EFFECT OF SOWING DATES OF THREE COWPEA CULTIVARS ON THEIR INFESTATION RATE WITH COWPEA POD BORER ETIELLA ZINCKENELLA

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, Nasr city, Cairo, Egypt

2 Plant Protection Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt

Abstract

Field trials were conducted during 2005 and 2006 seasons at Minofia governorate to evaluate the effect of planting date of three cowpea cultivars on their infestation rate with cowpea pod borer, Etiella zienckenella. For each cowpea cultivar planted at each tested date, the numbers of bores and larvae were counted in green and dry pods as well as in dry seeds and the means were obtained to estimate the degree of insect infestations. Results indicated that, regardless the planting date in both seasons, Kream7 was the highest resistant cultivar to insect infestation followed by Kaha1 and then Kafr El Shikh1. On the other hand, regardless the cowpea cultivar, the rate of insect infestation was greatly reduced at the early plantation. Thus, selection of Kream7 cultivar and early  plantation could be involved in reducing E. zinckenella infestation and subsequently increase the cowpea yield. These studies clearly demonstrated that several non-insecticidal approaches have great potential for cowpea pod borer  Etiella zinckenella  management. These approaches include some of integrated pest management strategies which can effectively prevent or reduce infestation

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