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Cowpea Plant Architecture in Relation to Infestation and Damage by the Legume Pod Borer, Maruca Testulalis Geyer (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)—I. Effect of Canopy Structure and Pod Position

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

S. Oghiakhe ,
L. E. N. Jackai  and
W. A. Makanjuola
S. Oghiakhe
Affiliation:
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), PMB 5320, Oyo Road, Ibadan, Nigeria
L. E. N. Jackai
Affiliation:
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), PMB 5320, Oyo Road, Ibadan, Nigeria
W. A. Makanjuola
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria
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Abstract

The effects of cowpea, Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. canopy structure and pod position in relation to infestation and damage by the legume pod borer, Maruca testulalis Geyer were investigated. Defoliated cultivars sustained significantly less infestation and damage (P < 0.05) than those undefoliated. Relative humidity measured under the canopy was lower in defoliated cultivars, while soil and ambient temperatures were higher. Percentage pod damage and larval infestation by M. testulalis in flowers were positively correlated with relative humidity, and negatively correlated with temperature. Both correlations were significant (P < 0.01).

Cultivars with pods held within the canopy suffered significantly more damage (P < 0.05) than cultivars whose pods were held in the normal position. Canopy structure and pod position acting together or independently, exerted profound effects on cowpea resistance to M. testulalis. Selection and breeding cowpea cultivars with less dense foliage (= open canopies) and long peduncles holding the reproductive structures above the canopy, should increase cowpea resistance to M. testulalis.

Résumé

Cette étude a porté sur l'effet de la structure de la voûte foliaire et de la position des gousses du niébé sur l'infestation et les dégâts occasionnés par la foreuse des gousses Maruca testulalis Geyer.

Les cultivars défoliés étaient significativement moins infestés et endommagés (P < 0.05) que les cultivars non défoliés. L'humidité relative mesurée sous la voûte foliaire était moins élevée chez les cultivars défoliés tandis que la température ambiante et la température du sol étaient plus élevées. Le pourcentage de dégâts occasionnés aux gousses et le pourcentage d'infestation larvaire des fleurs par M. testulalis présentaient une corrélation positive avec l'humidité relative et une corrélation négative avec la temperature. Les deux corrélations étaient significatives (P < 0.01).

Les cultivars dont les gousses étaient produites sous la voûte foliaire ont souffert de dégâts plus importants (P < 0.05), que les cultivars dont les gousses étaient disposées normalement. L'action commune ou indépendante de la structure de la voûte foliaire et de la position des gousses a eu un impact significatif sur la résistance du niébe à M. testulalis. L'amélioration et la sélection de cultivars dotés d'un feuillage moins dense voûte foliaire ouverte et de longs pédoncules maintenant les structures de reproduction au dessus de la voûte foliaire devraient accroître la résistance du niébé à M. testulalis.

Keywords

Maruca testulaliscowpea resistancearchitecturecanopy structurepod positiondefoliate
Type
Articles
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 12 , Issue 1-2-3: Current Topics in Tropical Entomology , June 1991 , pp. 193 - 199
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 1991

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References

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