Study of genetic divergence on vegetable cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.)

The present investigation was carried out at Research Farm of the Department of Vegetable Science, CCS Haryana Agriculture University, Hisar during spring-summer season of the year 2011. Based on D 2 values, forty six genotypes were grouped into eight clusters containing two to fifteen genotypes. These clusters consisted of genotypes with different geographical origins and indicated no correlation between genetic and geographical divergence. The genotypes of cluster VIII showed maximum genetic divergence with cluster V followed by Cluster II, hence, the genotypes belonging to cluster VIII and cluster V may be selected for generating genetic variability and hybridization. Cluster II having two genotypes was found to be the best performing for agronomic characters followed by cluster I with three genotypes and cluster V with three genotypes. Thus, to generate desirable genetic variability, the crossing between cluster II, I and V genotypes would be useful. It is suggested that hybridization among genotypes of above said clusters would produce segregants for more than one economic character which can serve as parents of hybrids. The number of seeds per pod contributed highest towards divergence, and the number of seeds per pod contributed maximum toward divergence followed by plant height at final harvest (cm).