Influence of blast (Pyricularia setariae Nisikado) on protein content of leaves.

Ravi Yadav¹*, R.K. Pandiya², B.S. Kirar³ and D.P. Singh⁴

¹Collage of Agriculture, Dantewada (C.G.)

²Professor, Collage of Agriculture, Gwalior (M.P.)

³P.C. KVK, Narayanpur, IGKV, Raipur

⁴SG CARS, Jagdalpur, IGKV, Raipur.

*Corresponding Author E-mail:

ABSTRACT:

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glacum (L) RBr) provides 11-12% of the world’s supply of proteins, 67.5% of carbohydrate and 8.8% of iron. Though the maximum acreage and production of pearl millet is in Rajasthan (5.17M/ha. And 4.28M/tonne) but Haryana gives highest average yield per hectare (1769 kg/ha.). Blast incited by Pyricularia setariae Nisikado is prevalent in many pearl millet growing regions of the country. Severe infection reduces fodder value considerably. Protein is an important ingredient of the fodder but the information regarding the effect of blast severity on protein content of leaves is not known. The disease has occupied key position in the reduction of pearl millet fodder quality in northern Madhya Pradesh. Pearl millet blast increases nitrogen (N₂) and protein content in the infected leaves. Regression studies indicate 12.8% protein in the leaves of healthy pearl millet hybrid which may increase by 0.095% due to per unit increase in the blast severity.

KEYWORDS: Influence of blast, Decreased the glucose, Increases nitrogen and protein content and Pearl millet.

INTRODUCTION:

Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L) RBr] also known as Bajra is an important grain and forage cereal of India. It provides 11-12% of the world’s supply of protiens,67.5% of carbohydrate and 8.8% of iron. Though the maximum acreage and production of pearl millet is in Rajasthan (5.17M/ha. And 4.28M/tonne) but Haryana gives highest average yield per hectare (1769 kg/ha.). In Madhya Pradesh during 2010, the crop was cultivated in an area of approximately 1.97914 thousand hectares with the production of 293506 metric tonne out of this Chambal and Gwalior division contributed 165079 thousand ha. and 274899 metric tonne in area and production respectively (Anonymous, 2011). These figures indicate that Chambal and Gwalior division jointly contribute 84% and 94% in pearl millet area and production of the state respectively. Several diseases caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses and nematodes have been recorded (Rachie and Majmudar, 1980), out of them downy mildew, ergot, smut, blast and rust are widespread and destructive disease of pearl millet in India.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

The leaf samples of different degree of blast severity were collected from susceptible pearl millet hybrid. The collected plant samples were dried and powdered for nitrogen estimation through Kjeldahl method.

Nitrogen in plant samples was determined by kel plus nitrogen estimation system. Pelicans kel plus system are designed to perform the kjeldahl method to estimate nitrogen through digestion, distillation and titration.

Digestion process:

In this process, 0.2 gm of plant sample was transferred in the digestion tube on which 10 ml. of concentrated sulphuric acid and 1-3 gm of digestion activator (salt mixture) was added. Digestion tubes were loaded in to the digester and the digestion block was heated. At the end of digestion process, the sample colour turned colour less or light green colour.

Distillation:

During distillation, the ammonium radicals are converted to ammonia under excess alkali condition after neutralizing the acid in the digested sample with 40% alkali (NaOH) on heating. In Distyl-EM, the digested samples are heated by passing stream and the ammonia librated due to addition of 40% NaOH is dissolved in 25 ml. boric acid the boric acid consisting of ammonia is taken for titration.

Titration:

The solution of boric acid and mixed indicator containing the “distilled off” ammonia was titrated with the standardized H₂SO₄. The titration value of a blank solution of boric acid and mixed indicator was determined

Nitrogen (%) = [(Sample titer-Blank titer)] × [Normality of H₂SO₄] × [14×100]/ [Sample weight (g)] ×1000

Protein % = Nitrogen % × 6.25.

After the estimation of protein percent in different samples, the correlation study between the blast severity and the corresponding protein per cent was carried out. Further the quantitative effect of the disease on protein content was calculated through regression equation.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION:

The result of the present study reveals that pearl millet blast increases nitrogen (N₂) and protein content in the infected leaves. After correlation the regression study was also carried out which indicate that 12.8% protein in the leaves of healthy pearl millet hybrid which may increase by 0.095% due to per unit increase in the blast severity, the increase of protein content in the infected leaves might be due to nitrogen translocation from other parts of the plant to the infected leaves.

The present finding is in agreement with Pall (1992) who reported that blast increased the protein content and decreased the starch and ash in finger millet varieties. It also decreased the glucose content and glycosidase activity was higher in the diseased portion.

Table 1. Correlation between blast severity and protein content of leaves.

Blast severity (%) “X”	Protein content (%) “Y”
5.0	13.75
10.0	13.12
20.0	14.37
25.0	15.62
30.0	16.25
40.0	16.25

Correlation coefficient (r): 0.95

Regression equation: Y=12.834+0.0951x

REFERENCE:

Annoymous (2011). Annual Agriculture Statistic commissioner land record and settlement.

Katsantosis.D., Koutrobas, S.D., Ntanos, D.A. and Lupotto, E. (2008).

Effect of the blast disease on nitrogen accumulation and remobilization to rice grain. J.Pl.Patho.90 (2); 263-272.

Pall BS, 1992. Biochemical studies on blast disease of finger millet (Eleusine coracana). Bioved, 3(1):53-54; 3 ref.

Rachie, K.O. and Majumadar, J.V. (1980). Pearl millet. University Park Philadelphia, USA, Pennsylvania Sate Univ. Press, pp. – 307.

Received on 28.05.2012 Accepted on 31.05.2012

Asian J. Pharm. Ana. 2(2): April-June 2012; Page 39-40