Evaluation of early maturing cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) germplasm for variation in phosphorus use efficiency and biological nitrogen fixation potential with indigenous rhizobial populations
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Date
2016
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Cambridge University Press
Abstract
Cowpea genotypes that efficiently utilize phosphorus (P) with high potential for biological nitrogen (N) fixation
(BNF) are vital to sustainable cropping systems in West Africa. A total of 175 early maturing cowpea genotypes
were evaluated in 2010 and 2011 for P use efficiency (PUE) and BNF with an indigenous rhizobial population at
Shika in the Northern Guinea savanna of Nigeria. There were significant genotypic variations for all 11 variables
measured. The P utilization index, percentage N derived from the atmosphere and total N fixed ranged between
2·10–4·67, 31·3–61·86% and 11·86–50 kg/ha, respectively. The 175 early maturing cowpea genotypes were
divided into five categories using principal component analysis (PCA), whereby total N fixed was associated
with N and P uptake and plant biomass yield. Complete linkage cluster analysis revealed a total of three
distinct ive clusters having remarkable correspondence with the PCA. Some genotypes were identified as potential
can didates for further breeding programmes using high PUE genotypes with relatively high capacity for BNF and
indigenous rhizobial populations.
Description
This article is Published by Cambridge University Press, 2017 and is also available at doi:10.1017/S002185961500115X
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Citation
Journal of Agricultural Science (2017), 155, 102–116.