Vol. 10, Issue 4 (2021)

Author(s):
Mohammad Aashik Qureshi, SK Arsia and Ashwini Kumar

Abstract:
Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is a major pulse crop and necessary component of in human diet. It is an annual plant of the Leguminaceae, cultivated for its nutritious seeds.. Chickpea is native of India and cultivated in tropical, subtropical and semi-arid climate. It is ranked 3^rd after French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Chickpea is rich in minerals, vitamins (2.44%), carbohydrate (61.5%), protein (25.3-28.9% after dehulling) and fiber (3-4%). Fusarium wilt of chickpea caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceri is the most serious disease of chickpea. 14 isolates of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri (FOC), collected from different blocks of Khargone and Khandwa district of Nimar region of Madhya Pradesh and cultural and morphological variability is studies among them. The radial growth of isolates ranged from 46.33 mm to 55.00 mm at seven days after inoculation on PDA medium. Cultural studies of all isolates of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri resulted that isolates differ in the growth of mycelium, form of colony, colour of colony, elevation of colony, margin of colony, cultural pattern and pigmentation of colony on PDA medium. The size of macro-conidia was ranged varied from 6.71 × 1.78 μm to 12.30 × 2.10 μm., in micro-conidia was from 2.06 × 1.55 μm to 4.95 × 2.10 μm. The number of septa in macro-conidia was mostly 1-4 and micro-conidia are mostly no septum and some are 0-1. Conidia are hyaline. Shape of most macro-conidia is Elongated with blunt end and sickle shape while, micro-conidia are round to oval shape.