Screening and biochemical analysis for Fusarium wilt resistance in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) is third most important grain legume crop grown in the arid and semi-arid regions of the world. Fusarium wilt (Fusirium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri) is a major yield limiting factor in chickpea. Screening of chickpea parents (ICC 506 EB and Vijay), 196 RIL’s, F2 and BC1F1 populations for fusarium wilt resistance were done by Pot culture method and wilt sick plot condition at pulses research unit, Dr. PDKV, Akola. JG-62 a higly succeptible genotype was used as a check. The susceptible parent ICC 506 EB, showed 83.33 percent wilting, whereas Vijay was resistant till maturity. F2 progenies segregated in a ratio of 3 susceptible and 1 resistant. The RILs closely fit a 1:1 segregation ratio for resistance and susceptibility and the BC1F1 segregated in 1:1 ratio for resistance and susceptibility indicating that resistance to fusarium wilt was monogenic with the recessive allele conferring resistance to fusarium wilt in this population.Biochemical studies are carried out on parents Vijay and ICC 506 EB and check variety JG-62 of chickpea in relation to its resistance to fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum. The polyphenol oxidase activity and peroxidase activity was found increased after inoculation with the fungus. This increase was more in resistant genotype as compared to the susceptible genotypes.