| Sumario: | The effect of host plant resistance on growth and developmental parameters of the bean flower thrips Megalurothrips sjostedti Trybom was determined on nine cowpea (Vigna unguiculata {L.}Walp.) cultivars under laboratory conditions. Newly emerged adults M. sjostedti were confined on peduncles with floral buds of the different cowpea cultivars. M. sjostedti suffered 100% pre-imaginal mortality on cowpea lines Moussa local, TVu1509, TVx3236, Sewe and Sanzibanili. Antibiosis is believed to be the mechanism of resistance operating in these cultivars. On KVx404-8-1, M. sjostedti had a prolonged developmental period though not significantly different from Vita 7, the susceptible check at P<0.01. IT91K-180 supported the development and survival of M. sjostedti with the suitability index (growth index) not significantly different from the susceptible check (Vita 7) at P<0.01. Hence the mechanism of its resistance is tolerance.
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