The Role of Seed Coat and Its Pigmentation on the Acceptance of Bambara Groundnut (Vigna subterranea L. Verdc.) Cultivars by the Cowpea Beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus (F.)
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Date
2015-10
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Advances in Entomology
Abstract
Bambara groundnut, Vigna subterranea is an important legume crop that is adaptable to the dry
regions of Africa. It is a major source of protein to people in many parts of Africa. One major constraint
to increased production of the crop is the incidence of the storage pest Callosobruchus maculatus
which causes significant weight loss to seeds in storage. The preference of the cowpea
beetle C. maculatus for a particular seed coat colour was determined using four different colour
types of bambara groundnut in an arena. The olfactory attractiveness of testa against cotyledon
and cotyledon against whole grain was carried out in an olfactometer. Oviposition preference of C.
maculatus on the different seed colours was determined. In the arena experiment significantly
more of the beetles showed preference for cream and mottled seeds than red and black seeds. Significantly
more beetles chose seeds with testa over decorticated seeds as well as whole grain over
decorticated seeds. Colour significantly affected the seeds as oviposition sites. Significantly fewer
eggs were laid on red and black seeds than cream seeds in both the choice and no choice tests (P <
0.0001). Thus for the purpose of reducing losses of seeds in storage it is advisable to cultivate redand
black-coloured seeds which showed lower acceptability to C. maculatus as oviposition site.
Description
An article published by Advances in Entomology, 2015, 3, 125-131; 2015: Available at http://www.scirp.org/journal/ae
http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ae.2015.34015
Keywords
Callosobruchus maculatus, CotyledoN, Oviposition, Vigna subterranea
Citation
Advances in Entomology, 2015, 3, 125-131