Varieties’ Response of Vegetable Cowpea to Mechanical Inoculation of Cowpea Aphid-Borne Mosaic Virus in Burkina Faso

Abstract

Vegetable cowpea is eaten mainly fresh, in the form of young, immature pods, tender and sweet like the common bean. However, like cowpea with seeds, vegetable cowpea experience yield losses due to the cowpea aphid-borne mosaic virus (CABMV). This study aims to improve yields through the development of vegetable cowpea varieties resistant to CABMV. The study focused on ten varieties of vegetable cowpea, carried out in a greenhouse at the Kamboinsé research station using a randomized complete block design with three replications, all inoculated with CABMV. The data collection concerned resistance parameters. Mechanical inoculation made it possible to observe various symptoms of CABMV, thus highlighting the existence of variability within the varieties tested. Strong correlations were observed between several variables. Thus, the varieties of vegetable cowpea IT85F-2089-5, UG-CP-8, IT85F-2805-5 and Telma were identified as resistant, because belonging to the low severity classes and having a low value of area under the disease progress curve. On the other hand, the varieties RW-CP-5, UG-CP-6, IT83S-911, niébé baguette grimpant possessing a high severity class were judged to be susceptible. These resistant varieties will thus be able to contribute to the improvement of production and the protection of cowpea resources in Burkina.