GENETIC DIVERSITY AND PHYLOGENETICS OF FOUR RELEASED COWPEA (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) VARIETIES (FUAMPEA-1, FUAMPEA-2, FUAMPEA-3 AND FUAMPEA-4) USING SIMPLE SEQUENCE REPEATS MARKERS

Cowpea improvement has continued to play key roles in the quest for national food security. This work elucidated molecular genetic diversity and phylogenetics among four released cowpea varieties (FUAMPEA-1, FUAMPEA-2, FUAMPEA-3 AND FUAMPEA-4). DNA was extracted from 14 day old seedlings using CTAB method. A total of nine (9) SSR (Simple Sequence Repeats) markers were employed amplifications. Binary matrix generated banding profiles gel images uploaded into Minitab 17.0 software analysis.  Polymorphic Information Content (PIC) computed primers varieties. Cluster analysis carried out Single Linkage method measured on Euclidean Distance. Four (CLM1190, CLM0342, RB38 RB7) produced maximum two bands each resulting 15.4% polymorphism 0.977 Polymorphism (PIC). Varietal Polymorphic (VPC) varied FUAMPEA-2 as lowest 38.5% FUAMPEA-1 highest.  FUAMPEA-1 had similarity index (19.82).  Dendrogram further showed that more closely related than others with about 46.55 index. Therefore, most divergent genetically diverse variety followed by FUAMPEA-4.  These are potential resource material can used develop cultivars when their inherent agronomic traits genes coding identified tapped.