Indirect selection for resistance to Alectra vogelii (benth) infestation in cowpea (Vignaunguiculata (L) walp)

Abstract

Abstract-Alectra vogelii (benth) is a parasitic weed which causes significant yield reductions in cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata Walp)

In vivo and in vitro performance studies on groundnut (Acharis hypogea L.) genotypes for yellow witchweed (Alectra vogelii Benth.) resistance

“…The known hotspots of A. vogelii infestation in legumes include countries like Botswana (Fite et al, 2009), Ethiopia (Hussein et al, 2006), Malawi (Kabambe and Bokosi, 2020), Nigeria (Motagi et al, 2014), Tanzania (Mbega et al, 2010) and Africa-wide (Kureh and Alabi, 2003;Kureh et al, 2005). Its infestation has been reported largely in groundnuts, cowpeas, common beans and bambaranuts (Alonge et al, 2001a;Mandumbu et al, 2016;Mbwando et al, 2017;Phiri et al, 2019).…”

“…Even though, farmers have employed various strategies like hand weeding, crop rotation, trapcatch cropping, and some trying chemical application to manage the impact of A. vogelii, all seems economically and technically ineffective since the damage is belowground, and occurs before the parasite emerges from the rhizosphere (Riches et al, 1992;Mandumbu et al, 2019;Masumoto et al, 2021). The rate at which A. vogelii is infecting legumes crops is alarming (Mandumbu et al, 2017;Nyakurwa et al, 2018) and groundnuts in Zimbabwe have received little attention to assess the level and responsiveness to A.vogelii infestation, yet is one of the principle crop for most Zimbabweans (Rugare et al, 2013;Mbwando et al, 2017;Soropa et al, 2021). Vulnerable poorresource farmers and some smallholder farmers are highly affected by A. vogelii occurrence (Gurney et al, 1999;Gasura et al, 2019).…”

“…Therefore, scientists devised an understanding of the joint smart-climate and environmental technologies that can be urgently employed to improve groundnut crop production, food security and utilization of marginal infected lands under harsh and adverse conditions and get purged of the parasite (Mbwando et al, 2017;Mandumbu et al, 2019;Gasura et al, 2019;Dieni et al, 2019). Others consider the suggestion, a green sustainable and economic way devised in which researchers believe that the strategy will contribute to food security and nutrition and can increase income generation especially for resourcepoor farmers (Alonge et al, 2001b;Phiri et al, 2019;Gwatidzo et al, 2020).…”