Trials were conducted on the Research farm of the Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru, Zaria in the Northern Guinea Savanna (NGS) Zone of Nigeria in 2010 and 2011 wet seasons to evaluate the reaction of Alectra vogelii to botanicals and the performance of cowpea varieties under Alectra vogelii Benth infestation.In all the trials,SAMPEA 6 exhibited tolerance by combining support for high emergence of Alectra with the production of high cowpea grain yield. Kanannado, a Local cowpea variety supported low parasitic weed infestation and produced comparable grain yield than the recommended cowpea variety SAMPEA-7. Treating planting holes with Azadiratha indica seed powder, Azadiratha indica leaf powder, Eucalyptus spp leaf powder, Anacadium occidentale L. leaf powder, Tamarindus indica L. leaf powder and Carica papaya L. leaf powder delayed Alectra emergence, reduced Alectra count and number of plants infested, reduced crop reaction score,took longer days to 50% flowering and gave higher cowpea seed yield.Get the full articles at: http://www.innspub.net/volume-7-number-6-december-2015-ijaar/

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RESEARCH PAPER OPEN ACCESS
Reaction of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) varieties to
Alectra vogelii (Benth) as influenced by botanicals (plant
materials) in the Northern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria
C.P. Shinggu
Department of Crop Production and Protection, Federal University Wukari, Nigeria
Article published on December 20, 2015
Key words: Cowpea, Botanicals, Alectra, Striga.
Abstract
Trials were conducted on the Research farm of the Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University,
Samaru, Zaria in the Northern Guinea Savanna (NGS) Zone of Nigeria in 2010 and 2011 wet seasons to evaluate
the reaction of Alectra vogelii to botanicals and the performance of cowpea varieties under Alectra vogelii Benth
infestation. In all the trials, SAMPEA 6 exhibited tolerance by combining support for high emergence of Alectra
with the production of high cowpea grain yield. Kanannado, a Local cowpea variety supported low parasitic weed
infestation and produced comparable grain yield than the recommended cowpea variety SAMPEA-7. Treating
planting holes with Azadiratha indica seed powder, Azadiratha indica leaf powder, Eucalyptus spp leaf powder,
Anacadium occidentale L. leaf powder, Tamarindus indica L. leaf powder and Carica papaya L. leaf powder
delayed Alectra emergence, reduced Alectra count and number of plants infested, reduced crop reaction score,
took longer days to 50% flowering and gave higher cowpea seed yield.
* Corresponding Author: C.P. Shinggu  chibiyasp@yahoo.com
International Journal of Agronomy and Agricultural Research (IJAAR)
ISSN: 2223-7054 (Print) 2225-3610 (Online)
http://www.innspub.net
Vol. 7, No. 6, p. 20-24, 2015

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Introduction
Alectra vogelii (Benth.) is a hemi-parasitic plant of
the family scrophulariaceae which derives its water,
nutrients and some of its manufactured food from its
host plants through root connection. It is a major
constraint to the production of cowpea, groundnut
and other leguminous crops in sub-Saharan regions
of Africa (Emechebe, et al., 1983;Lagoke, 1989). Its
presence on the field can result into total crop failure
(Emechebe et al., 1983;Lagoke, 1989). Both Alectra
and Striga gesneroides (Wild) Vatke are often found
infesting cowpea simultaneously in the northern
Guinea and Sudan Savanna Zone of Nigeria
(Emechebe et al., 1991). But this research is basically
for Alectra vogelii (Benth.). Control methods used for
the management of parasitic weeds include the use of
trap crops, hand pulling, deep cultivation, the use of
resistant varieties and herbicides (Emechebe et al.,
1991; Magani, 1994). However, no trap crop has been
identified to control both Alectra and Striga
infestation, hand pulling is labour intensive and deep
cultivation is too expensive for the resources poor
African farmer. Resistant cultivars may not be readily
acceptable to the farmers. In addition, recent research
has indicated the possibility of virulent races of the
parasites being evolved to counter the in-built
resistance (Parker and Polniaszek, 1990). Herbicides
are used in Africa though not widely used because of
high cost and unavailability of the chemicals and
application equipment. The use of botanicals may
become a more affordable and cost-effective method
for the control of these parasitic weeds, since the
plant materials used are widely available and at no
minimum cost. The method will not only eliminate
the need of application equipment, but will also
reduce the cost of production and increase yield. The
objectives of this study is to evaluate the effect of
botanicals (Plant materials) on Alectra vogelii and
the performance of three cowpea varieties on an
infested field at Samaru, Zaria Nigeria.
