SCREENING FOR DROUGHT TOLERANCE IN COWPEA VIGNA UNGUICULATA (L.) WALP.

In a pot culture experiment, ten genotypes of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) walp.) were screened for drought tolerance. After partial emergence of the first trifoliate leaf, drought was created at vegetative, flowering and pod filling stages by withholding the water application. Based on the reduction in plant moisture content at various stages, the ability of the genotypes for drought tolerance was scored. At vegetative and flowering stages VCP 16 and EC 467729 were more tolerant then other genotypes. The susceptible genotypes were CO(2) and CO(4). Based on the total biomass production, CO 6, P 152 and CO (CP) 711 exhibited higher drought tolerance, where as VCP 16 and CO 6 were found to be most drought tolerant computed on the basis of pod, seed yields and proline contents.