Effects of sowing date and depth on Fusarium wilt development in chick pea cultivars

Abstract

Fusarium wilt is one of the most prevalent diseases which threaten chick pea production worldwide. The impacts of planting date on Fusarium wilt and yield in chick pea sown at different depths are little understood. Field trials established in Kermanshah province, Iran, during 2009–2011 examined interactions among planting date and depth, and cultivar on Fusarium wilt and chick pea yield. According to Wald test results, disease incidence levels differed among test planting dates and depths, cultivars and years. In 2009–2010, disease levels on November-planted Arman, Hashem and ILC482 for all test depths were often lower than those for the March date. For the 9 cm and 13 cm depths, often greater disease levels were observed in cvs Arman and ILC482 than in cv. Hashem. In 2010–2011, disease levels on 5-cm-March-planted Arman and Hashem were greater than those planted at the depth of 5 cm in November and December. Lowest 100-seed weight was found on March-planted Hashem in 2010–2011. Highest yields were observed on November-planted ILC482 in 2010–2011. Lowest yields were detected on March-planted Hashem in both years. From principal component analysis, three factors accounting for 69.4% of the total variance demonstrated that the development of Fusarium wilt epidemics corresponded mainly to planting date and yield (factor 1), cultivar (factor 2), and planting depth (factor 3).