Ricinus communis (castor bean): Molecular basis of Diseases resistance

Plant diseases impart a tremendous impact on India economy. In many countries, femine or femine-liked condition had precipitated due to loss of crop by a disease. Of all the disease, fusarium wilt disease is one of the most important castor plant diseases and it is widespread in major castor growing states of India. The causal agent of fusarium wilt of castor is Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ricini. Marker assisted selection lead to a quick and reliable analysis for susceptibility and eliminate the need for maintaining virulent pathogen isolates. It is more efficient than selection based on phenotypes.