Determination of pathogenic characterization and vegetative compatibility groups of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris causing wilting and yellowing in chickpea growing regions of turkey

For the pathogenic characterization of chickpea wilting and yellowing agent, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris (FOC), surveys were conducted in 37 chickpea growing provinces, in 2015 and 2016. The mean disease severity, incidence, and prevalence were 3.24%, 4.04%, and 53.90%, respectively. During the surveys, wilting symptoms were observed in Mersin, Isparta, Aksaray, and Eskişehir provinces and yellowing symptoms were observed in other provinces. In the yellowing type, there was a negative correlation between disease severity and relative humidity (r=-0.25; p<0.01) and number of rainy days (r=-0.23; p<0.01). Temperature was positively correlated (r=0.383; p<0.01). No statistically significant relationship was found in the wilting type (p> 0.05). Although the virulence levels of wilting and yellowing isolates were different, symptoms were similar in pathogenicity tests. The wilting isolates (49.43% DSI) were more virulent than yellowing isolates (29.39% DSI). This is the first report of FOC and non-pathogenic F. oxysporum isolates are present in a single VCG from Turkey. Results of this study explain the complex structure of the FOC and emphasize the urgent need for the development of this destructive pathogen-resistant/tolerant chickpea varieties.