Validation of inoculation techniques of Fusarium wilt on pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) in the glasshouse
Abstract
The effectiveness of the root-dip inoculation technique widely used for screening pigeonpea germplasm against F. udum was compared to colonized whole rice grain which proved to be highly successful in screening common bean against Macrophomina phaseolina under the glasshouse conditions. The root-dip inoculation technique was found to be very effective and reliable in inoculating pigeonpea plants with F. udum during pathogenicity and virulence studies under glasshouse conditions. Fusarium wilt symptoms appeared from 8 to 10 days and 4 weeks on plants of wilt susceptible pigeonpea varieties KAT 60/8 and NPP 670 inoculated with the isolates MR01 and TT01 using root-dip and colonized whole rice techniques, respectively. The wilt incidence on pigeonpea plants was significantly different (P = 0.05) between the two inoculation techniques, with means of 48.1% and 14.4% wilt for root-dip technique and colonized whole rice grain technique, respectively. Root-dip inoculation technique was found to be fast and reliable compared to colonized whole rice grain technique although it was tedious to inoculate and transplant seedlings. Trimming roots of the pigeonpea seedlings to about 4 cm in length from the collar region and transplanting them after inoculation does not lead to any noticeable death of plants due to transplanting shock. The root-dip inoculation technique is recommended for use in screening pigeonpea germplasm for resistance to Fusarium wilt in glasshouse conditions.
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