Incidence of flowerbud thrips, megalurothrips sjostedti trybom (thysanoptera: thripidae) on resistant and susceptible cowpea cultivars intercropped with maize

Abstract

The effect of intercropping resistant (TVU 946) and susceptible (lCV2) cowpea cultivars with maize on the incidence of the flowerbuds thrips, Megalurothrips sjosledti Trybon was investigated over two rainy seasons at Mbita Point field Station of the International Centre of insect Physiology and Ecology (lCIPE). A completely randomized block design comprising (i) TVU 946 pure stand, (ii) TVU 946 intercropped, (iii) ICV2 pure stand, and (iv) ICV2 intercropped, was used. Thrips numbers were significantly (p:s;0.05) lower in intercrops during the Short Rainy Season than during the Long Rainy Season. Cultivar TVU 946 did not significantly affect the population build-up in intercrops, indicating that the micro-environment created by intercropping interferes with phenological characters responsible for resistance. These cultivars should be selected in an intercrop environment.