Assessment of pathogenic and molecular variability in isolates of Rhizoctonia solani infecting chickpea

Eight isolates of Rhizoctonia solani, the incitant of wet root rot of chickpea were assessed for pathogenicity and genetic variability using RAPD markers. Pathogenicity of these isolates varied both in sterilized and unsterilized soils when tested on chickpea variety C-235. Ten random primers were used to fingerprint the individual isolates. Isolates differed in their RAPD banding pattern. The similarity value of RAPD profiles ranged from 0.12 (Hanumangarh-Karnal) to 0.79 (Delhi-Gurgaon and Hisar-Karnal) with an average of 0.34± 0.1 among the isolates. The cluster analysis using un-weighted pair group method with arithmetic average distinguished R. solani isolates into different fingerprint groups.