Research Article

Genetic Variation in Chickpea Genotypes against Fusarium Wilt (Fusarium oxysporum F. sp. Ciceris) and their Management

Khalid Hussain1, Muhammad Younas1*, Niaz Hussain1, Abdul Ghaffar1, Muhammad Raheel2, Anees Akhtar3, Muhammad Irshad1, Munir Abbas1 and Farah Shabir4

1Arid Zone Research Institute (AZRI), Bhakkar, Punjab, Pakistan; 2Department of Plant Pathology, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan; 3Department of Plant Pathology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan; 4Government Associate College for Women, Layyah, Pakistan.

Received | January 28, 2022; Accepted | July 25, 2022; Published | October 19, 2022

*Correspondence | Muhammad Younas, Arid Zone Research Institute (AZRI), Bhakkar, Punjab, Pakistan; Email: younasali643@gmail.com

Citation | Hussain, K., M. Younas, N. Hussain, A. Ghaffar, M. Raheel, A. Akhtar, M. Irshad, M. Abbas and F. Shabir. 2022. Genetic variation in chickpea genotypes against Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum F. sp. Ciceris) and their management. Sarhad Journal of Agriculture, 38(4): 1519-1525.

DOI | https://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.sja/2022/38.4.1519.1525

Keywords | Cicer arietinum, Fosetyle aluminium, Fungicides, Disease resistance, Percent disease index (PDI)

Copyright: 2022 by the authors. Licensee ResearchersLinks Ltd, England, UK.

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Introduction

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) an important pulse crop of Pakistan belonging to leguminosae family was originated from West Asia. It is now cultivated due to nutritive and health protective values. It is used as an important source of protein in human diet (Jendoubi et al., 2017). It has occupied a prominent position among legumes due to its superior nutritional contents. However, due to numerous biotic stresses, average global production of chickpea is still limited (Tarafdar et al., 2017, 2018).

Chickpea is attacked by numerous fungal diseases but Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum ciceris (FOC), is one of the most common diseases of chickpea. It is the potential threat to the successful cultivation of chickpea (Navas-Cortés et al., 2000) and causes severe yield losses ranging from 10 to 100% depending upon the varietal susceptibility and climatic circumstances (Patil et al., 2015; Haqqani et al., 2000). In Pakistan, it causes 10 to 50% yield losses annually (Khan et al., 2005). It is mainly reported in Ethopia, Australia, Syria, Iran and United States (Iqbal et al., 2005). The FOC is seed as well as soil born pathogen which remains viable in soil for six years (Ayub et al., 2003; Haware et al., 1996). All stages of plant growth particularly flowering and pod development are severely affected by fusarium wilt disease and it leads to the complete defoliation with in few weeks of infection. Disease development is favored by the high relative humidity and drought (Govil and Rana, 1994).

Numerous management strategies including the application of fungicides, cultural practices, use of resistant resources and bio-control agents have been tested against Fusarium wilt (Chandel and Deepika, 2010). Among all strategies, use of resistant resource is the best suited and economical strategy to overcome the potential maladies of FOC. Therefore, screening of available chickpea germplam is prerequisite to identify the source of resistance against FOC (Bakhsh et al., 2007). Thus, present study was aimed to identify resistant genotypes of chickpea against FOC. However, when disease appears in epidemic form, farmers don’t have any option except chemical fungicides. Fungicides with novel chemistry are being used for controlling plant diseases. Application of such fungicides can only be recommended against pathogen after their successful assessment against these diseases (Jameel and Kumar, 2010). Thus, present study was also designed to evaluate fungicides at different concentrations to select the most effective fungicide with least toxicity to environment against fusarium wilt (FOC).

Materials and Methods

Research site

Present study was conducted in the field area of Arid Zone Research Institute, Bhakkar, Punjab, Pakistan (31.6344° N, 71.1202° E). Experiment was planned during winter season in the month of November 2021. The climate of study area is arid where average temperature remains 24.6°C whereas, the annual rainfall is 213 mm. November was the driest month with 2 mm rainfall.

