Inheritance of flower and pod colour in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.)

Inheritance of flower colour and pod colour in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) has followed a qualitative pattern. Purple flower colour is dominant over white flower colour, whereas black pod colour is partially dominant over white pod colour. A segregation ratio of 3 purple:1 white flowers in F₂ generations of two crosses indicated that white flower colour is controlled by a single recessive. Segregation ratio of F₂ 1 white:2 light black:1 black indicated that black pod colour is partially dominant over white pod colour and is governed by one gene. These results were further confirmed by backcross generations. White flower and pod colour are controlled by single recessive genes on separate chromosome. Gene symbols were assigned. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.