Trichomes and resistance to major insect pests in cowpea, Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.: A review

Publication Type

Journal Article

Journal Name

Discovery and Innovation

Publication Date

12-1-1997

Abstract

Insect pests constitute the greatest constraint to the production of cowpea, Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp., in Africa. In the past decade, research has focused on developing multiple insect pest resistant cultivars as a cheap and sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides in the integrated management of the major pests by resource poor, small-scale farmers. Varying degrees of success have been achieved with respect to finding good levels of resistance to individual pests, but combining resistance to these pests in any one particular cultivar has met with little success as yet. One biophysical character which has shown great promise towards the development of multiple pest resistant cultivars is the trichome. The highly pubescent wild Vigna species have shown good levels of resistance to these pests. This has led to the suggestion that trichomes should be bred into cultivated cowpea using genes from wild relatives.

Keywords

Cowpea, Cultivars, Insect pests, Integrated mangement trichomes, Pesticides, Resistance, Vigna unguiculata

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