EVALUATION OF SELECTED COWPEA VARIETIES FOR RESISTANCE TO APHIS-CRACCIVORA KOCH (HOMOPTERA, APHIDIDAE) AT THE SEEDLING AND PODDING PHASE

Twelve varieties of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) were tested at the seedling and podding growth phases for resistance to infestation and damage to Aphis craccivora Koch. Nine of these cowpeas have previously been known to exhibit seedling resistance and the other three, susceptibility to the insect. A. craccivora could not colonise pods of TVu 9930. Pods of TVu 36 also manifested a high level of resistance to the aphid. The three seedling susceptible varieties proved quite susceptible to A. craccivora at the podding phase. The other varieties were more resistant to the aphid in the seedling phase than in the podding phase.