Resistance to Blackeye cowpea mosaic virus in Cowpea Germplasm Collections from Andhra Pradesh

摘要

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp, is an important Kharif pulse crop with high protein (23-24%), carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins. Grown on about 0.5m ha, the major area is concentrated in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Cowpeas are susceptible to a wide range of pests and pathogens (Allen, 1983). The seed-borne Blackeye cowpea mosaic virus (BICMV) tends to cause severe yield losses ranging from 87 to 100% under natural conditions (Kaiser and Mossahebi, 1975; Owolabi et al,1988) and 32 to 96% under artificial inoculation depending upon the growth stage (Putturaju et al., 2004). The Regional Station of the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, at Hyderabad with the mandate of collection, characterization and evaluation of plant genetic resources, has a sample of 172 accessions collected from 19 districts of the Telangana, Rayalaseema and Coastal regions of Andhra Pradesh. Field evaluation of these 172 accessions during Kharif 2005 in the experimental fields at NBPGR, Regional Station, Hyderabad, showed severe symptoms of BICMV.