Morphological and physiological variation of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri isolates causing wilt disease in chickpea

Nine isolates of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri infecting chickpea were collected from major chickpea growing areas of Bangladesh and their cultural, morphological, physiological and pathogenic characteristics were described. The isolates varied significantly in their cultural, morphological and physiological traits, i.e. colony color, shape, margin and texture; mycelial radial growth and spore production. Laboratory studies were conducted to study the effect of different culture media, pH and temperature levels on mycelial growth and sporulation of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri. Mycelial radial growth and sporulation of F. oxysporum was maximum for all the isolates at 25C after seven days of inoculation, which was reduced drastically below 15C and above 35C. No growth and sporulation was observed at 5 C temperature…