Hybrid vigour in cowpea.

Heterosis in cowpea for pod yield, seed yield and four yield contributing characters has been reported from a 10 × 10 diallel cross set (including reciprocals) . Maximum average heterotic effects were found for yield and pods/plant followed by pod length and seeds/pod. The least heterosis was observed for 100-seed weight. All the cross combinations involving low × high yielding parental lines exhibited heterosis over mid-parent and none of the crosses having low x low combinations exhibited heterosis over highest yielding parent C-152. Based on the heterosis studies it was inferred that pods/plant and 100-seed weight were most important yield contributing character in cowpea.