Ascochyta in chickpeas

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Chickpea varieties previously thought to have been resistant to ascochyta blight have been found to be infected with the potentially devastating crop disease. 

BCG staff recently discovered the disease in variety trials at Rainbow and crops at Curyo have also been infected.

BCG research manager Claire Browne said a new ascochyta blight pathogen was responsible for the breakdown of resistance genes in chickpea varieties such as Genesis090 and PBA Slasher.

Consequently, emergency permits have been issued for the use of mancozeb or chlorothalonil fungicides on chickpea crops.

In 1998, ascochyta blight devastated chickpea crops in Victoria, reducing the then expanding chickpea industry from 150,000ha to less than 10,000ha/annum.

In response, lines with resistance to ascochyta were bred restoring the industry and providing another pulse option for growers.

Ascochyta blight is caused by the fungal pathogen Ascochyta rabiei and can infect any part of the plant that is above the ground.

This disease is usually first noticed in late winter when small patches of blighted plants appear throughout the paddock. It spreads during cool, wet weather by rain splash of spores which creates large blighted patches within crops.

The fungus can penetrate the pod and infect the seed and when infected seeds are sown, the emerging seedlings will develop dark brown lesions at the base of the stem which can cause them to collapse and die.

IMG_3495
A chickpea plant infected with Ascochyta Blight in 2016.

Farmers who discover ascochyta should treat crops with the appropriate fungicide and monitor every ten to 14 days after rain to limit its spread.

BCG has a pulse fungicide management trial at its main research site at Warmur this year which will be examined and discussed at the Main Field Day on September 14.

For details phone BCG on (03) 5492 2787.

This article was published in the Stock and Land on August 25, 2016. 

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