Genetic diversity and pathogenesity of Fusarium solani isolates of chickpea using RAPD and AFLP markers in Razavi and Northern Khorasan provinces

Black root rot of chickpea caused Fusarium solani f. sp pisi is one of the most important fungual diseases in Iran, specially in Razavi and Northern Khorasan provinces. Because of scientific lack about genetic diversity populations of this fungi, the aim of study was determination of genetic diversity and pathogenesity of isolates using RAPD and AFLP markers. Sampling was carried out from 50 fields of major growing-chickpea in Razavi and Northern Khorasan provinces. Pathogenecity test conducted with chickpea seedling using root dip methods and locating infected wheat seeds around tap roots confirmed 28 isolates as Fusarium solani. Host range study of F. solani isolates with inoculation eight plant species including (Lentis, Bean, Soybean, Pea, Chickpea, Tomato, Melon and Watermelon) showed that all the pathogenic isolates caused root rot only in chickpea and pea. In RAPD- PCR, from 12 primers, only 7 primer showed polymorphism well. Based on this marker, 28 isolates Fsp placed in different genotype groups, without considering geographical regions. In AFLP technique, 4 primer combinations (EcoRI/MseI) produced 330 scorable bands of which 110 bands were polymorphic (34%). Also the pair-wise genetic distance was from 0.06 to 0.78. The dendrogram constructed using UPGMA method, distinguished 4 main groups among 20 isolates of Fsp that was confirmed by multi-dimensional scaling. AFLP technique could separate the isolates with different levels of pathogenecity.