Effects of Moroccan Watermelon Mosaic Virus (MWMV) on Growth, Some Elemental and Phytochemical Composition of the Leaf of Cucumeropsis edulis Naudin
Akpainyang, N. U.
ABSTRACT
Effects of Moroccan watermelon mosaic virus (MWMV) on Growth, Some Elemental and Phytochemical Composition of the Leaf of Cucumeropsis edulis Naudin were carried out. Test plants arranged in complete randomized designed were mechanically inoculated at 8 days except the control. Two months post inoculation, infected and healthy plants were harvested and studied for growth parameters using graphical method, weighing and linear measurements. The elemental contents of both infected and uninfected plants were evaluated using standard methods proposed by Association of Official Analytical Chemists. Phytochemical tests were performed on the plant extracts following standard procedures. The results showed that MWMV caused significant reductions (P<0.05) in all the growth parameters of Cucumeropsis edulis with mean shoot height and dry leaf weight being 52.82 ± 6.15 cm and 0.40 ± 0.31 g in infected sample compared to the corresponding healthy values of 75.00 ± 13.24 cm and 1.23 ± 1.00 g obtained for the control. All the elemental contents of MWMV – infected plant were significantly (P<0.05) reduced with zinc having the least mean value of 0.08 ± 0.21 mg/100 g while uninfected sample had 1.83 ± 0.00 mg/100 g. The phytochemical results of the crude extracts of C. edulis revealed the presence of alkaloid, flavonoid, saponin, tannin and terpene, all in varying concentrations in both the infected and healthy plant samples. There is need to control the spread of this virus through phytosanitational measure, use of resistant variety and effective quarantine services. This will provide food security and poverty alleviation.
Keywords: Cucumeropsis edulis, Virus, Growth, Elemental and Phytochemical Composition.
