Investigating germplasm collection and development potential of organic cowpea in Portugal

Abstract: Initial trials were conducted in Idanha-a-Nova, Portugal together with a literature review with the aim to investigate the development potential of an organic plant breeding and seed company’s (Sementes Vivas) cowpea germplasm collection in relation to organic agriculture, sustainable development, and plant breeding. This work discusses different development directions such as intercropping, sole cropping and home gardens as well as organic plant breeding of the cowpea crop. Different cultivation methods require cultivars with different plant characteristics to perform at an optimum level. Traits that were investigated are; seed length, seed width, seed thickness, 100-seed weight, seed coating colour, testa (seed coat) texture, seed eye pattern, seed eye colour, growth habit, plant vigour, twinning tendency, terminal leaflet length, terminal leaflet width, terminal leaf let shape, leaf colour, petiole length, petiolule length, length of main stem, number of main branches, days to flowering, flower colour, immature pod pigmentation. The germplasm collection turned out to contain genetic variation that might be useful for the different development directions although there might be benefits of gathering more genetic material and doing more research in order to conduct well-planned and cost efficient development of cowpea cropping systems and breeding programs.