THE GENETIC DIVERSITY OF CULTIVATED VIGNA UNGUICULATA (COWPEA) IN WAYANAD DISTRICT

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1 VISTAS Vol. 5, No. 1, 2016, pp ISSN: , e-issn THE GENETIC DIVERSITY OF CULTIVATED VIGNA UNGUICULATA (COWPEA) IN WAYANAD DISTRICT Dhanya Thomas T.T. 1, M.K. Ratheesh Narayanan 2 and N. Anil Kumar 3 1,3M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Puthoorvayal P.O., Kalpetta 2Assistant Professor, Payyanur College, Kannur, Kerala Abstract The present study was carried out in genetic diversity of cultivated Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. (Cowpea). The Vigna unguiculata is a legume which is included in the family leguminosae. The legumes are important human food item which contains more proteins and vitamins. Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) is one of the most important food legumes which serve as vital source of protein in the diet of the people of developing nations. Cowpea young leaves, pods and peas contain vitamins and mineral which have fuelled its storage for human consumption and animal feeding. Because of its high protein content cowpea has been referred to as poor man s meat. The study was conducted in Wayanad district, which is a farming district. V. unguiculata is the major cultivated legume species in Wayanad district. During the study 31 varieties of V. unguiculta were recorded. The 31 varieties were included in one species and two subspecies. They are V. unguiculata, V. unguiculata ssp. catjang and V. unguiculata ssp. sesquipedalis. Field visits were made in order to locate the plants and surveys were conducted to collect and identify materials. Data such as local name, locality, uses etc. was recorded. During the field trip, seeds and photographs of the all plants were collected which has helped for easy identification. Collected specimens were identified with the help of floras and consultation with experts. The V. unguiculata can fix large amount of Nitrogen than any other species. The cow pea is cultivated commercially and a kitchen gardens. It includes traditional varieties and hybrid varieties. The traditional varieties are rarely cultivated due to the introduction of hybrid varieties. This survey was intended to document the cultivated, traditional and hybrid varieties of V. unguiculata. INTRODUCTION The Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp., cow pea is a tropical grain legume which plays an important role in developing countries of the tropics and subtropics, especially in Sub-Saharan, Asia, Central and South America (Singh et al., 1997). Because of its high protein content cow pea has been referred to as poor man s meat. Cow pea young leaves, pods and peas contain vitamins and mineral which have fuelled its storage for human consumption and animal feeding (Nielsen et al., 1997; Rachie, 1985). Vigna unguiculata is an herbaceous, prostrate, climbing or sub-erect annual plant, growing cm high. Leaves are alternate trifoliate with petiole 5 25 cm long. The lateral leaflet is opposite and asymmetrical, while the central leaflet is symmetrical and ovate. The inflorescence is racemes; flowers are white, cream, yellow or purple. Growth habit is either determinate or indeterminate Seeds are variable in size and shape: kidney, ovoid, crowded, globose and rhomboid (IBPGR, 1983). Seeds are of various colors: white, brown, black, cream or gray, dotted (black, brown), purple, red. Pod length ranges from 8 22 cm with seeds per pod (Chavalier, 1944). Cowpea is a multipurpose crop, providing food for human and feed for livestock and it is a cash generating commodity for farmers, small and medium-size entrepreneur. It can also be used as a cover crop (Langyintuo et al., 2003; Singh, 2002; Timko et al., 2008). Total seed protein content in seed ranges from 23% 32% of the seed weight (Nielsen et al., 1993).

