Breeding for Pod Borer and Wilt Resistance in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is one of the important cultivating pulse crops globally and in India. Gram pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera) and Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum) are major pest and disease limiting the chickpea productivity. Pyramiding of these two biotic stress resistances in a single genotype is expected to increase crop productivity and reduces the usage of pesticides/fungicides, which favors the economic viability in the cultivation of this crop. Hence, it was planned to transfer the cry2Aa gene, from BS 72C2 event, to Super Annigeri-1(SA-1), the wilt resistant variety developed through pedigree method of breeding. The F1s developed by SA-1XBS72C2 crosses were confirmed with cry2Aa gene-specific marker. These F1s were advanced upto F4 generation. The expression of the cry2Aa at the protein level through enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay and insect bioassay were studied in F4 generation. The average Cry2Aa protein expressed was 10.34 μg/gm whereas in control SA-1 it was zero. Forty F4 plants were sown in wilt sick soil containing pots in green house. Other plants were sown in normal condition. Fifteen plants from wilt sick plots were PCR positive for both wilt disease and pod borer resistance. They also showed wilt resistance and were positive for qualitative ELISA test.