Materials and methods
Field experiments were conducted in the wet seasons
of 2010 and 2011 on the farm of the Institute for
Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University,
Samaru Zaria.Samaru is located in the Northern
Guinea Savanna with annual rainfall of 1120mm. The
field has a history of serious Alectra vogelii / Striga
gesnerioides infestation (Sick Plot). The field was
ploughed, harrowed and ridged before making the
plots. The gross and net plot sizes were 9m2 and 3m2
respectivelyThe treatment combinations include
Azadiratha indica seed powder (AISP), Azadiratha
indica leaf powder (AILP), Parkia biglobosa leaf
powder (PBLP), Parkia biglobosa seed powder
(PBSP), Encalyptus spp leave powder (ELP),
Anacadium occidentale leaf powder (AOLP),
Mangifera indica leaf powder (MILP), Tamarindus
indica leaf powder (TILP), Carica papaya leaf
powder (CPLP) and control. Three cowpea varieties
viz. SAMPEA-7. SAMPEA-6 and KANANNADO were
laid out in a split plot design with three replications.
Varieties were assigned to the main plots, while
botanical treatments were assigned to the sub-plots.
Two seeds were planted per hole at 20cm intra row
and 75cm inter – row spacing. SSP was applied at
24kg P/ ha-1, one week after crop emergence.
Benomyl as Benlate 50 WP at 0.6kg ha-1 was applied
at 4 and 6 WAS. Perfection 40EC at 1.0kg ha-1 was
applied forth-nightly at 8, 10, 12 WAS to control
insect pests. A CP³ Knap sack sprayer was used to
apply the fungicide and insecticides in 240L ha-1
spray volume. Data collected include number of days
to Alectra emergence, Alectra shoot count and
number of plants infected, crop injury, crop vigour
(CV) and days to 50% flowering and seed yield. The
data collected were subjected to analysis of variance
(ANOVA) as described by Snedeco and Cochran
(1967).Significant differences among treatment
means were compared using Duncan’s multiple range
test (DMRT).
Results
Data on Alectra and Cowpea related parameters as
influenced by botanicals are presented in tables 1 and
2. SAMPEA- 7 resulted in significantly shorter
number of days to Alectra emergence supported
higher Alectra shoot count and higher number of
plants infected by Alectra in both years of study.
While SAMPEA- 6 took longer days to Alectra

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emergence, had comparable Alectra shoot count and
number of plant infest and crop reaction score with
Kanannado in both years. Azadiratha indica seed
powder, Azadiratha indica leaf powder, Eucalyptus
spp leaf powder, Tamarindus indica leaf powder and
Carrica-papaya leaf powder delayed Alectra
emergence, gave lower Alectra shoot count, least
number of plants infected and lower crop injury
score.Table 2 shows the effect of botanicals on
Cowpea Parameters.
Table 1. Effect of botanicals on Cowpea varieties and Alectra vogelii parameters in the Northern Guinea Savanna
Zone of Nigeria in 2010 and 2011 wet seasons.
Treatment
Injury Reaction Score
No. of days to Alectra
emergence
Alectra shoot
count (9m)
No. of plant
infected (9m)
Crop
At 10 WAS At 10 WAS At 10 WAS At 10 WAS
Cowpea Varieties 2010 2011 2010 2011 2010 2011 2010 2011
SAMPEA- 7 49c 48c 41a 52a 26a 33a 3a 4.0a
SAMPEA-6 65a 63a 38b 47b 12b 22b 1b 2.5b
KANANNADO 50b 51b 38b 44b 11b 18b 1b 2.0b
SE+ 0.50 0.51 0.67 0.70 0.86 0.76 0.12 0.10
Botanicals
AISP 67a 66a 18d 29c 2c 5c 1.00c 1.0c
AILP 67A 66a 18d 28d 2c 5c 1.00c 1.0c
PBPP 55c 56b 32b 43b 5b 9b 2.00b 2.50b
PBSP 55c 55b 38b 48b 4b 9b 2.00b 2.50b
ELP 65a 65a 21c 26c 2c 6c 1.00c 1.00c
AOLP 60b 61a 22c 27c 2c 6c 1.00c 1.00c
(MILP 52c 54b 37b 48b 4b 9b 2.00b 2.50b
(TILP 66a 65a 24c 26c 2c 6c 2.00b 1.00 a
CPLP 66a 66a 22c 26c 2c 6c 1.00c 1.00c
Control 43d 43c 56a 51a 20a 31a 4.00a 4.0a
SE+ 0.70 0.72 1.03 1.06 0.85 1.00 0.14 0.15
Interaction
V x B NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS
NS= Not significant, Means followed by the same letter within the same treatment group and year are statistically
the same.
