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Towards the Reliable Prediction of Time to Flowering in Six Annual Crops. III. Cowpea Vigna unguiculata

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 October 2008

R. H. Ellis ,
R. J. Lawn ,
R. J. Summerfield ,
A. Qi ,
E. H. Roberts ,
P. M. Chay ,
J. B. Brouwer ,
J. L. Rose  and
S. J. Yeates
R. H. Ellis
Affiliation:
University of Reading, Department of Agriculture, Plant Environment Laboratory, Cutbush Lane, Shinfield, Reading, RG2 9AD, England
R. J. Lawn
Affiliation:
CSIRO Division of Tropical Crops and Pastures, The Cunningham Laboratory, 306 Carmody Road, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland 4067, Australia
R. J. Summerfield
Affiliation:
University of Reading, Department of Agriculture, Plant Environment Laboratory, Cutbush Lane, Shinfield, Reading, RG2 9AD, England
A. Qi
Affiliation:
University of Reading, Department of Agriculture, Plant Environment Laboratory, Cutbush Lane, Shinfield, Reading, RG2 9AD, England
E. H. Roberts
Affiliation:
University of Reading, Department of Agriculture, Plant Environment Laboratory, Cutbush Lane, Shinfield, Reading, RG2 9AD, England
P. M. Chay
Affiliation:
CSIRO Davies Laboratory, Private Mail Bag, PO Aitkenvale, Townsville, Queensland 4814, Australia
J. B. Brouwer
Affiliation:
Victorian Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Private Bag 260, Horsham, Victoria 3401, Australia
J. L. Rose
Affiliation:
Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Hermitage Research Station, via Warwick, Queensland 4370, Australia
S. J. Yeates
Affiliation:
Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries, PO Box 1346, Katherine, Northern Territory 0851, Australia
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Summary

Six genotypes of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) of diverse origin were sown on various dates at five locations in Australia in order to provide a range of photothermal environments. Times from sowing to first flowering (f) ranged between 36 d and 145 d; pre-flowering temperature and photoperiod means varied from 15.7° to 29.2°C and from 11.6 to 15.5 h d−1. In five genotypes there was no effect of photoperiod on rate of progress towards flowering (1/f), but the relation between 1/f and mean temperature was always positive. The base temperatures (at which 1/f = 0) varied between 8.1° and 10.4°C. The rankings of parameter estimates among four photoperiod-insensitive genotypes common to this study and earlier research in controlled environments were almost identical, and there was generally good agreement between field observations and predictions from controlled environments once hourly temperatures were used to describe the natural environment. When cowpea plants were exposed to temperatures below 3°C, flowering was delayed beyond expected values, presumably as a result of chilling damage. In one genotype, rate of progress towards flowering was affected by both temperature and photoperiod, and relations between 1/f and the photothermal environment were described by a two-plane linear model of similar form to that determined in an earlier controlled environment study. These latest findings support the utility of such linear models for the prediction of crop phenology in the field and for the genetic characterization of photothermal flowering response in annual crops.

Type
Research Article
Information
Experimental Agriculture , Volume 30 , Issue 1 , January 1994 , pp. 17 - 29
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1994

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References

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