Effects of Time of Planting, Plant Population Density and Weeding Regime on the Incidence and Severity of Cowpea Mottle Virus Disease (CPMoV) on Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp.]
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Date
2013
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Phytopathological Society of Nigeria
Abstract
Field experiments were carried out in 2011 and 2012 planting seasons to evaluate the effects of time of planting, weeding regime and plant population density on the incidence and severity of cowpea mottle virus on cowpea. The experiment followed factorial treatments fitted into a randomized complete block design. The application of the factors considered in the experiment, were at two levels: time of planting cowpea (1st August and 15th August, 2011 and 2012), plant population (106,666 plants/ha and 53,333 plants /ha), and weeding regime (chemical and mechanical). The results showed that planting cowpea at intervals of 1st August and 15th August, was of no significant effect on virus incidence (33.1 % and 34.3% for 2011; 34.6% and 35.7% for 2012), also the severity index value (2) were similar. Weeding regime and plant population density, on the other hand, significantly influenced the virus incidence but not severity. Plant population of 106,666 plants/ha, had the significantly lower virus incidence of 28.0% and 31.7% for 2011 and 2012. Virus incidence was also lower in plants that had chemical and mechanical weeding (31.6% and 33.8% for 2011 and 2012 respectively). The treatment combination effect indicated that significantly higher crop yields were obtained at early planting, at the population of 106,666 plants/ha, with chemical and mechanical weeding. The results indicate that sowing early, at moderately high plant population density, combined with an efficient weeding regime, as a cultural control practice, is effective in ameliorating cowpea mottle virus disease for an improved cowpea yield.
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Keywords
Cowpea Mottle Virus , Vigna unguiculata, Incidence, Severity, Time of planting, Plant Population, Weeding regime, Cultural control.