The aim of this work was to estimate genetic parameters in traits associated with the production of fresh southern pea in 14 cowpea genotypes of purple pod and white grains. Three experiments were carried out: two under irrigation (2004 and 2005) and one in rainfed conditions (2005), at Embrapa Mid-North experimental field, in a randomized complete block design with four replications. The correlations, genetic variation and determination coefficients were estimated for the following traits: number of days for the harvest of fresh seed (NDHFS), fresh pod length (FPL), number of seeds for fresh pod (NSFP), weight of one hundred fresh seed (WHFS), fresh pod yield (FPY), fresh seed yield (FSY), fresh seed index (FSI), value of crop (VC) and plant type (PT). The genotypic correlations were superior to phenotypic and environment correlations, being distinguished the correlations between VC and FPY (100%). The genetic variation coefficient varied from 6.58% (FSI) to 31.62% (FSY), with highlight also for FPY (30.16%). All characters showed high genetic component in the expression of the character, with highlight for the FPL (98.72%). There is a high genetic component in the phenotypic expression of all the traits studied, with a high probability of genetic gains in additional cycles of selection based on phenotype. Selection of cowpea genotypes for high yield and early is easier than selection of genotypes with high yield and late in the fresh southern pea breeding.
Vigna unguiculata; Crop yield; Genetic variability; Selection
