| Summary: | Farmer participatory selection of varieties in crop improvement is considered as an accelerating process in identifying adaptable varieties for farmer grown conditions. To compare the effectiveness of farmer participation in varietal selection with respect to selection at breeding stations, lines derived from two cowpea crosses CP 19 x <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Waruni</span> and CP 20 x CP 22 at the Grain Legumes and Oil Crops Research and Development Center, Angunakolapellessa, using three breeding methods (pedigree, modified bulk and single seed descent) were evaluated in two Randomized Complete Block Designs during <em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Yala</span></em> 2013 and <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Maha</span> 2013/14. Each trial included 30 lines which represented 10 best lines per breeding method and the parents of the cross. Same varietal composition was tested in three selected farmer fields with respect to each cross in RCBD with two replicates. At the maturity stage, evaluating of varieties of both trials of the research station was carried out by farmers and the breeders in two seasons. Farmer field trials were also evaluated following the same procedure by inviting the nearby cowpea cultivating farmers for each trial. Yields were also recorded in each farmer trial. Lines/method was found to be significant for all the characteristics studied at the research station trial for the cross CP 19 x <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Waruni</span> while pod length, hundred seed weight and yield were significant for the lines in CP 20x CP 22 cross for both seasons. Mean sum of squares of seed per pod in both crosses were significantly different among three breeding methods but for other characteristics, methods were not significantly different. There was a significant difference among tested lines for farmer scores and breeder scores on the basis of Friedman test for each trial in both seasons at the research station. Except Sewanagala trial of CP19 x <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Waruni</span> cross and Mahawewa trial of CP 20 x CP22 cross, lines tested in other trials at farmer fields were significantly different for farmer scores. According to adaptability testing there was a significant positive correlation with farmer ranks at farmer field level with ranking method and variance component method ranks. The correlation of breeders’ ranks at the research station level with the adaptability ranks were comparatively lower than the farmer ranks at farmer field level. With respect to the four adaptability rankings, CP19 x <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Waruni</span> cross has ranked five lines, S1-53, S1-35, B1-74, B1-64 and B1 - 39while CP 20 x CP22 cross ranked three lines B2-15, S2-64 and <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Waruni</span> as the best. Since the top ranking lines mostly belonged to SSD and modified bulk breeding methods the two methods can be effectively used for the cowpea improvement. Further farmer participation in variety selection at their own field conditions will be much effective in testing of adaptabilities along with the proper analysis methods.
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