2 18 ISSN: e-issn Some differences exist between vegetable cowpea and grain types for their vegetative characteristics, physiological characteristics and green pod yield (Gani et al., 2003). The pod length is one of the major criteria to select a better variety for its higher yield and preferable pod size. Longer pods are preferred by consumers since they have market appealing character. It is obvious that the longer pods produce more yield than short pods (Pandey et al., 2006). The present study was undertaken in Wayanad district of Kerala. The folk etymology of the word says it is a combination of Vayal (Paddy) and Naad (land), making it The Land of Paddy Fields. There are many indigenous tribes in this area. It is set high on the majestic Western Ghats with altitudes ranging from 700 to 2100 m. It lies between north latitude and and east longitude and It is bounded on the east by Nilgiris and Mysore districts of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka respectively, on the north by Coorg district of Karnataka, on the south by Malapuram and on the west by Kozhikode and Kannur. Wayanad has the largest population of aborigine people in Kerala. The native Adivasis mainly consist of various sects like Paniyas, Kurumas, Adiyars, Kurichyas, Ooralis, Kattunaikkans etc. They are mainly dependent on agriculture. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was mainly intended to locate the varieties of cow pea in Wayanad. Field visits were made in order to locate the plants and surveys were also conducted to collect materials. Various characters of varieties like habits, flower colour, size of pods, colour of testa etc were observed. The data such as local name, locality, and uses were recorded. A key for the identification of the major genus was made using vegetative characters and few reproductive characters. The differences in the flavor and overall quality of dry beans are associated with the colour, size and shape of the seeds which define the specific bean class (Adams & Bedford, 1973). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION From the study area 31 varieties of cultivated V. unguiculata were recorded. It included both traditional and hybrid varieties. The cultivated varieties of V. unguiculata were included in one species and two subspecies. They are V. unguiculata, V. unguiculata ssp. catjang and V. unguiculata ssp. sesquipedalis. In V. unguiculata consist of Kuttypayar and vithapayar. Kuttypayar contain 5 varieties and vithapayar contain two varieties. V. unguiculata ssp. catjang consist of Chenapayar which contain two varieties. V. unguiculata ssp. sesquipedalis consist of Vallipayar with green pod and Vallipayar with brown or violet colour pod. Vallipayar with green pod contain 19 varieties and Vallipayar with brown or violet coloured pod contains 3 varieties.

3 VISTAS Vol. 5, No The collected varieties are given in the Table 1. Table 1: List of Varieties Sl. Species Local Name Distinguishing Characters No. I. Vigna unguiculata 1. Kuttypayar 1. White & black colour seed (L.) Walp. 2. Black colour seed 3. White & brown coloured seed 4. Dark cream colour seed 5. Cream & light brown coloured seed. 2. Vithapayar 6. Dark brown seed 7. Ash colour seed II. Vigna unguiculata Chennapayar 8. Red colour seed ssp. catjang 9. Cream colour seed III. Vigna unguiculata Vallipayar with green 10. Reddish brown colour seed ssp. pod colour: sesquipedalis i. Killichundanpayar ii. Kollekuthipayar 11. Cream colour seed 12. Cream & dark brown coloured seed 13. Dark brown colour seed iii. Kanjikuzhipayar 14. Cream & brown coloured seed 15. Cream & ash coloured seed iv. Kurutholapayar 16. Dark brown colour seed v. Lolavallipayar 17. Black colour seed vi. Pathinettumaniya 18. Cream & brown coloured seed n vii. Pavizhamaniyan 19. Dark red colour seed payar viii. Piriyanpayar ix. Pullipayar x. Thathammachund an payar xi. Vallipayar Vallipayar with brown or violet colour pod: i. Violetpayar 20. Pod thinner, cm long and light brown colour seed 21. Pod thicker, cm long and light brown colour seed 22. Black colour seed 23. Pod colour is dark green with brown striations and black colour seed 24. Cream & brown coloured seed 25. Pod thick and reddish brown colour seed 26. Pod thin and reddish brown colour seed. 27. Light green colour pod, their tips are dark violet colour and rose & brown in coloured seed 28. Light green colour pod, their tips are yellow colour and black coloured seed 29. Dark violet colour pod and black colour seed. ii. Brownpayar 30. Brown colour pod and light brown colour seed. 31. Brown colour pod and dark red colour seed. The V. unguiculata and V. unguiculata ssp.catjang are bush type but the V. unguiculata ssp. sessquipedalis is vine type. V. unguiculata and V. unguiculata ssp. catjang are used as grain type cow pea. The V. unguiculata ssp. sessquipedalis is used as vegetable type cow pea Valliayar (V. unguiculata ssp. sesquipedalis) is the most commercially cultivated variety. They are mainly two types, green pod type and brow or violet pod type. The green pod varieties are largely cultivated and commonly used. The brown or violet pod varieties are not commonly used due to the thickness of pod and also they are less tasty.

