This document discusses breeding methods used for cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.), including selection, mass selection, pure line selection, hybridization through intervarietal and interspecific crosses, pedigree selection, bulk population method, single seed descent method, and mutation breeding. Selection involves identifying genotypes with desirable traits, while mass selection develops homogenous but heterogeneous varieties from mixed populations. Pure line selection isolates pure lines. Hybridization combines traits between parents. Pedigree selection tracks ancestry of selected plants. Bulk population grows segregating populations in bulk with optional selection. Single seed descent uses a single seed per plant between generations. Mutation breeding induces variation for crop improvement.

1. Breeding Methods of Cowpea(Vigna
unguiculata L. Walp.)
by
Muhammad Abdullah
B.Sc (Hons.) agriculture
Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics
University Of Sargodha, Sargodha

2. Introduction to Cowpea(Vigna unguiculata L.Walp.)
• Cowpea(Vigna unguiculata L.Walp.) is diploid and its chromosome number
is 22
• Self pollination=99% cross pollination= 1 %
• Cowpea, Southern pea (USA), Black-eyed pea (Common), Crowder pea
(USA), Lobia (Pakistan, India), Rawan (Pakistan), other local names in
different world countries include fiebe, coupe and so on.

3. BIOLOGICAL
CLASSIFICATION
Kingdom Plantae
Division Magnoliophyta
Class Magnoliopsida
Order Fabales
Family Fabaceae
Genus Vigna
Species
V. unguiculata (L.)
Walp.

4. METHODS USED IN COWPEA BREEDING

5. Breeding
methods used
in Cowpea
Selection
•Selection as a breeding procedure, involve the
identification and propagation of individual genotypes or
groups of genotypes from mixed populations or from
segregating population following hybridization.
•It can be defined as preservation of certain individual
plants of desirable characters. Most common method of
crop improvement among the cultivator.

6. .Mass selection
• A breeding method in which individual plants are selected on
the basis of phenotype from a mixed population, their seeds
are bulked and used to grow the next generation.
• a mass selected variety is homozygous but heterogeneous,
because it is a mixture of several pure-lines
• mass selected varieties have broader genetic base than pure
lines.They exhibit more or less stable performance.
• ‘Hridya’ a cow pea variety developed by mass selection from
local cultivarsV-2, CO-3, COVU-358, COVU-8456,V-118 and
COVU-623 in India

8. .Pure line selection
It is procedure of isolating
pure lines from mixed
population.
Selection is for superior
traits.
Cowpea
Suvita-2
Striga resistant line

9. Pure Line
Selection

10. Hybridization
• is the process of crossbreeding between genetically dissimilar
parents to produce a hybrid
• To artificially create a variable population for the selection of
types with desired combination of characters.
• To combine the desired characters into a single individual, and
• To exploit and utilize the hybrid varieties.
• a) Intervarietal: Co6 (Ms 9804 × C 152), Co2 ( C 521 × C 419)
• b) InterspecificV.u ×V.vexillata - (having tuberous roots which is
edible),V.u ×V.umbellata.

11. Selection procedure following hybridization
• Pedigree selection
• Bulk population
• Single seed descent method

12. Pedigree selection
A method in which superior genotypes are selected from
segregating generations and proper records of the ancestry of
selected plants are maintained in each generation.

13. Pedigree selection

14. Bulk Population Method
•Bulk breeding refers to a selection procedure in which
the segregating population of self-pollinated species is
grown in bulk plot (From F1 to F5) with or without
selection.
•a part of the bulk seed is used to grow the next
generation and individual plant selection is practiced in
F6 or later generations.

15. Bulk Population Method

16. Bulk Population Method

17. Single Seed Descent Method
This is the classic procedure of having a single seed from each
plant, bulking the individual seeds, and planting out the next
generation.

18. Single Seed Descent Method

19. Mutation Breeding
• Mutations are the source of changes in the genome either permanent or
temporary.
• Spontaneous mutation is occurring naturally with very low frequencies
of 10 ̄⁶ due to transposable elements which move into genome and cause
alteration in DNA sequence (Wessler, 2006).
• Induced mutation are caused by either chemical mutagens or other
agents like UV radiation, X rays α- particles and β particles.
• The main purpose of mutation breeding technology is the development of
new and desired variation(s) through breeding program for crop
improvement.
• Induced mutations can play an important role in the conservation and
preservation of crop biodiversity. Co5 Forage cowpea

20. Mutation Breeding
•