Abstract:
Ten cultivarsof cowpea grown in the screen house facility at Botanical garden, University of
Ilorin, Nigeriawereevaluated for genetic similarity and variability. Data were collected on
vegetative,fruiting and seed characters. Proximate analysis was conducted to determine variation
in nutrient composition of the seeds at harvest. The results showed considerable variations in growth
and yield characters evaluated. Cultivars NGB/06/047, IFE BROWN 2012 and IT98K-133-1-1 had
optimal growth performance with respect to fruiting and seed yield parameters.Proximate results
indicated thatcrude protein varied from 23.42-26.78%. Ash content ranged between 3.60-4.21%,
crude fibre varied from 2.10-2.98%, and carbohydrates56.10-59.59%. Principal components
analysis revealed that first principal components (majorly fruiting and seed characters) accounted
for 26.63% observed variation, followed by the second component (23.05%) which are mainly
vegetative parameterswhile third (13.82%) consisting of nutritional variations.The cultivars were
dividedinto two broad genetic groups (A&B). Group A consist of two clusters which members
showed low performance in terms of economic traits and group B comprised two clusters of
superior cultivarsfor most of the traits studied. Variability as expressed in the studied cultivars
could be useful for understanding genetic diversity of selection of cultivars with novelty in
vegetative growth, yield and nutrition composition in the process of breeding programme and crop
production.
