Inbreeding depression in vegetable cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.]

Abstract

Cowpea is one of the most important multipurpose legume crop grown for pulse, green vegetable, fodder, cover as well as green manuring. Its wider adaptability over different agro-climatic conditions and cheap and high quality protein provides good place in different cropping situations throughout India as well as southeast Asia. The phenomenon of crossing and producing F1s that manifests itself by greater vitality, rapid growth and development, higher productivity, resistance adoption and uniformity of F1s has been extensively exploited in many self pollinated crops (Hazra, 1991; Kumar et al. 2000; Lal et al. 2007).