ABSTRACT

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculate L.) is an important legume crop due to its nutritional value and it has the potential to contribute to the alleviation of malnutrition in the world. The study objectives were to determine the variability among 70 cowpea genotypes for the concentration of mineral elements and phytochemical contents, identify superior genotypes for mineral elements and phytochemical contents, and to determine the correlation among traits. Data were collected from 70 cowpea genotypes planted in two different locations during the 2017/18 and 2018/19 cropping seasons in South Africa. Grain samples were analysed for selected minerals such as Fe, Zn, Ca, Cu, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, and phytochemical contents including total phenolic and flavonoid. Genotype, locations, seasons, and their interaction effects were highly significant (p < 0.001) for all traits. Best linear unbiased predictors identified superior genotypes for all traits in both locations. There were significant (p < 0.05) correlations among most of the traits evaluated. The high negative association of total phenolics with most of the minerals indicated that selecting for total phenolics may unintentionally reduce the content of minerals. These results will contribute to the development of improved cowpea cultivars for nutritional value towards alleviating malnutrition in the world.

抽象的

豇豆（豇豆具爪L.）是一种重要的豆类作物，由于其营养价值，并且有可能为减轻世界上的营养不良做出贡献。研究目的是确定70种cow豆基因型中矿质元素浓度和植物化学含量的变异性，确定矿质元素和植物化学含量的优良基因型，并确定性状之间的相关性。数据收集自2017/18和2018/19南非种植季节在两个不同地点种植的70种cow豆基因型。分析谷物样品中的选定矿物质，例如铁，锌，钙，铜，钾，镁，锰，钠，磷和植物化学成分，包括总酚和类黄酮。基因型，位置，季节及其相互作用影响非常显着（p <0.001）。最好的线性无偏预测因子在两个位置的所有性状中都鉴定出了优良的基因型。在大多数评估的性状之间存在显着的相关性（p  <0.05）。总酚含量与大多数矿物的高度负相关表明，选择总酚含量可能会无意中降低矿物含量。这些结果将有助于发展改良的cow豆品种，以提高其营养价值，从而减轻世界范围内的营养不良。