Resumen

FLORES M, C.M; MADRIZ I, P.M; WARNOCK DE PARRA, R  y  TRUJILLO DE LEAL, A. Plant height and yield components of six genotypes of the genus Vigna in two locations of Venezuela. Rev. Fac. Agron. [online]. 2005, vol.22, n.4, pp.354-368. ISSN 0378-7818.

With the purpose of characterizing agronomic behaviour, yield components and their correlations with yield for six genotypes of Vigna identified as JA-01-00-02, JA-01-00-05, MEM-02-00-19, AM-02-00-016 and MS-01-00-09, and a commercial variety, `Tuy', experiments were conducted in Saman Mocho, Carabobo State and Maracay, Aragua state, during the period November 2001 to February 2002. The experimental design used was a randomized block with three replications. In this paper, genotypes are briefly described, plant height is measured at five phenological stages during growth cycle, and yield and its components are evaluated at harvest. For both sites, MEM-02-00-19 had the tallest plants due to its indeterminate climbing growth habit. Results of the variance analysis and Duncan´s Multiple Range Test indicated significant differences for yield in Maracay. Treatments with highest yields, belonging to the species Vigna unguiculata, were MS-01-00-09 (2114.1 kg/ha) and JA-01-00-05 (1605.6 kg/ha). MS-01-00-09 (Vigna unguiculata) also had longest pods (14.2 cm) and greatest number of seeds per pod (10.9 seeds/pod). The genetic material belonging to the species Vigna umbellata, MEM-02-00-19, exhibited the greatest number of pods per plant (17.5 pods/plant). Yield was positively correlated with pod length and number of seeds per pod. Because of differences in growth habits, genotypes belonging to species Vigna unguiculata (JA-01-00-02, JA-01-00-05 and MS-01-00-09) and species Vigna radiata (AM-02-00-016) were easier to handle in field conditions than Vigna umbellata, which had a climbing behaviour and is better suited for mixed cropping systems.

Palabras clave : Vigna; cowpea; yield components; correlation.