Growth and Biocentration Studies of Phytochemical and Leaf Chlorophyll Composition of Manihot esculenta Crant Infected with African Cassava Mosaic Disease (ACMD)
*1Uboh, D. G., 2Sam, S. M., 1Edet, E. A. & 3Bassey, I. N.
1Department of Science Technology, Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua,
2Department of Biological Sciences, Akwa Ibom State University, Ikot Akpaden,
3Department of Botany and Ecological Studies, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria
Email: ubohdg@yahoo.com
*Corresponding Author
ABSTRACT
Mostly grown as a food source in Africa, cassava is the third largest source of carbohydrates in the world and it is considered as a staple food in most African countries. Despite its enormous potentials, African cassava mosaic disease (ACMD) has been causing yield losses in this plant mostly for particular varieties under specific conditions. On the basis of this, it became necessary to probe more into the effects of ACMD on growth and biocentrations of phytochemical and leaf chlorophyll pigments of M. esculenta. Test plants were sourced and propagated in a completely randomized design method. Three months post cultivation the diseased and healthy plants were harvested and studied for growth performance using graphical method, weighing and linear measurements. The phytochemicals of both infected and uninfected plants were determined using standard methods as proposed by Association of Official Analytical Chemist whereas the chlorophyll pigments were evaluated by spectrophotometer. The results revealed that ACMD caused significant reductions (P<0.05) in all the growth parameters of M. esculenta when compared with healthy sample. The mean shoot height of 12.71 ± 0.31 cm was obtained in the diseased sample whereas the healthy sample had 28.0 ± 2.11 cm respectively. There were significant (P<0.05) increases and decreases in the amounts of phytochemicals following ACMD infection of M. esculenta. All the chlorophyll pigments measured were significantly reduced in ACMD infected plants. There is need to control the spread of ACMD through the use of resistant varieties and adoption of effective agronomic practice in all cassava growing regions.
