Bean bruchid research: Results of a SADC/CIAT regional sub-project

This paper presents some of the research results of a regional sub-project on bean bruchids that is jointly funded by SADC/CIAT and The Rockefeller Foundation. The research programme includes the following studies: i) survey of bean production and post-harvest practices by small scale farmers in Zimbabwe; ii) survey of bean bruchid species composition and distribution in Africa; iii) evaluation of selected traditional grain protection methods in laboratory and simulated storage trials; iv) preliminary agronomic evaluation of bruchid ressistant germplasm ('RAZ' lines); v) screening of RAZ lines for bruchid resistance; vi) bruchid species incidence and populations in the field; vii) infestations of stored pods with time in storage; viii) solar disinfestation of beans; ix) evalution of sorptive dust as a grain protectant; and x) competition interactions between Acanthoscelides obtectus and Zabrotes subfasciatus at different temperatures