Growth and enzymatic responses of cowpea under water stress and root-knot nematode

Considering the importance of cowpea beans in the Northeast of Brazil, the present study aimed to evaluate growing and biochemical aspects of cultivar EPACE-10 subjected to water stress and parasitism of Meloidogyne incognita under greenhouse conditions. The design was a randomized block design in a factorial 2 (with and without nematode) x 2 (with and without water stress), with six replications. The level of applied water stress (50% of the field capacity) reduced the nematode reproduction. However, plant growth measured by fresh and dry biomass of stems and leaves, leaf number, leaf area index, plant height and fresh root biomass was not affected by water stress applied. The responses to water stress and oxidative enzymes and parasitism of M. incognita were variable. Peroxidase was not affected; catalase was decreased by nematode parasitism, ascorbate peroxidase decreased by water stress and polyphenoloxidase decreased by water stress and parasitism of M. incognita.