Cultural, morphological and pathogenic variability among the different isolates of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri

Abstract

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is an important pulse crop, which belongs to family Leguminaceae, chickpea having 2n=16 number of chromosomes. Chickpea is native of India and tropical, subtropical and temperate regions. It is ranked 3rd after common bean. Pulses play an important role not only from economical point of view but also due to their nutritional value. Chickpea is valued for their nutritive seeds with high protein content, 25.3-28.9 per cent after dehulling. Carbohydrate 61.5 per cent, fat 4.5 per cent and vitamins 2.44 per cent. Variability among the ten isolates of FOC collected from different locations Parbhani district in India was studied in respect of cultural, morphological characters and pathogenicity. Pathogenic variability has been established by inoculating ten days old seedlings of different cultivars individually with the FOC isolates. JG 62 exhibited susceptible reactions to FOC isolates with highest percentage of seedling mortality due to wilt varied within the cultivars. JG 315 and BCP-160 were exhibited resistant reactions to the FOC isolates with lowest mortality percentage due to wilt varied within the cultivars. Cultural studies of all isolates of F. oxysporum f. sp. ciceri resulted that isolates differ in the growth rate, types of colony, sporulation, and pigmentation on Potato Dextrose Agar is being favourable for luxuriant growth for all the isolates and dry weight of mycelia mat growing them on Potato Dextrose Broth medium. Morphological studies of different isolates of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri concluded variation in size, septation and formation of chlaymadospores.