Morpho-molecular screening of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes for resistance to Botrytis grey mould disease

Abstract

The evaluation and identification of disease resistance to Botrytis grey mould (BGM) in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is a critical step in the advancement of integrated disease control strategies. The current study was conducted to evaluate and identify chickpea genotypes for resistance to BGM disease in natural epiphytotic conditions. A set of 225 experimental chickpea genotypes were planted in 9 blocks during 2017-18, 135 genotypes were planted in 9 blocks during 2018-19, and 100 genotypes were planted in 4 blocks during 2018-19, including 5 checks viz., PG 3 and PG 5 (Moderately resistant),
H 208 and DCP 92-3 (Susceptible), and GL10006 (Resistant). The field experiment was conducted using an augmented block design-II. The results of field screening against BGM disease revealed that 17 chickpea genotypes were found with disease score 3 (resistant) out of 225 during rabi, 2017-18, 13 genotypes were found with disease score 3 (resistant) during rabi, 2018-19, and 11 genotypes were found with disease score 3 (resistant) during rabi, 2019-20. The 20 best genotypes were chosen from the screened genotypes based on disease score and seed yield per plant for molecular marker validation. The summary of molecular data revealed PG 17-9 (130 bp), PG 17-119 (130 bp), and PG 17-145 (130 bp) as resistant; PG 17-120 and PG 17-121 moderately resistant; and the remaining genotypes as susceptible. The field disease score data matched the genotype banding pattern by markers TR29 and TA144. TR29 and TA144 have polymorphism information content (PIC) values more than 0.5, indicating that they can be deployed for molecular tagging of Botrytis grey mould resistance genes in chickpea.