Identifying and managing plant health risks for key African crops: legumes

Publication date: 07/02/2019
Extent: 36 pages

Contributions by: Manuele Tamò, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Bénin; Léonard Afouda, Université de Parakou, Bénin; Ranajit Bandyopadhyay, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Nigeria; Harry Bottenberg, United States Agency for International Development, USA; Laura Cortada-Gonzales, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Kenya; Harun Murithi, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Tanzania; Alejandro Ortega-Beltran, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Nigeria; Barry Pittendrigh, Michigan State University, USA; Rachidatou Sikirou, Institut National des Recherches Agricoles au Bénin, Bénin; Abou Togola, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Nigeria; and Kerstin D. Wydra, Erfurt University of Applied Sciences, Germany

Chapter synopsis: The yield potential of cowpea and soybean is severely constrained by several biotic stresses, negatively impacting on the livelihoods of farming communities. Resistant germplasm is often the first line of defence against plant pathogens inducing foliar diseases like Asian soybean rust, but needs to be accompanied by proper resistance management plans, including understanding and monitoring of pathotype formation. This chapter shows how combatting soil-borne pathogens, nematodes and particularly insect pests requires a truly integrated approach, which can vary in the assembly of its options depending on the nature of the organism. IITA scientists and collaborators have developed a range of interventions, often discovered only after thorough ecological and biodiversity studies, as in the case of flower thrips and pod borers in cowpea. Our research has resulted in a strategy using tolerant varieties, establishing and preserving natural enemies on wild host plant refugia, and intervening at the field level with biorational pesticide applications.

DOI: 10.19103/AS.2018.0043.11