Qualitative and Quantitative Characterization of the Seeds of Selected Accessions of Nigeria Pigeon Pea [Cajanus cajan ( L) Millspaugh]

Abstract

Cajanus cajan is known as pigeon pea, pigeon peas are legume. It belongs to the Fabaceae family. Eight accessions of Cajanus cajan were obtained from National center for genetic resources and biotechnology (NACGRAB) Ibadan, they were accessed for some phenotypic characters of the seed. The result of the parameters and relationship between the different accessions was presented in charts and tables. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to determine the relationship among the accessions. The seed colour patterns of the pigeon pea accessions shows that mottled colour pattern is the highest (63 %), this is followed by speckled pattern (25 %) and the lowest is plain with 13 %.This indicate that there are variations in terms of seed colour pattern in the crop. The base seed colour of the pigeon pea accession indicate that light-brown had the highest percentage (50%) whereas the least (25%) was obtained in both cream and brown. This shows that the accession varies in base seed colour. The seed eye colour also indicates that the highest, being 38%, was obtained from cream and light brown and the lowest (12%) from light and dark brown. The result of the seed parameters indicates that there was a significant difference (P<0.05) among the accessions of the pigeon pea collected. However, there were no significant difference (P>0.05) among mottled, reddish-brown, and oval with percentage of 25%. The pigeon pea accessions were divided into five (5) clusters based on the morphological characteristics of the seed. Accession NG/021/02 and NG/09/149 might be the best accessions required for maximum production because they show distinct variation from the other accessions. It revealed that the variations in the seed morphology of the pigeon pea accessions could determine consumers’ preference and could be exploited for selection of crop.