Research design

Experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) following three replications. Thirty chickpea genotypes were cultivated in single row sub-plot of four meter length with row to row and plant to plant distance of 30 and 15cm, respectively. The genotype AUG-424 served as repeated checks among all genotypes.

Data collection

Experimental data of the number of wilted plants in each row for each genotype were collected on weekly basis and wilt disease incidence was determined by using the following formula:

Assessment of fungicides against FOC

Six chemical fungicides Fosetyle aluminium, Derosal, Ridomil gold, Cabrio Top, Shinkar, and Acrobate were collected from market and evaluated against FOC at three different concentrations (1.5, 2.5 and 3 g/liter of water) (Table 3). IHT-401 Hand sprayer was used for the application of fungicides on genotypes. Application of fungicides was started after the appearance of initial disease symptoms. Disease data were recorded by following visual observation and rating scale as described by Iqbal et al. (2005) and Toker et al. (1999).

Statistical analysis

Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and treatments were compared by using Fisher’s Least Significant Difference (LSD) test. All the statistical tests were performed by using SAS statistical software (SAS Institute, 2011).

Results and Discussion

Disease severity ranged from 7.26 to 69.61% among thirty chickpea genotypes. Resistant levels were observed among tested genotypes (Table 1). The results revealed that there was not even a single genotype that showed immune/highly resistant response against fusarium wilt. However, among all the genotypes, six (PARB-913/CH03, PAR-913/CH01, TG-1305, Bhakkar-2011, TG-1410, CH-32/10) exhibited resistant response with PDI 7.26 to 9.85% whereas, seven genotypes (D-13036, NIAB-ch-2016, PARB-913/CHO4, CH-29/11, TG-1427, Bittle-2016, PARB/CH02) exhibited moderately resistant response with PDI 11.64 to 19.68% against FOC (Table 2).

 

Table 1: Rating scale (Iqbal et al., 1993).

Ratings	Reaction	Description
1	Immune	No symptoms
2	Highly Resistant	Spot or depression on small tissue
3	Resistant	Elongated spot
4	Moderately Resistant	Coalescent spot
5	Tolerant	Girdling of stem
6	Moderately susceptible	Breaking of stem
7	Susceptible	Downward lesion growth from stem breaking point
8	Highly Susceptible	Complete plant is nearly to die
9	Highly susceptible	Complete plant died

 

Result revealed that five genotypes (D-14005, D-13011, BRC-448, CH-10/11, and TG-1620) expressed moderately susceptible response with PDI ranging from 23.02 to 29.48%. However, five genotypes including TG-1829, TGX-220, TGX-228, TG-1812, and TG-1801 showed susceptible responsible response with PDI 34.21 to 49.73% against fusarium wilt. Maximum values of PDI ranging from 51.80 to 69.61% were recorded in D-15024, TG-1714, TG-1415, Thal-2006, TG-1815, TG-1814 and TG-1806 respectively (Table 2). Results of contemporary study are supported by the findings of Nazir et al. (2012) who assessed one hundred and seventy-eight chickpea genotypes against fusarium wilt and recorded none of the tested genotypes as immune/highly resistant. Similarly results of present study are also in line with the findings of various researchers Bakhsh et al. (2007) and Dubey and Singh (2004). Ahmad et al. (2010) also evaluated 321 chickpea genotypes against fusarium wilt and reported nonetheless of genotypes immune to FOC and found some genotypes with resistant response.

 

Table 2: Evaluation of Chickpea genotypes against Fusarium oxysporum ciceris (Foc) under field conditions.

