PramilaGupta, Ramesh Kumar2020-02-072020-02-072018http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810142665The present investigation was carried out with twenty-seven genotypes of cowpea entitled "CAUSE-EFFECT RELATIONSHIP AND GENETIC DIVERGENCE STUDY IN COWPEA [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.]” at Vegetable Research Farm of Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar in Randomised Block Design with three replications during Zaid-2017. The quantitative traits under study were seed germination percentage, plant height, number of branches per plant, days to first flowering, first flowering node, number of nodes on main stem, peduncle length, number of pods per cluster, days to first picking, pod length, pod diameter, average pod weight, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, test weight, pod borer infestation percentage and pod yield per plant. Statistical analysis were carried out to study Analysis of variance, Genotypic and Phenotypic coefficient of variation, Heritability, Genetic advance, Correlation coefficient analysis, Path analysis and Genetic diversity. Analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences among the genotypes for all the studied characters and also showed the presence of an ample amount of genetic variability among the genotypes. The phenotypic coefficient of variation was slightly higher than the corresponding genotypic coefficient of variation in magnitude. Indicating the role of genotype in the manifestation of these characters. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as per cent of mean were recorded for all the traits except seed germination percentage and days to first flowering, indicating the preponderance of additive gene action suggesting that selection in an early generation will be effective. Plant height, number of branches per plant, number of nodes on main stem, number of pods per cluster, pod length, average pod weight and number of pods per plant had given positive and significant correlation comprising their positive and direct effect with pod yield per plant. Suggesting that during the course of selection these traits may be considered as prime traits for enhancing the yield in cowpea. The maximum inter-cluster distance was recorded between cluster II and V so, to have the heterotic recombinant for the seed germination percentage, days to first flowering, pod length, average pod weight, number of seeds per pod, number of pods per cluster, peduncle length, and pod diameter, for all these traits, genotypes present in these clusters may be used in crossing.ennullThesis