Biotechnology, Breeding and Seed Systems for African Crops

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Grant Title:

 Gene Flow in Cowpea

 

 

 

 

PI:

Remy Pasquet

Contact details

P. O. Box 30772 , Nairobi, Kenya

Phone: +254 (2) 861680-4

Fax: 254 2 860110

Email direct from site:

rspasquet@a2i-micro.fr

Grantee:

ICIPE

Amount:

US $250,000

Duration:

Three Years

Project Outputs

  • Despite floral morphology favoring out breeding, natural Kenyan wild cowpea population, genetic parameters are closer to those of inbred plants with low level of gene flow.

  • The low level of pollen flow is a direct consequence of pollinator behavior. Pollinators are mainly looking for nectar and they are guided to flower stands by aroma.

  • Pollinator behavior and floral biology data indicate that pollen flow could be efficiently controlled.

  • Fitness studies show that progenies from wild x cultivated crosses are less fit than wild plants despite higher initial vigor. However protection from insect (through conventional insecticide spraying) increases the fitness of the hybrid plants.

 


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