Salicylic acid improves cowpea productivity under water restriction in the field by modulating metabolism.

Introduction: Salicylic acid has shown promise in alleviating water stress in cultivated plants. However, there is a lack of studies confirming its effectiveness in cowpea plants grown in field conditions. Therefore, this research aimed to evaluate the use of salicylic acid as a water stress mitigator in cowpea cultivars under different irrigation depths in field conditions. Methods: Four cowpea cultivars (BRS Novaera, BRS Tapaihum, BRS Pujante, and BRS Pajeú) were subjected to different treatments: control (W100: 100% replacement of crop evapotranspiration - ETc), W50 (50% of ETc), W50+SA2 (50% of ETc + 276 mg L-1 of SA), and W50+SA4 (50% of ETc + 552 mg L-1 of SA). The treatments were combined in a 4×4 factorial scheme with three replications, arranged in a randomized block design. Results: Water restriction had a negative impact on the water status, growth, gas exchange, and production of the cultivars while also leading to changes in the antioxidant metabolism and osmolyte concentration. The application of SA enhanced antioxidant activity and the synthesis of osmotic adjusters under stress conditions. The most effective concentration was 276 mg L-1 in stage R2 and 552 mg L-1 in stage V7, respectively. The BRS Pujante cultivar showed increased productivity under water restriction with SA application, while the BRS Tapaihum was the most tolerant among the cultivars studied. Discussion: In summary, our findings underscore the importance of using SA to mitigate the effects of water restriction on cowpea cultivation. These discoveries are crucial for the sustainability of cowpea production in regions susceptible to drought, which can contribute to food security. We further add that the adoption of new agricultural practices can enhance the resilience and productivity of cowpea as an essential and sustainable food source for vulnerable populations in various parts of the world.

Biosynthesis, characterization and study of the application of silver nanoparticle for 4-nitrophenol reduction, and antimicrobial activities.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized from Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp extracted leaves, and characterized. The UV-Visible spectrum showed a peak between 411 and 415 nm at the Plasmon absorbance of the AgNPs. TEM showed that the size of AgNPs ranged from 5 to 13 nm. It was spherical with an average size of 11.08 nm. The size of AgNPs was 7 ± 6 nm and disperse in water. The AgNPs effectively reduced 4-Nitrophenol (4-NP) to 4-aminophenol (4-AP) in the presence of NaBH4. The AgNPs exhibited a strong antioxidant and antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacteria: Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Klebsiella pneumonia and Gram-positive: Bacillus pumilus and Staphylococcus aureus. The average zones of inhibition of AgNPs were: 29 mm for Staphylococcus aureus, 23 mm for Bacillus pumilus, 17 mm for Klebsiella pneumonia and 15 mm for Escherichia coli (E. coli). Thus, AgNPs has exhibted good antibacterial activity compared to antibiotics drug and 4-NP reduction.

Modulation of Drought-Induced Stress in Cowpea Genotypes Using Exogenous Salicylic Acid.

Plant endogenous mechanisms are not always sufficient enough to mitigate drought stress, therefore, the exogenous application of elicitors, such as salicylic acid, is necessary. In this study, we assessed the mitigating action of salicylic acid (SA) in cowpea genotypes under drought conditions. An experiment was conducted with two cowpea genotypes and six treatments of drought stress and salicylic acid (T1 = Control, T2 = drought stress (stress), T3 = stress + 0.1 mM of SA, T4 = stress + 0.5 mM of SA, T5 = stress + 1.0 mM of SA, and T6 = stress + 2.0 mM of SA). Plants were evaluated in areas of leaf area, stomatal conductance, photosynthesis, proline content, the activity of antioxidant enzymes, and dry grain production. Drought stress reduces the leaf area, stomatal conductance, photosynthesis, and, consequently, the production of both cowpea genotypes. The growth and production of the BRS Paraguaçu genotype outcompetes the Pingo de Ouro-1-2 genotype, regardless of the stress conditions. The exogenous application of 0.5 mM salicylic acid to cowpea leaves increases SOD activity, decreases CAT activity, and improves the production of both genotypes. The application of 0.5 mM of salicylic acid mitigates drought stress in the cowpea genotype, and the BRS Paraguaçu genotype is more tolerant to drought stress.

