Screening of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) Genotypes to Three Identified Races of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris in Sudan

Fusarium wilt is the main biotic stress that limited chickpea production in Sudan. Twenty chickpea genotypes were screened for resistance against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris (Foc) the causal agent of Fusarium wilt of chickpea. The study was done in pot experiment at Gezira Research Station greenhouse. The genotypes were screened against three identified races of Foc in Sudan namely race 0, 2 and unidentified race to know their reaction against the pathogen.Race 0 is the most prevalent and widely spread in Sudan, while the unidentified race is limited to Gezira State. The variety Hawta (Iccv-92318) showed resistant reaction to the three tested Foc races while Shendi (ILC-1335) and Jabel Marra (ILC-915) varieties showed susceptible reaction to race 0 and highly susceptible reaction to the other two races. The other genotypes showed susceptible reactions to the unidentified race and variable reactions to races 2 and 0. This evaluation has helped to identify new sources of resistance to wilt disease for use in chickpea breeding program and for proper chickpea cultivation in the different areas of Sudan. It also will be useful in preventing the spread of the pathogen from infested areas to uninfected ones.