GENOTYPIC VARIATIONS IN SEED NUTRITIONAL QUALITY AND MICRONUTRIENT COMPOSITION OF COWPEA (Vigna unguiculata L.)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48165/abr.2026.28.01.19Keywords:
Correlation, genotypic variation, micronutrient accumulation, nutrient composition, protein contentAbstract
Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) is a nutritionally important pulse crop with strong potential to enhance dietary protein and mineral intake. A pot experiment was conducted at CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar (India) during the summer season of 2023-24 to assess genotypic variability in quality traits and nutrient composition across ten cowpea genotypes. The study was arranged in a completely randomized design with three replications. Grain samples collected at harvest were analysed for protein, carbohydrate, nitrogen, potassium, and micronutrients (Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu), along with Zn concentration in pods and the overall index of nutritional quality (OINQ), using standard procedures. Significant (p ≤ 0.05) differences were observed among genotypes for all parameters. Protein content was in the range of 18.0–23.5%, while seed Zn and Fe concentrations varied between 28.12 and 41.66 ppm, and 40.2 and 59.2 ppm, respectively. Correlation analysis revealed strong positive associations among protein, nitrogen, Zn, Fe, and Cu, suggesting coordinated accumulation of these traits, whereas carbohydrate content showed strong negative correlations, indicating a dilution effect. Principal component analysis (PCA) explained 90.26% of total variance within the first three components, with PC1 representing a nutritional quality axis dominated by protein and micronutrients. Genotypes ‘Kashi Kanchan’ and ‘Cowpea-263’ consistently exhibited superior nutritional profiles and higher OINQ values. The study highlights the utility of multivariate approaches in identifying nutritionally superior cowpea genotypes and provide promising candidates for biofortification-oriented breeding under semi-arid Indian conditions.
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