Screening of cultivars/genotypes for anthracnose resistance and estimation of biochemical factors of resistance in bitter gourd (Momordica charantia)

Abstract

Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) also known as Balsam pear or bitter melon is one of the most important vegetable crop grown in India including Konkan region of Maharashtra. Among various diseases of bitter gourd anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum lagenarium is the most destructive disease of bitter gourd. Screening of fifteen promising genotypes against anthracnose disease under field condition revealed that, Co-Long, PBIG-1, RHRBG-5, DVBTG-1, Hirakani, PBIG-3 and ARBTH-1 showed moderate resistance, PBIG-2, Konkan Tara, Preeti, BG-2, BG-1 and Co-1 were susceptible while only one variety RHRBG-4-1 showed high susceptibility. The biochemical studies revealed that chlorophyll ‘a’, ‘b’ and total chlorophyll were present in higher amount in moderately resistant cultivars than susceptible and highly susceptible ones. The rate of decrease was found higher in highly susceptible than susceptible varieties. Total sugars, reducing sugar and non-reducing sugar contents were found higher in moderately resistant varieties than susceptible and highly susceptible cultivars whereas, in diseased leaves their amount decreased in all the varieties. In case of phenol content, higher amount of total phenol and ortho-dihydroxy phenol was found in healthy leaves of moderately resistant genotypes than susceptible varieties. In diseased leaves, their amount increased in both the genotypes.