Abstract
A description is provided for Ascochyta rabiei. Information is included on the disease caused by the organism, its transmission, geographical distribution, and hosts. HOSTS: On Cicer arietinum. DISEASE: Blight of gor chick pea (Cicer arietinum), attacks all above-ground parts of the plant; circular lesions on leaves and pods and elongate ones on petioles and stems. The pycnidia form in concentric areas on these lesions and in severe attacks the whole plant is killed. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Restricted to the Mediterranean region, S.E. Europe, S.W. Asia and also reported from Tanzania (CMI Map 151, ed. 2, 1966). Additional areas not yet mapped are: Lebanon, Turkey, USSR (Azerbaijan, Republic of Georgia, Moldavia). TRANSMISSION: Infection is carried both on and within the seed. Seed infestation in pods showing infection was 50-80%. Seed formation, size and germination and seedling growth are adversely affected (12: 264; 49, 3059). Conida are presumably dispersed by water-splash and viability is retained in host debris on the soil surface between crop seasons.
Chick Pea (Cicer Arietinum)
