Hot weather can cause reductions in crop yield. Cowpea [Vigna unguicul
ata (L.) Walp.] is sensitive to high night temperature during reproduc
tive development, but genotypes with heat tolerance have been develope
d. Positive and potential negative effects of the heat-tolerance genes
were evaluated in contrasting field environments. Six pairs of cowpea
lines with differences in heat tolerance during reproductive developm
ent but similar genetic backgrounds mere grown in eight field environm
ents with average night temperatures ranging from cool (17 degrees C)
to very hot (28 degrees C). Heat susceptible genotypes exhibited a 12%
decrease in first-flush grain yield per degree centigrade increase in
average night temperature above 20 degrees C because of decreases in
pod set and harvest index. Heat-tolerance genes progressively enhanced
first-flush grain yields by increasing pod set on main-stem nodes and
enhancing the overall partitioning of carbohydrates into grain with i
ncreases in average night temperature above 20 degrees C. Heat-toleran
ce genes (or closely linked genes) also had a progressive dwarfing eff
ect, mainly resulting from shorter main-stem internodes and involving
reduced shoot biomass production, with increases in average night temp
erature above 15 degrees C. Heat-tolerance genes slightly enhanced the
extent of premature plant senescence occurring just after the first f
lush of pods was produced. Second-flush grain yields mere positively c
orrelated with the percentage of plants that survived after producing
the first flush of pods. The value of the heat-tolerance genes is disc
ussed with respect to their positive effects on reproductive developme
nt and solutions to potential negative effects due to dwarfing are con
sidered.