Inheritanceof seed coat colour pattern in cowpea [Vigna unguiculata) (L) Walp.]

Abstract

Hybridization experiments were conducted in the screen house to study the inheritance of seed colour pattern in cowpea. Cowpea varieties of varying seed coat colour were used as parents for the investigation. Parental, F1 and segregating F2 populations were raised in the field and the study revealed that self colour pattern is dominant over other seed coat colour patterns. The study also revealed that several genes are involved in the control of seed colour patterns and that some of the genes may be allelic.

Key words: hybridization, inheritance, self colour, allelic