Cowpea : Germinated During ISRO Mission
ISRO recently said the cowpea seeds it had sent to space onboard the PSLV-C60 POEM-4 platform have germinated under microgravity conditions within four days of the launch of the mission.
- Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is an annual plant within the pea family (Fabaceae).
- It is a leguminous crop having long trailing vines producing seeds of black, white, or red colour used widely in various food preparations.
- It originated and was domesticated in Southern Africa and was later moved to East and West Africa and Asia.
- It is also known as a black-eyed pea, southern pea,
- Cowpeas are typically climbing or trailing vines that bear compound leaveswith three leaflets.
- The grains contain 25% protein and several vitamins and minerals.
- The plant tolerates drought, performs well in a wide variety of soils, and, being a legume replenishes low-fertility soils when the roots are left to decay.
- Well-drained loam or slightly heavy soil is best suited.
- In colder climates somewhat sandy soil is preferred as crops mature earlier in them.
- It is grown mainly by small-scale farmers in developing regions where it is often cultivated with other crops as it tolerates shade.
- It also grows and covers the ground quickly, preventing erosion.
- The world’s largest production and consumption of cowpea is in West Africa, which accounts for more than 87% of world production and use.
- Nigeria, the largest producer and consumer, accounts for 46% of production worldwide.
- In the Indian context, it is a minor pulse cultivated mainly in arid and semi-arid tracts of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and West UP, along with considerable areas in Rajasthan, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamilnadu, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.
