Forty four grain cowpea genotypes were evaluated for thirteen characters to quantify the genetic diversity existing among them by using Mahalanobis D2 statistics. The analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the genotypes for each character under study. The genotypes fell into nine clusters. Cluster strength varied from single genotype (Cluster IV to IX) to 31 genotypes (cluster I). Cluster III had minimum days to rust flower opening, days to 50% flowering and stover yield per plant in addition to maximum number of pod per plant and primary branches. Cluster II, V, VII had maximum yield per plant, 100 seed weight; pod length and number of seed per pod respectively. Cluster II had minimum days to maturity while cluster VII showed maximum days to maturity. The genotype from cluster I (EC 517119, EC 517121) and cluster II (EC 517113) with high cluster mean for yield and yield contributing characters and low cluster means for days to 50% flowering and maturity may be utilized in future breeding programme to obtain high yield and extra early desirable recombinant.
