The yield of cowpea varieties is affected by environmental variability. Hence, candidate varieties must be tested for yield stability before release. This study assessed the impacts of genotypes, environments, and their interaction on the performance of elite cowpea lines for key adaptive, grain yield, and associated traits across different locations. A total of 42 elite genotypes were evaluated in five Nigerian environments, representing various savanna ecologies, during the 2021 growing season. The experimental design employed was an alpha lattice arrangement, with each genotype replicated three times. The results revealed significant differences among genotypes, environments, and genotype-by-environment interaction (G × E) for most traits, including days to maturity, 100-seed weight, and grain yield. The genotype and genotype-by-environment interaction (GGE) biplot showed G21 (IT14K-2111-2) and G25 (IT15K-2386-1) as the most stable genotypes across the five environments, G41 (IT11K-61-82) was best adapted to Ibadan and Shika, G5 (245-1) was best adapted to Bagauda and Gumel, and G30 (IT16K-2365-1) was best adapted to Bauchi. G21 (IT14K-2111-2) and G25 (IT15K-2386-1) could be recommended across the five test environments, whereas G41 (IT11K-61-82), G30 (IT16K-2365-1), and G5 (245-1) were specific to the adapted environments.

The authors appreciate the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) through the Accelerated Varietal Improvement and Seed Delivery of Legumes and Cereals in Africa (AVISA) project and the Accelerated Breeding Initiative funds from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).

https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14020263

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Patrick Ongomhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5303-3602

Abou TOGOLAhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-6155-8292

Christian Fatokunhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-8428-7939

Ousmane Boukarhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-0234-4264

https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14020263

Biotech and Plant Breeding; Plant Production and Health

Agronomy; Cowpea; Food Security; Genetic Improvement; Grain Legumes; Plant Breeding; Plant Genetic Resources; Plant Production

Cowpeas; Grain Legumes; Varieties; Genotypes; Stability

Africa; West Africa

Nigeria

Headquarters and Western Africa Hub

Agronomy