NEMATODE MELOIDOGYNE INCOGNITA CHITWOOD INDUCED BIOTIC STRESS ON THE PHYTOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF MULBERRY LEAVES

Abstract

Root-knot diseased caused by nematode Meloidogyne incognita Chitwood cause considerable damage to the growth and development of plants and also reduced nutritive value of leaves especially in mulberry, which is the main food source of silkworm Bombyx mori L. The nutritional quality of the mulberry leaf has considerable effect on the silk worm cocoon crop yield. Hence, the present investigation was carried out to know the effect of root knot nematode on important phytochemicals of mulberry leaves infested with root knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita. After a careful study it was found that M. incognita induced biotic stress has effected considerable changes in biomolecule composition as well as vital enzymatic activity in mulberry leaf and also on the total qualitative yield of the leaf.