Introgression of Fusarium wilt resistance loci (foc 4) from WR315 to a widely adopted cultivar Annigeri-1 through phenotypic elimination

Fusarium wilt (FW) is one of the major constraints in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) production. Therefore, a backcross program was undertaken to introgress resistance to FW targeting foc 4 loci predominantly found in Northern-Karnataka region in Annigeri-1, an elite but otherwise susceptible cultivar of chickpea. WR 315 a desi landrace resistant to multiple races of Fusarium oxysporum served as a donor. By two backcrosses and three rounds of selfing, 119 BC2F3 families were generated for A-1 × WR 315 cross. Systematic phenotypic elimination process could eliminate the susceptible lines, while retaining the resistant genotypes at every backcross and selfing generations. A total of eight groups were formed from 119 families based on their pedigree. Evaluation of these families under wilt sick plot could identify and 71 BC2F4 resistant families. Of these 71 resistant families, a total of nine families recorded more than 400 gm seed yield/family, six families (>300 gm), 17 families (>200 gm), 21 families (>100 gm) and 18 families (<100gm).