The powders and oils extracts of Anacardium occidentale (L.) seeds and Allium sativum (L.) bulbs were tested as contact insecticides against the cowpea bruchid, Callosobruchus maculatus (Fab.) in cowpea seeds. The powders were incorporated at rates 1, 2.5 and 5/20g of cowpea seeds and acetone extracts of the plants were also applied at 0.5, 1 and 1.5ml per 20g of cowpea seeds to assess contact mortality of adult insect, oviposition, adult emergence and damage assessment. The results obtained showed that at 72 hours; 1, 2.5 and 5/20g of cowpea seeds evoked 63.3, 80 and 100% adult mortality of the cowpea bruchid while the corresponding results for A. sativum were 60.7, 73.3 and 100% mortality respectively. All concentration of acetone extracts that were used evoked 100% mortality of C. maculatus after 72 hours of post treatment. Complete protection of seeds and complete inhibition of adult emergence in both powders and extracts of A. occidentale and A. sativum were achieved. The results obtained from this research revealed that powders and extracts of A. occidentale seeds and A. sativum bulbs were effective in controlling cowpea bruchid, C. maculatus in stored cowpea seeds.

Studies on the floral biology and pollination ecology of three varieties of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) were carried out. The varieties studied were Var. Oloyin, Var. Sokoto, and Var. Drum. Cowpea is a self pollinated crop which is encouraged by the arrangements of the floral parts. However, Insects visiting cowpea flowers have been implicated in the movement of pollen from one cowpea plant to another. Flower opening of cowpea begins between 6:00am and 6:30am and closes between 11:30am and 12:00pm. Pollen analysis showed similarities in the pollen morphology of the cowpea varieties. Moreover Var. Drum produced the highest number of pollen grains per flower in terms of pollen productivity.

Faraón-INIA is a new winter triticale (×Triticosecale Wittmack) cultivar released by the National Wheat Program of the Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias INIA in Chile. It is derived from an F9 material received from Nordsaat, Germany, under a germplasm exchange agreement signed in 2006 by both institutions. The crossing was Piano/Focus with Nord 93.7548 pedigree. Faraón-INIA has a winter growth habit, a short stem (semi-dwarf), with a mean height of 106 cm. The spike is long, compact, decumbent, white, and awned. The grain is soft, yellow, with 1000-grain weight of 36 g, and a mean of hectoliter weight of 76 kg hL-1. It is resistant to stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis West. f. sp. tritici) and leaf rust (Puccinia triticina Erikss.) as well as moderately resistant to septoria leaf blotch. Its mean yield for four seasons in three different locations: Temuco (38º50´ S, 72º25´ W), Traiguén (38º45´ S, 72º38´ W), and Purranque (36°31' S, 71°54' W) varied between 8.2 and 15.0 t ha-1 with a general mean of 11.0 t ha-1. Bromatological analysis of the grain showed good protein content (10.6%) and a generally better quality than other triticale cultivars. Based on the above information, Faraón-INIA is recommended for use as animal feed in Southern Chile.

ABSTRACT:The effect of storage on the efficacy of powders from Eugenia aromatica (Baill.) of different ages in the control of Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius), a major pest of stored cowpea seeds, were investigated in the laboratory. Powders stored for periods of < 1 month, 24, 36 and 48 months with particle size of 300 µm were tested. Contact toxicity was tested for the differently aged powders at 0.4 g of material per 20 g of seed in separate plastic Petri plates. In fumigant toxicity tests 20 g of infested cowpea seeds was suspended in a piece of muslin cloth, over 0.4 g of powder in a container. In the contact toxicity tests, all the differently aged powders killed C. maculatus adult within 48 hours. The differently aged powders significantly (P < 0.05) reduced oviposition by the introduced C. maculatus adults and adults did not emerge from eggs laid. In the fumigant toxicity test, first use of the differently aged powders prevented emergence of adult C. maculatus from fumigated eggs. In a consecutive reuse of powders, adults emerged from fumigated eggs but the numbers were significantly (P < 0.05) fewer than in the control. In conclusion, the shelf-life of E. aromatica powder as a bruchicide is at least four years. @ JASEM

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