EFFECT OF HETERODERA CAJANI ON GROWTH, CHLOROPHYLL CONTENT AND ACTIVITY OF SOME ENZYMES IN PIGEONPEA

Pigeonpea was inoculated with 250, 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 Heterodera cajani second-stage juveniles (J2) in a glasshouse test Pigeonpea gro wth and rhizobia nodulation progressively decreased as the inoculum le vel increased. Significant reduction in plant growth occurred with an inoculum of 500 or more J2 of H. cajani in both Bradyrhizobium japonic um-inoculated and noninoculated plants. Peroxidase activity was higher in H. cagani-inoculated plants with the highest level at an inoculum density of 500 J2. Nitrate reductase, catalase and chlorophyll content were reduced as inoculum levels of H. cajani increased. Chlorophyll c ontent and enzyme activities were higher in B. japonicum-inoculated pl ants than in plants without B. japonicum.