BIOCHEMICAL SCREENING OF DIFFERENT Arachis hypogea L. (Angiosperms: Fabaceae) CULTIVARS AGAINST Fusarium WILT

Fusarium wilt, a disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum which is considered as a most deliberate pathogen of Arachis hypogea, a staple food crop for human being and livestock. In the present study, ten cultivars of Arachis hypogea (GG20, GG7, J11, M13, Somnath, Gangapuri, BAU13, RJ382, RJ510, and RJ578) were screened against Fusarium oxysporum in vitro by incorporating fungal isolate procured from the pure culture medium to promote disease incidence, during April 2014 to July 2014. The optimum temperature for plant development was maintained around 26°C to 31°C. On the basis of growth parameters, protein, chlorophyll, polyphenol and proline contents were examined to make a correlation. Due to inoculation by Fusarium oxysporum the growth parameters viz., shoot and root lengths, fresh and dry weights, leaf area, shoot moisture and shoot inhibition were significantly increased in RJ510. Out of ten varieties of Arachis hypogea, RJ510 was found highly resistant while RJ382 was the most susceptible. A productive correlation was obtained among diverse growth and biochemical factors towards the ability of cultivar’s resistance against infection. The selected cultivars were ranked with respect to their tolerance to pathogen infection, as RJ510> RJ578> GG20> Gangapuri> Somnath> J11> BAU13> M13> GG7> RJ382.