Variability and Correlation Studies in Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.]

The present investigation was carried out on15 genotypes to study genetic parameters for ten quantitative characters of bush type cowpea The differences among all the genotypes were statistically significant for all the ten quantative characters. High estimates of genotypic coefficient variation, heritability (broad sense) and genetic advance were observed for the characters such as plant height, number of pods per plant, edible pod yield per plant as well as edible pod yield per hectare, suggesting additive gene action for expression of these characters. From the correlation studies it was found that there were a good deal of association among yield and its various attributes. Number of branches per plant, edible pod yield per plant and number of seeds per plant are important correlated characters contributing towards pod yield in bush type cow pea.