ETHYL METHANE SULFONATE INDUCED YIELD AMPLIFICATION IN COWPEA (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp)

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), which is a vital leguminous crop, enhances soil fertility through nitrogen fixation but suffers significant yield losses due to biotic and a biotic factors. Despite the existence of available germplasm, its genetic variability remains narrow due to self-pollination. This study investigated the potential of Ethyl Methane Sulfonate (EMS) mutagenesis to improve cowpea yield and agronomic traits. Five cowpea accessions (TVU12047, TVU17315, TVU114409, TVU17330, and TVU932) were treated with EMS concentrations (0c, 0w, 0.75%, and 1.25%) and evaluated in a screen house in a completely randomised design with three replications. Results revealed significant genotypic variation, with TVU17315 (M2) and TVU17330 (M2) mutants showing superior performance in yield components. A dose-dependent response was observed, where 0.75% EMS optimally enhanced traits such as pods per plant, seeds per pod, and100-seed weight, while higher doses reduced germination and growth. Mutagenized lines exhibited early flowering (9–10 days earlier than controls), likely due to altered flowering gene expression. The study demonstrates that EMS mutagenesis effectively generates genetic variability, with 0.75% EMS identified as the optimal concentration for improving yield without excessive growth inhibition. These findings highlight the potential of mutation breeding in developing high-yielding varieties, addressing food security challenges in climate-vulnerable regions. Further field evaluations are recommended to validate mutant stability and adaptability