Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.)
TL;DR: Development of cultivars with multiple resistances to biotic and abiotic stresses is an important current breeding objective and Earliness, delayed leaf senescence, and indeterminate growth habit are characteristics which are being combined to improve drought adaptation.
About: This article is published in Field Crops Research.The article was published on 1997-07-01. It has received 621 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: Maruca & Callosobruchus maculatus.
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TL;DR: In this paper, the responses of photosynthetic gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence along with changes in carbohydrate and proline levels were studied in cowpea during water stress and recovery.
493 citations
TL;DR: This review attempts to discuss all aspects of allelopathy for the sustainable management of weeds.
Abstract: Weeds are known to cause enormous losses due to their interference in agroecosystems. Because of environmental and human health concerns, worldwide efforts are being made to reduce the heavy reliance on synthetic herbicides that are used to control weeds. In this regard the phenomenon of allelopathy, which is expressed through the release of chemicals by a plant, has been suggested to be one of the possible alternatives for achieving sustainable weed management. The use of allelopathy for controlling weeds could be either through directly utilizing natural allelopathic interactions, particularly of crop plants, or by using allelochemicals as natural herbicides. In the former case, a number of crop plants with allelopathic potential can be used as cover, smother, and green manure crops for managing weeds by making desired manipulations in the cultural practices and cropping patterns. These can be suitably rotated or intercropped with main crops to manage the target weeds (including parasitic ones) selectively. Even the crop mulch/residues can also give desirable benefits. Not only the terrestrial weeds, even allelopathy can be suitably manipulated for the management of aquatic weeds. The allelochemicals present in the higher plants as well as in the microbes can be directly used for weed management on the pattern of herbicides. Their bioefficacy can be enhanced by structural changes or the synthesis of chemical analogues based on them. Further, in order to enhance the potential of allelopathic crops, several improvements can be made with the use of biotechnology or genomics and proteomics. In this context either the production of allelochemicals can be enhanced or the transgenics with foreign genes encoding for a particular weed-suppressing allelochemical could be produced. In the former, both conventional breeding and molecular genetical techniques are useful. However, with conventional breeding being slow and difficult, more emphasis is laid on the use of modern techniques such as molecular markers and the selection aided by them. Although the progress in this regard is slow, nevertheless some promising results are coming and more are expected in future. This review attempts to discuss all these aspects of allelopathy for the sustainable management of weeds.
420 citations
TL;DR: Sodic and saline-sodic soils occur within the boundaries of at least 75 countries, and their extent has increased steadily in several major irrigation schemes throughout the world as mentioned in this paper. But the use of these soils for crop production is on the increase as they are a valuable resource that cannot be neglected, especially in areas where significant investments have already been made in irrigation infrastructure.
Abstract: Sodicity-induced soil degradation is a major environmental constraint with
severe negative impacts on agricultural productivity and sustainability in arid
and semiarid regions. As an important category of salt-affected soils, sodic soils
are characterized by excess levels of sodium ions (Naþ) in the soil solution
phase as well as on the cation exchange complex, exhibiting unique structural
problems as a result of certain physical processes (slaking, swelling, and
dispersion of clay) and specific conditions (surface crusting and hardsetting).
Saline-sodic soils, another category of salt-affected soils, are generally grouped
with sodic soils because of several common properties and management
approaches. Sodic and saline-sodic soils occur within the boundaries of at
least 75 countries, and their extent has increased steadily in several major
irrigation schemes throughout the world. The use of these soils for crop
production is on the increase as they are a valuable resource that cannot be neglected, especially in areas where significant investments have already been
made in irrigation infrastructure. It is imperative to find ways to improve sodic
and saline-sodic soils to ensure that they are able to support highly productive
land-use systems to meet the challenges of global food security.
392 citations
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture1, International Fertilizer Development Center2, Wageningen University and Research Centre3, Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement4, Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária5, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center6, Food and Agriculture Organization7
TL;DR: In this paper, a case study from Kenya clearly demonstrates how fertilizer increases maize stover productivity above thresholds for minimal initial soil cover required for initiating conservation agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa.
294 citations
TL;DR: Changes in oligosaccharides, trypsin inhibitor, phytic acid and tannins were monitored during the pretreatments, fermentation with Rhizopus oligosporus and processing into tempe, an Indonesian-type fermented food that is beneficial especially in infant feeding based on cereal and legume-based foods.
262 citations
References
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Book•
01 Nov 1985
TL;DR: The most inspiring book today from a very professional writer in the world, cowpea research production and utilization, is welcomed.
Abstract: Now welcome, the most inspiring book today from a very professional writer in the world, cowpea research production and utilization. This is the book that many people in the world waiting for to publish. After the announced of this book, the book lovers are really curious to see how this book is actually. Are you one of them? That's very proper. You may not be regret now to seek for this book to read.