Diallel analysis of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) genotypes under water deficit stress.

Combining ability is referred to as the hybridization value of the parental genotypes involved in the crossing to develop hybrids. The best parents are selected through combining ability methods and subsequently used to produce high yielding and resistant hybrids. Thus, the objectives of this study were to (i) understand the nature and action of genes controlling water deficit tolerance, and (ii) identify superior genotypes from the genetic breadth provided by hybridization in cowpea. Twenty-four genotypes were subjected to normal irrigation and water deficit condition to examine combining ability, genotypic and phenotypic correlations for traits directly related to water deficit (proline and chlorophylls), grain yield and yield components. The results showed the presence of the action of additive and non-additive genes under both water regime conditions. However, there was the predominance of the action of additive genes for most of the traits studied under both conditions. The parents KVX61-1, IT06K242-3, IT07K-211-1-8, Kpodjiguèguè, IT99K-573-1-1, Tawa and IT97K-206-1-1 were observed to be good general combiners for proline content, chlorophyll content and traits associated with yield, while KVX61-1 × KVX396-18, IT06K242-3 × KVX396-18, IT07K-211-1-1 × KVX396-18, Kpodjiguèguè x KVX396-18, KVX61 -1 × IT97K-206-1-1, IT06K242-3 × IT97K-206-1-1, IT07K-211-1-1 × IT97K-206-1-1 and Kpodjiguèguè x IT97K-206-1-1 were proven to be the best specific combiners for traits directly related to water deficit tolerance and yield. It should be noted that number of days to pod maturity, pod length, number of pods per plant and weight of hundred seeds were highly heritable traits in this study.

Selection of Soybean and Cowpea Cultivars with Superior Performance under Drought Using Growth and Biochemical Aspects.

Identifying cultivars of leguminous crops exhibiting drought resistance has become crucial in addressing water scarcity issues. This investigative study aimed to select soybean and cowpea cultivars with enhanced potential to grow under water restriction during the vegetative stage. Two parallel trials were conducted using seven soybean (AS3810IPRO, M8644IPRO, TMG1180RR, NS 8338IPRO, BMX81I81IPRO, M8808IPRO, and BÔNUS8579IPRO) and cowpea cultivars (Aracê, Novaera, Pajeú, Pitiúba, Tumucumaque, TVU, and Xique-xique) under four water levels (75, 60, 45, and 30% field capacity-FC) over 21 days. Growth, water content, membrane damage, photosynthetic pigments, organic compounds, and proline levels were analyzed. Drought stress significantly impacted the growth of both crops, particularly at 45 and 30% FC for soybean and 60 and 45% FC for cowpea plants. The BÔNUS8579IPRO and TMG1180RR soybean cultivars demonstrated the highest performance under drought, a response attributed to increased amino acids and proline contents, which likely help to mitigate membrane damage. For cowpea, the superior performance of the drought-stressed Xique-xique cultivar was associated with the maintenance of water content and elevated photosynthetic pigments, which contributed to the preservation of the photosynthetic efficiency and carbohydrate levels. Our findings clearly indicate promising leguminous cultivars that grow under water restriction, serving as viable alternatives for cultivating in water-limited environments.

Osmoregulatory and Antioxidants Modulation by Salicylic Acid and Methionine in Cowpea Plants under the Water Restriction.

Global climate changes have intensified water stress in arid and semi-arid regions, reducing plant growth and yield. In this scenario, the present study aimed to evaluate the mitigating action of salicylic acid and methionine in cowpea cultivars under water restriction conditions. An experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with treatments set up in a 2 × 5 factorial arrangement corresponding to two cowpea cultivars (BRS Novaera and BRS Pajeú) and five treatments of water replenishment, salicylic acid, and methionine. After eight days, water stress decreased the Ψw, leaf area, and fresh mass and increased the total soluble sugars and catalase activity in the two cultivars. After sixteen days, water stress increased the activity of the superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase enzymes and decreased the total soluble sugars content and catalase activity of BRS Pajeú plants. This stress response was intensified in the BRS Pajeú plants sprayed with salicylic acid and the BRS Novaera plants with salicylic acid or methionine. BRS Pajeú is more tolerant to water stress than BRS Novaera; therefore, the regulations induced by the isolated application of salicylic acid and methionine were more intense in BRS Novaera, stimulating the tolerance mechanism of this cultivar to water stress.