Sr.	Genotypes	Disease mean (%)	Response	Rating scale
1	CH-32/10	7.26y	R	1
2	TG-1410	7.68xy	R	1
3	Bhakkar-2011	8.63wx	R	1
4	TG-1305	9.16vw	R	1
5	PAR-913/CH01	9.55vw	R	1
6	PARB-913/CH03	9.85v	R	1
7	PARB-913/CH02	11.64u	MR	3
8	Bittle-2016	13.27t	MR	3
9	TG-1427	14.85s	MR	3
10	CH-29/11	15.85s	MR	3
11	PARB-913/CH04	17.05r	MR	3
12	NIABC-2016	18.49q	MR	3
13	D-13036	19.68p	MR	3
14	TG-1620	23.02o	MS	4
15	CH-10/11	24.24n	MS	4
16	BRC-448	25.31n	MS	4
17	D-13011	27.86m	MS	4
18	D-14005	29.48l	MS	4
19	TG-1801	34.21k	S	5
20	TG-1812	39.49j	S	5
21	TGX-228	43.99i	S	5
22	TGX-220	46.09h	S	5
23	TG-1829	49.73g	S	5
24	TG-1806	51.80f	HS	6
25	TG-1814	53.94e	HS	6
26	TG-1815	54.80e	HS	6
27	Thal-2006	56.00d	HS	6
28	TG-1415	58.77c	HS	6
29	TG-1714	62.46b	HS	6
30	D-15024	69.61a	HS	6
31	LSD	1.6881

*Mean values in a column sharing similar letters do not differ significantly as determined by the LSD test (P<0.05).

 

Among all genotypes D-15024 and TG-1714 recorded highly susceptible response against FOC with maximum values. Therefore, these genotypes were further used for determining the efficacy of fungicides towards Fusarium oxysporum ciceris (Foc) under field conditions. Analysis of Variance for the management of Fusarium wilt expressed through fungicides showed significant results (Table 4). Among all treatments Fosetyle aluminium expressed maximum (75.16%) reduction in disease severity (Figure 1) at the rate of 3 g/liter of water followed by Derosal (65.76%), Shinkar (59.44%), Ridomil gold (52.41%), Cabrio Top (44.17%) and Acrobat (41.86%), respectively on comparison to control (Table 5).

 

Table 3: Chemicals description used during investigations.

Sr.	Commercial name	Molecule	Chemical formula	Manufacturer’s
1	Fosetyle aluminium	Fosetyl-Al	[C₂H₅OPO₂]₃Al	Engro Pesticides Pakistan
2	Derosal	Carbendazim	C9H9N3O2	Bayer (Pvt,) ltd
3	Ridomil Gold	Matalaxyl + Mancozeb	C15H21NO4 + C8H12MnN4S8Zn	Sygenta (Pvt.) Pakistan
4	Cabrio Top	Pyraclostrobin + Metiram	C19H18ClN3O4	FMC Pvt. Pakistan
5	Shincar	Carbendazim	C9H9N3O2	FMC Pvt. Pakistan
6	Acrobate	Mancozeb + Dimethomorph	C8H12MnN4S8Zn + C21H22ClNO4	FMC Pvt. Pakistan

 

Table 4: Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) Table for management of Fusarium wilt.

Source	DF	SS	MS	F	P
Rep	2	2.5	1.26
Fungicides	6	32029.4	5338.23	9441.46	0.0000*
Error rep × Fungicides	12	6.8	0.57
Genotypes	2	2444.4	1222.22	1802.06	0.0000*
Fungicides × Genotypes	12	749.3	62.44	92.06	0.0000*
Error Rep× Fungicides× Genotypes	28	19.0	0.68
Total	62	35251.4

 

Table 5: Evaluation of Fungicides against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris (Foc) under field conditions at Arid Zone Research Institute (AZRI) Bhakkar, Punjab during winter 2021.

Treatment	Disease reduction (%)	SD%	CV%
Fosetyle aluminium	75.16a	13.02	17.32
Derosal	65.76b	7.85	11.93
Shinkar	59.44c	8.61	14.49
Ridomil Gold	52.41d	5.89	11.23
Cabrio Top	44.17e	5.32	12.04
Acrobat	41.86f	5.85	13.99
Control	0.00g	00	00
LSD	0.77

*Mean values in a column sharing similar letters do not differ significantly as determined by the LSD test (P<0.05).

