Breeding

Cowpea suffers heavily from insects, both in the 
field as well as when the grain is stored after 
harvest.  Graphic proof of this comes from 
comparing yields with and without insecticide 
treatments: yield reductions due to insects can 
reach as high as 95 percent, depending upon the 
location, year, and cultivar.  Actually, a great 
many cowpea growers in Africa don't use 
insecticides, can't obtain them, or can't afford 
them, don't have the necessary equipment, or 
haven't been taught how to apply them properly.  
Conventional insecticides are not the answer to 
the insect problems.

Insects continue to damage cowpeas after 
harvest.  The major pest is the cowpea weevil.  
A single cowpea weevil female can reproduce 
herself 20-fold every 3-4 weeks.  harvested 
cowpea grain that has a very light infestation - 
which starts in the field before it is stored -- 
will have a heavy infestation within two or 
three months.  Foods prepared with this grain 
have an unpleasant flavor.  If taken to market, 
the price of this grain is discounted.

• Seed & Pod Resistance • Striga Resistance
• Genetic Tranformation • New Cowpea Varieties
• Screening Tools for Bruchid-Resistant Germplasm

• Seed & Pod Resistance • Striga Resistance • Genetic Tranformation • New Cowpea Varieties • Screening Tools for Bruchid-Resistant Germplasm

• Seed & Pod Resistance • Striga Resistance
• Genetic Tranformation • New Cowpea Varieties
• Screening Tools for Bruchid-Resistant Germplasm