Pantnagar Journal of Research

Abstract

Vigna vexillata, a wild species closely related to the cultivated cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp), is used for its storage tuber like roots, protein-rich seed, forage and control of soil erosion. The stunted, chlorotic and wilted patches of V. vexillata were found at ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi, India. The soil and root samples were collected with standard procedure to observe for nematode infestation. The severe infestation of root-knot nematode (RKN), Meloidogyne incognita was observed as roots of the infected plants were heavily galled with an average galling index of 4.3 (3.0-5.0). The soil population of J2 was also recorded well above the economic threshold level. The heavy root galling and presence of an extremely high population of J2 in soil (484-879 J2/ 200cc soil) indicates that M. incognita can be a potentially damaging pest to V. vexillata and can serve as a source of infestation to other hosts to be planted in same field. The present findings will awake the V. vexillata growers to consider growing V. vexillata under proper sanitation conditions. Soil samples from the proposed planting site should always be tested for the presence of nematode well before planting.