KOUAKOU Adjoua Dorcas^1,, YAO Saraka Didier Martial¹, ASSOUMAN Jean Simon Konan¹, ZANOFON Adama¹, DIARRASSOUBA Nafan¹

This study investigated the hybrid vigor and combinability of five elite cowpea accessions in northern Côte d’Ivoire. A complete diallel cross (without self-pollination) between the varieties NTE015, NKO08, NFE011, NKO03 and NBO04 produced 20 F1 hybrids, which were evaluated on the basis of sixteen quantitative traits. The hybrids outperformed their parents for 64 % of the traits, with genotypes NTE015 and NBO04 standing out as the best general combiners (GCA), capable of favorably transmitting advantageous traits to their offspring. The NTE015 × NBO04 and NBO04 × NTE015 crosses outperformed their parents for 64.3 % of the traits, whilst NTE015 × NFE011 and NBO04 × NKO08 demonstrated strong specific combining ability (SCA). Maternal effects proved negligible, influencing only 14.3 % of traits, suggesting that the direction of the cross is not a determining factor for hybrid performance. All hybrids also reached maturity more quickly than their parents, offering a strategic advantage against environmental stresses such as late-season drought. These results highlight promising genetic diversity and justify the inclusion of these hybrids in recurrent breeding programmers aimed at developing high-yielding, early-maturing cowpea varieties adapted to local agroecological conditions.

Cowpea, heterosis, genotypes, maternal effects, Côte d’Ivoire