Linkage relationships among loci controlling morphological traits in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.)

Abstract

Linkage among loci controlling various morphological traits in cowpea were determined using F2 progenies. Data were collected on individual plants of four crosses segregating for several loci. Recombination estimates between the following pairs of loci were as follows: Sw (swollen vs normal stem base)-Fbc (cream vs green flower buds) (41±4.8%), Pus(purple vs green stems)-Cbr (cocoa-brown vs straw-yellow dry pods) (31±5.7%), Pup(purple vs green immature pods)-Cbr (30±5.7%), Pus-Pup (4±1.5%), Ndt (non-determinate vs determinate)-Pd (peduncle colour) (26±2.8%), Ndt-Hg (semi-erect vs erect plant type) (26±2.8%), Pt(purple vs green pod tips)-Bk (greyish-black vs straw-yellow dry pods) (19±2.4%) and Hg-Bpd (normal vs branching peduncle (24±9.5%). Four linkage groups (LG) were identified in these studies. The proposed LG I contained loci Sw and Fbc; LG II loci Pus, Pup, and Cbr; LG III loci Pd, Ndt, Gh, and Bpd; and LG IV loci Ptand Bk.