Adaptability, stability, and agronomic performance of cowpea lines in Mato Grosso, Brazil

Abstract

This work was carried out to evaluate adaptability and stability, agronomic performance, and phenotypic correlation between the characters of erect/semi-erect cowpea lines in Mato Grosso, Brazil. The trials were conducted in the municipalities of Nova Ubiratã-MT, Primavera do Leste-MT and Sinop-MT in 2014 and 2015. A total of 15 lines and five commercial controls were evaluated using a randomized complete block design (RBD) with four replications. Cultivation value, plant lodging, pod mass, pod length, number of grains per pod, grain mass, mass of 100 grains, grain index and grain yield were evaluated. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and yield adaptability and stability were estimated. Phenotypic correlations among characters were also estimated. The L22, L24, L25, L27, L31, L34 and L35 lines presented good performance for the evaluated characters and good yield adaptability and stability. Estimates of phenotypic correlations indicated that upright plants with smaller lodging presented smaller and lighter pods, with fewer grains per pod and heavier grains.