Laboratory evaluation of six improved cowpea Vigna unguiculata varieties for susceptibility to seed beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Storage

Laboratory experiments were carried out to evaluate the susceptibility of six improved cowpea varieties to seed beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) attack at a temperature of 29 ± 2 °C and a relative humidity of 65 ± 3%. Fifty grams of each variety were weighed in Kilner jars (250ml) and infested with three females and two males of C. maculatus that were 1-2 days old. Data recorded were the physical characteristics of the cowpea varieties, number of eggs laid, percentage egg survival, number of emerged adults, duration of emergence (DE), mean developmental period (MDP), percentage seed weight loss, percentage seed damage and susceptibility index. The experiment was a completely randomised design with three replications. Results showed that significant differences (p