Association of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) (var. Ife Brown) with Colletotrichum destructivum O’Gara: A special reference to nutrients lost by the host

Abstract

Abstract. Enyiukwu DN, Nwaogu GA, Bassey IN. 2020. Association of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) (var. Ife Brown) with Colletotrichum destructivum O'Gara: A special reference to nutrients lost by the host. Cell Biol Dev 4: 41-46. Cowpea or southern pea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) is an important African grain and leafy vegetable. Anthracnose caused by C. destructivum represents a major biotic drawback to the profitable production of cowpeas in the incontinent. The disease culminates in the loss of grain yield, produce quality, and nutritional values of the crop. This work assessed and quantified the nutrients lost from the aerial organs of cowpea (var. Ife Brown) challenged by anthracnose disease in the field and storage 4 weeks after inoculation (WAI) by classical and spectrometric analyses. The results showed that the disease affected the nutrient contents of the inoculated crop's aerial organs, decreasing the mean quantities of all proximate constituents and major mineral nutrients such as calcium and phosphorus in the test plant materials. Amongst the aerial organs, fat was the most depleted nutrient (36.30%), followed by protein (28.52%), carbohydrate (26.67%), and crude fiber, with 20.04%, was the least. Generally, the highest mean loss of proximate nutrients due to anthracnose disease per organ of the test crop of 27.97% was recorded in the leaf sample, followed by 22.13% in the seeds and 18.03% in the husks was the least. Similarly, the highest mean mineral loss of 42.63 mg 100 g-1 occurred in the husks, followed by the stem (26.14 mg 100 g-1), while the seed recording (15.41 mg 100 g-1) was the least. Controlling this important fungal disease of the crop will undoubtedly result in better leaf, grain, and haulm quality, which will rub off as improved farm economy and public health in the continent.