Etiology of root rot and wilt disease of chickpea in Brazil

Abstract

Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris (Padwick) Matuo & K. Sato has become the main limiting factor for chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) production around the world. Although the cultivation of this legume is recent in Brazil, there are reports on Fusarium spp. occurrence causing crop losses. Fourteen isolates obtained from roots of chickpea plants showing wilt and yellowing symptoms in Brazil were evaluated through phylogenetic analysis of the EF-1α region, morphological markers and pathogenicity tests. Three isolates were clustered within a distinct lineage from those already described for the FSSC. The remaining 11 isolates were clustered within the FOSC, in a different clade from F. oxysporum f. sp. ciceris. All isolates were pathogenic but showed differences in aggressiveness. Isolates of the different complexes elicited the same symptoms: yellowing, wilt and root rot of chickpea plants. Morphological markers allowed differentiating isolates from distinct complexes but not differentiating between lineages.