ABSTRACT 

Pieces of sterilized infected cowpea leaves were cultured in a PDA.

Pathogenicity was carried out on the isolates to identify the pathogens.

The pathogenic organisms were identified as Colletotrichurn species and

Colletotrichuni capsici.In Nigeria and other West African countries, the most grown and

eaten legume is cowpea (Vigna Unguiculata) and is mainly cultivated in

the northern states of Nigeria. In the more humid areas of the south, its

production is limited by the attack of numerous pests and diseases

(Rachie and Rawal, 1975).

Africa is the origin of cowpea and several varieties and wild

species exist in this part of the world Haran and de Wet, 1971; IITA,

1972; Goodman, 1974).

Cowpea is the second grain legume cultivated as important pulse

after pigeon pea. It is utilized directly for subsistence in the lowland

tropics (IlTA, 1976). It is also important for fixing atmospheric nitrogen

in soil, green manuring, supplying of food and feed, for protein supply

and malnutrition remedy (IFPRI, 1982). The enrichment of the soil

nitrogen by legumes is through the nodules. Examples of legumes

mainly used in this way include pigeon pea, hyacinth bean and cowpea

and these crops are extensively used in Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Malawi

and results obtained proved to be superior to natural fallow of the same

duration (Marc Borget, 1992).