Effect of preservation with Xylopia aethiopica on the shelf life of cowpea seeds

A popular cowpea variety-"Ife-brown" was used for experiments. Optimal concentration of Xylopia aethiopica required for storage of whole cowpea seeds was determined in petri dishes. whole cowpea seeds were stored in white and black polyethylene bags (VPB and BPB), clay pots (CP) and plastic cans (PC) using 0.5 g Xylopia aethiopica dust per 100 g cowpeas. Physico-chemical properties of the seeds were monitored on a biweekly basis for 24 weeks. By the end of the storage period, increase in the moisture content of cowpeas stored in PC was found to be the lowest (38%), while that of BPB was the highest [205%]. Seeds stored in PC retained 92% of their viability, while those stored in BPB were no longer viable, Seeds stored in CP had the highest number of insect emergent holes. Reconstitutability and foam properties of cowpea seeds stored in BPB and CP were markedly lowered. PC and WPB were better storage containers than CP and BPB. Seeds stored with X. aethiopica were more acceptable than controls.