eng Science and Education Publishing World Journal of Agricultural Research 2333-0678 2026-07-19 14 2 38 45 10.12691/wjar-14-2-2 WJAR20261422 article KOUAKOU Adjoua Dorcas kouakoudorcas95@gmail.com 1 YAO Saraka Didier Martial 1 ASSOUMAN Jean Simon Konan 1 ZANOFON Adama 1 DIARRASSOUBA Nafan 1 Unit¨¦ de Formation et de Recherche des Sciences Biologiques, Universit¨¦ Peleforo Gon Coulibaly, Korhogo, C?te d¡¯Ivoire 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. https://pubs.sciepub.com/wjar/14/2/2/wjar-14-2-2.pdf Cowpea heterosis genotypes maternal effects C?te d¡¯Ivoire