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Distribution Pattern of Seed Yield in Cowpea
Author(s) -
Kahn Brain A.,
Stoffella Peter J.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci1989.0011183x002900040032x
Subject(s) - cultivar , loam , biology , point of delivery , yield (engineering) , vigna , agronomy , horticulture , main stem , soil water , ecology , materials science , metallurgy
Vertical distribution patterns of seed yield have not been reported for cowpea [ Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.]. This study was conducted to describe the distribution of seed yield and yield components in several cowpca cultivars and to document possible cultivar differences. Ten cultivars were evaluated in 1985 at Fort Pierce, FL on an Oldsmar fine sand (sandy, siliceous, hyperthermic Alfic Arenic Haplaquods) soil and Bixby, OK on a Severn very fine sandy loam [coarse‐silty, mixed (calcareous), thermic Typic Udifluvent] soil. Nodal groups were created to facilitate interpretation of seed yield (total seed weight per plant) distribution patterns. Cultivars differed in pod number, seeds per pod, and average weight per individual seed at both locations and in seed yield in Florida. Seed yield was equally distributed between main stems and branches on an overall basis, but the nodal grouping analyses revealed cultivar differences. Over 50% of the seed yield came from pods originating from the main stem for ‘Elite’, ‘Crimson Purplehull’, ‘Encore’, ‘Texas Cream 12’, and ‘Pinkeye Purplehull’ at both locations. In contrast, over 50% of the seed yield came from pods originating from branchesm for ‘White Acre’, ‘Mississippi Cream’, ‘Corona’, and ‘Epoch’ at both locations. Except for Crimson PurplehuH in Oklahoma, each cultivar had over 50% of its seed yield originating in Nodal Group I (Nodes 1 to 6 in Florida, Nodes 1 to 7 in Oklahoma). Except for Elite in Oklahoma, most of the seed yield in Nodal Group I came from pods originating from branches. In contrast, most of the seed yield in the upper nodal groups came from pods originating from the main stem for each cultivar at both locations. There was no evidence that seed yield differences were associated with specific differences in plant architecture.