382 citations
Book•
01 Jan 1997
TL;DR: Advances in cowpea research, Advances in animal research, advances in cow pea research as mentioned in this paper, advances in cattle research, and advances in animal agriculture, using cowpeas.
Abstract: Advances in cowpea research , Advances in cowpea research , مرکز فناوری اطلاعات و اطلاع رسانی کشاورزی
381 citations
TL;DR: It is concluded that use of recently derived knowledge in a systematic manner can lead to significant gains in yield and yield stability of the world's major grain legumes, as they are mainly grown (and will continue to be grown) under rain-fed conditions.
Abstract: This review distills recent information on drought resistance characteristics of grain legumes with a view toward developing appropriate genetic enhancement strategies for water-limited environments. First, the possible adaptations that allow grain legumes to better cope with drought stress are summarized. It is suggested that there are considerable gains to be made in increasing yield and yield stability in environments characterized by terminal drought stress by further exploiting drought escape, by shortening crop duration. Many traits conferring dehydration avoidance and dehydration tolerance are available, but integrated traits, expressing at a higher level of organization, are suggested to be more useful in crop improvement programs. Possible genetic improvement strategies are outlined, ranging from empirical selection for yield in droughted environments to a physiological genetic approach. It is suggested that in view of recent advances in understanding drought resistance mechanisms, the latter strategy is becoming more feasible. It is concluded that use of this recently derived knowledge in a systematic manner can lead to significant gains in yield and yield stability of the world's major grain legumes, as they are mainly grown (and will continue to be grown) under rain-fed conditions.
318 citations
Book Chapter•
01 Jan 1997
TL;DR: Cowpea is an important grain legume throughout the tropics and subtropics, covering Asia, Africa, and Central and South America, as well as parts of southern Europe and the United States of America, and a range of varieties has been developed, combining diverse plant type and maturity with resistance to several diseases, insect pests, and parasitic weeds.
Abstract: Cowpea is an important grain legume throughout the tropics and subtropics, covering Asia, Africa, and Central and South America, as well as parts oi" southern Europe and the United States of America. The use patterns, seed preferences, and cropping systems vary from region to region. Insect pests, diseases, nematodes, parasiticweeds, and drought are major production constraints. Early maturity is preferred everywhere so that cowpeas can be grown in the niches of cereal-based cropping systems, but mediumand late-maturing varieties, with and without photosensitivity. are also required in some regions, to suit the prevalent cropping systems and meet grain and fodder needs. Considerable progress has been made during the past decade in cowpea breeding, and a range of varieties has been developed, combining diverse plant type and maturity with resistance to several diseases, insect pests, and parasitic weeds. Improved varieties have also been developed for grain and fodder and for intercropping with maize, cassava, yam. mil le t , and sorghum for the benefit of smallholder farmers who practice intercropping and use little or no inputs. Introduction Cowpea. Vigna iingiiicidaia [L.] Walp., is an important food legume and a versatile crop cultivated between 35 °N to 30 °S of the equator, covering Asia and Oceania, the Middle East, southern Europe, Africa, southern USA, and Central and South America (Fery 1985, 1990; Mishra el al. 1985; Singh and N'tare 1985; Watt et al. 1985; Heij 1987; Hadjichristodoulou 1991a,b; Perrino et al. 1992, 1993). However, being a drought-tolerant crop with better growth in warm climates, cowpea is most popular in the semiarid regions of the tropics, where other food legumes do not perform as well. Cowpea has the unique ability to fix nitrogen even in very poor soils (pH range 4.5-9.0, organic matter < 0.2%, and a sand content of > 85%). Also, it is shade-tolerant and, therefore, compatible as an intercrop with a number of cereals and root crops, as well as with cotton, sugarcane, and several plantation crops. Coupled with these attributes, its quick growth and rapid ground cover have made cowpea an essential component of sustainable subsistence agriculture in marginal lands and drier regions of the tropics, where rainfall is scanty and soils are sandy with little organic matter. At the same time, if early-maturing erect/semi-erect varieties are grown as a pure crop with required inputs, cowpea has the potential of yielding as high as cereals on a productivity per day basis (Singh and Sharma 1996). 1. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). Kano Station, Sabo Bakin Zuwo Road. PMB 3112. Kano. Nigeria. 2. Department of Horticulture. 301 Funchess Hall, South College Street. Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA. 3. Indian Agricultural Research Institute. Pusa, New Delhi 110012, India.
275 citations
Book•
15 Feb 2014
TL;DR: An invaluable reference reviewing research into commercial legume crops throughout the world, topics covered include: diversity, adaptation and yield.
Abstract: An invaluable reference reviewing research into commercial legume crops throughout the world. Topics covered include: diversity, adaptation and yield; nitrogen metabolism and plant nutrition; biochemistry and nutritional factors; pests, diseases, resistance and breeding; and fodder, forage and cover legumes.
269 citations