Genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance studies in Vegetable Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.]

Sixty diverse genotypes of vegetable cowpea were evaluated during summer 2013 for genetic parameters viz., genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the genotypes for all the 12 characters studied. The highest range of variation was observed for green pod yield per plant followed by ten pod weight, number of pods per plant and plant height. Higher values of PCV than GCV were observed for green pod yield per plant, number of pods per plant, pod length and number of seeds per pod which indicates partly interaction of the genotypes with the environment or other environmental factors influencing the expression of these characters. The value of PCV and GCV more or less equal were observed in the remaining characters which indicated that these characters were less influenced by the environment. High heritability along with high genetic advance was observed for green pod yield per plant, plant height, pod length, pod width, number of seeds per pod, number of pods per plant, ten pod weight, number of pods per cluster and hundred fresh seed weight indicating that these traits were mainly governed by additive gene action and responsive for further improvement of these traits.