AHP-Based Comprehensive Evaluation of Cowpea Germplasm Resources for Yield and Field Performance

Dai, Fangzheng; Zhou, Tengfei; Wang, Xiaobin; Zhou, Bin; Li, Jiaxuan; Han, Huibin; Gan, Yudi; Liu, Jianping; Yang, Youxin

doi:10.3390/horticulturae12040479

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Open AccessArticle

AHP-Based Comprehensive Evaluation of Cowpea Germplasm Resources for Yield and Field Performance

by

Fangzheng Dai

^1,†,

Tengfei Zhou

^2,†,

Xiaobin Wang

²

,

Bin Zhou

¹,

Jiaxuan Li

²,

Huibin Han

¹,

Yudi Gan

²,

Jianping Liu

^1,* and

Youxin Yang

^2,*

¹

College of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China

²

Jiangxi Key Laboratory for Postharvest Technology and Nondestructive Testing of Fruits & Vegetables, Collaborative Innovation Center of Post-Harvest Key Technology and Quality Safety of Fruits and Vegetables, College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China

^*

Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.

^†

These authors contributed equally to this work.

Horticulturae 2026, 12(4), 479; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12040479

Submission received: 2 March 2026 / Revised: 9 April 2026 / Accepted: 10 April 2026 / Published: 14 April 2026

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Abstract

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) is an important legume crop contributing to food and nutritional security. However, its systematic evaluation for yield and adaptability, particularly in the Middle-Lower Yangtze River region of China, remains insufficient. In this study, conducted in Jiangxi Province across two seasons (April and August 2024), a comprehensive analytic hierarchy process (AHP) model evaluated 139 Chinese cowpea accessions based on 18 agronomic traits. The evaluation showed coefficients of variation for 11 quantitative traits ranged from 5.18% to 49.42%, with single pod weight and pod length exhibiting the highest variation. Shannon–Wiener index analysis indicated pod width and SPAD (Soil Plant Analysis Development) were the most diverse traits (H’ = 1.04 and 1.01). Based on the AHP model, 139 accessions were classified into four grades. Notably, Grade I accessions demonstrated high comprehensive scores, comprising three cultivars: ‘Changde Baipi Doujiao’, ‘Guilin Changjiangdou’, and ‘Guangrao Wuyuemang’. These exhibit promising performance under field conditions and high yield potential, making them worthy of further regional testing. Cluster and principal component analyses revealed natural groupings and variation patterns within the germplasm resources. This study provides a practical, preliminary decision-support tool for yield and field adaptation evaluation.

Keywords: analytic hierarchy process (AHP); cowpea; germplasm resources; phenotypic diversity

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MDPI and ACS Style

Dai, F.; Zhou, T.; Wang, X.; Zhou, B.; Li, J.; Han, H.; Gan, Y.; Liu, J.; Yang, Y. AHP-Based Comprehensive Evaluation of Cowpea Germplasm Resources for Yield and Field Performance. Horticulturae 2026, 12, 479. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12040479

AMA Style

Dai F, Zhou T, Wang X, Zhou B, Li J, Han H, Gan Y, Liu J, Yang Y. AHP-Based Comprehensive Evaluation of Cowpea Germplasm Resources for Yield and Field Performance. Horticulturae. 2026; 12(4):479. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12040479

Chicago/Turabian Style

Dai, Fangzheng, Tengfei Zhou, Xiaobin Wang, Bin Zhou, Jiaxuan Li, Huibin Han, Yudi Gan, Jianping Liu, and Youxin Yang. 2026. "AHP-Based Comprehensive Evaluation of Cowpea Germplasm Resources for Yield and Field Performance" Horticulturae 12, no. 4: 479. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12040479

APA Style

Dai, F., Zhou, T., Wang, X., Zhou, B., Li, J., Han, H., Gan, Y., Liu, J., & Yang, Y. (2026). AHP-Based Comprehensive Evaluation of Cowpea Germplasm Resources for Yield and Field Performance. Horticulturae, 12(4), 479. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12040479

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AHP-Based Comprehensive Evaluation of Cowpea Germplasm Resources for Yield and Field Performance

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