Vol. 10, Issue 9 (2021)

Author(s):
Nitika Kumari, AK Meena, Vinay Kumar Kardam, Suresh Kumawat and Vijay Shree Gahlot

Abstract:
Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) also known as ‘vegetable meat’ is an important pulse crop. It is affected by several fungal, bacterial and viral diseases but charcoal rot of cowpea incited by Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid. is emerging as a severe problem in arid regions of Rajasthan (India). Various biochemical changes in host plants are observed before and after the incidence of disease. The total sugar, reducing sugar, non reducing sugar and soluble protein were higher in healthy roots as compared to diseased roots in all the tested varieties i.e., RCP-27, C-152 and RC-19. Maximum reduction in total sugar and non reducing sugar was found in RCP-27 followed by C-152, while maximum reduction in reducing sugars was found in C-152 and soluble proteins in RC-19. Total phenol content was higher in diseased roots as compared to healthy tissues of all the tested varieties. Maximum increase in total phenol was observed in diseased roots of RC-19 followed by C-152.