Resumo: The aim of this study was to investigate genetic control of the traits number of days to flowering (NDF) and number of days to maturity (NDM) in a cowpea cross. Genetic parameters were estimated in segregating and nonsegregating generations of a cross between two contrasting cowpea genotypes (MNC05-828C-1-9-1 × MNC04-792F-146). No evidence for maternal effect was found for either trait. Broad and narrow sense heritability estimates were above 50%, allowing genetic gains from selection of plants in the F2 generation. High significance of additive gene effects and low contribution of dominance and epistatic effects were detected for both traits. The estimated number of genes controlling the traits was around 4 for NDF and 5 for NDM. The results suggest that early-maturing cowpea self-fertilized cultivars can be developed through standard breeding approaches, meeting the demands of modern agricultural systems for more crop seasons per year and mechanized harvesting.

Ano de publicação: 2020

Tipo de publicação: Artigo de periódico

Unidade: Embrapa Meio-Norte

Palavras-chave: Floração, Flowering, Inheritance (genetics), Maturação, Maturity stage, Parâmetro Genético, Plant breeding