IT99K-573-1-1 is a cowpea variety developed at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and evaluated and released as variety in several countries including Nigeria (2011), Tanzania (2012), Sierra Leone (2015) and Ghana (2017). It derived from the cross lT93K-596-9-12 X IT86D-880. It is an early maturing, photo-insensitive variety with an erect growth habit. Its morphological characteristics consist of a pigmentation on nodes of the stem and pulvinus at point of attachment to the stem while no pigmentation is observable on the calyx and pod tips. Flower color is white. The peduncles are also non pigmented and described as long and they carry the pods above the canopy. IT99K-573-1-1 is classified as medium size variety with a hundred seed weight ranging from 17 to 19g. The seeds are white with rough seed coat and brown eyes. Number of seeds per pod ranges from 12 to 17. Chemical analysis of the seeds showed 4.2% ash content, 23.36% crude protein, very low fat (1.73%), moderate sugar (6.39%), starch (44.5%) and tannin (1.4%).
This variety is resistant to both Striga gesnerioides and Alectra vogelii. It combines resistance to several major common diseases and pests such as virus, fusarium wilt and rhizoctonia. It is also tolerant to drought and performs well in the major cowpea producing regions mainly in Sahel and Sudan Savannah agro-ecologies. Its potential grain yield is about 2.6 t/ha.
