Simultaneous selection for yield, adaptability, and genotypic stability in immature cowpea using REML/BLUP

Teresinha De Jesus Feitosa De Sousa,Kaesel Jackson Damasceno-Silva,Jaqueline Luz Moura Sousa,Lindomar Maria Da Silveira,Maurisrael De Moura Rocha,Cândida Hermínia Campos De Magalhães Bertini,Raylson Rodrigues De Sousa

doi:10.1590/s1678-3921.pab2019.v54.01234

Abstract

Abstract: The objective of this work was to select cowpea genotypes simultaneously for high yield of immature grains, adaptability, and genotypic stability, taking into account genotype x environment interactions. The mixed models restricted maximum likelihood (REML)/best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) were used. Sixteen cowpea genotypes were evaluated in nine environments, consisting of a combination of location (Pentecoste in the state of Ceará, Acaraú in Ceará, Teresina in Piauí, and Mossoró in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil) and year (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2017). In all trials, a randomized complete block design with four replicates was used. Significant differences were observed for effects of genotypes and the genotype x environment interaction. Environmental variance was the largest component of phenotypic variance, followed by the genotype x environment interaction and genotypic variances. The immature grain yield of the evaluated cowpea genotypes interacts strongly with the studied environments, resulting in a low genotypic correlation between environments. The MNC00-595F-27, MNC05-847B-123, and BRS Tumucumaque cowpea genotypes present high yield of immature grains, adaptability, and genotypic stability, being the most suitable for cultivation in the states of Ceará, Piauí, and Rio Grande do Norte or in other environments with similar soil and climatic conditions.

Highlights

Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.], known in Brazil as “feijão-caupi”, “feijão-macassar” or “feijãode-corda”, is a species with a broad genetic variability, efficient adaptation, high productive capacity, and excellent nutritional value
The existence of the genotype x environment (GxE) interaction causes an inconsistency in yield, meaning that one genotype may stand out in a given environment and another may not, which makes it necessary to evaluate the adaptability and stability of different genotypes
In other studies evaluating the dry grain yield of cowpea genotypes in multiple environments (Torres et al, 2015; Rocha et al, 2017b, 2017c), a higher proportion of environmental variance was observed when the genotypic and G×E interaction variances were taken into account

Summary

Introduction

Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.], known in Brazil as “feijão-caupi”, “feijão-macassar” or “feijãode-corda”, is a species with a broad genetic variability, efficient adaptation, high productive capacity, and excellent nutritional value. In Brazil, the three main market segments for cowpea are dry beans, green beans (pods to obtain the immature grain or the immature grain already threshed), and seeds. Other segments include: bean pods (yardlong bean) of the Sesquipedalis cultivation group, which are currently more concentrated in some states of the Northern region, but with great possibilities of expansion; and industrially processed beans, in an initial phase, but with good prospects (Freire Filho et al, 2017). The production of cowpea is mainly focused on the consumption of dry grains. The market for immature grains is growing every day, mainly in the Northeastern region of Brazil, where it is highly appreciated, being used as the main component of several typical dishes, especially “baião-de-dois”, a flavorful combination of rice and beans (Rocha et al, 2012)

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Conclusion