ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Efficiency of Foliar Fertilizers and Growth
Regulators on Cowpea Productivity and Control
of Cowpea Weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus
(Coleoptera: Bruchidae)
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1
Pesticides Chemistry and Toxicology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University,
Kafrelsheikh 33516, Egypt
2
Stored Products Pests Department, Sakha Station, Plant Protection Research Institute,
Agricultural Research Centre, Giza, Egypt
3
EPCRS Excellence Center, Plant Pathology and Biotechnology Lab., Faculty of Agriculture,
Kafrelsheikh University, 33516, Egypt
4
Social Studies Department, College of Arts, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia
Submission date: 2023-04-16
Final revision date: 2023-05-31
Acceptance date: 2023-06-10
Online publication date: 2023-07-24
Publication date: 2023-09-08
Corresponding author
Ahmed Hassan Abdou
Social Studies Department, College of Arts, King Faisal University,, Saudi Arabia
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2023;32(5):4607-4615
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ABSTRACT
Cowpea, Vigna unguiculata, is an important food and forage legume worldwide. The cowpea
weevil is a major cowpea pest that causes damage both in the field and during storage. This study
investigated the effects of some foliar treatments, including three foliar fertilizers (Ca, K, B) and two
growth regulators (mepiquat chloride (MC) and forchlorfenuron (CPPU) on the cowpea yield and its
components. Furthermore, evaluating the susceptibility and resistance of cowpea seeds resulting from
the previous treatments against the C. maculatus insect. The results showed that all foliar sprays had
significant effects on yield and its components in both seasons compared with the control. The highest
yield was achieved by CPPU treatment, followed by K treatment, and the lowest yield was achieved by
MC treatment. The results of the free-choice and no-choice tests revealed that cowpea seeds treated
with MC treatment were the most susceptible to C. maculatus attack. At the same time, cowpea seeds
treated with K and CPPU treatments showed their resistance to infestation by the same insect. Foliar
application of K and CPPU treatments could be used in integrated pest management programs to reduce
the risk of pesticides to human health and increase crop production.