Screening for Improved Drought Tolerance in the Mutant Germplasm of African Leafy Vegetables: Amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor) and Cowpea (Vigna inguiculata)

Seven selected amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor) and seven cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) mutant lines were subjected to dry land yield and growth evaluation, community acceptance and palatability testing. The highest yielding amaranth mutant line was A19, and A5 had the lowest yield. There were many morphological differences between the amaranth mutant lines. According to linear regression analysis the amaranth mutant lines A19 and A2 were well adapted to environmental/seasonal changes, while A6, A550 and A993 were poorly adapted. A5 was the most stable in yield during environmental changes, while A554 was the most sensitive to environmental changes. Community members indicated that A550 was the tastiest of the amaranth mutant lines. The highest yielding cowpea line was the control IT93K129-4, while CMA1 and C217 had the highest yield of the cowpea mutant lines. According to linear regression analysis cowpea mutant lines C447, C217, CMA-1 as well as IT93K129-4 were well adapted to environmental changes. All the cowpea mutant lines performed better than the drought tolerant control line IT96D-602. Community members indicated that they enjoyed being involved in the various aspects of cultivation and evaluation of the mutant lines. It was indicated through this study that taste as evaluation criteria should be handled with care and that yield would be more important.