Double blind field experiments and experimental auctions were conducted with bean and cowpea farmers in Tanzania and Ghana to gauge the relative demand for three types of seed products that differ in price and quality: certified, quality declared, and recycled. Whether the cost differential makes these seeds qualitatively different products as reflected in their perceived performance, and whether that translates into farmers' willingness to pay price premiums, are the research questions addressed by this study. Results indicate that, all else equal, there were significant differences in the perceived quality of the seed products evaluated. Farmers were willing to pay significantly more for their higher rated seed relative to their lower rated seeds. However, for a majority of farmers the magnitude of the premium they are willing to pay for a higher quality seed is less than the current price differential between certified seed and grain. Research and policy implications of these results for legume seed system are discussed.

Introduction. Host preference of Zeugodacus cucurbitae in three vegetables was determined under choice and no-choice experiments. Materials and methods. The experiments were conducted in both semi-natural (under cage) and natural (no cage) field conditions. The trials were run for three seasons between March 2013 and July 2014 in Morogoro Region, Tanzania. In each season, two sets of plots of watermelon Citrullus lanatus, cucumber Cucumis sativus and pumpkin Cucurbita sp., were established in mono and mixed cropping systems. A set of plots was placed under individual cages and another set of plots was left open. Colonies of Z. cucurbitae were regularly established from wild cucurbits and the emerging adults were maintained on artificial diets. The adults were released into cages once in a cropping season, at a sex ratio ratio of 1:1. A total of 60 and 180 adults were released into choice (4×4 m) and no choice (4 × 12 m) plots respectively. Open fields were infested naturally. Released adults were between 21 and 30 days old post emergence. Flies were released between six and eight weeks after sowing the vegetables. Fruits were harvested a week after release of flies into cages. Trials were also conducted to determine the dominant cucurbit infester in cucumber. Infestation rates and incidences were determined and used to indicate preference of Z. cucurbitae among the three vegetables. Results and discussion. Highest infestation rate of Z. cucurbitae was recorded in watermelon while lowest in pumpkin. Infestation rates were significantly high in fruits grown under no choice compared to choice plots. More flies emerged from fruits grown in no choice plots. However, infestation rates were not significantly different among fruits from natural and semi-natural conditions. Other cucurbit infesters, Dacus bivittatus, D. frontalis, D. vertebratus and D. ciliatus emerged from fruits grown in open (no cage) field plots. Further results show that Z. cucurbitae dominated Dacus bivittatus and D. frontalis in cucumber. Conclusion. Watermelon is the most preferred host of the dominant cucurbit infester Z. cucurbitae.

The invasive African black beetle Heteronychus arator F. is a serious pest of crops in Tropical and sub Tropical regions, including East Africa. Literature on ecology of this pest in Sub Saharan Africa is scarce. Dispersal and abundance of H. arator were determined in maize fields in Njombe Region, in the Southern highlands of Tanzania, from December 2013 to May 2014. Adults of H. arator were collected monthly by hand picking and pitfall traps. Results showed that larvae were present throughout the growing season, with low population at planting and peak period coinciding with optimum soil moisture. The abundance of adults varied with time, with high peaks recorded in January. Abundance of both larvae and adults were significantly affected by fertilizer type, with high populations in farmyard manure. The type of fertilizer significantly affected dispersal of H. arator. A high number of beetles moved significantly longer distances in farmyard and inorganic fertilizer compared to bioslurry a day after release. Abundance of of beetles was negatively correlated with rainfall but positively correlated with average temperature, while abundance of larvae was positively correlated with rainfall. The results provide useful input into management of H. arator under different fertilizer practices and weather conditions.

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