The result shows that botanicals had a significant
effect on Crop vigour score, Days to 50% flowering
and seed yield of cowpea. SAMPEA- 7 resulted in
significantly lower CVS, shorter days to 50%
flowering and lower Cowpea seed yield in both years
of study. While SAMPEA- 6 resulted in more vigorous
plants, longer days to 50% flowering and higher
Cowpea seed yield. Azadiratha indica seed powder,
Azadiratha indica leaf powder, Eucalyptus spp,
Tamarindus indica and Carrica-papaya leaf, powder
gave higher crop vigour score, lower, crop reaction
score, longer days to 50% and higher cowpea seed
yield than Parkia biglobosa palp, Parkia biglobosa
seed powder, Mangifera indica leaf powder.
Discussion
In the two years of study SAMPEA- 7 took less
number of days to 50% flowering which is a character
resulting from the genetic makeup of the crop. The
production of lower cowpea grain yield indicates that
the variety is susceptible to Alectra. This finding
collaborates with that of (Magani, 1994). SAMPEA 6
on the other hand took longer days to Alectra
emergence, gave higher CVS, longer days to 50%
flowering and gave higher seed yield. High seed yield
corroborates earlier report by Magani (1994) and
Lagoke (1996) that the variety is tolerant to Alectra
infection thus have little effect on its yield.

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Table 2. Effect of Botanicals on Cowpea varieties parameters in the Northern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria in 2010
and 2011 wet seasons.
Crop Vigour Score Days to 50% Flowering of cowpea Cowpea Seed yield
2010 2011 2010 2011 2010 2011
SAMPEA-7 6.5c 7.0c 44c 46c 1785c 1772b
SAMPEA-6 8.5a 9.2a 63a 66a 2076a 1916a
KANAN 7.0b 8.0b 50b 54b 1958b 1752c
SE+ 0.30 0.27 0.81 0.84 0.84 50.61
BOTANICALS
AISP 9.0a 9.5a 49a 48a 1997 1875a
AILP) 9.0a 9.5a 49a 48a 1969a 1869a
PBPP 8.0b 8.3c 48b 46b 1596b 1599b
ELP 8.0b 8.2c 48b 46b 1566b 1567b
AOLP 9.0a 9.5a 49a 48a 1997a 1787a
MILP 9.0a 9.3a 49a 48a 1950a 1799a
TILP 8.0b 8.7b 48b 47b 1598b 1509b
(CPLP 9.0a 9.2a 48b 48a 1556b 1820a
Control 9.0a 9.5a 48b 48a 1556b 1836a
SE+ 6.5c 5.5d 46c 46b 1380c 1285c
0.31 0.51 0.11 0.06 27.33 4210
Interaction
V * B NS NS NS NS NS NS
NS: Not significant, Means followed by the same letter within the same treatment group and year are statistically
the same.
The result of this investigation also revealed that
treating the planting holes with Azadiratha indica
seeds powder, Azadiratha indica leaf powder,
Eucalyptus spp leaf powder, Anacadium occidentale
leaf powder, Tamarindus indica leaf powder and
Carica papaya leaf powder as shown in the treatment
delayed Alectra emergence, reduced number of
Alectra shoot and number of plants infested, reduced
injury score, delayed flowering and gave higher
cowpea seed yield. The results show that using
botanicals for the control of Alectra in cowpea reduce
negative impact on the crop. Greater yields can be
obtained by the use of these promising materials.
There is however the need to investigate the content
of the materials and to determine the best way to
measure them to avoid danger of rottening when
seeds are planted. It is also important to try other
means of seed treatment using these materials for the
same purpose. These six materials have the capacity
to depleting Alectra seed bank in the soil.
References
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Control of Root Parasitic Weeds in Cowpea and
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Emechebe AM, Singh BB, Leleji OI, Atokple
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