Use of linear discriminant function analysis in five yield sub-characters relationship study in 134 cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) accessions

Abstract

Variations in five yield sub-characters of cowpea in 134 accessions were studied. Data were collected on number of pods per plant, pod length, pod width, peduncle length and 100-seed weight. Differences among the accessions were significant based on four of the five characters, namely pod length, pod width, peduncle length and 100-seed weight. K-means cluster analysis grouped the 134 accessions into four distinct groups. Pairwise Mahalanobis distance (D2) among some of the groups was highly significant. From the study the yield sub-characters pod length, pod width, peduncle length and 100-seed weight contributed most to group separation in the cowpea accessions.