Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute, Morogoro, Tanzania; Department of Crop Science and Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Chuo Kikuu, Morogoro, Tanzania; Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI), P.O.Box 1056, Morogoro, Tanzania
Swella, G.B., Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute, Morogoro, Tanzania, Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI), P.O.Box 1056, Morogoro, Tanzania; Mushobozy, D.M.K., Department of Crop Science and Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Chuo Kikuu, Morogoro, Tanzania
A laboratory experiment of a completely randomised design and replicated four times evaluated the effectiveness to control the bruchid, Callosobruchus maculatus in cowpea by the synthetic insecticide Actellic dust, and by the natural protectants ash, coconut oil, powdered cloves and black pepper. The data collected included the number of damaged and undamaged seeds, weight of damaged and undamaged seeds and the number of live and dead bruchids. Seeds treated with Actellic dust and black pepper powder had significantly low percentages of damaged seeds. Black pepper powder and coconut oil showed good potential in protecting cowpea against bruchid damage.