Effect of Planting Dates on Incidence of Legume Pod Borer (Maruca vitrata Geyer) on Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) Varieties in Samaru Kataf, Kaduna State

Field experiment was carried out during 2018 cropping season to evaluate the effect of planting dates on incidence of legume pod borer Maruca vitrata on cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) varieties. The treatments consist of five varieties of cowpea (local variety, SAMPEA 6, SAMPEA 7, SAMPEA 8 and SAMPEA 10) which were sown at three different dates, 7th (early), 24th (Mid) August and 7th (early) September, 2018. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) replicated three times. The number of M. vitrata larva on flowers, damaged pods and weight of grains were determined. The result showed that first sowing nearly August had less infestation by M. vitrata than those in mid August and differs significantly (P≤0.05) from those sown in September. All varieties sown in early and mid August had less M. vitrata infestation and produced higher grain yield of 533.33kg and 395.06 kg on SAMPEA 7 and SAMPEA 8, respectively compared to those sown in early September: 256.79 and 197.53 on SAMPEA 7 and SAMPEA 10, respectively. Local variety and SAMPEA 6 were the varieties with higher mean number of M. vitrata, higher pod damage and low grain yield. Therefore, SAMPEA 7 can be utilized in breeding program for the management of pod borer.