THE RESISTANCE OF SEEDS OF COWPEA (VIGNA-UNGUICULATA) TO THE COWPEA WEEVIL (CALLOSOBRUCHUS-MACULATUS)

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) seeds are heavily damaged during storage by the bruchid Callosobruchus maculatus. Seeds of some Nigerian varieties showed a strong resistance to this bruchid. By utilizing biochemical and entomological techniques we were able to rule out the participation of proteolytic enzyme (trypsin, chymotrypsin, subtilisin and papain) inhibitors, lectins, and tannins in the resistance mechanisms. Fractionation of the seed meal of a resistant variety suggests that the factor(s) responsible for the effect is (are) concentrated in the globulin fraction.