EFFECT OF CROSSING BETWEEN TWO GENETICALLY DISTANT STRAINS OF CALLOSOBRUCHUS MACULATUS ON THEIR BIODEMOGRAPHIC PARAMETERS

The effect of gene flow on fecundity was negligible: 57 eggs per female, with non-significant differences.However, over 90% of eggs are laid during the first four days of female life, with a peak on the second day. Egg fertility was increased by cross-breeding (reaching 60%). Larval survival rates are relatively unchanged (around 78%), while emergence rates (around 65%) are higher than controls. The sex ratio is in favor of females following crossbreeding. The total duration of the development cycle was not significantly affected for Fouta seeds, at around 30 days. For Barkedji seeds, on the other hand, there was a significant reduction in total cycle length between the controls (batch 3) and crossbreeding batch 1. Ultimately, this study has enabled us to understand, through crossbreeding tests, the evolutionary processes of biodemographic parameters. The latter are influenced by strain genetics, geographical origin and substrate type.