Journal of
Plant Breeding and Crop Science

  • Abbreviation: J. Plant Breed. Crop Sci.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2006-9758
  • DOI: 10.5897/JPBCS
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 450

Full Length Research Paper

Agro-morphological characterization of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L. Millspaugh) landraces grown in Benin: Implications for breeding and conservation

Géofroy Kinhoégbè
  • Géofroy Kinhoégbè
  • Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technique, University of Abomey-Calavi, 01BP526, Benin.
  • Google Scholar
Gustave Djèdatin
  • Gustave Djèdatin
  • BIOGENOM Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences and Technology of Dassa (FAST-Dassa), National University of Sciences Technologies Engineering and Mathematics of Abomey (UNSTIM), BP 14 Dassa-Zoumé, Benin.
  • Google Scholar
Laura Estelle Yêyinou Loko
  • Laura Estelle Yêyinou Loko
  • Laboratory of Applied Entomology, FAST-Dassa), National University of Sciences Technologies Engineering and Mathematics of Abomey (UNSTIM), BP 14 Dassa-Zoumé, Benin.
  • Google Scholar
Relique Ignace Agbo
  • Relique Ignace Agbo
  • Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, Laboratory of Molecular genetic and genomes analysis, University of Abomey-Calavi, 01BP526, Benin
  • Google Scholar
Rachit Kumar Saxena
  • Rachit Kumar Saxena
  • International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Patancheru, India.
  • Google Scholar
Rajeev Kumar Varshney
  • Rajeev Kumar Varshney
  • International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Patancheru, India.
  • Google Scholar
Clément Agbangla
  • Clément Agbangla
  • Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, Laboratory of Molecular genetic and genomes analysis, University of Abomey-Calavi, 01BP526, Benin
  • Google Scholar
Alexandre Dansi
  • Alexandre Dansi
  • Laboratory of Biotechnology, Genetic Resources and Plant and Animal Breeding (BIORAVE), Faculty of Sciences and Technology of Dassa (FAST-Dassa), National University of Sciences Technologies Engineering and Mathematics of Abomey (UNSTIM), BP 14 Dassa-Zoumé, Benin.
  • Google Scholar


  •  Received: 19 August 2019
  •  Accepted: 07 January 2020
  •  Published: 29 February 2020

Abstract

Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L. Millspaugh) is a neglected and under-utilized crop consumed in several regions of word. In order to assess performance of pigeonpea landraces grown in Benin for useful breeding programs, 50 accessions were collected from 39 villages. These accessions were characterized by using 12 qualitative and 11 quantitative traits. Based on the seeds morphological characteristics, the 50 accessions were grouped in 12 morphotypes. However, 8 morphological classes were obtained with cluster analysis based on the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic average method using qualitative traits, whereas in principal component analysis only 5 clusters have been obtained using quantitative traits. The association/correlation among quantitative characters showed that grain yield was negatively correlated with pod width, days to 50% flowering and physiological maturity while it was positively correlated with pod length, pods per plant, branches per plant and number of seeds per pod. Based on four quantitative traits (number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, 100 seed weight, and early maturity), the 23 accessions from cluster 3 of whom kk5 (Ekloui), kk8 (Nontchiovi kloui), kk15 (Otili founfoun), kk18 (Klouékoun wéwé), kk22 (Otili), kk23 (CA monlikoun) and kk28 (Hounkoun wéwé) have been recommended as good sources of germplasm for improving the pigeonpea productivity. Further characterization using molecular techniques as well as conservation attention should be conducted to confirm the present result and maintain the germplasm for future breeding programs.

Keywords:  Benin, Cluster analysis, morphological diversity, pigeonpea, quantitative characters, selection.