Influence of Seasonal Temperatures on Cowpea Aphid Aphis craccivora Koch, Infestation and its Reflection on Yield of some Faba Bean Varieties

Abstract

This study was conducted for three consecutive seasons 2013/14, 2014/15 and 2015/16 at Elmasakin island, Northern State of Sudan. Four faba bean varieties were evaluated viz, Giza 843, Luz De Otono, loca variety (Turkey) and SM-L. The study proved that the outbreak of Aphis cracccivora infestation was occurring occasionally depending to the temperatures raising. The daily maximum temperatures around 30Cº and the average daily temperatures around 25Cº during December, January and February were predispose the aphid infestation to increase. The Luz De Otono, Giza 843 and local variety (Turkey) were mostly seems preferred to the insect than SM-L variety. Results revealed that the heavy infestation significantly reduced the number of pods per plant and density of plant population according to the varieties. Moreover, the potential grain yield reduced by 68.8%, 63.2%, 32.3% and 18.8% for Otono, Giza 843, local variety and SM-L respectively