Descriptors for cowpea

1983
Crop
Cowpea
Publisher
Bioversity International
Bibliographic citation

Landau, L. (1937). Descriptors for cowpea. Rome: Bioversity.

Version
1983

Evaluated in the 6th week after sowing

Classification
Characterization
Data type
Coded
CodeTermDescription
1Acute erectBranches form acute angles with main stem
2ErectBranching angle less acute than above
3Semi-erectBranches perpendicular to main stem, but not touch ground
4IntermediateMost lower branches touch the ground
5Semi–prostrate (main stem reaches 20 or more centimeters
6ProstratePlants flat on ground; branches spread several meters
7Climbing
Classification
Characterization
Data type
Coded
CodeTermDescription
1DeterminateApical bud of main stem reproductive
2Indeterminate
Classification
Characterization
Data type
Scale
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Legend:

0

None

3

Slight

5

Intermediate

7

Pronounced

Recorded for stem, branches, petioles and peduncles in the 6th week after sowing

Classification
Characterization
Data type
Scale
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Legend:

0

None

1

Very slight

3

Moderate at the base and tips of petioles

5

Intermediate

7

Extensive

9

Solid

Recorded for the terminal leaflet of a young, mature leaf in the 6 th week after sowing

Classification
Characterization
Data type
Coded
CodeTermDescription
1Globose
2Sub–globose
3Sub–hastate
4Hastate

Of stems, leaves and pods

Classification
Characterization
Data type
Scale
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Legend:

3

Glabrescent, with reference Most cultivars

5

Short appressed hairs, with reference Var. pubescens

7

Pubescent to hirsute, with reference Var. protracta

From sowing to stage when 50% of plants have begun to flower. Recorded for plants with the same sowing date, at the same location, each year

Classification
Characterization
Data type
Free text

Recorder when peduncles have reached full length

Classification
Characterization
Data type
Coded
CodeTermDescription
1Mostly above canopy
2In upper canopy
3Throughout canopy

From sowing to stage when 50% of plants have mature pods

Classification
Characterization
Data type
Free text

Recorded when pods are full grown

Classification
Characterization
Data type
Scale
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Legend:

3

Pendant

5

30 –90o down from erect

7

Erect

Pattern of pigment distribution on full grown immature pods

Classification
Characterization
Data type
Coded
CodeTermDescription
0None
1Pigmented tip
2Pigmented sutures
3Pigmented valves, green sutures
4Splashes of pigment
5Uniformly pigmented
6OtherSpecify in the notes descriptor, 11

Of mature pods

Classification
Characterization
Data type
Scale
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Legend:

0

Straight

3

Slightly curved

5

Curved

7

Coiled

Mean of the 10 longest mature pods from 10 randomly selected plants

Classification
Characterization
Data type
Numeric
Unit of measure
cm

Mean number of the 10 pods measured for length in 4.2.7

Classification
Characterization
Data type
Numeric

(See figure 1)

Classification
Characterization
Data type
Coded
CodeTermDescription
1Kideny
2Ovoid
3Crowder
4Globose
5Rhombold
Classification
Characterization
Data type
Scale
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Legend:

1

Smooth

3

Smooth to rough

5

Rough Fine reticulation

7

Rough to wrinkled

9

Wrinkled Coarse folds on the testa

Classification
Characterization
Data type
Coded
CodeTermDescription
0Absent, Group A'If the eye pattern is recorded as 0 or 1 (Group A), then eye colour (4.3.9) is always likewise recorded as 0 or 1 (Group W)
1Very small, Group AGroup A
2Kabba groupEye fills the narrow groove all around the hilum, and the body has some form of speckling. A blue halo is also found around the hilum, Group K
3Narrow eyeHilum Ring. Eye fills the narrow groove around the hilum and spills out of this groove in front of the hilum for a short distance and has an indistinct front margin, Group N
4Small eyeeye has a distinct margin, but is smaller than Holstein group, Group E
5Holstein groupeye encircles the back of the hilum in a narrow ring, widens at the sides, and then extends margin of the eye is very distinct, Group H
6Watson groupeye encircles the back of the hilum as a narrow ring, widens at the sides and spills over the non –micropylar end of the seed with an indistinct margin. The extra width at the sides of the hilum distinguishes this group from 3, narrow eye, Group W
7Self colouredeye covers entire seed, Group S
8OtherOther
Classification
Characterization
Data type
Coded
CodeTermDescription
0Eye absent (white, cream)Group W' (Group W (states 0 and 1) is only used in combination with Group A (states 0 and 1) for eye pattern (4.3.8))
1Brown splash or gray, Group W
2Tan Brown, Group T
3Red, Group R
4Green, Group G
5Blue to balck, Group B
6Blue to black spots or mottle, Group X
7Speckled (even distribution of fine speckling), Group S
8Mottled (dark brown pigment typically Absent around hilum), Group M
9Mottled and speckled (Victor), Group V
10Other

