COWPEA (Asparagus bean, Yard long bean

(Vigna  unguiculata (L.) Walp.) Syn.V.sinensis (L.)

Savi.ex Hassk., V. catjang (Burm. f.) Walp.,

V. cylindrica (L.) Skeels., V. sesquipedalis Fruhw.)

I. Application and Amplification of General Seed Certification Standards

The General Seed Certification Standards are basic and together with the following specific standards constitute the standards for certification of cowpea seed.

II. Land requirements

Land to be used for seed production of  cowpea shall be free from volunteer plants.

III. Field Inspection

A minimum of two inspections shall be made, the first during flowering and the second at maturity and prior to harvesting. 

IV. Field Standards

A. General requirements

1. Isolation

Cowpea  seed fields shall be isolated from the contaminants shown in the column 1 of the Table below by the distances specified in columns 2 and 3 of the said Table:

        Contaminants                                                                                   Minimum distance (meters)

                                                                                                                Foundation        Certified

            1                                                                                                         2                     3

Fields of other varieties                                                                                   10                    5

Fields of the same variety not conforming to the

varietal purity requirements for certification                                                       10                    5

B. Specific requirements

        Factor                                                                                              Maximum permitted (%)*

                                                                                                                Foundation            Certified

      Offtypes                                                                                               0.10                    0.20

**  Plants affected by seed borne diseases                                                  0.10                    0.20

*Maximum permitted at final inspection.

** Seed borne diseases are:

Ashy stem blight (Macrophomina phaseoli (Maub.) Ashby)

Anthracnose (Colletotrichum lindemuthianum (Sacc. & Magn.)(Br. & Cav.)

Ascochyta (Ascochyta spp.) blight (for hill areas only) cowpea mosaic

V. Seed standards

        Factor                                                                                              Standards for each class

                                                                                                                Foundation            Certified

Pure seed (minimum)                                                                                98.0%                    98.0%

Inert matter (maximum)                                                                             2.0%                       2.0%

Other crop seeds (maximum)                                                                   None                       10/kg

Weed seeds (maximum)                                                                          None                      10/kg

Other distinguishable varieties (maximum)                                                  5/kg                      10/kg

Germination including hard seeds (minimum)                                              75%                         75%

Moisture (maximum)                                                                                 9.0%                       9.0%

For vapour-proof containers (maximum)                                                    8.0%                        8.0%