Authors : S. B. A. Umoetok, E. Oku and D. A. Ukeh
Abstract: Experiments were conducted under Laboratory conditions (27.8 ? 1?C) and r. h. (82 ? 2%) to assess the damages caused by the bean bruchids (Callosobruchus maculatus F.) on cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) seeds. 5 %(2.5g) of Aligator pepper (Aframomum melegueta Thorn (K.) Schum and Black pepper (Piper guineensis) Schum and thonn) powders respectively per 50g of beans as grain-protectants. Cowpea seeds were infested with three-population densities (5,10 and 15) of adult C. maculatus. Cold (0 ? 2 oC) treatment was used to sterilise cowpea seeds, which served as control (with no plant products and no insects). The seeds were stored for seven months. The treated grains suffered less damage than the untreated ones although the sterilized (control) grains had significantly (P< 0.05) the lowest weight loss, exit holes and highest percentage germination than other treatments. Weight loss ranged from 4.70 ? 0.27 to 5.38 ? 0.21 in the sterilised grains to 11.49? 0.08 – 12.70 76.0? 0.11 in the protected grains and 52.27? 1.50 to 76.0? 0.53 in the unprotected ones. Exit holes were between 1.56? 0.02 –2.54 ? 0.03 on the protected gains and 2.83 ? 0.33 –5.5 ? 0.47 in the unprotected grains. No exit holes were observed on the sterilised grains. Germination percentage was between 48.20?0.68 –25.49 ? 0.40 in the treated grains and 11.75 ? 0.10 –24.80 ? 0.85 in the untreated grains.
Umoetok, S. B. A. , E. Oku and D. A. Ukeh , 2004. Reduction of Damage Caused To Stored Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) Seeds by the Bean Bruchids (Callosobruchus maculatus F.) Using Plant Products . Journal of Food Technology, 2: 192-194.