author(s)
Mahantheshwara B, DK Nayak and Yogiraj Namdeo Zirwal

abstract
The cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) is important pulse crop in India and recognised as vegetarian meat due to its immense nutrition al value. Phytoparasitic nematodes are the major constraints in the production of these pulses. Root knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita is major nematode pest infecting pulses and cowpea is another host of this pest. Host Giant cells are formed by obligate parasite, M. incognita inside the host root that incites the physiological and biochemical changes in plant. In the present study pre-confirmed resistant and susceptible cultivar cowpea used as test plant to assess the starch changes in infected and non infected plants. The Starch content in both leaves and shoots showed a decrease from uninoculated to inoculated cowpea varieties. Higher reduction was observed in susceptible cultivars KM-5 and Gomati i.e. 34.74% and 31.33% respectively in leaves; 31.75% and 38.24% respectively in roots. Likewise, lowest reduction in starch i.e. 12.12% and 10.47% observed in resistant cowpea cultivar TVX-944 in leaves and shoot respectively over uninoculated plants. The result confirms earlier trend as reported by many workers. Narrow difference observed in starch content of resistant cultivar than susceptible cultivar. The study might helpful in further studies regarding phytoparasitic resistance cowpea varieties and their response toward parasites.