🫘 Cowpea Breeding

This lesson covers core breeding concepts and exam-relevant points for quick understanding and revision.

Vigna unguiculata (2n = 22)

Place of origin : India Putative parent : Wild sub species V.unguiculate SSP . dekindtiana or SSP. m enensis

Classification : According to Faris 1965 three subspecies are recognised.

1. Vigna unguiculata subsp. unguiculata (Syn V.u. subsp. catjang ) - grain cowpea : Primitive of all cowpea types. Pods 8 to 13cm long. Neither flabby nor inflated. Pods remain erect at maturity.
2. V.unguiculata subsp. sinensis - Grain type cowpea. Pod length 20 to 30 cm. Pods are not inflated. Pods fibrous when green. The stature of pods are pendent when matured. Seed size medium 6-9 mm. Seeds are closely packed in the pod.
3. V.unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis - Yard long bean - vegetable cowpea: Pod size may be 30 to 100 cm, pendent. No fibre content is geeen pods. Seeds are sparsely arranged, kidney shaped and usually double coloured. Pods inflated when green, shriveled on drying.

Distinguishing feature :

- Kidney shaped seed

- White hilum surrounded by brown or black ring.

- Pubescant througout plant body.

Breeding objectives.

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Breeding for medium duration high yielding varieties for dry land conditions

Co1 old variety resistance to YMV. Indeterminate Plant habit. Co4 - 85 days duration. Seed colour mottled C 152 - 85 days, buff color seed.

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Breeding for short duration varieties suited for irrigated and mixed cropping

conditions. Pusa do fasli - Short duration variety Co6 - 70 days durations.

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Breeding for vegetable cowpea

Co 2 - (C 521 x C 419), VBN 2 Selection from IT 81-D-1228-1 mottled seed.

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Breeding for disease resistance

Aphid borne mosaic virus Co6 - (Ms 9804 x C 152) Cercospora leaf spot Fusarium wilt YMV - Co1 resistant.

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Breeding for pest resistance

Leaf hopper - Antibiosis and tolerance Aphids - Antibiosis and tolerance Pod borer - Antibiosis

6. Breeding for Forage cowpea. Var. Co5 from Co 1 by gamma irradiation

Breeding Methods : 1 . Introduction Iron cowpea Russian giant.

2. Selection : PLS cowpea Co1 is PLS from C 57 a local collection from Shirgali

3. Hybridisatioin and selection a) Intervarietal Co6 (Ms 9804 x C 152 Co2 ( C 521 x C 419) b) Interspecific V.u x V.v exillata - (having tuberous roots which is edible) V.u x V.umbellata .

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Mutation breeding

Co5 Forage cowpea

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Embryo rescue technique

For inter-specific crosses.

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Ideal plant type

Short duration : Determinate plant with high harvest index The branching must be erect. Flower drop to be minimum. Bushy plants are ideal Long duration types. Indeterminate plant habit with steady growth rate.

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COWPEA VARIETIES FOR TAMIL NADU

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VARIETIES

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Varieties Parentage Duration (days)

Co2 Hybrid derivative (C 521 x C 419) 90 Co 3 Pureline from C 152 Vegetable type 80 Co 4 Selection from Russian Giant 85 KM 1 Hybrid derivative (JC 5 x Dofasli) 60-65 Paiyur 1 Selection from VM 16 90 Co 6 MS 9804 x C152 65-70 Co 5 Mutant of Co 1 100 Forage Cowpea

LAB LAB (2n=22, 24) Lab lab purpureus var. typicus

Garden bean ‘Pandal avarai’

Lab lab purpueus var. lignosus

Field bean

Mochai.

Origin : India

Distribution : India, Central America, China and Africa. In India mostly cultivated, in southern states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra pradesh.

Var typicus : Perennial. Twining herb. Cultivated as an annual. The pods are long, tapering. The long axis of seeds parallel to the suture. With out oilglands and ‘Mochai’ smell. Entire pod is edible as vegetable.

Var. l ignosus

Semi erect bushy, perennial usually grown as annual. The pods are relatively shorter, oblong and fibrous 4 to 6 almost round seeded. Seeds vertical to the suture Plants give ‘mochai’ odour.

Col1	Avarai	Mochai
Habit	Perennial Twining herb requires support for normal performance	Semi erect bushy perennial, cultivated as annual
Plant part	No ‘Mochai’ odour	‘Mochai’ odour present
Pod	Whole pod as vegetable. matured green seeds vegetable	Green seeds alone as vegetable pericarp tough, parchment like.
Seed arrangement	Parallel to the length of suture	Vertical
Photosensitivity	Photosensitive	Photosensitive

Breeding objectives: To evolve non season bound vegetable type, short duration varieties. In Mochai there is one non season bound, short duration - Thenkasi local DL 3196. By crossing this with Panthal avarai, short duration, non season bound varieties were evolved. Example Co 11, Co 12, Co 13.

Varieties : Mochai Co 1 Pure line selection Co 2 Pure line selection Avarai (Bushy type) of MS 98678. Co 9 Natural mutant of Co 6 Co 11, Co 12, Co 13

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Summary Cheat Sheet

Focus Area	Key Takeaway
Core concept	Review the major breeding principles and crop-specific applications from this lesson.
Exam prep	Prioritize objectives, methods, and named varieties/species for recall.
Quick revision	Re-read headings and key lists to retain high-yield facts.

References

1 source • [1]

[1]

Standard Plant Breeding Class Notes (GPBR212)

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