Changes in chlorophyll, phenols, sugars and mineral contents of cucumber plants infected with cucumber mosaic virus

Abstract

Biochemical studies were made to monitor the relationship of chemical components and development of resistance in cucumber plants against Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV). Total soluble phenols, soluble sugars, chlorophyll and mineral nutrients; Potassium, Magnesium, Sodium and Lead were compared among resistant and susceptible varieties. Different metabolites showed different trends among diseased and healthy plants from resistant and susceptible groups of varieties. The phenolic and Magnesium contents increased in the inoculated plants of both susceptible and resistant genotypes. In resistant variety, rise in magnesium concentration in inoculated plants was less as compared to that of inoculated plants of the susceptible varieties. However, the chlorophyll, sugars, potassium were reduced in the inoculated plants of both reaction resistant and susceptible reaction groups. Plants from susceptible group presented a lower of level of nutrients as compared to un-inoculated ones whereas; the changes in sodium contents were not showing any relation to resistance mechanism.