Abstract
Abstract The evaluation of greenhouse and field screening methods for the identification of resistance to bacterial blight (Xanthomonas vignicola Burkh.) amongst germplasm and breeding lines of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata(L.) Walp.) is described. A stem injection technique and a leaf infiltration method were found reliable under greenhouse conditions while foliar spray inoculation was appropriate for use in both greenhouse and field experiments. A seed inoculation technique for evaluating seedling mortality may prove useful although only one susceptible cowpea accession was used in this study. Since distinct syndromes of bacterial blight (seedling mortality, stem canker and foliar blight) are recognised, it may be advantageous to adopt a different inoculation method for each syndrome to establish the relationship between the resistance of different plant parts within cowpea genotypes. Results confirm the existence of at least two distinct mechanisms of resistance to bacterial blight in cowpea. Hypersensitive resistance was clearly demonstrated in the accession TVu 410 by the leaf injection infiltration method; VITA 3 was shown to possess a field resistance, expressed as reduced and delayed disease development. The probable stability of these mechanisms is discussed with regard to their suitability as breeding objectives.
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