Improved Environment by Identification of More Susceptible Plant Between Cowpea and Mulberry for Root-Knot Disease

Subhas Chandra Datta*

Received: May 20, 2019;   Published: May 29, 2019

DOI: 10.32474/OAJESS.2019.02.000148

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Abstract

The root-knot disease of mulberry (Morus alba L., Cv.‘S1’) caused by Meloidogyne incognita Kofoid & white, Chitwood is very wide spread affecting more than 80% plantation in different parts in India. This disease reduces plant growth, leaf-yield and leaf-protein content significantly. The use of chemical pesticides may achieve a measure of control of those mulberry diseases but there remain the problems. To move forward, it will require new and more efficient solutions, technologies and products. Our best endeavor is to focus on the Cowpea plants which may have important economic implications for sericulture in future. Cowpea (Vigna ungyculata L.) cv.5269 and mulberry were alternately grown together along a ring in a large circular vessel; M. incognita larvae (J2) were applied as an inoculum at the center of the ring so that all the plants were equidistant from the larvae. A control vessel containing the same plants without inoculation was maintained simultaneously. Plants were harvested 70 days after inoculation. Of the two plant species; Cowpea received maximum infection in terms of root- gall number, root protein content, and nematode population in root and plant growth parameters. Thus, Cowpea could serve as highly effective cover crop protecting mulberry from invading larvae. This way Cowpea could serve as highly effective Climate Friendly Catch Crop protecting other crops from invading larvae and increase soil fertility. The farmers would be benefited double; by controlling root-knot nematodes in the naturally infected sericulture field and by buying and selling the cowpea fruits regularly from the intercropped sericulture field by enriching soil nitrogen and improve environments also. Intercropped cowpea also improves the plant growth by effectively which directly increase photosynthesis rate and significantly reduce CO2 in the environment and it would not only be easier way, easily available, cheap but also conserve our biodiversity which will contribute towards “Global Green, Growth and Green Economy i.e. Sustainable Climate, Health and Development by controlling root-knot diseases which is sometime devastating to all kinds of natural and artificial vegetation”.

Keywords: Mulberry; Meloidogyne incognita; Cowpea; Inoculums; Cover crops

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