Breeding implications of nodulation performance and root structure under natural inoculation for soil fertility enhancement and sustainable cowpea production

Nitrogen deficiency is the most limiting abiotic stress factor affecting the grain yield of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries. Breeding for high-yielding potential in association with high nitrogen fixation performance is the principal objective of cowpea breeding p...

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Autores principales: Mekonnen, T.W., Hailemariam, F.M., Amsalu, B., Gedil, Melaku A, Labuschagne, Maryke T.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Frontiers Media 2022
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/127384
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author Mekonnen, T.W.
Hailemariam, F.M.
Amsalu, B.
Gedil, Melaku A
Labuschagne, Maryke T.
author_browse Amsalu, B.
Gedil, Melaku A
Hailemariam, F.M.
Labuschagne, Maryke T.
Mekonnen, T.W.
author_facet Mekonnen, T.W.
Hailemariam, F.M.
Amsalu, B.
Gedil, Melaku A
Labuschagne, Maryke T.
author_sort Mekonnen, T.W.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Nitrogen deficiency is the most limiting abiotic stress factor affecting the grain yield of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries. Breeding for high-yielding potential in association with high nitrogen fixation performance is the principal objective of cowpea breeding programs to improve both the productivity and production of this orphan crop in the region. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to determine the diversity of genotypes for nodulation capacity in two environments and to understand the root architecture and morphology of genotypes as well as grain yield and yield-related traits in 324 cowpea genotypes. The experiment was conducted in two different environments during the 2017 cropping season. The experiments were laid out in 18 × 18 simple lattice design. Grain yield exhibited highly significant and positive genotypic correlations with stem diameter, basal root length of 1st whorls, basal root branching density, taproot length and adventitious root length, demonstrating that selection of cowpea genotypes based on these traits could be effective to capitalize on grain yield under low nitrogen conditions. Days to flowering, days to maturity, stem diameter, 1st whorl angle, basal root length of 1st whorls, basal root branching density, taproot length, adventitious root diameter and adventitious root length had significant and positive genotypic correlations with days to maturity. The first ten principal components (PC) explained 65.13% of the total variation. Stem diameter, taproot width, and taproot length traits were important contributors to the variability in the first PC. The highest inter-cluster distance (D2) was recorded between clusters III and IV. However, clusters II and V recorded the minimum inter-cluster distance (78.96 units). The range of intra-cluster distance was 24.22–5,112.92 units, indicating that the high genetic distance displayed within and between clusters has to be exploited via crossing and selecting the most divergent parents for future cowpea improvement. Five clusters of cowpea genotypes were evident, and within the clusters, the genotypes had good nodulation potential with high grain yield traits, which could significantly contribute to SSA food and nutritional security. Moreover, it can contribute to resilience and improve crop production and sustainability under marginal environmental conditions.
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spelling CGSpace1273842025-12-08T10:29:22Z Breeding implications of nodulation performance and root structure under natural inoculation for soil fertility enhancement and sustainable cowpea production Mekonnen, T.W. Hailemariam, F.M. Amsalu, B. Gedil, Melaku A Labuschagne, Maryke T. cowpeas environment nodulation root architecture phenotypes ethiopia horticulture ecology food science Nitrogen deficiency is the most limiting abiotic stress factor affecting the grain yield of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries. Breeding for high-yielding potential in association with high nitrogen fixation performance is the principal objective of cowpea breeding programs to improve both the productivity and production of this orphan crop in the region. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to determine the diversity of genotypes for nodulation capacity in two environments and to understand the root architecture and morphology of genotypes as well as grain yield and yield-related traits in 324 cowpea genotypes. The experiment was conducted in two different environments during the 2017 cropping season. The experiments were laid out in 18 × 18 simple lattice design. Grain yield exhibited highly significant and positive genotypic correlations with stem diameter, basal root length of 1st whorls, basal root branching density, taproot length and adventitious root length, demonstrating that selection of cowpea genotypes based on these traits could be effective to capitalize on grain yield under low nitrogen conditions. Days to flowering, days to maturity, stem diameter, 1st whorl angle, basal root length of 1st whorls, basal root branching density, taproot length, adventitious root diameter and adventitious root length had significant and positive genotypic correlations with days to maturity. The first ten principal components (PC) explained 65.13% of the total variation. Stem diameter, taproot width, and taproot length traits were important contributors to the variability in the first PC. The highest inter-cluster distance (D2) was recorded between clusters III and IV. However, clusters II and V recorded the minimum inter-cluster distance (78.96 units). The range of intra-cluster distance was 24.22–5,112.92 units, indicating that the high genetic distance displayed within and between clusters has to be exploited via crossing and selecting the most divergent parents for future cowpea improvement. Five clusters of cowpea genotypes were evident, and within the clusters, the genotypes had good nodulation potential with high grain yield traits, which could significantly contribute to SSA food and nutritional security. Moreover, it can contribute to resilience and improve crop production and sustainability under marginal environmental conditions. 2022-12-08 2023-01-18T11:18:23Z 2023-01-18T11:18:23Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/127384 en Open Access application/pdf Frontiers Media Mekonnen, T.W., Hailemariam, F.M., Amsalu, B., Gedil, M. & Labuschagne, M.T. (2022). Breeding implications of nodulation performance and root structure under natural inoculation for soil fertility enhancement and sustainable cowpea production. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 6: 1076760, 1-14.
spellingShingle cowpeas
environment
nodulation
root architecture
phenotypes
ethiopia
horticulture
ecology
food science
Mekonnen, T.W.
Hailemariam, F.M.
Amsalu, B.
Gedil, Melaku A
Labuschagne, Maryke T.
Breeding implications of nodulation performance and root structure under natural inoculation for soil fertility enhancement and sustainable cowpea production
title Breeding implications of nodulation performance and root structure under natural inoculation for soil fertility enhancement and sustainable cowpea production
title_full Breeding implications of nodulation performance and root structure under natural inoculation for soil fertility enhancement and sustainable cowpea production
title_fullStr Breeding implications of nodulation performance and root structure under natural inoculation for soil fertility enhancement and sustainable cowpea production
title_full_unstemmed Breeding implications of nodulation performance and root structure under natural inoculation for soil fertility enhancement and sustainable cowpea production
title_short Breeding implications of nodulation performance and root structure under natural inoculation for soil fertility enhancement and sustainable cowpea production
title_sort breeding implications of nodulation performance and root structure under natural inoculation for soil fertility enhancement and sustainable cowpea production
topic cowpeas
environment
nodulation
root architecture
phenotypes
ethiopia
horticulture
ecology
food science
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/127384
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