Isolation, Purification and Pathogenicity of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris Causing Chickpea Wilt

Abstract

Fusarium wilt incited by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri is a soilborne disease that is a permanent threat to the chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), causing wilt disease. Chickpea plants showing typical wilt symptoms were collected from three different chickpea cultivating districts of Telangana. The pathogen was isolated from infected chickpea plants collected in a roving survey conducted during Rabi 2024-2025 and purified. Further, its cultural and morphological characteristics were studied for identification. The results of the analysis showed that the pathogen grown on PDA media had morphological characteristics of macroconidia, microconidia, chlamydospores and cultural characteristics of mycelium colour, texture, pigmentation, type, radial growth, all of which are consistent with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris. Koch’s postulates were performed by the standard method for all eight isolates, and they gave different responses in the form of varied disease incidence. Among eight isolates, one isolate, FOC 3, showed high pathogenicity, i.e., more than 75% of pathogenicity. On the basis of cultural, morphological, and pathogenicity tests, the fungal pathogen was confirmed as F. oxysporum f. sp. ciceri. The study helped to solve this problem by offering important insights into the pathogen, which in turn helped to develop affordable ways to manage chickpea wilt disease and boost crop output for the farmers.