It contains basic details about the etiology, symptoms, disease cycle and management practices for the control of disease : Wilt in Chickpea, Lentil and Arhar(Pigeon pea).

2. Etiology
Scientific name Disease
Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceris Wilt of Chickpea
Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lentis Wilt of Lentil
Fusarium udum Wilt of Arhar

3. Pathogen Biology
Division : Ascomycota
Order : Hypocreales
Family : Nectriaceae
Genus : Fusarium
Species : F. oxysporum
 Soil Inhabitants, have ability to exist as
saprophytes
 Pervasive Plant Endophytes ,can colonize roots.

4. Symptoms
The symptoms of wilts in Chickpea, Lentil
and Arhar are very much similar.
The disease may appear from early stages
of plant growth (4-6 week old plant) upto
flowering and podding.

5. Common Wilting Symptoms
Flaccidity of leaves and
succulent shoots
Discoloration and
Chlorosis(Yellow) of leaves
Dessication & Drooping of
leaves
Symptoms extend to other
plant parts
Plant wilts, collapses and dies
Fig : Uprooted plant of
chickpea showing
typical yellowing
symptom of Wilt

6. Fig 2(a) : Field view of
Wilted lentil plants
Fig 2(a) : Screening of lentil
germplasm in wilt-sick field

7. When the stem is split open, Browning or
blackening of the xylem tissues is seen.
Fig 3 : Wilt at different stages of Chickpea.
Seedling(left) & Mature (right)

8. Disease Cycle
 The disease is seed and soil borne.
 Primary infection is through chlamydospores,
which remain viable upto next season.
 Secondary spread is through conidia by
irrigation water, cultural operation and
implements.

9. Disease Management
Methods Practices
Cultural
Physical &
Mechanic
al
 Destruction of crop debris
 Deep ploughing
 Green Manuring/Well rotten FYM
 Intercropping with Sorghum : Root of sorghum
exudates HCN which is phytotoxic to Fusarium
 Wilt-resistant Varieties
Chemical  Seed treatment with Bavistin @ 2g/kg seed or
Carbendazim
Biological
 Seed treatment with Trichoderma viride @ 4
gm/kg or Pseudomonas fluorescens @ 10 gm/kg