Plan of attack for aggressive Ascochyta isolates

Abstract

Ascochyta blight in chickpeas has become more aggressive over the past five years. The proportion of isolates collected annually from all major growing regions across Australia where Ascochyta epidemics have occurred that are able to cause severe disease is as high as 70 per cent for PBA HatTrick. Researchers are targeting pathogen biology and genetics to identify future opportunities to overcome this aggressiveness. Work is underway to limit the increasing aggressiveness of Ascochyta blight in chickpeas. Ascochyta blight pathogen in chickpea is becoming more aggressive against commonly grown varieties. Caused by the fungus Ascochyta rabiei, it arrived in Australia in the 1970s, most likely on infected seed. Ascochyta has since established across all Australian chickpea growing regions and has rapidly evolved to become highly pathogenic – meaning it has overcome resistance in many varieties. To develop more resistant varieties and provide useful advice for growers, we need to understand the mechanisms that enable the pathogen to overcome both genetic resistance and our best management practices