Inheritance of pod weight in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.)

The inheritance of pod weight in cowpea was studied using three intraspecific cultigroups in fields planting of the parents, F₁s, F₂S and backcrosses to both parents of three crosses: Assam Local 1 X Birsa Sweta (biflora X sesquipedalis), Assam Local 1 X Yard Long Bean (biflora X sesquipedalis) and Pusa dofasli X Check Barbati (unguiculata X sesquipedalis). Pod weight was inherited quantitatively. Biflora X sesquipedalis crosses showed that light pod partially dominant over heavy pod, while in the unguiculata X sesquipedalis cross mean pod weight in F₁ and F₂ was almost equal to the midparental value. Gene action was predominantly additive, although dominance, additive X additive, additive X dominance and dominance X dominance gene actions were significant in the biflora X sesquipedalis crosses.