First report of existence races 2 and 4 of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris, causing agent of yellow and wilt disease of chickpea in Iran

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Dryland Agricultural Research Inst. (DARI); Maragheh

2 Dryland Agricultural Research Inst. (DARI)

3 Drylands Agricultural Research Inst.

4 Plant Protection Instit.

5 Kurdistan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center

6 Dryland Agricultural Research Institute

10.22092/idaj.2023.363198.408

Abstract

Introduction: Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) with a high amount of protein and valuable minerals, is considered one of the important items in the Iranian food basket. Due to its adaptability to the harsh climatic conditions of the country's drylands, it is grown in 500,000 ha of rain-fed and dry areas of Iran.  It is considered as the most important county’s rainfed legume crop and because of its rotation cultivation with cereals, plays an important role in the sustainability of agriculture in these areas. Yellowing and wilting disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceris is one of the most important diseases of the plant worldwide. The disease causes a quantitative and qualitative decrease in the production of the crop in all areas of the country. The most effective and economical method of managing and controlling the disease is the production and use of resistant cultivars.
Methodology: In this study, 92 infested farms with suspected plants showing symptoms of yellowing and wilting were visited in the northwest and west of the country. The detailed characters of the samples were recorded. Subsequently, they were transferred to the laboratory and the pathogen was isolated from the host, purified and their pathogenicity on a susceptible chickpea variety was verified. For identification, in the first step, classical methods based on morphological characteristics and taxonomic keys were used, while in the second step, molecular techniques were applied.
Research findings: Based on classical methods, all samples were characterized as a species of Fusarium genus (Fusarium spp.). Based on taxonomic and morphological methods, 39 isolates were identified as F.oxysporum. Subsequently, by using a molecular marker, the belonging of 32 isolates to the special form (forma specialis) of chickpea was confirmed. In the final step, using specific markers, 15 isolates were identified as races 1B/C, 2, 4 and 6. These results indicate the existence of races 2 and 4 among the collected samples, which is the first report of their presence in Iran. These findings can be used in the production of disease-resistant cultivars for the infested areas of the country.

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Iranian Dryland Agronomy Journal
Volume 12, Issue 2
December 2023
Pages 203-219

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