Morphological Evaluation of the Production Parameters of Cowpea Varieties (Vigna unguiculata) Grown in Maniema (D.R. Congo)
Keywords:
accession, collection, yield, characterization, cowpeas
Abstract
Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp.) is a major dietary legume contributing to food security in Africa. In Maniema, Democratic Republic of Congo, data on the productive diversity of local cowpea accessions remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate this diversity of cowpea cultivated in this Province on the basis of a few production parameters. An experimental test was conducted according to an appropriate set-up and accessions were evaluated according to a number of production parameters. The data were subjected to an analysis of variance (ANOVA), supplemented by the calculation of coefficients of variation and the analysis of correlations between traits. The results revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) between accessions for the majority of the parameters studied, reflecting an exploitable productive variability. Significant positive correlations were observed between the number of pods per plant, the number of seeds per pod, and seed yield. Some accessions have been distinguished by superior performance, indicating interesting agronomic potential and good adaptation to local agro-ecological conditions. This diversity is a strategic resource for varietal selection and the sustainable improvement of cowpea production in Maniema.
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Ng N. and Padulosi S., 1991. Cowpea genepool distribution and crop improvement. Paper presented at the International Conference on Crop Genetic Resources of Africa, Ibadan (Nigeria), IITA, 17-20 Oct 1988.
Padulosi S. and Ng N., 1997. Origin, taxonomy, and morphology of Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. Advances in cowpea research, 1-12.
Wendbenedo Joël, Antoine Lalsaga and Issa Drabo, 2017. Evaluation of fifteen genotypes of cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] Under rainy conditions in northern and central-western Burkina Faso. Int. J. Biol. Chem. Sci. 11(6): 2756-2763.
Baoua I., Amadou L., Bakoye O., Baributsa D. and Murdock L., 2012. Technical sheet on the use of sand or ash for the conservation of cowpea seeds in a farming environment, Agricultural Entomology Laboratory, Regional Center for Agricultural Research of Niger (CERRA), Department of Entomology.
Ben Tenni Nouh Kheir Eddine, 2017. Contribution to the nutritional study of three varieties of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) grown in the Tlemcen region. Abou Bekr Belkaid University, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences and Earth Sciences, Department of Agronomy with a view to obtaining the Master's degree in Agricultural Science, Plant Breeding option, 72p.
Cobbinah F., Addo-Quaye A. and Asante I., 2011. Characterization, evaluation and selection of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) walp.) accessions with desirable traits from eight regions of Ghana. Journal of Agricultural and Biological Science, 6(7), 21, 32.
Coulibaly S., Pasquet R.S., Papa R. and Gepts P., 2002. Analysis of the phenetic organization and genetic diversity of cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] reveals extensive gene flow between wild and domesticated types. Theor. Appl. Genet., 104: 258–266.
Djirabaye Nadjiam, Amos Nodjasse D. and Diambo Bedingam, 2015. Study of the agromorphological variability of forty-five local cultivars of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.)Walp.) from the Sudanian zone of Chad. Afrique Science 11(3) (2015) 138 - 151 138 ISSN 1813-548X, 14p.
Doumbia I.Z., Akromah R. and Asibuo J.Y., 2013. Comparative study of cowpea germplasms diversity from Ghana and Mali using morphological characteristics. Plant Breed Journal. Genet., 01(03) 139-147.
Dugjé I.Y., Omoigui L.O., Ekeleme F., Kamara A.Y. and H. Ajeigbe, 2009. Farmers Guide to Cowpea Production in West Africa. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria. 20 pp.
DSDIA/DAPS/MAE, 2003. Final harvest results for the 1998/1999 to 2002/2003 crop years. Summary of industrial and other crops. Senegal, 3rd version of 24/03/2003.
FAO, 2019. The State of the World's Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture. Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture Assessments. Rome, Italy: FAO.
Fatokun C., Boukar O. and Muranaka S., 2018. Evaluation of cowpea genetic resources for crop improvement. Plant Genetic Resources.
François De Paul Mako N., Lassina Fondio, Brice Evrard Konan D., Hortense Andé D. and Christophe N'Guessan K., 2013. Study of the yield components of six improved varieties of cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.]. Journal of Applied Biosciences 63: 4754 – 4762 ISSN 1997–5902, 9p.
Gbaguidi A. A., Assogba P., Dansi M., Yedomonhan H. and Dansi A., 2015. Agromorphological characterization of cowpea varieties grown in Benin. Int. J. Biol. Chem. Sci., 9(2), 1050-1066.
IBPGR, 1983. Cowpea descriptors. The Internacional Bord of Plant Genetic Ressources (IBPGR), secretariat, Rome, 29p.
Idrissou-Toure M., Affokpon A., Bello S., Quenum J-B. F., Djihinto A. C., Detongnon J., Bankole C. D., 2023. Agronomic and zootechnical potential of the cowpea variety (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) for multiple use it95k-193-12 in South Benin, Agronomie Africaine 35 (1): 53 – 62, 8p.
IPA, 2017. Annual report of agricultural activities in the agricultural production zones of Maniema. Provincial Inspectorate of Agriculture. Maniema; RDC, pp 125.
Joseph Yoka, Jean Joël L., Julien Gaudence D., Marcel Houinato and Parisse Akouango, 2014. Adaptation of a cowpea cultivar (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) to the pedoclimatic conditions of Boundji (Republic of Congo). Afrique SCIENCE 10(1), 217- 225.
Khan A., Bari A., Khan S., Shan N.H. and Zada I., 2010. Performance of cowpea genotypes at higher altitude of NWFP. Pak. J. Bot., 42(4): 2291-2296.
Kuruma R.W., Kiplagat O., Ateka E. and Owuoche G., 2008. Genetic diversity of Kenyan cowpea accessions morphological and based on microsatellite markers. East Afr. Agric. For. J., 76: 3-4.
Makondambuta E., 1997. Types of climate. Congonline, Afriqu'Info asbl, Brussels, Belgium. Climate and the French-speaking International Secretariat for Environmental Assessment/Kindu Maniema 12p.
Ng N. and Padulosi S., 1991. Cowpea genepool distribution and crop improvement. Paper presented at the International Conference on Crop Genetic Resources of Africa, Ibadan (Nigeria), IITA, 17-20 Oct 1988.
Padulosi S. and Ng N., 1997. Origin, taxonomy, and morphology of Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. Advances in cowpea research, 1-12.
Wendbenedo Joël, Antoine Lalsaga and Issa Drabo, 2017. Evaluation of fifteen genotypes of cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] Under rainy conditions in northern and central-western Burkina Faso. Int. J. Biol. Chem. Sci. 11(6): 2756-2763.
Published
2026-04-26
How to Cite
MWISSA MUSOKE, V., MOKE LUKUSA, B., BONONGA OKANI, J., ALIANGO UVON, B., PALUKU NZIABAKI, A., NGAMA BOLOY, F., DHED’A DJAILO, B., & YENGA BOMBEKU, D. (2026). Morphological Evaluation of the Production Parameters of Cowpea Varieties (Vigna unguiculata) Grown in Maniema (D.R. Congo). European Journal of Science, Innovation and Technology, 6(2), 87-97. Retrieved from https://ejsit-journal.com/index.php/ejsit/article/view/760
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