Evaluation of advanced Cowpea lines for agronomic traits, yields,

and response to cowpea scab caused by Sphaceloma spp.

Dry Land Legume Research Program

National Semi-Arid Resources Research Institute (NaSARRI), Serere

Authors:Amayo R., Omadi J.R. Okwang D. and Obuo J.P

Content of the Presentation

Research Background

Research Objective

Materials and methods

Results / Research outcome

Conclusion and Recommendation

Acknowledgement

Research Background

Cowpea (a poor man’s meat), is an economically important legume crop grown widely in the Semi-Arid regions.

Fresh pods

Cowpea breadQuality grains

Fresh pod mealFresh pods read for market

Cowpea flour

Background Cont’dThe major constraints to production and

productivity of cowpea

Foliar chewing pests

Cowpea aphid

Cowpea scabCowpea leaf blight

Storage pests

Research Objective

This study was designed to contribute to enhancement of cowpea production through screening cowpea lines for different crop attributes including agronomic performance, pod and grain yield, and resistance/tolerance to cowpea scab.

Materials and methods

Eleven (11) cowpea lines comprising four improved local varieties and seven promising lines were evaluated.

Field evaluations for yield and growth attributes were carried out in the second rains of 2010, the two rain seasons of 2011 and in the first rain of 2012

Materials and methods

FIELD RESISTANCE / TOLERANCE TRIALS

Research ResultsAverage Means of the agronomic traits of the promising cowpea lines in relation to SECOW 2W measured in 2010 and 2011 growing seasons

Results cont’d

Treatments

Means

Pod length (cm) Number of pods/plant Number of seeds/pod 100 seed weight (g) Grain yield Kg/Ha2010 2011 average 2010 2011 averag

e2010 2011 averag

e2010 2011 average 2010 2011 Average

ACC11 13.43 11.87 12.65 45 38 42 14 13 14 10.67 7.90 9.28 1,759 1,218 1,488

ACC25 17.37 16.07 16.72 42 39 41 16 17 17 15.00 15.20 15.10 2,870 1,759 2,314

NGOJI 18.13 14.50 16.32 47 40 44 17 18 18 15.33 11.37 13.35 2,361 1,620 1,990

ACC23 17.87 15.20 16.54 40 39 40 18 17 18 15.67 11.77 13.72 2,222 1,319 1,770

ACC26 12.80 15.27 14.04 42 28 35 13 12 13 16.67 15.87 16.27 2,616 1,782 2,199

SECOW 2W

16.83 15.90 16.36 41 32 37 15 15 15 15.67 10.73 13.2 2,014 1,852 1,933

ACC12 16.90 14.27 15.58 41 30 36 16 16 16 11.52 9.63 10.57 1,528 926 1,227

ACC2 13.50 14.02 13.76 42 31 37 16 17 17 15.00 15.03 15.01 1,991 1,435 1,713

F. Pr. 0.002 0.002 0.002 ns Ns ns 0.003 0.020 0.008 0.006 <0.001 <0.001 0.017 0.05 0.05

%CV 1.8 1.6 1.5 1.0 1.7 2.1 2.1 1.1 1.3 2.7 5.2 3.1 7.9 11.8 8.3

SED 1.24 0.79 0.88 1.86 2.75 1.78 0.84 1.66 1.4 0.88 0.98 0.76 322.9 483.2 286.3

Average Means of the yield components and grain yield of the promising cowpea lines in relation to SECOW 2W measured in 2010 and 2011 growing seasons

Results cont’d

Mean Rainfall (millilitres)Mean Temperature

( �C)

Year 2010 2011 2012 2010 2011 2012

1st Season - 78.28 76.04 - 23.1 25.45

2nd Season102.37 130.72 - 24.5 22.2 -

Differences in weather condition in 2010, 2011and 2012 growing seasons

Results cont’d

Conclusions

Only two promising lines (ACC25 and ACC26) that out yielded SECOW 2W

Majority of the promising lines were either erect or semi-erect

Cowpea lines (SECOW 3B, SECOW 4W, SECOW 2W, ACC11, ACC12 and ACC2 that showed good resistance response

Acknowledgement

ATAAS / WORLDBANK

GoU

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