Study of Selected Biochemical and Physiological Changes Among the Infected by Root Knot Nematode and Healthy Plants of Bitter Gourd in Four Localities at Muzaffarpur

Abstract

Plants have developed certain mechanisms to protect themselves from the pathogens. This pathogen after infection destroys or disturbs the synthesis of such chemicals. Among the resistant species these are not affected but in sensitive they are influenced by this pathogen. Present study was aimed to analyse the chlorophyll contents of the leaves, the sugars of the roots & stem, the phenylalanine ammonia lysate and peroxidase activities among the healthy and infected by root knot disease causing nematode, Meloidogyne incognita. It was noted that both chlorophyll-a and b, were influenced in the infected plants. Further maximum percentage of decrease in chlorophyll-a was found among the infected plants collected from Krishnapuri area, while maximum chlorophyll-b decreased among the plants collected from Professor Colony of the town. It was further observed that the sugar contents increased it he roots, while it decreased among the shoots. Maximum decrease-60.77 was noted among the plants collected from Krishnapuri area, while it was minimum among the plants collected form Professor Colony (-48.45). Activity of phenylalanine ammonia lyaste revealed maximum gain 48.95 among the plants collected form Nayatola area, where as it was the minimum 21.83 among the plants collected from Krishnapuri. Peroxidase enzyme activity was also studied. Here maximum increase 45.41% was noted among the infected plants collected form Krishnapuri, followed by 43.23% among the plants collected from Professor Colony.