COMBINING ABILITY FOR YIELD OVER ENVIRONMENT IN COWPEA [VIGNA UNGUICULATA (L.)WALP.]

In the present study six diverse genotypes (exotic and indigenous) of cowpea were crossed in diallel fashion excluding reciprocals. Six parents and their 15 F(1) were raised in randomized block design with three replications during kharif, 2007 (E(1)) and summer, 2008 (E(2)) The best specific combiner for seed yield per plant was IT-97K-1042 X IT-98K-1111 and IT-98K-205 X Pusa Komal. This cross combination emanated from parents involving good X good and good X average gca effects. Pooled analysis of variance for combining ability showed significant interaction of gca variances and sca variances with environments except for virus and insect incidence indicating the role of environment in influencing the gene effects.