Essential oil optimizes the susceptibility of Callosobruchus maculatus and enhances the nutritional qualities of stored cowpea Vigna unguiculata

The intensive use of synthetic pesticides in cowpea storage has led to the development of resistance by Callosobruchus maculatus and subsequent degradation of the grains quality. In an attempt to circumvent these constraints, we investigated the susceptibility of C. maculatus to 2, 3-Dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate (DDVP) and Lippia adoensis essential oil (EO) and then assessed the variations in the proportions of nutritional values of treated grains 150 days after storage. The survival rate was recorded after 5 generations. The resistance index and biochemical parameters of grains were determined according to previously described techniques. The survival rate (SR) and resistance index (RI50 and RI95) significantly increased in DDVP treatments (r=0.889; p=0.018) proportionally with damage whereas in EO treatments, those values remained lower although showed a slight but not significant variations (p=0.0764) throughout generations. DDVP stored grains yielded higher crude protein values,...