How to Improve Already Improved Cowpea—Terminal Drought

Evaluation of Cowpea Landraces under a Mediterranean Climate

“…Landraces, due to the remarkable variability that they usually possess, represent important sources of tolerance to abiotic stresses [61] while at the same time enhance sustainable cropping systems [62]. Although cowpea is a summer cultivated species in Europe and is considered as a resistant plant species to drought [63], it is very sensitive to water scarcity and high air temperature prevalence during the stages of flowering, fruiting, and pod-filling [8][9][10]. Accessions in the experimental years 2015 and 2017 were grouped in the first, third, and fourth quadrants, with the highest yield accessions to be depicted in the first and fourth quadrants.…”

“…seed and fresh pod yield is usually strongly influenced by prevailing environmental conditions, expressing significant environmental effects (E) and genotype × environment interactions (G × E) [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]. Average seed yield can especially be decreased when drought conditions occur during the flowering and seed filling periods [ 8 , 9 , 10 ]. Identification of genotypes expressing yield stability under different environments and throughout cropping seasons is considered one of the most important breeding goals [ 5 , 11 ], while yield is also recorded as the most desirable trait for farmers [ 12 , 13 , 14 ].…”