A Genome-Wide Scan Divulges Key Loci Involved in Resistance to Aphids (Aphis craccivora) in Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata).

Cowpea aphids (Aphis craccivora Koch) double as a direct damaging pest and a virus vector to cowpea, threatening the economic yield of the crop. Given the multiple ecotypes, different alleles have been implicated in aphid resistance, necessitating the identification of key genes involved. The present study implemented a genome-wide scan using 365 cowpea mini-core accessions to decipher loci involved in resistance to aphid ecotype from Kano, Nigeria. Accessions were artificially inoculated with A. craccivora in insect-proof cages and damage severity assessed at 21 days after infestation. Significant phenotypic differences based on aphid damage severity were registered among the accessions. Skewed phenotypic distributions were depicted in the population, suggesting the involvement of major genes in the control of resistance. A genome-wide scan identified three major regions on chromosomes Vu10, Vu08 and Vu02, and two minor ones on chromosomes Vu01 and Vu06, that were significantly associated with aphid resistance. These regions harbored several genes, out of which, five viz Vigun01g233100.1, Vigun02g088900.1, Vigun06g224900.1, Vigun08g030200.1 and Vigun10g031100.1 were the most proximal to the peak single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) positions. These genes are expressed under stress signaling, mechanical wounding and insect feeding. The uncovered loci contribute towards establishing a marker-assisted breeding platform and building durable resistance against aphids in cowpea.

Estimates of genotypic and phenotypic variance, heritability, and genetic advance of horticultural traits in developed crosses of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp).

Cowpea, in addition to being a food and feed crop, plays a key role in sustainable farming. The present study's goal is to develop new high-yielding cowpea varieties. A Field experiment was carried out across 3 summer seasons and the breeding program included 28 distinct cowpea varieties, out of which five potential parents were selected for this investigation. Local cultivars, i.e., Cream 7 'Cr7', Dokki 331 'D331', Commercial 1 'Com1', and introduced cultivars, i.e., Colossus 'Col' and Asian Introduction 'AI' were utilized to produce six crosses in two generations apart; F1 and F2: Col x AI, Col x Com1, Cr7 x AI, Cr7 x Com1, D331 x AI, and D331 x Com1. 'AI' and 'Com1' were superior in pod length, pod diameter, number of seeds/pod and seeds weight/pod, whereas 'Col', 'Cr7' and 'D331' were superior in seeds yield/plant, number of pods/plant and the least number of aborted ovules/pod. The genotypes/crosses showed greater genotypic variance (GV) than phenotypic variance (PV) for number of pods/plant, pod length, number of seeds/pod, number of aborted ovules/pod, fresh pod weight, seeds weight/pod, and seeds yield/plant. All studied variables showed high heritability (H%) in genotypes/crosses, despite the exception of seeds weight/pod, which ranged from 29.14 in 'D331' to 83.7 in F2 of Col x Com1. F2 plants and their parents' genotypes showed greater H%. Cr7 x AI developed the most H%, 99.04% for number of pods/plant. D331 x Com1 and Cr7 x AI exhibited moderate H% for fresh pod weight in F1, but all other crosses had high H%. F1 and F2 crosses yielded moderate to high GCV and PCV for number of seeds/pod. Variations in parental genotypes and crossings reflect genetic diversity and the possibility of selection. Crossing with 'AI,' and 'Com1' genotypes enhanced the performance of the other varieties, 'Col', 'D331' and 'Cr7'. Cr7 x Com1 and D331 x AI were selected as the most promising crosses for cowpea breeding programs.

