Behavior of blackeye cowpea in the spring-summer cultivation at the Zona da Mata area of Minas Gerais State, Brazil

Three trials involving genotypes of blackeye sorts of cowpea (Vigna unguicu lata (L.) Walp,) were installed in Coimbra(Nov. 17, 1993), Ponte Nova (Nov. 19, 1993), and Vicosa (Dec. 1st, 1994), municipalities of the Zona da Mata area of Minas Gerais State, Brazil, in order to study their behavior durin g the spring-summer period. Yield ranged from 106 to 2,562 kg/ha. In 1993, when there was a period of three weeks of water deficit in February, maximu m yields were 1,587 kg/ha in Coimbra and 1,438 kg/ha in Ponte Nova, achieve d with the early-maturing and intermediary plant type line IT 87F-2687. In 1994, when rains were regular until March, maximum yield (2,562 kg/ha) was achieved with the late-maturing and semierect plant type line IT 85F-899. B rown bloch, caused by Colletotrichum falcatum f. truncata, was the only dis ease observed. Lines IT 85F-2687, IT 85D-3428-4, IT 83S-818, IT 83S-899, an d IT 86D-716 were resistant to the fungus. The first harvest was made betwe en 69 and 79 days after emergence, and the harvest period varied from 16 to 62 days, depending on genotype and rain period.