Genetic characterization and virulence of Fusarium spp. isolated from chickpea

Fusarium wilt causing yield losses in chickpea is one of the most important diseases, and occurs due to some fungi especially F. oxysporum and F. solani. Molecular studies are important in revealing the genetic characterization and virulence of the pathogen. In this study ten Fusarium genotypes isolated from chickpea plants showing symptoms of wilting were used. The ITS region was amplified by using the thermal cycler and genetic similarities and differences among species were revealed by performing sequence analysis of ITS region. Samples except for two of Fusarium genotypes; N1, N2, N3, N4, N5, N7, N9 and N10 genotypes showed a close relative to F. oxysporum. However, the N8 genotyped was found to be similar to F. solani, and interestingly the N6 genotype showed an equal relationship with F. solani and F. oxysporum so, it could not be fully identified. According to the phylogenetic tree, F. oxysporum, N2, N4 and N10 were determined in a separate group and F. oxysporum N5, N7 and N9 formed separate another group which showed a close relationship to each other. The severity of disease caused by isolates on ILC-482 chickpea variety varied between 1.25 and 3.50. The close relationship was found between F. oxysporum, N2, N4, N5, N7, N9 and N10 isolates was confirmed the result of the pathogenicity test of same isolates. The results revealed that N7 isolate prevented the emergence of plants by causing disease on chickpea seeds and it also indicated the high virulence.