 

 

 

During impact of interaction between treatments and concentrations on the development of fusarium wilt of chickpea under field conditions (Figure 2), Fosetyle aluminium showed maximum disease reduction at all application rates (60.51, 74.46, 90.50%) followed by Derosal (57.50, 64.38, 75.40%), Shinkar (50.33, 58.00, 70.00%), Ridomil gold (45.91, 52.00, 59.33%), Cabrio Top (38.00, 44.33, 50.20%) and Acrobat (35.25, 41.66, 48.66%), respectively in comparison to control (0.00%) (Table 6). Results are supported by the Maitlo et al. (2014) who evaluated fourteen fungicides against wilting and reported Carbendazim as the most effective against FOC. Results of contemporary study are also favored by the Mengist et al. (2018) and Mahmood et al. (2015) who assessed different chickpea genotypes and fungicides against the fusarium wilt of chickpea. Results of the present investigation are supported by various researcher (Jamil and Ashraf, 2020; Harshita et al., 2019; Wavare et al., 2017; Sahar et al., 2013; Iqbal et al., 2010; Sinha and Sinha, 2004).

 

Table 6: Impact of the concentrations on suppression of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris (Foc) at Arid Zone Research Institute (AZRI) Bhakkar, Punjab during winter 2021.

Fungicides	Reduction in disease severity (%)
	Concentrations
	1.5g/liter of water	2.5g/liter of water	3g/liter of water
Fosetyle aluminium	60.51e	74.46b	90.50a
Derosal	57.50d	64.38d	75.40b
Shinkar	50.33i	58.00fg	70.00c
Ridomil gold	45.91k	52.00h	59.33ef
Cabrio Top	38.00n	44.33l	50.20i
Acrobate	35.25o	41.66m	48.66j
Control	0.00p	0.00p	0.00p
LSD	1.3637

*Mean values in a column sharing similar letters do not differ significantly as determined by the LSD test (P<0.05).

 

Based on the aforementioned screening results, assessed resistant genotypes can be employed as a basis of resistance in different breeding projects against fusarium wilt of chickpea. Accessions with complete agronomic attributes can be introduced at the commercial level. It is also concluded that fungicides Fosetyle aluminium and Derosal has the best potential against fusarium wilt of chickpea.

Conclusions and Recommendations

Resistant chickpea genotypes (CH-32/10, TG-1410) found in contemporary study against Fusarium wilt might be helpful for future breeding programs to develop resistant chickpea genotypes which could be further released at commercial level. Based on the above findings, it is also concluded that fungicide Fosetyle alauminium at the rate of 3.00g/liter of water has the best efficacy against fusarium wilt.

Acknowledgements

The authors are highly grateful to Punjab Agricultural Research Borad (PARB), Lahore for financial support under PARB Project No. 913 ‘Enhancement of mungbean and gram production in Thal through development of improved genotypes and technologies to reduce pulse import bill’. The authors are also thankful to Arid Zone Research Institute Bhakkar, Punjab, Pakistan for research activities in its experimental area.

Novelty Statement

Determination of resistant source is the best way to control Fusarium oxysporum F.sp. Ciceris. Moreover, Fosetyle-Al and Carbendazim may be used against Fusarium wilt of chickpea.

Author’s Contribution

Khalid Hussain: Provide resources

Muhammad Younas: Conceived the idea

Niaz Hussain: Project administration

Abdul Ghaffar: Conducted research trial and wrote the paper

Anees Akhtar: Analyzed and compiled the data

Muhammad Irshad: Corrected the paper

Muneer Abbas: Supervised the research

Fariha Shabir: Data Interpretation

Conflict of interest

The authors have declared no conflict of interest.

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