Osasere OTABOR

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp.) is an essential grain legume in Nigeria, valued for its protein content, soil-fertility benefits, and economic importance. Despite its adaptability, yields remain low under smallholder, low-management systems. This study aimed to characterize and compare morphological traits of three improved cowpea varieties—BBT Brown (ARTPEA/BBT/72/B), BBT White (ARTPEA/BBT/22/W), and ART White (SAMPEA-13/Ife-98-12)—to determine their adaptability and performance under field conditions with minimal inputs. The experiment was conducted at the Teaching and Research Botanical Garden, University of Benin, using a Completely Randomized Design. Each variety was planted on two ridges under identical low-input conditions, with data collected on germination, vegetative growth, nodulation, and yield attributes. Parameters measured included stem diameter and length, number of leaves, branches, nodules, pods, and seeds per pod. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and mean separation at 5 % significance. Results showed clear varietal differences in morphological performance. Cultivar 1 (ART White) produced the highest average number of pods (14.25 ± 4.23) and seeds per pod (≈ 14.6), while Cultivar 2 (BBT Brown) recorded the longest stems (142.37 ± 9.23 cm) and peduncles (29.84 ± 5.50 cm). Cultivar 3 (BBT White) had the lowest pod count but comparable stem length (140.45 ± 10.71 cm). Leaf number and pod length differed significantly among varieties (p < 0.05). Overall, the improved cultivars exhibited distinctive morphological adaptations, with ART White showing superior reproductive potential under low-management conditions. These findings provide baseline data for varietal selection and breeding programs aimed at enhancing cowpea productivity in resource-limited farming systems.