Response of Released Chickpea Cultivars to some Fusarium oxysporum f. sp ciceris Isolates in Sudan

Chickpea seeds in Sudan is an economically important, as a cash crop that generates income for farmers and rural communities, and as a significant source of protein for poor people. It is used increasingly as a substitute for animal protein This study was conducted to screen eight chickpea cultivars viz Salawa, Burgeig, Wadhamid, Jebelmarra, Hawatta, Shendi, Atmour, and Mattama using eighteen (18) isolates of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp ciceris (FOC) isolated from infected plants of chickpea displaying the characteristic symptoms of Fusarium wilt disease in winter season from different locations in Sudan. A pot experiment was carried out to assess disease intensity in terms of disease incidence (DI) and disease severity (DS). After seven weeks from inoculation 19 out of 144 isolated-cultivar combinations do not show disease symptoms. The cultivar Burgeig was found to be immune to all Fusarium wilt isolates in the second and third week after inoculation. After seven weeks from inoculation, the least DI and DS were registered in Burgeig, whereas the highest ones were observed in cultivar Shendi. The remaining cultivars showed different responses to FOC isolates. Regarding disease development, the high jump in incidence and severity occurred between the third and fourth week after inoculation. The FOC isolate S9 seems to be more virulent and aggressive compared to the others.