Abstract:
Cowpea microsatellites were evaluated for their potential to be used as markers associated with seed
protein content and plant flowering time. Seeds with high and low protein content as well as plants with
early and late flowering time were selected from 104 Nigerian cowpea accessions. Fifteen (15)
microsatellite primer pairs were tested for amplification of microsatellite sequences using PCR and
seven pairs amplified a single-locus. Sequence analysis showed a high level of diversity between the
analysed genotypes. Although, none of the microsatellites allowed clustering for protein content, one
primer pair, VM68, detected a (AG)12-repeat microsatellite allele, which was present only in plants with
late flowering. This microsatellite might possibly be useful as a marker associated with late-flowering
time.
