Chickpea Seed Rot and Damping-Off Caused by Metalaxyl-Resistant Pythium ultimum and Its Management with Ethaboxam

Metalaxyl and its isomer mefenoxam have been the primary fungicides used as seed treatments in managing Pythium seed rot and damping-off of chickpea (Cicer arietinum). However, outbreaks of seed rot and damping-off of metalaxyl-treated chickpea seeds were found in the dryland agriculture regions of southeastern Washington and northern Idaho. Pythium spp. isolated from rotten seeds and associated soils showed high levels of resistance to metalaxyl. Large proportions (31 to 91%) of Pythium isolates resistant to metalaxyl were detected in areas where severe chickpea damping-off occurred and were observed in commercial chickpea fields over several years. All metalaxyl-resistant (MR) isolates were identified as Pythium ultimum var. ultimum. The metalaxyl resistance trait measured by EC₅₀ values was stable over 10 generations in the absence of metalaxyl, and no observable fitness costs were associated with metalaxyl resistance. Under controlled conditions, metalaxyl treatments failed to protect chickpea seeds from seed rot and damping-off after inoculation with MR Pythium isolates. In culture, ethaboxam inhibited mycelial growth of both MR and metalaxyl-sensitive isolates. Greenhouse and field tests showed that ethaboxam is effective in managing MR Pythium. Ethaboxam in combination with metalaxyl is commonly applied as seed treatments in commercial chickpea production.