Discovering bruchid and Alectra vogelii resistance in cowpea

Namibia University of Science and Technology

Cowpea accessions planted at Rietfontein Satellite campus and farmers fields. Photo credit: Dr Maliata Athon Wanga.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Background

Parasitic weeds and storage pests significantly reduce cowpea yields and cause post-harvest losses in Namibia. Alectra vogelii, a root-attaching parasitic herb, drains nutrients and water from crops, lowering productivity. Callosobruchus maculatus, a major storage pest, forces farmers to sell dry seed quickly at low prices to avoid infestation. Farmers often lose stored harvests due to inadequate storage facilities.

Objectives

To develop genetically homogeneous cowpea germplasm from assembled genetic resources.
To identify cowpea accessions resistant to Alectra under the greenhouse and hotspot conditions as genetic resource for introgression.
To adapt a protocol currently used to screen for bruchid resistance in common bean for use in cowpea.
To identify resistant lines for breeding bruchid and resistant varieties.

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Cowpea accessions planted at Rietfontein Satellite Campus and Farmer fields (i and ii). Germinating pots and Alectra weed growing on the root of a cowpea plant grown a the UNAM Greenhouse in Windhoek (iii and iv).