Genetic variability and heritability study on yield and its component traits in segregating population of cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata L. Walp)

Experiment on genetic variability parameters viz., phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV), genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV), broad sense heritability (h2) and genetic advance as per cent of mean (GAM) for yield and yield attributing traits such as days to 50% flowering, plant height (cm), number of clusters per plant, number of branches per plant, number of pods per plant, pod length (cm), number of seeds per pod, hundred seeds weight (g) and seed yield per plant (g)in nine F2 populations were studied. The results revealed that high h2 and high GAM were recorded for plant height (cm), pod length, seeds per pod, hundred seeds weight (g) and single plant yield (g). High level of PCV and GCV were observed for number of branches per plant, number of clusters per plant, number of pods per plant and single plant yield (g).Low level of PCV and GCV were obtained for all the crosses except for cross IV (CO4 × VCP-09-024). Results suggest that quantitative traits like number of branches per plant, number of clusters per plant, number of pods per plant and single plant yield (g) can be used as selection criteria for yield improvement in F2population of cowpea.