Variability, Heritability and Genetic Advance Studies of Cowpea Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. Genotypes at Satna District of M.P. India

Fourteen diverse cultivars of Cowpea Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. grown in a Completely Randomized block design (CRBD) at AKS University, Satna, during kharif season on July to November 2022. The eleven quantitative characters studied for the estimation of variance, genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance. The design of the experiment indicated highly significant differences for all the characters due to treatments. The analysis of variance indicated the existence of sufficient amount of variability among genotypes for all the studied characters. The maximum GCV and PCV was observed in plant height (cm) followed by primary branches per plant, number of pods per plant, biological yield (g) and seed yield per plant (g). High heritability coupled with high genetic advance observed for plant height (cm), biological yield (g), primary branches per plant, seed yield per plant (g) indicating that these characters could be prominently governed by additive gene action. So the selection of these traits could be more effective for desired genetic improvement.