ARS | Publication request: A CONSENSUS SET OF DIFFERENTIAL LINES FOR IDENTIFYING RACES OF FUSARIUM OXYSPORUM F. SP. CICERIS

Submitted to: International Chickpea and Pigeonpea Newsletter
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: March 1, 2004
Publication Date: August 1, 2004
Citation: Sharma, K., Chen, W., Muehlbauer, F.J. 2004. A consensus set of differential lines for identifying races of fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris. International Chickpea NDA Pigeonpea Newsletter. 11:34-36.

Interpretive Summary: For the purpose of clear identification of the races of Fusarium causing the wilt disease in chickpea, we identified a set of 10 chickpea lines that precisely distinguish among the races of the pathogen. This set of lines, also known as a 'differential set', will enable plant pathologists, geneticists and plant breeders to distinguish the races and with that information be able to design breeding and selection procedures to develop resistant varieties. Also, this differential set of lines can be use to identify new races of the pathogen that cause disease in otherwise resistant varieties. We expect that this differential set of lines will become the world standard for differentiating the races of wilt that cause the wilt disease of chickpea.

Technical Abstract: Chickpea wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceris is one of the most important diseases of chickpea and reportedly causes annual yield losses of 10-15 % . Eight races of the pathogen have been reported throughout the world. In this report we describe a set of differential lines that can be used to determine the occurrence of different races of the pathogen. We list a set of 10 differential lines that can be used for this purpose. The use of this standard set of lines in research on the races of the pathogen will clarify some of the inconsistencies among researchers and facilitate precise race identification.