Segregation of Flower and Pod Colour Inheritance in F2 and F3 Generations of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.)

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) is a multi-purpose, underutilized legume crop mostly grown in dry tropical areas. It is one of the most important food legume crops, exhibits considerable morphological variability in its wild as well as cultivated forms. The present investigation was carried out in F 1 , F 2 and F 3 generations of four inter sub-specific crosses (RC101×Vyjayanthi, RC101× Vellayani jyothica, ACM 05-02×Ettumanoor local and ACM 05-07× Vyjayanthi) of cowpea to study the inheritance pattern of flower pod colour in F 2 and F 3 generations. Inheritance of flower colour and pod colour in cowpea has followed a qualitative pattern. Purple flower colour is dominant over white colour flower whereas, purple colour pod is partially dominant over green pod colour. A segregation ratio of 3 purple: 1 white flower colour in F2 generation of two crosses indicated that white flower colour is controlled by single recessive. Whereas segregation ratio of F2 1 green; 2 Light purple: 1 purple colour pod indicated that purple colour pod is partially dominant over green pod colour and it’s governed by single gene.