Effect of the Sudanese strain of peanut stunt virus on the growth, nodulation and yield of cowpea under field conditions

Abstract

The Sudanese strain of peanut stunt virus readily infected field-grown cowpea plants (cv. Hinateer) and caused leaf mottling, leaf deformation and stunting of the plants. The virus infection reduced several growth and yield parameters; shoot dry weight fell by 28.7%, root dry weight by 15.8%, nodule number by 22.6%, nodule weight by 50%, flower number by 59.1 %, pod number by 32.3%, seed production by 31.2% and yield per unit area by 10.8%. Moreover, the virus infection caused significant reduction in the growth of the cowpea plants throughout the growing season.