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Induced
tolerance of cowpea mutants to Maruca vitrata
(Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)
Olabisi F.
Adekola* and Funsho Oluleye
Department of Agronomy, University of Ilorin, Ilorin,
Nigeria.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
fatimoadekola@yahoo.co.uk.
Accepted 1 February, 2008 |
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A study was conducted to screen some cowpea mutants for
resistance to Maruca vitrata. Fifteen selected cowpea
mutants, the parent IT84S2246 D as a susceptible check and
a resistant check Tvu 946 were used in an intensive free
choice test. Potted plant samples were randomly placed in a
large screen cage and infested with adult females of
Maruca for seven days. The results showed that there was
a significant variation in the level of resistance among
plant types. Mutant 4 with a yield loss of 46.1% as compared
with 75.1% of the parent was found to be moderately tolerant
while others were susceptible to Maruca infestation.
Seed yield was found to be significantly and negatively
correlated with percent pod damage. Hence, percent pod
damage could be used as an index of plant tolerance on the
field.
Key words:
Cowpea, mutants, Maruca pod borer, tolerance, choice
test, screening. |
