Question:

Which of the following is not a suitable breeding objective in cowpea ?

Show Hint

Developing photo-insensitive varieties is a key milestone in grain legume breeding, as it allows crops to be cultivated as short-duration catch crops during summer fallows.
  • Determinate plant type
  • Early pod maturity
  • Photosensitivity
  • Wider adaptability
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Breeding objectives define the specific genetic improvements breeders aim to introduce into a crop.
These objectives aim to improve yields, crop management, and environmental adaptability.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:

Let us evaluate each breeding objective for cowpea (*Vigna unguiculata*):
1. Determinate plant type (A): Traditional cowpea has an indeterminate, vining growth habit, which results in uneven pod maturity and makes mechanical harvesting difficult.
Breeding for a compact, determinate growth habit is highly desirable to allow for uniform pod maturity and mechanized harvesting. (True)
2. Early pod maturity (B): Breeding for early-maturing cultivars helps escape late-season droughts and insect pressure, allowing farmers to fit cowpea into tighter crop rotations. (True)
3. Wider adaptability (D): Developing cultivars that perform consistently across different soil types and environmental conditions is a key goal in plant breeding. (True)
4. Photosensitivity (C): Photosensitive plants require specific day lengths to initiate flowering, restricting their cultivation to specific seasons.
Therefore, breeders aim to develop photo-insensitive cultivars. This allows the crop to be grown year-round across different seasons (Kharif, Rabi, and Summer), making photosensitivity an undesirable trait.

Step 3: Final Answer:

Photosensitivity is not a suitable breeding objective in cowpea, corresponding to option (C).
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