Ascochyta blight caused by the fungus Ascochyta rabiei is a devastating disease of chickpea (Cicer arietinum) in most chickpea-growing countries of the world. This disease is also considered to be the most damaging disease of chickpea in Western Canada. The disease cycle of Ascpchyta blight in chickpea is shown in Fig.1. It has been reported that under condition that are conducive for this disease, even the most resistant varieties can have a yield loss of 70% or more (Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture 2007; Chang et al. 2008). Ascochyta rabiei is heterothallic fungus that requires two compatible mating types for sexual reproduction. Both mating types and teleomorphs (Didymella rabiei) are present on the fields of Western Canada, indicating occurrence of sexual recombination, which could lead to greater genetic and pathogenic variability in populations of A. rabiei. Genetic variation in A. rabiei has been reported from many parts of the world including Canada, Syria, Israel, and USA. (Chongo et al. 2004).

Fig. 1: Disease cycle of Ascochyta Blight caused by A. rabiei

[Source: http://www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/; Please click on the image to view its larger version.]

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