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Use of Decis® and Systoate® for the Control of Maruca Testulalis (Geyer) in Cowpea

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Abstract

A schedule of insecticide spray combining two insecticides: Decis®(deltamethrin) and Systoate® (dimethoate) with four times of spray: 35, 45, 55 and 65 days after planting (DAP) was investigated in order to search for the most effective treatment against Maruca testulalis (Geyer) population on cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp). The local cowpea cultivar “Kpodjiguegue" was used to study the onset and fluctuation of M. testulalis larvae infestation on cowpea terminal shoots, flowers and pods. The trial was carried out during the 1985 early cropping season at Abomey-Cala vi. The treatments’ effect on M. testulalis in the terminal shoots was not significant at the 5 % level of probability because of the very low infestation of this part of the plant. In the flowers and pods, Decis® was better than Systoate® which failed in controlling this borer satisfactorily. In the unsprayed plots (i.e. control), the peak of the natural infestation occurred in the flowers towards 50 DAP and 65% of the flowers were injured. In the pods, up to 89% of infestation by M. testulalis larvae were observed 60 DAP. The lowest yield was recorded from the unprotected plots (322 kg/ha) whereas the treatment 0-Decis®Systoate®Decis® provided the highest yield (1367 kg/ ha) and the highest returns.

Résumé

Un plan d’exécution des applications d’insecticides:Decis® (deltaméthrine) et Systoate® (diméthoate) utilisés alternativement avec 4 dates d’épandage: 35, 45, 55 et 65 jours après la levée (JAL) a été expérimenté dans le but de rechercher le traitement le plus efficace contre Maruca testulalis (Geyer) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) en culture de niébé (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp). Le niébé local “Kpodjiguègué” a été utilisé pour l’étude de l’infestation et des fluctuations des populations larvaires de M. testulalis sur les bourgeons végétatifs, les fleurs et les gousses. L’expérimentation a été réalisée au cours de la grande saison pluvieuse de 1985 à Abomey-Cala vi. En ce qui concerne les bourgeons végétatifs, l’effet des produits n’a pas été significatif à 5 p. 100 de probabilité à cause de la très faible infestation observée pour cette partie de la plante. Quant aux fleurs et aux gousses, le Décis® est meilleur que le Systoate™ Ce dernier insecticide a accusé une défaillance vis-à-vis de la lutte contre ce foreur. Sur les parcelles témoins, le pic d’infestation des populations du foreur a été obtenu dans les fleurs à 50 JAL et 65 p. 100 des fleurs ont été alors attaquées. A 60 JAL, les gousses ont été infestées par M. testulalis jusqu’à 89 p. 100. Le plus faible rendement en grain de niébé a été obtenu sur les parcelles témoins (322 kg/ha) alors que le traitement O-Decis® -Systoate®-Decis® a donné le meilleur rendement (1367 kg/ha) ainsi que le profit le plus élevé après déduction de tous les fraisengagés (217.201 FCFA/ha) en comparaison avec les témoins.

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Atachi, P., Sourokou, B. Use of Decis® and Systoate® for the Control of Maruca Testulalis (Geyer) in Cowpea. Int J Trop Insect Sci 10, 373–381 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400003635

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400003635

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