Genetic variability studies in fodder cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp)

Studies on genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance were carried out with 60 genotypes of fodder cowpea {Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.} Days to 50 per cent flowering along with twelve economic traits viz ., plant height, number of branches per plant, number of leaves per plant, leaflet length, leaflet width, stem thickness, dry matter yield, green fodder yield, dry weight of leaves, dry weight of stem, leaf : stem ratio and crude protein content were studied. The analysis of variance revealed that all the 60 genotypes varied significantly for all the 13 characters indicating that there exists considerable variation for all the characters. Heritability and genetic advance was high for the characters number of branches per plant, number of leaves per plant, dry weight of leaves, dry weight of stem, dry matter yield and plant height indicating that these traits were controlled by additive genetic effects, providing better source population for developing high yielding fodder cowpea varieties.