Abstract
Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp.) yields are considerably low in Namibia due to lack of improved varieties and biotic and abiotic stresses, notably, recurrent drought. Thus, genetic improvement in cowpea aims to develop cultivars with improved grain yield and tolerance to abiotic and biotic stress factors. The objective of this study was to identify agronomically desirable cowpea genotypes after mutagenesis using gamma irradiation. Seeds of three traditional cowpea varieties widely grown in Namibia including Nakare (IT81D-985), Shindimba (IT89KD-245-1), and Bira (IT87D-453-2) were gamma irradiated with varied doses and desirable mutants were selected from M2 through M6 generations. Substantial genetic variability was detected among cowpea genotypes after mutagenesis across generations including in flowering ability, maturity, flower and seed colors and grain yields. Ten phenotypically and agronomically stable novel mutants were isolated at the M6 each from the genetic background of the above three varieties. The selected promising mutants’ lines are recommended for adaptability and stability tests across representative agro-ecologies for large-scale production or breeding in Namibia or similar environments. The novel cowpea genotypes selected through the study are valuable genetic resources for genetic enhancement and breeding.
Highlights
The present study revealed the important roles of induced mutations in cowpea breeding
The present study showed the presence of clear phenotypic differences among the tested mutant lines when compared to their respective controls
Overall, increased irradiation dose was associated with visual phenotypic mutants
Summary
Walp.) is a leguminous species used as food, forage, and vegetable crop mainly in the tropics (Steele, 1972). The grains are an excellent source of food and feed; a vital nutrient for healthy growth both for humans and livestock. The leaves, green pods, and grains are consumed as a dietary source of protein (Ghaly and Alkoaik, 2010). The cowpea grain contains 23% protein and 57% carbohydrate, and the leaves contain 27–34% of proteins. The crop originated and domesticated in Southern Africa, which was later spread to east and West Africa and Asia (International Institute for Tropical Agriculture [IITA], 2004). Cowpea production remains the most prominent food legume cultivated by farmers majorly in most subSaharan African countries. Cowpea is able to fix atmospheric nitrogen in marginal soils where farmers are unable to adequately fertilize
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