LAUSR

The objective of this work was to obtain cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata ) progenies with compound inflorescences, short peduncles, early cycle, good plant architecture, and high-yielding potential. The initial genetic material consisted of 453 F 2:3 progenies, selected from ten crosses and evaluated using Federer’s augmented block design, with two controls. Of these, 60 progenies from the F 4:5 and F 4:6 generations were selected and assessed in two consecutive experiments, both in a 8x8 lattice design with four controls and four replicates. Early selection was efficient at fixing the evaluated traits. A wide genetic variability was detected among and within progenies. The estimated and obtained heritability and genetic gains in the F 4:5 and F 4:6 progenies indicate the possibility of selection of early progenies with short peduncles, compound inflorescences, and productivity similar to or greater than that of the commercial cultivars used as controls.