A series of greenhouse and field studies were conducted to determine the inheritance of the green cotyledon trait exhibited by the recently released southernpea `Bettergreen' and to elucidate the genetic relationship between the green cotyledon trait and the green testa trait exhibited by `Freezegreen'. Evaluation of parental, F1, F2, and backcross populations of the crosses `Bettergreen' × `Carolina Cream' and `Bettergreen' × `Kiawah' indicated that the green cotyledon trait is conditioned by a single recessive gene. Evaluation of parental and F2 populations of the cross `Bettergreen' × `Freezegreen' indicated that this gene is neither allelic to nor linked with the gt gene that conditions the green testa trait in `Freezegreen'. The color of seeds harvested from plants homozygous for both the green cotyledon and green testa genes was superior and more uniform than the color of seeds harvested from either `Bettergreen' or `Freezegreen' plants. We propose that the newly discovered gene be designated green cotyledon and symbolized gc. Seeds containing embryos homozygous for the gc gene are easily identified. The ability to select in the seed stage should greatly facilitate efforts to backcross the gc gene into cream-, pinkeye-, and blackeye-type cultivars.
Genetic analysis of seed proteins contents in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.)