Cowpea seeds from plants subjected to restricted-and full-irrigation regimes show differential phytochemical activity.

BACKGROUND: Water scarcity is responsible for losses in the yield of many plants and this is expected to continue due to climate change. However, cowpea which is known for its drought tolerance, is considered as a plant without limitations to climate change. A two-year experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of water restriction on phenolic compounds, antioxidant capacity and leaf nutrients concentration of four cultivars of cowpea at different growth stages. At second leaf stage, two irrigation regimes were initiated (Water irrigation was applied after 75% and 55% of field capacity, as well watered and drought stress treatment, respectively).Plants samples were collectedat three stages(immature pod, immature seed and dry seed stage) for total phenol and flavonoids content, ortho-diphenols andantioxidant capacity measurement and leaves sampling for nutrients concentration. RESULTS: The results indicated that polyphenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity increased under drought conditions. However, in both irrigation regimes, immature pods had the higher polyphenolic compounds, antioxidant capacity and leaf nutrients concentration rather than immature seeds and dry seeds. Among the genotypes, ILC482 revealed the highest content of total phenolics and ortho-diphenols (6.9 and 3.57 mg GA g-1dry weight, respectively). In addition, nitrogen, phosphorus and magnesium concentration of leaves were higher in ILC482 genotype. Under drought stress, ILC482 maintained higher ABTS radical scavenging capacity (0.0083 mmol Trolox g-1dry weight) compared to other genotypes. CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested that drought stress affect the quality of cowpea productions through polyphenolic compounds, ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging capacity which can be used as a helpful strategy to save water in the regions where water is scare.

Cowpea: A low-cost quality protein source for food safety in marginal areas for agriculture.

Cowpea is a low-cost protein source for human nutrition for the world's impoverished regions. Therefore, the yield and total grain protein content (TGPC) of two modern commercials genotypes, Novaera and Gurguéia, and two traditional local genotypes, Paulistinha and EPACE-10, were studied. Also, leaf area and dry weight, leaf soluble protein content, and chlorophyll a fluorescence, parameters related to photosynthetic capacity, were used to evaluate genotypes. Under optimal conditions, the yield of EPACE-10 and Paulistinha, with higher TGPC, was lower than for Gurguéia and Novaera, which showed lower TGPC. The four cowpea genotypes showed high lysine content and low methionine and cysteine. The results revealed a negative correlation between yield and TGPC. The modern commercial genotype Novaera showed a high yield with low TGPC but a higher globulin and albumin content than Gurguéia. Thus, it can be used in high-input agriculture. In contrast, the traditional local genotype EPACE-10, with high TGPC and higher amino acid content than Paulistinha, is indicated for low-input agriculture in marginal areas for food safety under climate changes.

Cowpea Immature Pods and Grains Evaluation: An Opportunity for Different Food Sources.

Currently, the sustainability of agro-food systems is one of the major challenges for agriculture and the introduction of new pulse-based products can be a good opportunity to face this challenge. Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) is a nutritionally important crop and has the particularity that the aerial section of the plant is entirely edible. The current research determines the nutritional composition of the alternative cowpea food sources immature pods and grains comparatively to dry grains through the evaluation of protein, minerals and different polyphenolic contents, and antioxidant capacity. Ten cowpea genotypes were analyzed during two harvest seasons. Cowpea immature pods and grains revealed high levels of total protein and K, Ca, Zn and Fe contents. In general, most of the genotypes produced cowpea of high nutritional value, with a high variation observed between them. Our results showed the potential of the introduction of new cowpea new products in the market allowing a healthy and variable diet and at the same time a better use of the crop under the scenario of climate change.

Co-Inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense and Bradyrhizobium sp. Enhances Nitrogen Uptake and Yield in Field-Grown Cowpea and Did Not Change N-Fertilizer Recovery.

