Gujarat Dantiwada Vegetable Cowpea 2 (GDVC 2): A high yielding variety of cowpea

Abstract

At present, two varieties viz., Pusa phalguni and AVC-1 are under cultivation in Gujarat State. Both the varieties are non determinant and non synchronous types. Also, they are more prone to important diseases and pest. Hence, in order to provide suitable variety, attempts were made to develop high yielding, early maturing and synchronous vegetable cowpea variety with better nutritive quality at Centre for Research on Seed Spices, SDAU, Jagudan. More than 500 germplasm lines collected from Main Pulses Research Station, SDAU, S.K.Nagar were thoroughly screened for various yield contributing characters and desirable traits including pest and diseases at Centre for Research on Seed Spices, SDAU, Jagudan during kharif 2007 & 2008 seasons. Among them, most promising germplasms were further screened at two different locations viz., Jagudan and Ladol during the kharif 2009 and five different locations viz., Jagudan, Ladol, Anand, Navasari and Junagadh during the kharif 2010 to 2012 in large scale trial. On an average, variety JDNVC-74 produced 103.5 q/ha green pod against 72.9 and 83.4 q/ha of Pusa phalguni and AVC-1 check variety, respectively and out yielded both the check varieties in 17/17 tests. It also significantly out yielded the check varieties viz., Pusa phalguni and AVC-1 in 12/17 and 10/17 tests with 42.0 and 24.1 per cent higher pod yield, respectively, indicating superiority in yield over the year and locations. The yield potential of this variety is 151.5 q/ha which will enhance the productivity under varying environmental conditions. The analysis of nutritional and bio-chemical properties revealed that JDNVC-74 (GDVC-2) has high soluble protein (10.3 %), total soluble sugar (4.5 %) and less crude fiber (15.1 %) makes this variety more nutritive and palatable. This genotype is less prone to cowpea mosaic virus, root rot and leaf spot diseases and also exhibited the least pod borer damage as well.