Explore key facts about managing cowpea wilt, focusing on symptoms, causes, prevention, and control for healthier yields. Boost your understanding of science-based practices to protect your crops.
Which of the following symptoms most strongly indicates the presence of wilt disease in cowpea plants?
Explanation: Sudden yellowing and wilting are classic wilt symptoms caused by pathogens blocking water movement within cowpea plants. White powdery spots are typical of powdery mildew, uneven pod maturation generally indicates poor nutrient management, and chewed leaf margins are a sign of insect damage, not wilt.
Which pathogen is most commonly responsible for vascular wilt in cowpea crops?
Explanation: Fusarium oxysporum is the most frequent cause of vascular wilt in cowpeas; it invades and blocks xylem vessels. Rhizobium phaseoli is beneficial for nitrogen fixation, aphids are insect pests but not wilt pathogens, and Trichoderma harzianum is a biocontrol agent rather than a causal pathogen.
How does rotating cowpea with non-legume crops help manage wilt disease risk?
Explanation: Rotating with non-legumes interrupts the life cycle of wilt pathogens, reducing their population in the soil. While it has indirect yield and soil health benefits, it does not directly improve yield, increase pollinators, or change pod color in a single season.
Which type of chemical treatment is most appropriate for managing fungal wilt in cowpeas?
Explanation: Systemic fungicides can move within the plant's tissues and target internal fungal infections, making them suitable for fungal wilt. Insect growth regulators target insects, leaf fertilizers add nutrients, and herbicides control weeds, none of which directly address wilt pathogens.
Why is planting wilt-resistant cowpea varieties considered an effective preventive measure?
Explanation: Wilt-resistant varieties possess genetic traits that reduce the ability of pathogens to infect or multiply within the plant. They do not guarantee bigger pods, do not eliminate the need for water, and do not repel insects; their primary benefit is disease resistance.