Evaluation of Yield Losses Caused by Cowpea Aphid-borne mosaic virus (CABMV) in 21 Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) Varieties in Burkina Faso

This study aims to assess the susceptibility of 21 cowpea varieties against Cowpea Aphid-Borne Mosaic Virus (CABMV) and to assess the yield losses caused by this virus. This context trial was conducted in INERA research stations at Kamboinse and Farako-Ba in 2012 and 2013. There were 21 varieties used for this study. The experimental design used is a split-plot with 4 repetitions for which the first 2 repetitions were inoculated with the CABMV. Symptoms caused by the CABMV on the 21 varieties of cowpea were of great diversity. The assessment of the virus in infected plant samples from these varieties by ELISA test allowed detecting the mosaic virus in all samples that presented mosaic symptoms. The number of flowers and pods are strongly varied depending on the type of plant and variety. Yields from different varieties, comprised between 187 kg ha super( -1) and 6250 kg ha super( -1) and were influenced by site, year, variety and type of plant. Yield losses were ranged from 3%-64% depending on the variety.