 to estimate the correlations and path coefficients for ten quantitative characters among 72 cowpea germplasm. Seed yield per plant had positive significant correlation with days to 50% flowering, plant height, primary branches per plant, pods per plant, pod length, seeds per pod and 100-seed weight at both genotypic and phenotypic levels. Path coefficient analysis revealed that primary branches per plant and 100-seed weight had high direct positive effect on seed yield per plant at both genotypic and phenotypic levels. Pod length, days to maturity, 100 seed weight and pod wall proportion had high positive direct effects on seed yield per plant at only genotypic level. Correlation and path analysis indicated that for increasing seed yield in cowpea direct selection should be carried out for higher values of primary branches per plant, pods length, days to maturity and 100 seed weight.