Abstract

                                In a six parent diallel cross in cowpea, the combining ability studies revealed hat both the additive and non-additive gene effects were important for plant height, ranches plant, clusters plant, pods plant, pod length, seeds pod, 100 seed weight nd yield plant. The cultivars Co4, EC 164370 and EC 170777 were the best general ombiners on the basis of their gca effects. Components of variance analysis revealed hat non-dditive effects were preponderant for the characters except pod length. liparental mating system was suggested for the improvement of cowpea.

Key words : Cowpea, diallel, combining ability, gene action.