Track 4-1-4: Biotechnological Approaches to Improve Range, Pasture and Forage Species

Description

Cowpea, Vigna unguiculata (L.) is one of the important grain and fodder legume crops in the world, especially in tropics and subtropics. Which can adapted different climatic conditions such as high temperature and drought. It is not only important as a grain and fodder but also improve fertility of poor soils by fixing atmospheric nitrogen. An estimated cultivated area of cowpea is 12.5mha in worldwide (FAOSTAT, 2013). The grain and fodder productivity of cowpea are greatly affected by a number of biotic factors such as plant pathogens and insect pests. Among plant pathogens, viruses are considered to be a major constraint (Gioi et al., 2010). More than 40 viruses are reported from cowpea growing areas of the world.

Among viruses, Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) is very serious problem on cowpea in southern part of India especially cowpea growing areas of Karnataka. The BCMV is a member of potyvirus group and it can infect other legume crop family. Virus is seed borne and easily spread by aphids. Its chemical and cultural control neither economical nor ecofriendly. The host plant resistance has been proved the best strategy for its management. Hence it is necessary to identify stable resistance sources for BCMV disease in cowpea. Therefore large scale screening is needed to identify the durable resistance among diverse genotypes of cowpea. The basic requirements for any crop improvement programme are genetic variation for the trait of interest.

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Validation of SSR Markers Linked to the Bean Common Mosaic Virus (BCMV) Resistance in Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) Genotypes

Cowpea, Vigna unguiculata (L.) is one of the important grain and fodder legume crops in the world, especially in tropics and subtropics. Which can adapted different climatic conditions such as high temperature and drought. It is not only important as a grain and fodder but also improve fertility of poor soils by fixing atmospheric nitrogen. An estimated cultivated area of cowpea is 12.5mha in worldwide (FAOSTAT, 2013). The grain and fodder productivity of cowpea are greatly affected by a number of biotic factors such as plant pathogens and insect pests. Among plant pathogens, viruses are considered to be a major constraint (Gioi et al., 2010). More than 40 viruses are reported from cowpea growing areas of the world.

Among viruses, Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) is very serious problem on cowpea in southern part of India especially cowpea growing areas of Karnataka. The BCMV is a member of potyvirus group and it can infect other legume crop family. Virus is seed borne and easily spread by aphids. Its chemical and cultural control neither economical nor ecofriendly. The host plant resistance has been proved the best strategy for its management. Hence it is necessary to identify stable resistance sources for BCMV disease in cowpea. Therefore large scale screening is needed to identify the durable resistance among diverse genotypes of cowpea. The basic requirements for any crop improvement programme are genetic variation for the trait of interest.