Efforts in breeding cowpea for aphid resistance: a review

Cowpea is an important food and nutritional security grain legume crop in the semi-arid regions of sub-Saharan Africa. Its production limited by biotic factors including pre-harvest insect pests such as aphids. Aphids cause yield reductions, promotes growth sooty moulds, honeydew a result reduce photosynthetic processes rates. Various methods have been deployed to try control damage aphids cowpea plants. The include use chemical insecticides, cultural, mechanical, biological controls integrated pest management. However, these not very effective smallholder farmers growing marginal areas cannot afford them. Hence, host plant resistance/genetic best method for controlling plantations. Breeding aphid resistance one that can sustain productivity longer periods. Furthermore, assessing presence genetic diversity also help sourcing genes novelty addressing this issue increase crop. Recently, scientists used various strategies solve challenge on cowpea. objective review was document research progresses breeding facilitate conservation germplasm. serves baseline information guide future