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.
