CHARACTERIZATION OF EARLY-MATURING COWPEA (Vigna unguiculata(L.) WALP.) GERMPLASMS THROUGH ASSOCIATION ANALYSIS

ABSTRACT Early maturing cowpea is a valuable crop for sub-Saharan Africa that offers a number of benefits, including a short growing season, drought tolerance, and the potential to improve food security. This study was conducted to analyze character associations in genetically diverse cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) germplasm, employing ten distinct accessions within a randomized complete block design with four replicates. Parameters such as days to first flowering, days to fifty percent flowering, number of branches per plant, days to ninety-five percent maturity, number of pods per plant, hundred-seed weight, total pod weight, and total seed weight were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA), Correlation, and Path Coefficient Analysis. Results revealed significant positive correlations between “branches per plant and pods per plant (r = 0.317, p ≤ 0,001),” “pods per plant and pod weight (r = 0.136, p < ≤ 0,001),” and “pod weight and seed weight (r =0.567, p ≤ 0,001).” Path coefficient analysis identified pod weight (0.840938) as the most influential direct contributor to yield, while the number of pods (-0.04268) indirectly influenced yield through pod weight. High grain yield selection can be achieved through indirect manipulation of pod weight. Accession IT99K-573-1-1, IT10K-863-11 and IT08K-125-24 exhibited the highest yield characters (pod weight and seed weight) and therefore further studies is recommended to consolidate this work, to enhance adoption by farmers.