Identification of sources of resistance to Alectra vogelii in cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] germplasm from Burkina Faso

In Burkina Faso, cowpea serves as both a food and cash crop generating significant income for stakeholders. However, cowpea production is seriously hampered by several constraints among which is the parasitic weed Alectra vogelii. There is therefore an urgent need to identify Alectra-resistant genotypes, possessing farmers' desired traits, in cowpea germplasm in Burkina Faso. Cowpea genotypes were screened under artificial (screen house) and natural (field) A. vogelii infestation for their reaction to the weed. For the screen house experiment the data were collected on parameters such as days to cowpea flowering and maturity, days to Alectra shoots emergence, the severity of Alectra attack. Cowpea grain yield, Alectra shoots count and severity were scored from the field experiment. These data were subjected to analysis of variances in SAS 9.4. Correlation analysis was also run to determine the association between Alectra infestation parameters and cowpea yield. Twenty Genotypes including KVx414-22-2, KVx165-14-1, Komcalle, IT99K-573-2-1, IT98K-205-8, IT86D10-10, IT93K-693-2 and B301 were identified to be resistant to A. vogelii. Variety Komcalle, IT99K-573-2-1 and IT98K-205-8 are improved and farmers' adopted varieties. Therefore, these varieties can be recommended for Alectra-infested areas. The other genotypes showing resistance are potential donor parents for resistance to A. vogelii.