This study was designed to investigate the effects of Azospirillum brasilense and Bradyrhizobium sp. co-inoculation coupled with N application on soil N levels and N in plants (total N, nitrate N-NO3- and ammonium N-NH4+), photosynthetic pigments, cowpea plant biomass and grain yield. An isotopic technique was employed to evaluate 15N fertilizer recovery and derivation. Field trials involved two inoculations-(i) single Bradyrhizobium sp. and (ii) Bradyrhizobium sp. + A. brasilense co-inoculation-and four N fertilizer rates (0, 20, 40 and 80 kg ha-1). The co-inoculation of Bradyrhizobium sp. + A. brasilense increased cowpea N uptake (an increase from 10 to 14%) and grain yield (an average increase of 8%) compared to the standard inoculation with Bradyrhizobium sp. specifically derived from soil and other sources without affecting 15N fertilizer recovery. There is no need for the supplementation of N via mineral fertilizers when A. brasilense co-inoculation is performed in a cowpea crop. However, even in the case of an NPK basal fertilization, applied N rates should remain below 20 kg N ha-1 when co-inoculation with Bradyrhizobium sp. and A. brasilense is performed.

Photosynthetic Responses, Growth, Production, and Tolerance of Traditional Varieties of Cowpea under Salt Stress.

Cowpea is the main subsistence crop-protein source-for the Brazilian semi-arid region. The use of salt-stress-tolerant varieties can improve crop yields. We evaluated the effect of irrigation with brackish water on the growth, photosynthetic responses, production, and tolerance of fifteen traditional varieties of cowpea. The experiment was conducted in randomized blocks, in a 15 × 2 factorial scheme, composed of 15 traditional varieties of cowpea and two salinity levels of irrigation water (0.5 and 4.5 dS m-1), with five replicates. Plants were grown in pots containing 10 dm3 of soil for 80 days. The reduction in the photosynthetic rate of cowpea varieties occurs mainly due to the decrease in stomatal conductance caused by salt stress. Salt stress increased the electron transport rate and photochemical quenching of cowpea varieties, but stress-tolerant varieties increased the CO2 assimilation rate and instantaneous carboxylation efficiency. The Ceará, Costela de Vaca, Pingo de Ouro, Ovo de Peru, and Sempre Verde varieties are tolerant to salt stress. Salt stress decreases 26% of the production of tolerant varieties to salt stress and 54% of susceptible varieties. The present findings show the existence of variability for saline stress tolerance in traditional varieties of cowpea and that Ceará, Costela de Vaca, Pingo de Ouro, and Ovo de Peru varieties are more suitable for crops irrigated with saline water.

Comparative Mutagenic Effectiveness and Efficiency of Gamma Rays and Sodium Azide in Inducing Chlorophyll and Morphological Mutants of Cowpea.

Mutagenic effectiveness and efficiency are the most important factors determining the success of mutation breeding, a coherent tool for quickly enhancing genetic diversity in crops. However, conclusive evidence of using an effective and efficient dose of gamma (γ) rays and sodium azide (SA) for genetic improvement is scant. The present study assesses genetic diversity in M2 mutants of cowpea and evaluates mutagenic effectiveness and efficiency of the single and combination doses of γ rays and SA. In M0 generation, 7200 M1 seeds obtained by SA treatment (0.01-0.1%) and γ irradiation (100-1000 Gy) at a dose rate of 11.58 Gy/min were sown to raise M1 generation. A total of 57,620 M2 seeds were generated from the M1 generation of two varieties-Gomati VU-89 and Pusa-578, from which 47,650 seeds germinated. Moreover, plants (38,749) that survived were screened for chlorophyll and morphological mutations. Among the mutagens, SA followed by γ rays + SA and γ rays was most effective in inducing higher frequency and a broader spectrum of chlorophyll mutants. A wide range of morphological mutants affecting every growth stage was recorded with the highest frequency in 400 Gy γ rays + 0.04% SA treatment. These morphological mutants with desirable agronomic traits represent a valuable genetic resource for future breeding programs. This study revealed the potency of γ rays and SA in increasing genetic diversity and demonstrated the successful conduct of induced mutagenesis in the cowpea.

