Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2018) 7(6): 1124-1139 1124 Review Article https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2018.706.134 Review on Characterization of Cowpea Germplasm in Terms of Distinctness, Uniformity, Stability and Novelty for Morphological, Quality and Yield Attributing Parameters Sanjeev K. Deshpande 1* , B.R. Mani 2 , S.A. Desai 3 , T.K. Nagarathna 3 and R.R. Hanchinal 3 1 G.P.B., University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Karnataka-580 005, India 2 SRF, Cowpea DUS, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Karnataka-580 005, India 3 PPV & FRA, IARI, New Delhi-110 012, India *Corresponding author email id: sanjeevgpb@gmail.com ABSTRACT Introduction The cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is an annual herbaceous legume of the genus Vigna. Due to its tolerance for sandy soil and low rainfall it is an important crop in the semi-arid regions across India and other countries. It requires very few inputs, as the plants root nodules are able to fix atmospheric nitrogen, making it a valuable crop for resource poor farmers and well-suited to intercropping with other crops. The whole plant is used as forage for animals, with its use as cattle feed likely responsible for its name. Four subspecies of cowpea are recognized, of which three are cultivated. There is a high level of morphological International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 7 Number 06 (2018) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) is the most important grain legume crop grown in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. In India cowpea is grown as sole, mix-crop, inter- crop systems. Cowpea is however, the only pulse suited to both arid and semi-arid regions and adapted better than any other pulses in high rainfall regions. As a good source of proteins, calcium and iron, it is recognized for many routine uses of food, feed, forage, fodder, vegetable and a number of dishes prepared from its grains. India being a secondary centre of diversity for cowpea, possess huge germplasm and wild relatives of cowpea thus, it supplements to the genetic resources of worldwide cowpea collection. Characterization of germplasm became mandatory for varietal registration and to apply for a plant breeder right. The characterization data on various morpho-physiological and agronomic traits is essential to maintain genetic data base at seed banks. In this context, a review has been conducted for the literature regarding DUS characterization, its importance and method of experimentation, various descriptors and documentation of data. The data available in the literature has been utilized in classification of cowpea plant characters into ten distinct categories, considering the seedling, stem, leaf, flower, pod, seed and plant morphological traits. Further, under each category, distinguishable, unique and stable traits were also been formulated as DUS parameters of cowpea. The present review may help the researchers in understanding the scope of DUS test and methodology of experimentation moreover, its present day importance with respect to germplasm conservation and patents. Keywords DUS test, Novelty, germplasm, Pulses, Characteristics Accepted: 06 May 2018 Available Online: 10 June 2018 Article Info