Agricultural pest management studies
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Peer reviewed
Abstract
Abstract
Pod shattering is a major domestication-related trait and one of the principal causes of pre-harvest yield losses in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.), particularly under hot and dry conditions. Rapid and reliable identification of shattering-resistant genotypes is essential for improving breeding efficiency. The present study evaluated a national core collection of 245 diverse cowpea genotypes over three consecutive years (2023–2025) to identify a simple phenotypic marker associated with pod-shattering resistance. Genotypes were screened using a modified Random Impact Method (RIM), and pod physical traits, including pod length, pod breadth, pod thickness, pod wall weight, seed-to-pod ratio, and dorsal suture morphology, were examined for their association with shattering response. A distinct and consistent morphological marker was identified in the dorsal suture of mature pods. Shattering-resistant genotypes exhibited a single, prominent dorsal ridge positioned above the dehiscence zone, whereas susceptible genotypes consistently displayed a two-ridged dorsal suture separated by a central depression that appeared to reduce tissue integrity and facilitate pod rupture under mechanical impact. The observed marker remained stable across years and environmental conditions, indicating its reliability as a rapid visual indicator of shattering resistance. The modified RIM provided a standardised, reproducible, and cost-effective approach for evaluating pod shattering while minimising environmental variation associated with field phenotyping. The identified dorsal ridge morphology offers a simple, non-destructive, and efficient phenotypic marker for large-scale germplasm screening and the selection of resistant genotypes. This marker can accelerate breeding for pod-shattering resistance, improve yield stability, and facilitate the development of climate-resilient cowpea cultivars adapted to drought-prone environments.
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@article{Fatima2026Simple,
title = {A Simple Phenotypic Marker for Screening Pod Shattering in Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.)},
author = {Samreen Fatima and Aaqif Zaffar and Melle Sugandha and Sanifa Showkat and Rayan Bhat and Sanjeeda Showkat and Prachi Singh and A A Khan and Ifra Lateef and Audil Gull and Sajad Majeed Zargar and Kuldeep Tripathi and Asif Shikari and F. F. Wani and Parvaze A. Sofi},
journal = {Journal of Advances in Biology & Biotechnology},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.9734/jabb/2026/v29i84188},
url = {https://doi.org/10.9734/jabb/2026/v29i84188}
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