COMPARATIVELY STUDY OF VARIETIES OF VEGETABLE COWPEA OF DIFFERENT BREEDING PERIODS IN PRIMORIYE REGION

Varieties of Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis (L.) Verdc. draw breeders’ attention due to their valuable properties, form variation, particularly, among long asparagus beans. The climatic condition of South Far-East is favorable for the cultivation of cowpea. Introduction of the species expands the range of cultivated crops in the region. The aim of the study was to comparatively investigate the modern and local old accessions of cowpea in the field condition of Primoriye and also to select accessions studied suitable for cultivation in this region. Field experiments were carried out at Far-Eastern Experimental Station (VIR), Vladivostok in 2012-2015. Forty accessions of different breeding periods of time from VIR plant collection were assessed. Local varieties included into collection in 1920-1930, varieties selected in 1950-1980 and modern varieties developed after 2010 were significantly different by the morphometric characteristics such as length and width of leaf, bean length and weight, seed productivity per plant, period duration – from shoots to bean-filling and from shoots to bean-ripening. The productivity of green beans depended on different morphobiological traits. For varieties bred in 1950-1980, the correlation between seed and green bean productivity and the number of beans was observed. The yield of green beans was connected with bean length and width and the duration of vegetative period in modern varieties. The varieties bred in 1950-1980 were distinguished by their simultaneous maturation and early ripening, along with the balanced number of pods per plant and seed productivity. Modern varieties essentially exceeded the previously bred cultivars in pod length, yield capacity and duration of harvesting period. Local old varieties were distinguished by broad genetic variation, and were very important as a source of valuable traits. As a result of the study the varieties suitable for cultivation in Primoriye region have been identified to meet all customers’ requirements. For small production and farming ‘Yin Jiang Yi Hao’, ‘Zi San Chi’, ‘Zi San Chi’, ‘Yu Yan San Chi Lv’, ‘Xue Long Yi Hao’, ‘Zao Chun’, ‘Xin Jang’, ‘Zao Chun Jiang Dou’ were recommended, while the accessions ‘k-818’ and ‘k-797’ from China, ‘s. Tan Kim’ from Vietnam were regarded for industrial proposes: cannery and deep freezing.