Preliminary Evaluation of Growth Response of Two Cowpea Accessions to Water Stress

Water deficit is one of the most important factors that affect plant growth and development. To assess the effect of water stress on growth of two cowpea accessions (i.e. UCC 321 and GH 4769), a field study was conducted at the experimental site of CSIR-Plant Genetic Resources Research Institute, Bunso, Eastern Region-Ghana during the minor season. The treatments comprised of nonwatered and well-watered cowpea plants for thirty-two days. The experiment was a 2 x 2 factorial replicated three times in a randomised complete block design. Growth was determined by measuring plant height, number of leaves per plant and plant dry mass (i.e. leaf, stem, root and total plant). Water stress reduced plant height, number of leaves and plant dry mass. Dry-mass accumulation in aboveground plant organs was lower in non-watered plants than in the well-watered treatment. This indicated that irrigation was necessary to optimize cowpea production, and that a deficit in irrigation might affect plant growth as soil becomes dry.