Agronomic Characteristics and Seed Quality of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) Germplasm

The purpose of this study was to provide basic information for breeding cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata L.) by investigating the crop characteristics of 245 accessions of cowpea collected in Korea and abroad. All specimens flowered within 41 to 50 days (51.5%) or 51 to 60 days (43.7%) of sowing and matured 21 to 30 days (53.9%) or 31 to 40 days (23.7%) from flowering. Thus, the total time from sowing to maturity was either 71 to 80 days (26.9%) or 81 to 90 days (23.4%) for all specimens. The accessions were classified into indeterminate type (72.7%), intermediate type (25.7%) and determinate type (1.6%) based on growth; prostrate type (78.8%) and erect type (21.2%) based on plant type; heart shape (98.4%) and lanceolate (1.6%) based on leaflet shape; and purple (85.2%), white (13.6%) and light green (1.2%) based on corolla color. The accessions were classified into brown (54.7%) and yellowish brown (37.6%) based on color at pod maturity; and downward (90.6%), middle (5.7%) and standing upright (3.7%) based on pod setting position. Seed coat color varied as 25.3% were brown, 23.3% were black, and 20.8% were white. Seed shape also varied as 66.9% were egg-shaped, 24.9% were rectangular and 8.2% were kidney-shaped. Pod lengths ranged from 10.1-20.0 cm and from 20.1-30.0 cm in 89.0% and 8.6% of specimens, respectively. There were 12.1-15.0, 9.1-12.0, and 15.1-18.0 seeds per pod in 62.0%, 25.7% and 9.1% of specimens, respectively. The weight of one hundred seeds ranged from 15.1-20.0 g (37.6%) and 10.1-15.0 g (28.6%). Seed yields per plant were 100.1-200.0 g (52.7%), less than 100 g (22.9%), and 200.1-300.0 g (15.9%). The starch content in the seeds of the seven selected resources ranged from 44.1 to 57.0% while the protein content ranged from 23.3 to 27.5% with significant differences. The sucrose content ranged from 1.46 to 2.03%, also with significant differences.