<div>Background:&nbsp;Ecological maneuvering of major sucking insect pests of cowpea, [Vigna unguiculata (Linn.) Walp.] at the micro level was aimed through various agronomic techniques. The tactics of appropriate intercropping is gaining thrust in the present scenario in overall strategy of insect pest management.&nbsp; 
 
Methods:&nbsp;The experiment was conducted during kharif, 2018 in a randomized block design (RBD) with 5 treatments and 4 replications. The populations of major sucking insect pests were recorded at weekly interval from their appearance till harvesting of the cropearly in the morning of 10 cm terminal shoot for aphid and from three leaves, viz., one each from top, middle and lower canopy of the plant for leafhopper and whitefly. 
 
Result:&nbsp;The experiment on cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (Linn.) Walp.] grown along with, pearlmillet [Penisetum glucum (Linn.) R.Br.emend stunntz] sesame, (Sesamum indicum) sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonloba) as intercrops showed reduced population of sucking insect pests (aphid, Aphis craccivora Koch, leafhopper, Empoasca fabae (Harris) and whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) over the sole crop (cowpea), cowpea with pearlmillet and sorghum combinations proved significantly less conducive to aphid, leafhopper and whitefly infestation as compared to other intercrops.</div>

Effect of Various Intercrops on the Incidence of Major Sucking Insect Pests of Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (Linn.) Walp]

Background: Phytopriming can enhance seed germination and seedling emergence. Seeds when primed with plant leaf extracts result in better establishment and growth of field crops. 
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Methods: This study examines the potential of leaf extracts of Moringa oleifera Lam, Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Walp and Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre on the growth and yield of black gram through seed hydropriming. 
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Result: Pot studies revealed a 10% increase in shoot length and 3% increase in fresh weight upon priming with P. pinnata (L.) Pierre leaf extract in comparison to liquid fertilizer treatment. Also, 6% increase in root nodule formation was observed in G. sepium (Jacq.) Walp and P. pinnata (L.) Pierre treated plants. Testing the biochemical parameters revealed a 20% increase in total phenolics, 12% increase in total carbohydrates and 64% increase in chlorophyll pigment in the case of P. pinnata (L.) Pierre leaf extract treated group. The data presented shows that a 4% M. oleifera Lam leaf extract, 10% G. sepium (Jacq.) Walp, or 4% P. pinnata (L.) Pierre leaf extract can be used for improving seedling emergence, plant growth and yield. Among the three, the best overall growth and yield can be obtained by using a 4% P. pinnata (L.) Pierre leaf extract as a seed priming agent.

Phytopriming of Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper (Blackgram) Seeds using Aqueous Extracts of Moringa oleifera Lam, Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Walp and Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre Improves Seedling Emergence, Growth and Yield

The aim of present study was to examine the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on the growth, lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzyme activity and some key physio-biochemical attributes in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp.) subjected to salt stress. Salt stress (200 mM NaCl) reduced growth, biomass, relative water content and chlorophyll pigment content in cowpea leaves. AMF ameliorated the negative impact of salinity on the growth parameters studied. The activity of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), peroxidase (POD) and glutathione reductase (GR) enhanced under salt stress and AMF inoculation further enhanced their activity, thus strengthening the plant&rsquo;s defense system. Proline content increased in salt stressed plants as well as AMF-inoculated plants providing efficient protection against salt stress. Besides this AMF also increased uptake of mineral elements which have direct impact on the osmoregulation of the plants. The present study shows that AMF possesses the potential to enhance salt tolerance of cowpea.

Induction of salt stress tolerance in cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

<div>Background: Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] is a self pollinated crop, belonging to family fabaceae and sub family papilionaceae. It is an important multipurpose grain legume extensively cultivated in arid and semi arid regions of Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Central and South America. The assessment of variability present in any crop species is an essential pre requisite for formulating an effective breeding programme, as the existing variability can be used to enhance the yield level of cultivars after following appropriate breeding strategies. 
 
Methods: The present investigation was carried out during the Kharif season of the year 2019. The field experiment was carried out at Pulses Research Station, NAU, Navsari in randomized block design. The study was undertaken on fifty three genotypes of cowpea to know the variability present among genotypes for thirteen&nbsp; traits and correlation and path analysis of yield components. 
 
Result: Analysis of variance indicated significant genotypic differences for all the characters under study. The highest GCV was recorded for plant height, pods per plant, pods per cluster, seed yield per plant, straw yield per plant, 100 seed weight and harvest index. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was exhibited by days to 50 per cent flowering, days to maturity, plant weight, seed yield per plant, 100 seed weight, pod length, pods per cluster and seeds per pod indicating the presence of additive gene action. Seed yield per plant was found to be positively and significantly correlated with pods per plant, pods per cluster, pod length, days to 50 per cent flowering and straw yield per plant or seed yield per plant. The present study has indicated the need for giving due weightage to pods per plant, pods per cluster, seeds per pod, 100 seed weight, pod length with straw yield per plant for improving seed yield in cowpea.</div>

Genetic Variability, Correlation and Path Analysis in Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp]

<div>Background: Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.], is one of an important pulse grown throughout the world. The cowpea crop helps in fixation of atmospheric nitrogen; besides, it supports the natural enemies&rsquo; population. The study on diversity of pestiferous insect associated with cowpea crop help to understand the population dynamics of these pests depending on location and seasons. These diversity studies are useful to formulate management practices which are area specific. 
 
