Agronomic performance of cowpea populations with resistance to Fusarium redolens in three agro-ecological zones in Uganda

Breeding populations of cowpea with resistance to Fusarium root rot caused by Fusarium redolens were developed at Makerere Regional Center for Crop Improvement (MaRCCI). These were evaluated for agronomic performance at three sites in Uganda. A total of 23 populations were created using the North Carolina mating Design II. The parents consisted of four males (Asontem, Danila, IT89KD-288 and NE 70) that are resistant to Fusarium root rot. The females consisted of two released varieties SECOW 2W and SECOW 3B and four landrace cultivars, two with intermediate resistance NE 6, NE 50 and two that are susceptible namely KVU 27-1 and WC 66. These were evaluated at Kabanyolo, Arua and Serere research stations in Uganda during the 2017B season. Plots were 3m wide and 2.5m long with an inter row spacing of 75cm and 20cm between plants giving four rows with eight plants each and the design was 5 x 8 alpha lattice replicated three times. The variables measured were days to 50% flowering, number of pods per plant, seed yield per plot and scab disease severity scored on a 1 to 5 scale where 1 = 0% infected plants and 5 = 50% or greater infection. There was a significant genotype x location interaction (P0.05) among genotypes for number of pods per plant. The results indicate that superior lines can be selected within these populations.