GENETIC VARIABILITY AND CHARACTER ASSOCIATION STUDIES IN BROWN BLOTCH TOLERANT COWPEA (VIGNA UNGUICULATA (L.) WALP) GENOTYPES

• S.K. Abubakar

  Department of Crop, Soil and Pest Management, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. Tel: +2348069651463

  Author

• L.S. Fayeun

  Department of Crop, Soil and Pest Management, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. Tel: +2348069651463

  Author

• B.O. Akinyele

  Department of Crop, Soil and Pest Management, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. Tel: +2348069651463

  Author

Cowpea is one of the most significant crops in West Africa, especially Nigeria. The crop is vital to the national economic growth by serving as food and nutrition security. Consequently, it is logical for one to desire to increase the crop yield and agronomic performance. However, cowpea output is hindered by pests and diseases infestation, particularly brown blotch disease caused by fungal pathogen- Colletotrichum capsici. Improved cultivars or resistant variants, is a successful technique for managing the cowpea brown blotch disease. Therefore, this study was to assess the level of genetic diversity that exists among brown blotch tolerant cowpea genotypes. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with four replications. Data collected were subjected to Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Ward Cluster Analysis (WCA). Results showed that the first four PCA accounted for 88.64% of the total cumulative variance. Pod length, plant height, disease severity, disease incidence, seed yield, days to 50% flowering and days to 70% physiological maturity were identified as most important characters that contributed to the variation. WCA grouped the 12 genotypes into three clusters. Genotypes from each clusters in the WCA indicated level of similarity. Genotype L-22-B showed a level of distinction and could be selected and improved as a variety. an integral part in their way of lives. With the recent availability of improved quality varieties, many farmers in Nigeria are now showing more interest in cowpea production. Nigeria's production of cowpea is being affected by a variety of issues. Unfavorable government policies, low and erratic grain yields, poor seed quality, susceptibility to diseases, and pest infestations are just a few of the difficulties farmers face today. Brown blotch disease is one of the most damaging diseases affecting cowpea in Nigeria (Pring et al., 1995). According to Adebitan (1984), the brown blotch of cowpea is caused by Colletotrichum capsici. The disease's primary sign is a purplish-brown discoloration of the Introduction Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp)) is an annual crop from the family Fabaceae (Singh et al., 1997). It is a prominent staple food crop and the most commercially significant indigenous legume in Africa (Langyintuo et al., 2003). Nigeria estimated annual cowpea production stood at about 2.4 million metric tons, on about 5 million hectares of land (FAOSTAT, 2020). According to FAO report in 2016, the northern area of Nigeria produces over 1.7 million tons, accounting for more than 70% of all national production. Many of the small-scale farmers rely on cowpea as a source of income and sustenance, which plays 191

1. S.K. Abubakar, Department of Crop, Soil and Pest Management, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. Tel: +2348069651463

   Department of Crop, Soil and Pest Management, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. Tel: +2348069651463

2. L.S. Fayeun, Department of Crop, Soil and Pest Management, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. Tel: +2348069651463

   Department of Crop, Soil and Pest Management, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. Tel: +2348069651463

3. B.O. Akinyele, Department of Crop, Soil and Pest Management, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. Tel: +2348069651463

   Department of Crop, Soil and Pest Management, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. Tel: +2348069651463

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