Multivariate Analysis and Agronomic Performance of Cowpea Pure Lines Under Semi-Arid Ecological Conditions

Abstract

Objective: Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp.) is a vital grain legume characterized by high protein content, rich nutritional value, and excellent adaptation to drought-prone environments. This study aimed to evaluate grain yield and yield-related traits of advanced cowpea pure lines derived from various hybridization combinations under the ecological conditions of Konya, Türkiye. Materials and Methods: The field experiments were conducted over the 2024 and 2025 growing seasons using a randomized complete block design with three replications. The data were subjected to combined analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson correlation, and principal component analysis (PCA). Results: The results indicated significant effects of both year and genotype for most traits. Grain yield was found to be strongly and positively correlated with the number of pods per plant (r=〖0.920〗^(**)), number of seeds per plant (r=〖0.827〗^(**)), plant height (r=〖0.686〗^(**)), and 100-seed weight (r=〖0.628〗^(**)), while PCA confirmed the predominant role of these yield components in yield formation. Among the tested lines, VS24SU showed high values for grain yield and number of seeds per plant, reaching 198.62 kg da⁻¹ and 321.65 seeds per plant, respectively. Furthermore, VS24SU, VS24AP, and VS24MA were among the genotypes with relatively high yield potential under the climatic conditions of the study.Conclusion: These findings reveal substantial genetic variation within the advanced lines and underscore that several genotypes are well-adapted to the Konya environment, offering desirable traits for cultivar development. Consequently, these genotypes are recommended as promising parental materials for future breeding programs, although their stability should be further validated across multi-location trials.