The Bradyrhizobium uaiense strain UFLA 03-164T enhanced yield performance of cowpea in soils with low or high phosphorus content

The objective of this study was to evaluate the agronomic efficiency of rhizobia strains already approved or in the selection stage for cowpea, in the Recôncavo da Bahia region, Brazil. Two field experiments were performed in the municipalities of Cruz das Almas and Maragogipe, Bahia, Brazil. A randomized block design was used with seven nitrogen sources and four replicates. Nitrogen sources consisted of the strains UFRB FA51B1, UFRB BA72C2-1, UFLA 03-164T, UFLA 03-84, INPA 03-11B, and two controls without inoculation, one with mineral nitrogen and another without. All the strains nodulated cowpea. The efficiency of the strains was determined by the number of nodules, nodule dry matter, total dry matter, grain yield, nitrogen accumulation in shoots and grain, and relative efficiency. The strain UFLA 03-164T can be recommended for biomass production, green manure, and promotion of grain yields in both soils. In Maragogipe, the UFLA 03-84 and INPA 03-11B strains can be recommended for biomass production, green manure, and promotion of grain yields. The UFLA 03-164T strain showed great potential to promote and grain yield in the two municipalities studied. The strain INPA 03-11B can be recommended for Maragogipe soil. UFLA 03-84 can also be recommended to increase grain yield in Cruz das Almas.

10Boron Is Mobile in Cowpea Plants.

Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] is cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, but its production is usually limited by boron (B) deficiency, which can be mitigated by applying B via foliar spraying. In plants with nutrient mobility, the residual effect of foliar fertilization increases, which might improve its efficiency. An experiment was carried out to evaluate the concentration and mobility of the B isotopic tracer (10B) in different organs of cowpea plants, after the application of this micronutrient in the growing media and also to leaves. Treatments were designed based on B fertilization as follows: without B in the growth media, with 10B applied via foliar spraying (10B-L), with B in the growth media (substrate) and 10B via foliar spraying (10B-L + B-S), and with 10B in the growth media (substrate) without foliar spraying (10B-S), and a control without fertilization. A redistribution of 10B was observed in new leaves when the element was supplied via foliar spraying, resulting in greater leaf area, dry mass and dry matter production of aerial parts, and also the whole plant. 10Boron was redistributed when applied via foliar spraying in cowpea plants, regardless of the plant's nutritional status, which in turn might increase internal B cycling.

Modeling of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) Yield and Control Insecticide Exposure in a Semi-Arid Region.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the adaptability of different genotypes of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) in the edaphoclimatic conditions of a semi-arid region. In the experimental design, a completely randomized split-plot (2 × 8), with 3 repetitions (blocks) was used. The experiment comprised 7 new genotypes and 1 local genotype as the first main factor and application of insecticide as a secondary factor. Two-factor analysis of variance (two-way ANOVA) determined the differences between the treated and untreated plots. The results obtained in the experiment showed that the introduced genotypes V3 (IT07K-181-55), V7 (H4), and V5 (IT97K-556-4M) adapted well to the edaphoclimatic conditions of the study area and their yields were respectively 1019, 1015, and 841 kg/ha of grains in treated plots and 278, 517 and 383 kg/ha in untreated plots. Multivariate analysis revealed that the most important parameter was the germination rate. Finally, the best yield was obtained with the genotype V3 (IT07K-181-55), subjected to the use of insecticide, and with the V7 (H4) genotype in untreated plants. The findings presented in this research should be useful in crop system agricultural programs, particularly in the terms of selection of cultivating systems suitable for high-yielding cowpea.

Application of sodium selenate to cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) increases shoot and grain Se partitioning with strong genotypic interactions.

