Post-Emergence Striga gesnerioides Damages and Determination of Phosphate Fertilizer Concentration at Low Inoculum Level in Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata(L)Walp.)

Abstract

One of Nigerian’s preferred crops is cowpea(Vigna unguiculata(L)Walp) because it is recognized as a key food and nutritional security legume in Sub Saharan Africa.Striga gesnerioides(Willd.)Vatke is a primary biotic constraint of cowpea production in West Africa. There are currently limited sources of resistance in cowpea germplasm and there exists the potential for resistance breakdown . Hence,the objective of this paper was to evaluate post-emergence Striga gesnerioides damages and determination of phosphate fertilizer containment concentration at low inoculum level in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L)Walp.) using appropriate standard method with a bid to meet sustainable development (SD) Goal 2.0 (food security), Twenty five morphological traits comprising seventeen quantitative and eight qualitative traits were evaluated. In this research,assessments of cowpea varieties were carried out to determine phenotypic traits which make them Striga resistant/susceptible. Striga gesnerioides damage of cowpea was post-emergent and not pre-emergent as commonly reported. Zero Striga gesnerioides emergence point was 50 kg/ha TSP.