Identification of resistant sources to Botrytis gray mold in promising genotypes of chickpea

摘要

Botrytis gray mold (BGM), caused by Botrytis cinerea Pers. ex. Fr., is the most destructive foliar disease of chickpea in India. Cool wet weather is foavurable for the development of BGM and can cause substantial yield loss up to 90%. It has known tooccur in India since 1951 (Shaw and Ajrekar, 1915) but assumed after occurence of an epiphytotic in Nainital Tarai in 1967-68. Since then it has caused widespread devastation in other parts of India (Singh 1985). The development of resistant cultivars would reduce the need for chemical fungicides, prevent environmental pollution and avoids the health hazards due chemical applications. In view of these, present investigation has been carried out to test the genotypes resistant to chickpea for Botrytis gray mold (BGM). The identified genotypes can be exploited in breeding programmg to develop resistant varieties.