Generation Means Analysis of Seed Sucrose Content in Cowpea (＂Vigna unguiculata＂ L. Walp.)

J. B. Noubissie Tchiagam ； E. Youmbi ； N. Y. Njintang ； J. M. Bell ； A. Nassourou Maina

《Asian Journal of Agricultural Sciences》 3卷6期 (2011/11) Pp. 475-480

並列摘要

The sucrose concentration of seeds is an important component of the taste in cowpea (＂Vigna unguiculata＂ L. Walp.). The objective of this research was to estimate the heritability, to investigate the mode of genetic control and to evaluate the potential for genetic improvement of sucrose content in cowpea using generation's means analysis. F_1 and F_2 generations as well as backcross populations (BC_(P1) and BC_(P2)) were produced in three hybrid combinations by crosses of four selected cultivars. The sucrose level was measured via a High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) system. The range of variation in sucrose content among tested varieties was from 1.88 mg/g (Lori) to 5.32 mg/g (C93W-24-125). Broad-sense heritability (h_2) was of a moderate 58.50% to high 68.12% value and no transgressive segregation was observed. Narrow-sense heritability (39.47 to 47.83%) and heterosis (-20.00 to - 5.94%) values and gene effects analysis suggested that the sucrose content is controlled by additive and non-additive genes. At 10% level of selection, an increase of 19.60 to 33.64% was predicted after one cycle. Epistasis was significant in most of crosses and at least five genes affected the sucrose accumulation in cowpea seeds. These results suggested that breeding for increased sucrose content in the seeds of cowpea can be quite successful through recurrent selection in later generations.

並列關鍵字

Genetic improvement ； heritability ； sweet flavour ； ＂Vigna unguiculata＂