Influence of Soil Bulk Density on Root Rot and Wilt of Chickpea. M. A. Bhatti, Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman 99164. John M. Kraft, Supervisory Research Plant Pathologist, Vegetable and Forage Crops Production, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rt. 2 Box 2953A, Prosser, WA 99350-9687. Plant Dis. 76:960-963. Accepted for publication 21 April 1992. This article is in the public domain and not copyrightable. It may be freely reprinted with customary crediting of the source. The American Phytopathological Society, 1992. DOI: 10.1094/PD-76-0960.

The reaction of chickpeas (Cicer arietinum) to wilt and root rot pathogens was studied in a loose and a compacted soil with bulk densities of 1.2 Mg·m^–3 and 1.5 Mg·m^–3, respectively. Compacted or loose soil was infested separately or in various combinations with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri, F. solani f. sp. pisi, Pythium ultimum, and/or Thielaviopsis basicola. The effects of wilt and root rot pathogens on disease severity were additive with various combinations of pathogen-infested soil. Root disease of a susceptible cultivar (JG-62) was more severe in infested, compacted soil than in loose soil. However, soil compaction had no effect on wilt caused by F. oxysporum f. sp. ciceris. Root growth of chickpea was inversely related to soil compaction.

Keyword(s): fungal interactions, rhizosphere populations.