COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF COLD AND CONTAINER STORAGE PRESERVATION EFFICIENCIES ON COWPEA GRAINS AGAINST CALLOSOBRUCHUS MACULATUS FAB.

Abstract

The need for efficient storage of cowpea grains against post-harvest loss by Callosobruchus maculatus has led subsistent farmers to adopt different storage methods. The methods adopted are influenced by cost, simplicity and availability of materials. The use of cold storage and containers amongst the adopted techniques are evaluated for their efficiency in this study. Twenty-five insects were introduced into 100 seed samples of four susceptible genotypes and stored in -20_C, 10_C, plastic, nylon, tin and earthen pot. The Cold treatment, duration of treatment and their interactions significantly affect insect activeness, reduction and mortality while container treatments significantly affect seed damage and insect emergence observed. However, the cold storage at -20_C was most effective affecting both oviposition and physiology of the insect pest. Although, none of the container storage was able to limit the insect oviposition, storage efficiencies varied among evaluated technologies with the use of plastic containers being most efficient.