Ascertaining sources of resistance against fusarium wilt and sterility mosaic disease of pigeonpea

Pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] commonly known as Arhar or Tur is second most important pulse crop after chickpea in India. The main constrains in boosting the yield of pigeonpea are its susceptibility to diseases, insects and other physiological stress. Fusarium wilt (FW) and sterility mosaic disease (SMD) are two important biotic constraints to pigeonpea production worldwide that can cause loss up to 100 per cent. Host plant resistance is the most durable and economical way to manage these diseases. Thirty four pigeonpea genotypes/hybrids comprised of three groups viz. mid early, mid late, and hybrid (mid early) group were evaluated in a Fusarium wilt and sterility-mosaic disease-screening nursery at three locations viz., Sardarkrushinagar, Bharuch and Vadodara in Gujarat during Kharif 2016–17, to identify genotypes having resistance to both the diseases. Three genotypes in mid early group of pigeonpea (SKNP 1004, SKNP1406, SKNP1217), four in mid late (GJP1303,GJP1406, AAFVT13–35, BP11–04) and three in hybrid (mid early) group (SKNPCH1308, SKNPCH 1407, SKNPCH 1214) were identified which possessed combined resistance to Fusarium wilt and SMD (< 10% disease). These diverse genotypes that are resistant to Fusarium wilt and SMD may be useful in pigeonpea disease resistance breeding programme while hybrid identified as resistance to both the diseases may be recommended for commercial cultivation.