Reactions of five cowpea breeding lines to field infestation of roots- Knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.)

ABSTRACT

Reactions of five cowpea breeding lines (IT 90K-76, TVX —3236, IT97K-400-3, IT86D-17 and IT82F-16) to Root—knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp) was investigated in a naturally infested field. Plants were randomly sampled from each breeding line and observed for nodule, root galls, seed weight, fresh and dry shoot weight, Fresh and dry root weight, flowering days and percentage germination. The nematode population before planting and at harvest was also recorded. Data collection were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Results indicated absence of nematode in the roots and none function galled roots in all the lines. The result of the gall index Analysis showed that all the breeding lines had gall index of zero indicating immunity of the lines to the pathogen using gall index as indicator of plant damage. The cowpea lines reacted differently to the yield parameters measured. These breeding lines may be important to plant breeders interested in nematode resistance cowpea research.