4 20 ISSN: e-issn In V. unguiculata, Chenapayar is the traditional variety. It is highly nutritious but is rarely cultivated now a day. Chenapayar is one among the pulses which can fix a large amount of Nitrogen (information from Kuruma tribe). Now a day s the cultivation of traditional varieties are less due to introduction of hybrid varieties. At this time the conservation of traditional varieties is more important. Because of the pulses are very important food item in our daily life. So this work is intended to be a pictorial guide for the identification cowpeas cultivated in Wayanad and their properties. FIGURES OF VARIETIES Chennapayar Vallipayar Vallipayar brown Vallipayar violet

5 VISTAS Vol. 5, No Kuttypayar Vallipayar Chenapayar Kuttypayar Kuttypayar Vithapayar Kanjikuzhipayar Kilichundan

6 22 ISSN: e-issn REFERENCES Kolekuthipayar Kolekuthipayar Adams, M.W. and Bedford, C.L. (1973), Breediing Food Legumes for Improved Processing and Consumer Acceptance Properties, In: Nutritional Improvement of Food Legumes by Breeding, Ed. Milner, M. Protein Advisory Group, United Nations, New York, pp Bose, T.K., Maity, T.K., Parthasarathy, V.A. and Som, M.G. (2003), Vegetable Crops, Naya Udyog, Kolkata, Vol. 2, pp Chavalier, A. (1944), La dolique de China en Afreque, Rev Bot Appl Agric Trop, Vol. 24, pp Gani, A.M., Yahaya, S.U. and Auwalu, B.M. (2003), The Performance of Vegetable Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) Varieties in Bauchi, Nigeria, Agricultural Business Technology of Journal, Vol. 1(1), pp Hall, A.E., Cisse, N., Thiaw, S., Elawad, H.O.A., Ehlers, J.D., Ismail, A.M., Fery, R.L., Roberts, P.A., Kitch, L.W., Murdock, L.L., Boukar, O., Phillips, R.D. and McWatters, K.H. (2003), Development of Cowpea Cultivars and Germplasm by the Bean/Cowpea CRSP, Field Crop Res, Vol. 82, pp IBPGR (1983), Descriptors for Cowpea, In: CGIAR (ed). AGPG: IBPGR/82/80, Rome, pp Langyintuo, A.S., Lowenberg-De, Boer J., Faye, M., Lambert, D., Ibro, G., Moussa, B., Kergna, A., Kushwaha, S., Musa, S. and Ntoukam, G. (2003), Cowpea Supply and Demand in West and Central Africa, Field Crop Res., Vol. 82, pp Li, C.D., Fatokun, C.A, Ubi, B., Singh, B.B. and Scoles, G.J. (2001), Determining Genetic Similarities and Relationships among Cowpea Breeding Lines and Cultivars by Microsatellite Markers, Crop Sci., Vol. 41, pp Nielsen, S., Ohler, T. and Mitchell, C. (1997), Cowpea Leaves for Human Consumption: Production, Utilization and Nutrient Composition, In: Singh, B., Mohan, Raj D., Dashiell, K., Jackai, L. (eds) Advances in Cowpea Research, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCASS), Ibadan, Nigeria, pp Nielsen, S.S., Brandt, W.E. and Singh, B.B. (1993), Genetic-variability for Nutritional Composition and Cooking Time of Improved Cowpea Lines, Crop Sci., Vol. 33, pp Pandey, Y.R., Pun, A.B. and Mishra, R.C. (2006), Evaluation of Vegetable Type Cowpea Varieties for Commercial Production in the River Basin and Low Hill Areas, Nepal Agriculture Research Journal, Vol. 7, pp Rachie, K.O. (1985), Introduction in: eds. Singh, S.R. and Rachie, K.O., Cowpea Researches, Production and Utilization, Wiley, New York, pp Singh, B.B. (2002), Challenges and Opportunities for Enhancing Sustainable Cowpea Production, In: Fatokun, C.A., Tarawali, S.A., Singh, B.B., Karmawa, P.M. and Tamo, M. (eds) Resent Genetic Studies in Cowpea Intil Inst Tropical Agric, Ibadan, Nigeria, pp Singh, B.B., Mohan, Raj D.R., Dashiell, K.E. and Jackai, Len (1997), Advances in Cowpea Research, IITA-JIRCAS, Ibadan, Nigeria, pp Timko, M.P., Rushton, P.J., Laudeman, T.W., Bokowiec, M.T., Chipumuro, E., Cheung, F., Town, C.D. and Chen, X.F. (2008), Sequencing and Analysis of the Gene-rich Space of Cowpea, BMC Genom, Vol. 9, p Timko, M.P. and Singh, B.B. (2008), Cowpea, A Multifunctional Legume, In: Moore, P.H., Ming, R. (eds) Genomics of Tropical Crop Plants, Springer, New York, pp Umaharan, P., Ariyanayagam, R.P. and Haque, S.Q. (1997), Genetic Analysis of Yield and its Components in Vegetable Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp), Euphytica, Vol. 96, pp