Influence of Cowpea Mottle Virus and Cucumber Mosaic Virus on the Growth and Yield of Six Lines of Soybean (Glycine Max L.)

Abstract

Cowpea mottle virus is of localised importance on cowpea in Nigeria infecting several leguminous species and Cucumber mosaic virus is of worldwide distribution infecting several horticultural crops. A study was carried out in the screen house of the crop production pavilion, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria to determine the pathogenic response of six lines of soybean (TGx 1844-18E, TGx 1448-2E, TGx-1910-8F, TGx 1019-2EN, TGx 1844-4E and TGx 1876-4E) to single and mixed infection with cowpea mottle virus (CMeV) and cucumber mosaic virus (CMV).The Lines obtained from National Cereal Research Institute, Badeggi were used for the experiment. Two viable Seeds were sown per 4litre plastic pots filled with sterilized soil; inoculation of viral isolates was carried out mechanically on the soybean at two weeks after planting. The results revealed that all Soybean lines tested were susceptible to single and mixed infection of the two viruses. However the tolerance level of the legumes, as shown by the percentage loss in selected growth and yield attributes indicated that line TGx 1910-8F is the most tolerant while TGx 1844-18E is the most susceptible to single and mixed infection. Hence, TGx 1910-8F is most suitable in areas where there is an outbreak of disease caused by CMeV and CMV.