Abstract:
Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), one of the major pulses cultivated and consumed in India, is also
known as Bengal gram. Chickpea is a major and cheap source of protein (about 17-20%) compared to animal
protein. Fusarium wilt of chickpea caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceri is the most serious disease of
chickpea. Eleven isolates of F. oxysporum f.sp. ciceri were studied for its cultural, morphological and pathogenic
variability. The radial growth of isolates ranged from 72 mm to 87 mm at seven days after inoculation on PDA
medium. The isolates, BRFOC-1, BRFOC-4, BRFOC-5, BFOC-3, PFOC-2, and PFOC-3 grow more than 85 mm
after seven days of inoculation. Pigmentation is varied among the isolates. Pinkish found in isolates of BRFOC-1,
BRFOC-5 and PFOC-2 while pale yellow found in BRFOC-2, BRFOC-4 and BFOC-1 isolates. Sporulation of
isolates was profuse to moderate. The size of macro-conidia was ranged from 13-15 x 2-3 µm to 15-19 x 3-4 µm,
in micro-conidia was from 3-4 x 1-2 µm to 5-6 x 2-3 µm. The number of septa in macro-conidia was mostly 2-3
and micro-conidia are mostly no septum and some are 0-1. Conidia are hyaline. Shape of most macro-conidia is
sickle shape and micro-conidia are round to oval. Pathogenic variability revealed that most of the isolates were
highly pathogenic.
