Abstract
ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the tolerance of cowpea cultivars to water stress, during seed germination and seedling establishment. For this, a completely randomized experimental design was used in a factorial scheme consisting of nine cultivars of cowpea (BRS Guariba, BRS Potengi, BRS Itaim, BRS 17 Gurguéia, BRS Aracê, Paulistinha, Maratanã, Costela-de-Vaca and Canapu-Branco) and two levels of osmotic potential induced by PEG 6000 (0.0 MPa (control) and -0.4 MPa) in four replicates of 50 seeds. The variables analysed were germination, germination first count, root and shoot lengths, and dry matter accumulation of shoots and roots. The dissimilarity between the genotypes was also determined by Euclidean distance. Germination and initial development of cowpea cultivars are impaired by the reduction in the potential to -0.4 MPa. The cultivars BRS Guariba, BRS Aracê, Paulistinha and Canapu-Branco are the most tolerant to water stress, while BRS Potengi, BRS Itaim, BRS 17 Gurguéia, BRS Maratanã and Costela-de-Vaca are the most sensitive in the early development stage.
Highlights
Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) is a leguminous species of great social-alimentary importance in underdeveloped regions of the world, especially in areas of arid and semi-arid climate, due to the high protein content in its seeds (Akande, 2007; Matos Filho et al, 2009)
Inhibition or reduction in seed imbibition capacity caused by water stress, germination will be compromised and will negatively influence the initial development and production of crops (Guimarães et al, 2008; Souza et al, 2016)
Nine cowpea cultivars (BRS Guariba; BRS Potengi; BRS Itaim; BRS 17 Gurguéia; BRS Aracê; Paulistinha; BRS Maratanã; Costela-de-Vaca and Canapu-Branco) were subjected to two levels of osmotic potential induced by PEG 6000 [0.0 MPa and -0.4 MPa], forming a 9 x 2 factorial scheme, and the resulting treatments were arranged in a completely randomized design with four replicates of 50 seeds per plot
Summary
Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) is a leguminous species of great social-alimentary importance in underdeveloped regions of the world, especially in areas of arid and semi-arid climate, due to the high protein content in its seeds (Akande, 2007; Matos Filho et al, 2009). Despite the great adaptability of cowpea to the different climate and soil conditions, abiotic stresses are the main factors limiting its production (Matos Filho et al, 2009; Dutra et al, 2015; Souza et al, 2016). In this case, water deficit has been the main factor responsible for the reduction in the production, especially in the Brazilian semi-arid region (Brito et al, 2012). Inhibition or reduction in seed imbibition capacity caused by water stress, germination will be compromised and will negatively influence the initial development and production of crops (Guimarães et al, 2008; Souza et al, 2016)
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