Enhancing castor (Ricinus communis L.) productivity through genetic improvement for Fusarium wilt resistance – a review

• Progress and current research status of Fusarium wilt resistance in castor was reviewed.
• Identification of several wilt resistant sources using standard screening techniques led to the development of wilt resistant cultivars.
• Breakdown of resistance has been reported necessitating the development of durable resistance.
• Future strategies for improvement of wilt resistance in castor are proposed.

Castor (Ricinus communis L.) is an important non-edible industrial oilseed crop grown in tropical, subtropical and temperate regions across the world. Fusarium wilt caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ricini is one of the most important diseases of castor worldwide. Though there are several management practices available, host resistance is a pragmatic approach to control the disease. During the last three decades, significant progress in the identification of resistant sources and screening techniques has led to the development of several wilt resistant varieties and hybrids. Breakdown of fusarium wilt resistance has been observed in castor necessitating the development of durable wilt resistant cultivars. Studies on the inheritance pattern of wilt resistance, host-pathogen interaction and how the resistance expression affects F.oxysporum f. sp. ricini colonization are very limited and inconclusive. Marker assisted selection following the development of reliable markers for tagging of wilt resistant genes will hasten the breeding program in evolving wilt resistant cultivars. The paper reviews the progress made along with future outlook towards fusarium wilt resistance in castor.