GENETIC VARIABILITY FOR IRON, ZINC, CALCIUM CONTENTS AND SEED YIELD IN SELECTED F4 AND F5 COWPEA [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] PROGENIES
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Date
2020-10-27
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University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore
Abstract
Identification of micronutrient dense genotypes is primary goal of crop improvement programmes aimed at developing biofortified cowpea varieties. In this context present study was carried out using two crosses viz., PL-2 × NBC-39 and PL-5 × EC402104. ANOVA indicated significant variance for all traits under study in both F4 and F5 generations suggesting existence of adequate amount of variability. The estimates of PCV and GCV were moderate for most of traits studied. Moderate to high narrow sense heritability was observed for seeds pod-1, iron, zinc and calcium content indicating that additive gene action was predominant in the expression of these traits. Correlation studies indicated that iron, zinc and calcium content had significant negative correlation with seed yield plant-1 suggesting selection for high micronutrient content causes reduction in seed yield plant-1. Hence selecting lines with optimum amount of iron, zinc, calcium and seed yield plant-1 will be desirable. Ten such desirable superior lines from F5 generation were selected from two crosses which had 16, 4, 30 and 90 per cent increase in zinc, iron, calcium content and seed yield plant-1 respectively as compared to their parents which could be forwarded for further generations. Similarly, ten lines rich in micronutrient content having 60, 233, 40 and 4 per cent increase in zinc, iron, calcium content and seed yield plant-1 respectively compared to parental lines could be used in hybridization