Nutritional status and biochemical alterations in cowpea roots infected by reniform nematode, Rotylenchulus reniformis

The nutritional status and biochemical changes in cowpea cv. Pusa Komal inoculated with reniform nematode, Rotyleuchulus reniformis were investigated. Among various amino acids detected, ten were common in both healthy and infected plants; and four: L-glutamine, L-serine, L-proline and L-phenylalanine were present only in infestd cowpea. The results indicated elevated levels of various amino acids and amides in diseased tissues than in the healthy ones, except L-methionine. An increased percentage of total sugar, crude protein, nitrogen, potassium, calcium and magnesium content was observed in inoculated samples. The contents of chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-b, total chlorophyll, phosphorus, sulphur and micro-nutrients viz. Cu, Zn, Mn, Fc, B and Mo were lower in diseased samples in comparison to healthy counterparts.