Methods: An extensive survey was conducted at different locations (Udaipur, Bhilwara, Banswara, Chittorgarh and Pratapgarh) of southern Rajasthan during summer (Zaid) and monsoon (Kharif) seasons of 2019 and 2020. The randomly selected plants were observed for pestiferous insect population to calculate different diversity indices. 
 
Result: The insect pest complex of cowpea categorized into 5 orders viz., Hemiptera, Thysanoptera, Coleoptera, Diptera and Lepidoptera comprising 14 families. The pestiferous fauna includes population of flea beetle, jassids, whiteflies, sap sucking bugs, leaf miner, thrips, aphids, spotted pod borer and lycaenid caterpillar. During the study, it was found that overall species richness was more during the monsoon season as compared to that during the summer. The relative diversity of aphids was the maximum on account of the clumped distribution and exponential growth. In 2019, the maximum diversity was recorded in Banswara (Simpson index= 6.49 and Shannon index= 2.04) during monsoon; whereas, in 2020, the maximum diversity was recorded in Bhilwara (Simpson index= 4.03 and Shannon index= 1.81) during summer.</div>

<div>Diversity of Insect Fauna Associated with Summer and Monsoon Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.]</div>

<div style="text-align:justify">Background: Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] is most widely grown pulse-cum-vegetable crop. It plays an important role in maintaining soil fertility. Besides, nitrogen which is fixed in the soil from the atmosphere by the crop specific Rhizobium found in root nodules of this crop, phosphorus is another important element which inter-alia enhances the nitrogen fixation capability of the crop. In addition to biologically fixed nitrogen, crop also requires nitrogen through fertilization to meet its initial requirement (Mishra and Baboo, 1999). 
Methods: A field experiment was on conducted during kharif season of the year 2015 at Agronomy Instructional Farm, C.P. College of Agriculture, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar Gujarat. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with four replications and 10 treatments comprising of integration of different organic sources. 
Result: Our investigation in the significant improvement in N content in seed and N uptake by cowpea were noted with the application of 50% N through FYM + 50% N through vermicompost + PSB (T8), whereas, higher N content in stover and P content in seed were recorded under treatment T9 (50% N through castor cake + 50% N through vermicompost + PSB) and T10: RDF (20+40+00 kg ha-1 NPK through Fertilizer), respectively. Treatment T10 contributed to raise potassium content in seed, uptake of P and K by cowpea and available NPK in soil after harvest of crop.</div>

<h4>Effect of Organic Sources of Nitrogen on Soil Fertility of Cowpea&nbsp;[Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp]</h4>

<div>Background: Agroindustrial by-products of cocoa shell and jack fruit peels generally considered as organic waste have almost no economic value and create a big problem in disposal time. A significant amount of biocomposted cocoa shell and jack fruit peel waste is used as organic manure that enhances growth in Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. 
 
Methods: This research work was conducted in the period of 2019 in the Department of Botany, Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (India). A large amount of cocoa shell and jack fruit peel waste was used for the biocompost preparation using Pleurotus eous, Pleurotus florida spawns and Eudrilus eugeniae. After 90 days, biocompost were taken and sieved used as manure for plant study. Eight different treatments were carried out for the cultivation of Cowpea. Plant samples at various stages (25, 35 and 45 DAS) were analyzed for shoot and root length, number of leaves, flowers, nodules /plant, fresh weight and dry weight of plant. On 65th day yield parameters like number of pods/plant, length of the pod, number of seeds/pod, weight of seeds/pods, pod fresh weight and pod dry weight were analyzed.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The experimental results showed that the application T8 (Raw jackfruit peel + 10 g Pleurotus eous + 10 g Pleurotus florida + Eudrilus eugeniae 5 t/ha-1) recorded maximum root (20.63 cm, 32.73 cm and 39.23 cm), shoot length (70.73 cm, 167.50 cm and 175.83 cm), number of leaves/plant (26.46 cm, 33.53 cm and 37.50 cm), number of flowers/plant (12), number of nodules (14, 21.20 and 11.34), fresh weight (10.076 g, 12.146 g and 14.047 g) and dry weight (1.744 g, 1.854 g and 2.827 g) are closely followed by T4 (Raw cocoa shell+ 10 g Pleurotus eous + 10 g Pleurotus florida + Eudrilus eugeniae 5 t/ha-1). A significant increase in the yield parameters such as number of pods/plant (21), length of pod (16.50 cm), number of seeds/pod (20), weight of seed/pod (1.68 g), fresh weight (5.711 g) and dry weight of pod (2.398 g) was observed in treatment T8 as compared to the other treatments (T1, T2, T3, T5, T6 and T7) and control respectively.</div>

​Efficiency of Biocomposted Agroindustrial Wastes and Their Response in the Growth and Yield of&nbsp;Vigna unguiculata&nbsp;(L.) Walp

Background: Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] is a versatile legume crop valued for its high nutritional content, drought tolerance and dual-purpose use as food and fodder. Each region has unique conditions, including varying climates, soil types and pest pressures.&nbsp;Despite its potential, limited information is available on the performance of diverse genotypes under the agro-climatic conditions of eastern Uttar Pradesh. In the Varanasi region, where climatic variability and soil constraints often limit legume productivity, identifying high-yielding and well-adapted cowpea genotypes is essential to enhance crop productivity, resource-use efficiency and sustainability of the cropping systems. 
 