Weight of 100 seeds moisture content 12%

Classification
Characterization
Data type
Free text

Mean of ten plants

Classification
Characterization
Data type
Numeric
Unit of measure
mm

Intensity of green colour

Classification
Characterization
Data type
Scale
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Legend:

3

Pale green

5

Intermediate green

7

Dark green

Presence/absence of V-mark on leaflets

Classification
Characterization
Data type
Coded
CodeTermDescription
0Absent
1Present

Terminal leaflet whose shape was recorded in 4.1.5

Classification
Characterization
Data type
Numeric
Unit of measure
mm

The widest dimension of the terminal leaflet whose shape was recorded in 4.1.5

Classification
Characterization
Data type
Free text
Classification
Characterization
Data type
Coded
CodeTermDescription
1Caricaeous
2Intermediate
3Membranous
Classification
Characterization
Data type
Numeric
Unit of measure
mm
Classification
Characterization
Data type
Free text

the branches whose origin is in the leaf axils on the main stem: recorded in the 8th week after sowing. Mean of 10 randomly selected plants

Classification
Characterization
Data type
Numeric

Recorded 3-4 weeks after sowing. Mean of 10 randomly selected plants

Classification
Characterization
Data type
Numeric

Based on the plant width and height 3-4 weeks afetr sowing

Classification
Characterization
Data type
Scale
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Legend:

3

Non-vigrous Height less than 37 cm and width less tham 75 cm

5

Intermediate Height greater than 37 cm or width greater than 75 cm

7

Vigrous Height greater than 37 cm and width greater than 75 cm

9

Very vigrous Height greater than 50 cm and width greater than 1 cm

weight of leaves divided by weight of other parts of shoot

Classification
Characterization
Data type
Free text

precentage of dry matter in 500 g samples of green plant

Classification
Characterization
Data type
Free text

Average yield in grams of 10 randomly selected plants weighed at 50% flowering

Classification
Characterization
Data type
Numeric
Unit of measure
g

Weight of green matter in grams at 50% flowering after the accession has been cut at six week stage

Classification
Characterization
Data type
Free text

Digestibility of green fodder at 50% flowering

Classification
Characterization
Data type
Free text

Of newly opened flowers

Classification
Characterization
Data type
Coded
CodeTermDescription
0Not pigmentedWhite
1Wing pigmented: standard with light V-shaped pattern of pigment at top center
2Pigmented margins on wing and standard
3Wing pigmented: standard lightly pigmented
4Wing with pigmented upper margin, standard is pigmented
5Completely pigmented
6Other
Classification
Characterization
Data type
Coded
CodeTermDescription
1White
2Violet
3Mauve-pink
4Other

Ameasure of flowers size: the mean length of 10 freshly opened, randomly selected standard petals

Classification
Characterization
Data type
Numeric
Unit of measure
mm
Classification
Characterization
Data type
Numeric
Unit of measure
mm

Days from first flowers to stage when 50% of plants have finished flowering

Classification
Characterization
Data type
Free text

Mean of 10 randomly selected plants

Classification
Characterization
Data type
Numeric

Recorded when peduncles have grown full length. Mean length of 10 peduncles, one from each of 10 randomly selected plants

Classification
Characterization
Data type
Numeric
Unit of measure
mm

Recorded under total insect control. Mean of 10 randomly selected peduncles

Classification
Characterization
Data type
Numeric

Mean number of mature pods from 10 randomly selected plants

Classification
Characterization
Data type
Numeric

Mean width of the 10 pods measured for length in 4.2.10

Classification
Characterization
Data type
Free text
Classification
Characterization
Data type
Scale
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Legend:

3

Thin

5

Intermediate

7

Thick

Of mature pod

Classification
Characterization
Data type
Coded
CodeTermDescription
1Pale tan or straw
2Dark tan
3Drak brown
4Black or dark purple
5Other

Mean of 10 mature seeds excluding those from the extremities of pods

Classification
Characterization
Data type
Numeric
Unit of measure
mm

Mean width from hilum to keel of the 10 seeds measured for length in 6.3.1

Classification
Characterization
Data type
Free text

Mean thickness of the 10 seeds measured for length in 6.3.1; measured perpendicular to length and width

Classification
Characterization
Data type
Free text

A visual estimate of seed compression, being indicative of spacing within the pod

Classification
Characterization
Data type
Scale
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Legend:

0

Not crowded No comaprison of seed ends

3

Semi-crowded Slight flattering of seed ends

5

Crowded Marked compression of seed ends

7

Extremely crowded Seed with greater than seed length

Classification
Characterization
Data type
Coded
CodeTermDescription
0Absent
1PresentTesta split exposing cotyledons
Classification
Characterization
Data type
Coded
CodeTermDescription
0Testa not firmly attached to seed
1Testa firmly attached to seed
Classification
Characterization
Data type
Numeric
Unit of measure
%