BACKGORUND: Cowpea is a crop widely used in developing countries due its rusticity. Besides its rich genotypic variability, most breeding programs do not explore its potential to improve elements uptake. Selenium (Se) is a scarce element in most soils, resulting in its deficiency being common in human diets. This study aimed to evaluate the interaction between biofortification with Se and genotypic variation in cowpea, on the concentrations of Se in roots, leaves + stem and grains. METHODS: Twenty-nine cowpea genotypes were grown in a greenhouse in the absence (control) and presence of Se (12.5 µg Se kg-1 soil) as sodium selenate, in fully randomized scheme. The plants were cultivated until grains harvest. The following variables were determined: roots dry weight (g), leaves + stems dry weight (g), grains dry weight (g), Se concentration (mg kg-1) in roots, leaves + stems and grains, and Se partitioning to shoots and grains. RESULTS: Selenium application increased the Se concentration in roots, leaves + stems and grains in all genotypes. At least twofold variation in grain Se concentration was observed among genotypes. Selenium application did not impair biomass accumulation, including grain dry weight. Genotype "BRS Guariba" had the largest Se concentration in grains and leaves + stems. Genotype MNC04-795 F-158 had the largest partitioning of Se to shoots and grain, due to elevated dry weights of leaves + stems and grain, and high Se concentrations in these tissues. CONCLUSION: This information might be valuable in future breeding programs to select for genotypes with better abilities to accumulate Se in grain to reduce widespread human Se undernutrition.

Agronomic biofortification of cowpea with zinc: Variation in primary metabolism responses and grain nutritional quality among 29 diverse genotypes.

Dietary zinc (Zn) deficiency is widespread globally, and is particularly prevalent in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) is consumed widely in LMICs due to its high protein content, and has potential for use in agronomic biofortification strategies using Zn. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Zn biofortification on grain nutritional quality of 29 cowpea genotypes. Zn application did not increase cowpea yield. In 11 genotypes sucrose concentration, in 12 genotypes total sugar concentration, and in 27 genotypes storage protein concentration increased in response to Zn supply. Fifteen genotypes had lower concentrations of amino acids under Zn application, which are likely to have been converted into storage proteins, mostly comprised of albumin. Phytic acid (PA) concentration and PA/Zn molar ratio were decreased under Zn application. Six genotypes increased shoot ureides concentration in response to Zn fertilization, indicating potential improvements to biological nitrogen fixation. This study provides valuable information on the potential for Zn application to increase cowpea grain nutritional quality by increasing Zn and soluble storage protein and decreasing PA concentration. These results might be useful for future breeding programs aiming to increase cowpea grain Zn concentrations through biofortification.

Genetic worth of multiple sets of cowpea breeding lines destined for advanced yield testing.

The objective of this study was to determine genetic potentials in eight sets of cowpea lines for grain yield (GY), hundred seed weight (HSDWT) and days to 50% flowering (DT50FL). A total of 614 F6 genotypes constituting the sets, grouped by maturity, were evaluated across two locations in Northern Nigeria, in an alpha lattice design, two replications each. Data were recorded on GY, HSDWT and DT50FL.Variance components, genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV), and genetic advance (GA) were used to decode the magnitude of genetic variance within and among sets. Genetic usefulness (Up) which depends on mean and variance to score the genetic merits in historically bi-parental populations was applied to groups of breeding lines with mixed parentage. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to depict contribution of traits to observed variations. GY and DT50FL explained the variance within and between sets respectively. Genotypes were significantly different, although genotype-by-location and set-by-location interaction effects were also prominent. Genetic variance (δ2 G) and GCV were high for GY in Prelim2 (δ2 G = 45,897; GCV = 19.58%), HSDWT in Prelim11 (δ2 G = 7.137; GCV = 17.07%) and DT50F in Prelim5 (δ2 G = 4.54; GCV = 4.4%). Heritability varied among sets for GY (H = 0.21 to 0.57), HSDWT (H = 0.76 to 0.93) and DT50FL (H = 0.20 to 0.81). GA and percentage GA (GAPM) were high for GY in Prelim2 (GAPM = 24.59%; GA = 269.05Kg/ha), HSDWT in Prelim11 (GAPM = 28.54%; GA = 4.47 g), and DT50F in Prelim10 (GAPM = 6.49%; GA = 3.01 days). These sets also registered high values of genetic usefulness, suggesting potential application in non-full sib populations. These approaches can be used during preliminary performance tests to reinforce decisions in extracting promising lines and choose among defined groups of lines. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at (10.1007/s10681-020-02763-y).