STABILITY ANALYSIS OF PROMISING GENOTYPES OF COWPEA (VIGNA-UNGUICULATA)

An experiment was conducted during rainy and winter seasons of 1987-89 and summer season of 1989 to assess the stability of yield and its component characters in 7 genotypes of cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.). Genotype x environment interaction was observed for all the characters. The highest-yielding genotype 'V 16' was not found appropriate on account of its predictability of growth and developmental characters. The significant linear component of genotype x environment interaction for newer initiation and maturity in 'ACCC198' and 'ACCC216' indicated that predictability of crop duration was related to earliness in flowering and maturity. Absence of genotype x environment interaction and minimum yield performance of 'ACCC 218' indicated that wider adaptability was associated with low grain yield. Besides, wider adaptability and promising yield performance of 'ACCC 210' also showed good predictability for pods/plant, pod length, harvest index and plant height. Hence it was rated as the most stable genotype.