Deciphering chickpea-nematode interactions: Recent advances in enhancing resistance in cultivated chickpea

Chickpea ( Cicer arietinum L.) is the second most widely cultivated food legume crop globally, serving as a vital source of dietary protein and improving soil fertility. However, plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) pose a serious threat to the sustainability of chickpea cultivation. Estimates of various studies on major crops indicate that PPNs cause global economic losses up to 157-173 billion US$ worldwide annually. The major challenge to control the PPNs in infected crops is their hidden, soil-dwelling nature and wide host range resulting in early detection and effective management difficult. PPN infection often also increases the severity of other soil-borne pathogens. PPN species causing significant economic damage in chickpea include root-knot ( Meloidogyne spp.), cyst ( Heterodera spp.), and root-lesion nematodes ( Pratylenchus spp.). Identifying and utilizing inherent resistance in host plants, along with agronomic management practices, is considered the most effective approach to controlling PPNs. Accordingly, various studies have screened substantial chickpea germplasm collections against the major PPNs, viz. Meloidogyne incognita (∼1250 accessions), M. javanica (∼700), Heterodera ciceri (∼9700), Pratylenchus thornei (∼2200), P. neglectus (∼1750), and Rotylenchulus reniformis (∼600). These screenings have revealed that resistance sources in the cultivated gene pool are very rare. However, relatively better resistance level is observed in wild Cicer species. In this review, we have discussed the economic importance and distribution of PPNs, the life cycle of different species of PPNs infecting chickpea, PPN-host plant interactions, resistant donors identified, and modern tools to accelerate chickpea crop improvement against PPNs.