Molecular identification of pathogens associated with soil borne diseases of chickpea and their management by native Trichoderma spp.

Surveys were carried out at five districts of Manipur for soil borne diseases of chickpea. The disease incidence ranged from 5.07–10.22 per cent in different chickpea growing areas. Molecular identification of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceris (FOC) and Sclerotium rolfsii was done using total genomic DNA of the fungal culture. The identity of the isolated pathogens was confirmed by the amplification of ITS region. The primer combination of ITS1 and ITS4 produced an amplicon of 564bp for FOC and ITS1 and ITS2 of 262 bp for S. rolfsii. Antagonistic potentiality of native Trichoderma spp. was evaluated against soil borne pathogens under in vitro conditions and maximum inhibition of mycelial growth of both the fungi was showed by isolate CAUNCIPM-36 (91.67%) and CAUNCIPM-4 (83.13%) in dual culture assay. These isolates of antagonists may be used for further management of these diseases under field conditions.