Identification of sources of resistance to dry root rot in chickpea ( Cicer arietinum L.)

Chickpea is one of the most important grain legume crops of India. Chickpea production is constantly under threat from various biotic and abiotic stresses. Dry root rot (DRR) caused by the necrotic fungus Macrophomina phaseolina is an important threat to chickpea productivity. Identifying resistant sources is the first step in breeding resilient varieties. In the present study, 56 genotypes from different chickpea regions of India were evaluated for their response to DRR using different screening methods, including paper towel, pot inoculation, and mycelium suspension drenching, followed by screening promising lines in the sick plot. This multi-method approach is crucial as genotypes’ responses to disease can vary depending on the screening technique used. Among the tested genotypes, RVSSG 64, demonstrated consistent resistance across all screening methods. Additionally, genotypes RVSSG 58, JSC 37, H14-04, and H14-21 with varying degrees of resistance were also identified.