Evaluation of yield components of 16 varieties of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp, Fabaceae) from four regions of Côte d'Ivoire

One of the major challenges of agriculture in the African countries is food self-sufficiency. Within this framework, Vigna unguiculata or African bean plays a significant role. However, the level of productivity of this culture in these regions in the process of development is low. The agromorphologic characterization of niebe could make it possible to optimize the programmes of traditional selection of the more productive accessions. The objective of this study of is identified the most powerful accession being able to answer the new conditions related to the climatic changes. The study related to 16 accessions, the agro-morphological variability was evaluated on the basis of 8 parameters. The results showed that varieties N21DR, N18ZR, N10BBrp tested during the present study present an aptitude to be produced simultaneously in quantity and quality of seeds in a relatively short cycle of culture. The analysis in principal component (ACP) of the quantitative variables revealed of the very powerful accessions (cycle runs, a number of pods raised by plant, grains large and heavy) like which one can use in the programs of selection.