Cowpea genotypes tolerant and susceptible to water deficit

Objective to identify tolerant and susceptible cowpeas genotypes to water deficiency at the seedlings stage of growth, using two methodologies such as (a) water stress with the use of PEG6000 (Polyethylene glycol) and the Screening Box were used in the present research. The experiments were conducted in greenhouse environments using a completely randomized design with three replications. For the PEG6000 approach, 15 genotypes and two controls treatments were used in three replications in a total of 90 samples. Six seedlings were selected per genotype by using three boxes containing only distilled water. In the other treatment, three level of osmotic potential of -0.2 MPa of PEG6000. The evaluations of the trials were done until the Screening Box approach, 15 genotypes were used and were evaluated for tolerance to water deficit at the seedling stage of growth. The two methodologies were efficient in the selection of cowpea genotypes, the genotypes Santo Inacio Vermelho and BRS Tumucumaque were the most sensitive to drought in both methodologies.