Fusarium wilt of peas (a review)

Abstract

Pea wilt was first described in 1925 and the pathogen identified as Fusarium oxysporum f sp pisi race 1 in 1929. Three additional races have been described and characterized as races 2, 5 and 6. Resistance to all 4 races is governed by separate, single dominant genes in the host. Current classification of pathogen races is based on host response using differential cultivars and defined, reproducible, inoculation procedures. Recent molecular techniques, using RFLPs and RAPDs, have detailed the genetic similarities and differences among races of this pathogen. Vegetative compatibility groupings of pathogen isolates have also characterized pathogen isolates based on fungal genetics rather than host-pathogen interactions. This paper also describes the host-parasite interactions and briefly discusses what little is known about seed transmission of the pea wilt pathogen. © 1994.