Characterization and Identification of Fusarium Species Complexes Affecting Chickpea with Total Protein Profiles, EF-1α Gen

Abstract

Background: Fusarium oxysporum Schl. is a cosmopolitan fungus that causes severe damage to many important crops. This fungus is the causal agent of chickpea fusariosis, a very important disease in this crop, resulting in 10 to 60% of annual losses. These symptoms have generally been associated with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris races. Aims: In the present study, 41 Fusarium isolates from chickpea plants with symptoms of yellowing and wilting were characterized, differentiated and separated into species complexes from the Bajío zone in Mexico. Methodology: The Fusarium isolates were characterized with total protein profile and pathogenicity tests from differential chickpea plants. The total protein profiles were associated with the Fusarium species complexes previously reported for these same isolates. Result and conclusion: The protein profiles were different among the fungi isolates and formed four groups corresponding to three Fusarium species complexes. The isolates also showed clustering tendencies according to the collection zone. The differential plants showed different reaction degrees. The results indicate that yellowing and wilting pathotypes in chickpea from the Bajío zone were produced by three Fusarium complexes and not just for the Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris races.