New sources of resistance of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) to Striga gesnerioides, a parasitic angiosperm

• Published in: Euphytica Vol. 84; no. 3; pp. 165 - 174
• Main Authors: Moore, T.H.M. (Bristol Univ. (United Kingdom). Dept. of Agricultural Sciences), Lane, J.A, Child, D.V, Arnold, G.M, Bailey, J.A, Hoffmann, G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01-01-1995
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; ALECTRA VOGELII; Biological and medical sciences; Environmental Sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; GENETIC RESOURCES; Genetics and breeding of economic plants; MULTIPLICATION DES PLANTES; PARASITIC PLANTS; Pest resistance; PLANT PROPAGATION; PLANTAS PARASITAS; PLANTE PARASITE; PROPAGACION DE PLANTAS; RECURSOS GENETICOS; RESSOURCE GENETIQUE; STRIGA; Varietal selection. Specialized plant breeding, plant breeding aims; VIGNA UNGUICULATA; Mali; West Africa; Africa; Genetic resource; Landrace(plant); Tropical zone; Hypersensitivity; Vigna unguiculata; Entry (plant); Genotype; Pot experiments; Experimental study; In vitro; Field experiment; Grain legume; Screening; Germplasm; Sensitivity resistance; Leguminosae; Dicotyledones; Genetic improvement; Angiospermae; Scrophulariaceae; Spermatophyta; Greenhouse study; Parasitic plant; Cultivar
• ISSN: 0014-2336; 1573-5060
• DOI: 10.1007/BF01681808

Thirty-seven accessions of cowpea and yard-long bean were assessed for resistance to Striga gesnerioides. Cowpea plants were grown using an in vitro method, then inoculated with young seedlings of S. gesnerioides produced from seed from three West African countries. Resistance was assessed by comparing the number and size of S. gesnerioides tubercles on these accessions with those on a known susceptible cowpea, cv. Blackeye. Two cowpea landraces, APL-1 and 87-2, were completely resistant to S. gesnerioides from Burkina Faso, Mali and Cameroon and partially resistant to S. gesnerioides from Niger. Complete resistance was expressed either as a hypersensitive response of infected root tissues or as a severely retarded development of successful infections. All other accessions, including three samples of yard-long bean were susceptible to S. gesnerioides. The original 87-2 plants segregated for resistance and susceptibility. However, uniformly resistant progeny were obtained by producing seed from vegetatively propagated clones of single resistant 87-2 plants. Resistance of APL-1 and 87-2 to S. gesnerioides was confirmed in pot and field trials. Neither of these cowpeas were resistant to Alectra vogelii. Varieties APL-1 and 87-2 provide additional sources of resistance to most races of S. gesnerioides, including a newly discovered virulent race from Benin.