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Horticulturae
Special Issues
Recent Developments in Cowpea Research and Breeding
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Recent Developments in Cowpea Research and Breeding

A special issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524). This special issue belongs to the section "Genetics, Genomics, Breeding, and Biotechnology (G2B2)".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 November 2023) | Viewed by 2897

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Márcia Carvalho

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Centre for Research and Technology of Agro-Environment and Biological Sciences (CITAB), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Interests: molecular markers, gene expression; drought resistance; agronomic characterization; root system architecture
Dr. Isaura Castro

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Centre for Research and Technology of Agro-Environment and Biological Sciences (CITAB), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Interests: molecular markers; genetic diversity; agronomic characterization

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) is a warm season grain legume native from Africa and is a primary source of protein for millions of people in sub-Saharan Africa and other parts of the developing world. As other legumes, cowpea plays an important role in soil nutrient cycling and green manure through biological nitrogen fixation. Beside, its high adaptability to heat and drought makes it a versatile crop for cultivation even in the context of global climate change.

Unfortunately, this crop has a low productivity (worldwide about 6.5 million metric tons per 14.5 million hectares) due the numerous abiotic (drought, heat and salt) and biotic (insects, diseases, parasitic weeds and nematodes) constraints.

In last decades, some progress has been made in cowpea research and conventional breeding, mainly related to high yielding varieties, early maturing grain type and consumers preferences. However, new knowledge and the combination of conventional breeding and molecular breeding strategies will be benefit in order to release improved varieties to farmers, thereby boosting cowpea production, yield and consume and at same time providing hypothesis to counteract climate change scenario.

Therefore, this Special Issue aims to exhibit the advanced scientific information on cowpea research and breeding.

Dr. Márcia Carvalho
Dr. Isaura Castro
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Horticulturae is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.
  • breeding
  • conventional breeding
  • molecular breeding
  • molecular biology
  • yield
  • new cultivars

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 1476 KiB  
Article
Identification of Candidate Genes Controlling Red Seed Coat Color in Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp)
by Ira A. Herniter, María Muñoz-Amatriaín, Sassoum Lo, Yi-Ning Guo, Stefano Lonardi and Timothy J. Close
Horticulturae 2024, 10(2), 161; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10020161 - 09 Feb 2024
Viewed by 747
Abstract
Seed coat color is an important consumer-related trait of the cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp.) and has been a subject of study for over a century. Utilizing newly available resources, including mapping populations, a high-density genotyping platform, and several genome assemblies, the [...] Read more.
Seed coat color is an important consumer-related trait of the cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp.) and has been a subject of study for over a century. Utilizing newly available resources, including mapping populations, a high-density genotyping platform, and several genome assemblies, the red seed coat color has been mapped to two loci, Red-1 (R-1) and Red-2 (R-2), on Vu03 and Vu07, respectively. A gene model (Vigun03g118700) encoding a dihydroflavonol 4-reductase, a homolog of anthocyanidin reductase 1, which catalyzes the biosynthesis of epicatechin from cyanidin, has been identified as a candidate gene for R-1. Possible causative variants have also been identified for Vigun03g118700. A gene model on Vu07 (Vigun07g118500), with predicted nucleolar function and high relative expression in the developing seed, has been identified as a candidate for R-2. The observed red color is believed to be the result of a buildup of cyanidins in the seed coat. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Developments in Cowpea Research and Breeding)
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12 pages, 333 KiB  
Article
Enhancing Cowpea Productivity in the Sahel: Exploring Seed Access among Smallholder Farmers in South-Central Niger
by Mahamane Moctar Rabé, Ibrahim B. Baoua and Dieudonne Baributsa
Horticulturae 2023, 9(12), 1287; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9121287 - 30 Nov 2023
Viewed by 820
Abstract
Cowpea productivity in West Africa is low due to several challenges, including limited access to high-quality seeds. Despite the development of improved varieties, smallholder farmers face difficulties in accessing certified seeds. This study interviewed 634 households in south-central Niger to assess how farmers [...] Read more.
Cowpea productivity in West Africa is low due to several challenges, including limited access to high-quality seeds. Despite the development of improved varieties, smallholder farmers face difficulties in accessing certified seeds. This study interviewed 634 households in south-central Niger to assess how farmers access cowpea seeds. Most farmers (94.6%) relied on informal seed systems, with local markets being the primary source (72.8%). The formal seed sector, including the private sector, had a limited role. Farmers typically stored seeds for seven months utilizing pesticides (54.9%) and hermetic methods (42.6%). Interestingly, the price of seeds of improved cowpea varieties in local markets was 1.19 times higher than that of local varieties, but only 25% of the cost of certified seeds. Interventions to strengthen informal seed systems and improve access to credit could enhance the adoption of high-quality cowpea seeds and increase productivity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Developments in Cowpea Research and Breeding)
11 pages, 1857 KiB  
Article
Identification of a Locus Controlling Seed Pigment Leaching in Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp]
by Christian S. Bowman, Bao Lam Huynh, Philip Roberts, Jansen R. P. Santos, Kaylee Paul and Timothy J. Close
Horticulturae 2023, 9(7), 739; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9070739 - 24 Jun 2023
Viewed by 880
Abstract
Consumer preferences for cooking-related traits are a deciding factor in the success of new cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] cultivars. Pigment leaching is an undesirable trait for both consumers and producers alike that occurs during the cooking or canning process and has been [...] Read more.
Consumer preferences for cooking-related traits are a deciding factor in the success of new cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] cultivars. Pigment leaching is an undesirable trait for both consumers and producers alike that occurs during the cooking or canning process and has been a goal for improvement efforts through breeding. This study leverages the power of bulked segregant analysis to identify a locus segregating for the pigment-leaching trait in an F2 population of blackeye seed-type cowpea. A single major locus was identified on Vu06 spanning 1.27 Mb, and SNP haplotypes were identified for low and high pigment-leaching bulks. However, further evaluation of accessions that are unrelated to the F2 population or its progenitors suggests that the trait is polygenic, such that low or high leakage is not determined solely by this locus. Parallels were drawn between cowpea and a close relative, black bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), to suggest that additional seed coat or cooking-related traits may also be involved in the pigment-leaching trait. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Developments in Cowpea Research and Breeding)
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