Methods: A field experiment was conducted during the Kharif season of 2021 and 2022 at the Agricultural Research Farm, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. Ten cowpea genotypes (PGCP-28, PGCP-63, PGCP-68, PGCP-69, PGCP-73, CP-6, CP-7, Kashi Kanchan, Pant Lobia-1 and Pant Lobia-5) were evaluated in a randomized block design with three replications. Data were recorded on various growth, yield and quality parameters and analysed using standard ANOVA procedures. 
 
Result: Significant differences were observed among genotypes for most traits. Genotype PGCP-68 exhibited superior performance with the highest grain yield (1648 kg/ha), number of branches per plant (18.8), pods per plant (13.6), seeds per pod (14.8), 100 seed weight (19.2 g) and protein content (26.8%). PGCP-68 also recorded the highest total dry matter (43.6 g/plant) and harvest index (56.3%). Based on these findings, PGCP-68 was identified as the most promising genotype for cultivation in the Varanasi region.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Genotypes Evaluation for Outperformed in Growth and Yield of Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] in Varanasi Region of Uttar Pradesh

<div>Background: Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata&nbsp;(L.) Walp.] is an important food legume in the drier region and an essential component of the tropics and subtropics for the cropping system. Heavy infestation of cowpea by root knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita led to early senescence of the crop. The experiment was carried out to determine the potential level and the extent of yield loss in cowpea due to root knot nematode.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: A pot culture study and a field experiment were conducted to determine pathogenic potential level of root knot nematode and to determine the yield loss in cowpea with various treatment of 10, 100, 1000 and 10000 freshly hatched juveniles.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The treatment with nematicide, Carbofuran 3G @ 3 kg a.i./ha, reduced the final nematode population i.e., 50.94% in soil, 46.12% on root and 46.51% decrease in root knot index. The present study revealed that 1000 J2/pot was the ETL level that reduced all the growth parameters of cowpea and avoidable yield loss of 15.78% was recorded in Ccowpea due to M. incognita.</div>

​Pathogenicity of Root Knot Nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) and its Effect on Yield of Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp]

<div>Background: Mutation breeding is one of the cheapest and surest method of plant breeding. In mutation breeding program effectiveness and efficiency of mutagens could be helpful to realize the spectrum of desirable mutations in the treated populations. The effectiveness and efficiency of two mutagens EMS and gamma rays were studied in two varieties of cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.)Walp.].&nbsp; 
 
Methods: In the present investigation, the seeds of two varieties of cowpea, phulepandhari and VCM-8 were treated with gamma rays and EMS to obtain the spectrum and frequency of chlorophyll mutations in M2 generation. Mutagenic effectiveness and efficiency were calculated using frequency of chlorophyll mutations. 
 
Result: The individual treatment of EMS was found to be more efficient than gamma rays to induce chlorophyll mutants. A progressive increase in mutation frequency of chlorophyll mutations was observed with increasing doses. Four different types of chlorophyll mutants, such as, chlorina albina, xantha and viridis were induced with effect of mutagens. The highest frequency of chlorophyll mutations was reported in the gamma rays. There was a dose dependent increase in the spectrum and frequency of chlorophyll mutations. The lower dosages of gamma rays and EMS were proved to be most effective and efficient. &nbsp;Among two mutagens used EMS was much more effective than gamma rays in both the varieties viz. &nbsp;variety phulepandhari and VCM-8.&nbsp;</div>

Effect of Various Intercrops on the Incidence of Major Sucking Insect Pests of Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (Linn.) Walp]

Phytopriming of Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper (Blackgram) Seeds using Aqueous Extracts of Moringa oleifera Lam, Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Walp and Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre Improves Seedling Emergence, Growth and Yield

Induction of salt stress tolerance in cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Genetic Variability, Correlation and Path Analysis in Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp]

Diversity of Insect Fauna Associated with Summer and Monsoon Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.]

Effect of Organic Sources of Nitrogen on Soil Fertility of Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp]

Effect of Organic Sources of Nitrogen on Soil Fertility of Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp]

Efficiency of Biocomposted Agroindustrial Wastes and Their Response in the Growth and Yield of Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp

Genotypes Evaluation for Outperformed in Growth and Yield of Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] in Varanasi Region of Uttar Pradesh

Pathogenicity of Root Knot Nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) and its Effect on Yield of Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp]

Mutagenic Effectiveness and Efficiency in [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] Variety Phule Phandari (PP) and VCM-8