Genetic analysis of quantitative traits in cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] using six parameter genetic model.

Generation Mean Analysis was carried out using six basic generations in 3 different crosses of cowpea to determine suitable breeding methods. For most of the studied traits, additive, dominance, additive x additive, additive x dominance and dominance x dominance effects were significant. Additive effect significantly contributed for days to 1st flowering and seed yield per plant. Dominance effect was significant for the incidence of cowpea mosaic virus in family 1, while for pod maturity in family 2. Additive x dominance type of interaction contributed significantly for days to 1st flowering, days to pod maturity and seed yield per hectare. Duplicate type of epistasis was observed for days to 1st flowering and incidence of cowpea mosaic virus in family 1, number of pods per plant and pod length in family 2 and 3. The findings suggested that pureline, pedigree and recurrent selection could be followed in cowpea improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]