Inheritance Pattern of Bean Common Mosaic Virus(BCMV) Resistance Gene Using Marker Assisted Selection and of Seed Coat Colour in Cowpea

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) is one of the most important grain legume crops in sub-Saharan African. Blackeye cowpea mosaic strain of the bean common mosaic virus (BCMV-BICM) causes mosaic infections that reduces the yield of cowpea Planting resistant varieties is the most effective control method but complex nature of disease resistance makes identification of resistant and susceptible plants cumbersome through conventional screening techniques .The use of marker Assisted selection (MAS) is more effective for crops genetic improvement. Seed coat colour is also an important trait in cowpea preference by consumers. Knowledge of the mode inheritance of viral resistance and seed colour are crucial in developing improved cowpea varieties. Inheritance of seed coat color and resistance to BCMV-BICM using MAS, was investigated using two improved cowpea breeding lines. Cowpea resistant (IT98K-1092-1) and susceptible (Ife-brown) varieties obtained from the international institution of Tropical agricultural (IITA), Ibadan were used. Crosses were made between the BCMV resistant (back seed) and susceptible (brown seed color) varieties. The F1 seed were advanced to F2. Genomic DNA of parent lines and F1 were extracted. MAS was used to determine the pattern of inheritance of virus resistance and chi square test of the colour segregation of F2 generations was used in investigating the inheritance of seed color. Data on morphology traits were also taken. There were no significant differences (p=0.01) between the two parental lines and between F1 and F2generations in the number of seed\pods, pod length (cm), seed weight, seed\plant, pod no\plant, seed number\plant, and germination percentage.