SCREENING OF COWPEA VARIETIES FOR RESISTANCE TO MELOIDOGYNE INCOGNITA UNDER FIELD CONDITIONS
Authors
A. A. Adegbite
N. A. Amusa
G. O. Agbaje
L. B. Taiwo
Keywords:
cowpea, field conditions, meloidogyne, resistance, root-knot nematode, screening, vigna unguiculata
Abstract
Field studies were conducted in 2002 and 2003 to assess the reaction of 15 varieties of cowpea for resistance to a natural infestation of Meloidogyne incognita race 2. Ten weeks after planting; ten randomly selected plants per treatment were examined for root-galls and nodules. Data were also collected on plant height, days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, 100 seed weight and yield. The data collected were subjected to analysis of variance and correlation analysis. Root galling varied among varieties. Root-gall indices correlated negatively with number of pods and leaves. Root-gall index was positively correlated with stem girth. Out of the 15 varieties, IT84S-2246-4 was the most resistant with a reproduction factor of 0.45. Five varieties exhibited tolerance to root-knot nematode.