Determination of the effect of Telfairia mosaic virus on vitamins and amino acids profile of two ecotypes of Telfairia occidentalis (fluted pumpkin). – A. A. J. Mofunanya, D. N. Omokaro, A. T. Owolabi1, P. J. Nya1, M. M. Etukudo and S. E. Osim
ABSTRACT
The vitamins and amino acids profile of Telfairia occidentalis inoculated with Telfairia mosaic virus (TeMV) from Cross River State (Ecotype A) and Akwa Ibom State (Ecotype B) were investigated. Freshly harvested leaves from symptomatic and healthy plants were oven-dried at 650C to a constant weight and milled into powder. The milled samples were analyzed for the effect of the virus on vitamins and amino acids profile. The mean values obtained for healthy samples of ecotype A and B ranged from 0.74 to 15.01mg/100g and 0.83 to 18.10mg/100g respectively. Corresponding values for infected samples ranged from 0.68 to 12.4mg/100g and 0.61 to 13.00mg/100g. Ecotype B recorded higher percentage difference of 76% as against 36.8% for ecotype A. Infection of TeMV on amino acids produced significant decreases in infected samples of ecotype A and B with a range in mean value of 0.76 to 13.17g/16N and 0.79 to 12.81g/16N respectively. Associated values for healthy samples ranged from 1.50 to 10.65g/16N and 0.90 to 11.17g/16N marked increase in non-essential amino acids in infected samples was recorded for glutamic acid, aspartic acid, alanine and proline in both ecotype studied. TeMV produced marked decreases in the nutrients investigated.