Heterosis and inbreeding depression in cowpea (vigna unguiculata (l.) walp.)

Heterosis and inbreeding depression study was carried out in 8 x 8 half diallel crosses of cowpea during summer and kharif seasons, 2005. Significant and highest desirable heterosis over mid and better parents was found to the extent of 86.11 and 81.83% for green pod yield plant1, 62.68 and 58.64% for number of pods plant1, 29.37 and 8.21% for pod length, 46.28 and 35.50% for number of seeds pod-1, 15.42 and 10.88% for 100-seed weight, 12.16 and 11.72% for number of peduncles plant-1, 14.90% and 5.33% for peduncle length, -13.51 and -12.50% for days to 50% flowering, 39.58 and 35.35% for number of primary branches plant-1and 89.32 and 22.53% for plant height, respectively. However, except plant height, significant inbreeding depression was found for all the traits like number of primary branches plant-1, days to 50% flower, peduncle length, number of peduncles plant-’, pod length, number of seeds pod-1, 100-seed weight, number of pods plant-1 and green pod yield plant-1.