SCREENING OF CHICKPEA (Cicer arietinum L.) VARIETIES AGAINST Macrophomina phaseolina

Macrophomina phaseolina causing dry root rot (DRR) is mostly significant and widespread soilborne chickpea disease. In May, 2018, symptoms of wilt were noticed on Chickpea in Shekhan field, governorate of Ninevah, Iraq. Isolation and diagnosis results revealed that the Chickpea plants infected ‎with wilt showed the presences of Macrophomina phaseolina as potential pathogen.‎ Fungus pathogenicity in Chickpea plants was as well definite via postulates of Koch. Molecular Macrophomina documentation of isolate was pereformed via augmenting the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) conserved ribosomal DNA region utilizing primers ITS1 and ITS4. ITS Whole sequences were compared for similarity and gaps sequences of the fungus which were homologous to M. phaseolina isolates in GenBank database with percentage resemblance of 99%; thus, confirming causative disease agent identity. Nucleotide ITS sequence from isolate of Iraq was as Accession No MN128590.1 was assigned‎ at GenBank. Up to best of knowledge we have, such is concidered as 1st record in Iraq of M. phaseolina on the Chickpea where the current investigation were perferomed for screening several genotypes for DRR resistance. Twelve genotypes chickpea were assessed for their susceptibility to disease of DRR due to M. phaseolina. Genotypes varied in their susceptibility to the disease under artificial inoculation. No resistant genotypes were recorded. CHAPP2 and WR-315 were moderately resistant, PCH-15, UC27, C-104 and CPS-1 were susceptible, Annigeri, JG-62, K850, L550, BJ-212 and ICC4475 were highly susceptible.