This study investigated the effects of gamma ray radiation at doses of 250, 300, and 350 Gy on reproductive traits of 15 accessions of Vigna vexillata. Analysis of variance showed significant effects of accession, dosage, and their interaction on days to first flowering, days to first ripe pods, pod length, pod width, and flower width. Different accessions responded differently to radiation doses in terms of reproductive parameters. All radiation doses caused morphological diversity in reproductive traits. The study aims to create new genetic variability in V. vexillata that may improve its cross compatibility with the cultivated cowpea, Vigna unguiculata.

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Effects of gamma rays on reproductive
traits of Vigna vexillata (L.) A. Rich.
Edhemuino M.,1,2
, Balogun M.O2
, Oyatomi O.1
,Abberton M.1
1. International Institutes of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) P.M.B 5320,
Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
2. Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology,
University of Ibadan

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• One of the earliest crops recognized by man is
Cowpea, it is a pulse generally improved and
cultivated all over the world (Aveling,1999).
• The legume provides essential protein while the
leaves are used as a nourishing vegetable.
INTRODUCTION

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• Major production limitations
 Flower thrips (Megalurothrips sjostedti),
 Cowpea pod borer (Maruca spp.), and
 Pod-sucking bugs (Clavigralla spp.)
• Resistance to these pests has been established
mainly in wild non-cultivated Vigna species, such
as V. vexillata.
• Interspecific crossing has been attempted
between V. vexillata and V. unguiculata but failed
due to cross incompatibility.

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Mutagenesis could create
new genetic variability that
may be cross compatible
with V. unguiculata
Therefore, morphological
characterization of 15
accessions of V. vexillata,
irradiated with gamma ray
at 250, 300 and 350 (Gy)
doses were investigated.

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Materials and Methods
•15 accessions of V. vexillata were sent to Plant
Breeding and Genetics Laboratory of International
Atomic Energy Agency, Seibersdorf, Austria for
gamma irradiation (60Co) using a Gamma Cell with
an activity of 202 Gy/min.
• All the collected
genotypes were
sown in a RCBD
with four replications

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Results and Discussion
Table 1: Analysis of variance of different
factorial levels α = 0.05
Source of
variation
DFFL DFRP PDLTH PWDTH FLWDTH
Accession 1253.57** 1742.73*
*
8.16** 89.25** 1.60**
Dosage 2787.65** 2528.95*
*
1.14 8.87 0.09
Accession*
Dosage
316.82 410.47 0.58 14.98** 0.44
Error 457.25 447.75 0.42 4.51 0.42
DFFL - Days to first flowering, DFRP - Days to first ripe pods. PDLTH -
Pod length, PWDTH - Pod width and FLWDTH-Flower width.

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Table 2: Average duration effect of accession to some reproductive
parameters of V. vexillata

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Table 3: Effects of Dosage levels on the reproductive parameters of Vigna
vexillata

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Acknowledgement
Prof M. Abberton - Head GRC/IITA
Dr. M.O Balogun – University of Ibadan
Mr O. Olaniyi - Seedbank Manager/IITA

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Conclusion
•All treatment doses of radiation (0, 250, 300 and
350Gy) caused morphological diversity in the
reproductive traits of plants.

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THANKS FOR LISTENING