Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata): Genetics, genomics and breeding

Ousmane Boukar,Olusoji Olufajo,Muhammed Lawan Umar,Mohammed Haruna,Nouhoun Belko,Siva Chamarthi,Christian Fatokun,Sory Diallo,Joseph Batieno,Emmanuel Owusu,Abou Togola

doi:10.1111/pbr.12589

Abstract

AbstractCowpea, Vigna unguiculata (L.), is an important grain legume grown in the tropics where it constitutes a valuable source of protein in the diets of millions of people. Some abiotic and biotic stresses adversely affect its productivity. A review of the genetics, genomics and breeding of cowpea is presented in this article. Cowpea breeding programmes have studied intensively qualitative and quantitative genetics of the crop to better enhance its improvement. A number of initiatives including Tropical Legumes projects have contributed to the development of cowpea genomic resources. Recent progress in the development of consensus genetic map containing 37,372 SNPs mapped to 3,280 bins will strengthen cowpea trait discovery pipeline. Several informative markers associated with quantitative trait loci (QTL) related to desirable attributes of cowpea were generated. Cowpea genetic improvement activities aim at the development of drought tolerant, phosphorus use efficient, bacterial blight and virus resistant lines through exploiting available genetic resources as well as deployment of modern breeding tools that will enhance genetic gain when grown by sub‐Saharan Africa farmers.

Highlights

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walpers) known as black eye pea is a herbaceous annual crop mostly grown in the dry agro-ecologies of the tropics in Latin America, Africa and south Asia
Cowpea has for some time been regarded as an orphan crop in view of the relatively low level of research attention given to the crop, modest progress has been made in the assemblage and conservation of its germplasm, generation of genomic tools for more effective breeding and development of improved varieties some of which are already available in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) farmers’ fields
The challenge of striga to cowpea production especially in the dry savannah agro-ecologies is being effectively contained with the development of varieties that show immunity to this parasitic weed

Summary

Introduction

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walpers) known as black eye pea is a herbaceous annual crop mostly grown in the dry agro-ecologies of the tropics in Latin America, Africa and south Asia. The genetics of flower thrips resistance was studied in crosses of four cowpea lines. Systematic incorporation of desirable genes for resistance in improved breeding lines as well as some selected varieties as recurrent parents was carried out.

Results

Conclusion