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A note on the Nigerian vegetable cowpea

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution volume 43, pages 125–128 (1996)Cite this article

Summary

The Nigerian vegetable cowpea belongs to Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. ssp. unguiculata. It was found to be high yielding, day neutral, adequately adapted to the region south of 10°N latitude and consisten phenotypically. The morphological features include the climbing and decumbent growth habits, the coiled, curved and straight pendant pods; the lanceolate and rhomboid leaf forms and the presence or absence of the soluble compound, anthocyanin on the shoot, pods and seeds.

When planted with the early rains, the climbing type yields higher with an average fresh pod and dry grain yield of 13.lt/ha and 1.66t/ha, respectively as against the fresh pod and dry grain yield of 11.4t/ha and 1.35t/ha of the decumbent type. The plant ensures an uninterrupted protein supply throughout the year either as fresh immature pods or as dry grains.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Crop Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

    M. I. Uguru

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  1. M. I. Uguru
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Uguru, M.I. A note on the Nigerian vegetable cowpea. Genet Resour Crop Evol 43, 125–128 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00126755

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00126755

Key words

  • vegetable cowpea
  • Vigna unguiculata
  • legume
  • Nigeria